"
"So do I," cut in Tom Phipps. "Otherwise you could not have missed
them."
"Yes, sir. But what would you advise doing now?"
"Should we hear nothing from them by morning I'll start a party for
the open country to the west, and send another through the mountains
south of here. I do not believe there will be much use in doing so
to-night. Come over to my shack, you and your friend Brown, and we
will talk the matter over while we are having our supper."
"Thank you. I guess I am pretty hungry. Has Mr. Munson returned?"
"No. I cannot imagine what is keeping him."
Turning his pony over to Mr. McCormick, Tad and Chunky followed the
young mining engineer to his one-roomed cabin where the host had
prepared an appetizing meal.
It was Tad's second meal in the place. This time, however, he found
himself too much disturbed to eat heartily. His appetite seemed to
leave him all at once.
"As I was saying just after you arrived," began Mr. Phipps--
"Hark! What was that?"
Tad raised a hand for silence.
"I heard nothing."
"It was somebody shouting, I am sure," answered Tad in a voice of
tense expectancy. "Yes, there it is again."
"You're right," answered the miner, springing up and hurrying to the
door.
The shouting now became general all up and down the street.
"What is it?" asked Tad.
"I don't know.
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