CHAPTER XXIV 

THE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING BOY 

"Tom isn't here!" 

It was Dick who uttered the words, as of a sudden he wheeled around on the dark trail and tried to penetrate the blackness of night behind them. 

"Isn't here?" demanded Jack Wumble, while Sam set up a cry of dismay. 

"No. Tom! Tom!" 

Sam joined in the cry, and so did the old miner, but as we already know, it was useless. 

"This is the wust yet!" growled Jack Wumble. "I told ye all to keep close to me." 

"Perhaps he fell asleep-- I know he was dead tired," answered Dick, hitting the plain truth. 

"We'll have to go back for him," said Sam, and turned without delay, for going ahead without Tom was all out of the question. 

"Yes, we'll go back," rejoined the old miner. "But go slow, or you may make matters wuss. I kin follow a clear trail, even of three hosses, but I can't follow a trail mixed up backward an' forward." 

They rode back slowly until at least half a mile had been covered. Then they shouted, but only a dismal echo came back. Dick fancied once that he heard Tom calling, but was not sure. 

Daylight found them still searching around, Dick and Sam with more sober faces than they had worn in many a day. They knew only too well the danger of becoming lost in those wild mountains. 

"Perhaps he has fallen in with Baxter's party," suggested Dick, as they came to a halt at the edge of a cliff overlooking a rushing river far below. It was past the breakfast hour, yet none of them felt like eating. 
Who was looking for Tom?
Any idea why?
Where were they?
Was Tom asleep?
Why do you say that?
Any reason he thought that was a possibility?
What did they eat for a meal?
Why not?
Was there another mining crew?
Was there an echo?
Dick
Dick
lost
lost
mountains
mountains
Perhaps
Perhaps
Perhaps he fell asleep answered Dick
Perhaps he fell asleep-- I know he was dead tired," answered Dick
he was dead tired
he was dead tired
none of them felt like eating
none of them felt like eating
none of them felt like eating
none of them felt like eating
unknown
unknown
yes
 Then they shouted, but only a dismal echo came back.