Part 24 (1/2)
Tad rode in as fresh as if he had not had a sleepless vigil. His rest of late had been more or less irregular, but it seemed to have not the slightest effect either on his spirits or his appet.i.te.
All felt the relief from the strain of the night's watching and it was a more sociable company that gathered at the table than had been the case on the previous evening.
”Well, how do you like being a sheepman?” asked Mr. Simms jovially.
”It's better than being lost in the mountains and being shot at by cowmen,” averred Tad.
”Perhaps you'll have a chance to enjoy the latter pleasure, still,”
said Mr. Simms. ”I do not delude myself that we are out of danger yet; it may be that they have taken warning and given it up.”
”What are the plans for to-day?” asked Ned Rector.
”The herd will graze on, and later in the day we shall move the camp five or six miles up the range. See any Indians last night?”
”No,” answered the boys, sobering a little.
”Old Hicks is authority for the statement that they were hovering somewhere near during the night.”
”How does he know?” asked Tad.
”You'll have to make inquiry of Hicks himself if you want to find out,” laughed the rancher. ”Probably the same way that he knows we are talking about him now.”
All eyes were directed toward the cook.
Hicks was limping around the mutton kettle, shaking his fist at it and berating it, though in a voice too low for them to hear.
”That's one of your cattle men for you,” chuckled Mr. Simms. ”I think he would take genuine pleasure in boiling a sheepman in his pot. But he takes the money,” added Mr. Simms significantly. ”By the way, where's your chum?”
”Whom do you mean?” asked Walter, glancing about the table.
”Chunky, I believe you call him.”
”That's so, where is he?” demanded Tad, laying down his fork.
”Probably fallen in somewhere again,” growled Ned.
”Did not Master Stacy come in with you, Ned?” asked the Professor hurriedly.
”No, sir.”
”He was with you last night?”
”No, not all the time. He went out with me, but I saw him only twice during the early part of my watch.”
Mr. Simms looked serious. ”I hope nothing has happened to him. See here, Luke. They tell me Master Stacy has not been seen this morning. Know anything of it?”
”Why, no. Are you sure? Have you looked in his tent?”
”Excuse me, I'll go see if he isn't there,” said Tad, rising from the table and hurrying to the tent occupied by his companion.