Part 48 (1/2)
”Where are the rest? How have they got on?” Lisle asked.
”I think Batley went back to the last reach with Carew's rod,” Crestwick answered. ”I met Gladwyne and one of the packers on the low range back yonder; they'd only got a blue grouse.”
”I could have done with the man here,” said Lisle. ”Which way were they heading?”
”Back up-river, the way we came.”
Lisle made no comment, but Crestwick thought he found the information rea.s.suring, and thrusting out the canoe he was swept away down the easiest part of the rapid, while Crestwick a.s.sisted Nasmyth to land a trout. Lisle had returned to the camp when the packer who had accompanied Clarence came in alone, bringing a couple of grouse.
”What's become of Mr. Gladwyne?” Lisle asked him.
”Hasn't he got back?” replied the other, glancing about. ”I lost him on the far slope of the bluff about noon, but as he could see the river most anywhere from the top I went right on. There was a deer trail I was trying to follow.”
Lisle said nothing more to the packer but walked rapidly toward where the cook was getting supper ready. Nasmyth followed him.
”Did you give Mr. Gladwyne any lunch to carry with him when he left camp?” Lisle asked the man.
”I was busy when he came along and I told him to look around for himself.
I think he took some canned stuff and there was quite a big loaf missing.”
”Bring the box you keep the canned goods in!”
The cook produced it.
”There's two meat cans gone, anyway,” he remarked. ”Looks as if Mr.
Gladwyne figured on getting mighty hungry.”
Lisle nodded.
”Put me up enough bread and fish for two of us for two days.”
He moved away with Nasmyth, and they had left the fire behind when he spoke, his voice hoa.r.s.e with anger.
”Gladwyne's gone to the cache! He's got half a day's clear start of us and he knows the country. It's pretty open and he'll make quite a good pace on a straight trail, while the river bends. Get the stuff I asked for while I give the others a few instructions.”
”You mean to start after him at once?”
”As soon as you're ready,” Lisle said shortly.
He turned back toward where the others were sitting waiting for supper.
”As Gladwyne hasn't turned up, Nasmyth and I are going to look for him,”
he announced. ”There's nothing to be alarmed about, but it's quite likely we may not be back in the morning. If we don't turn up by noon, you had better start down-river and we'll pick you up farther on. I don't want to waste another day.”
”Do you think he has got lost altogether?” Millicent asked anxiously.
”No,” answered Lisle, in a rea.s.suring manner. ”Still, some of these ridges are bad to climb and quite a lot of things may happen to delay him.”
He called to a packer and gave him definite orders to take the party down-river and wait at a spot agreed upon; and a few minutes later he and Nasmyth left the camp.