Part 23 (1/2)
”What if he shouldn't come back?” asked Walter, with sudden apprehension.
”Oh, he will. Don't worry about that. You can't lose the Professor.”
The boys laughed, then settled down to make the best of their situation, whiling away the time with jest and stories.
After a time, Tad left the party and strolled from the camp in an effort to determine which way the late occupants of the camp had gone.
He was beginning to feel worried, but as yet had confided nothing of this to his companions.
Examining the ground closely he found four distinct trails leading from the abandoned camp. These trails were fresh, showing that ponies had only recently been ridden over them. They all looked alike, however, and he was unable to determine which of them had been made by Professor Zepplin's pony.
”Evidently the party, whoever they were, split up after leaving here,”
thought the lad aloud. ”I'd like to follow out the trails, but I don't dare do so. The Professor would be liable to return while I was away. Then again I might lose the trail and my own way at the same time. I've caused this outfit enough trouble as it is.”
With this, Tad slowly turned back toward the camp.
He found a growing sense of uneasiness among his companions there.
”What did you discover?” asked Ned rather more solemnly than was his usual wont.
Tad told him.
”Then, there's no use trying to follow?”
”No.”
”What time is it?”
”Half-past three,” announced Tad after consulting his watch.
”Huh!” grunted Ned. ”I guess the Professor has gone and done it himself this time.”
”We'll wait,” answered Tad easily.
After piling fresh fuel on the fire Tad went over and sat on the bluff overlooking the eastern slope of the range of mountains which they were traversing. Chunky lay stretched out sound asleep, untroubled by the series of disasters that had overtaken them.
Tad after running over in his mind many plans, none of which seemed practicable, also lay down for a nap, and in a few moments the tired boys were all sound asleep, including the pack mules.
When they awakened the sun had been down all of half an hour. Tad was the first to awake. He started up guiltily, and looking around found that he was not the only one who had napped.
”Hallo, the camp!” he shouted.
The other boys sat up suddenly, rubbing their eyes.
”Time to go to bed. Get up!” laughed Tad.
”Nice way to put it,” growled Ned. ”Tell a fellow to get up because it's time to go to bed.”
”Wat'cher wake me up for?” demanded Chunky. ”I was sleeping.”