"You know anything about her ?" "She turned back last night after she had shown me the way." Bud's throat went dry.

"Did they miss her ?" He leaned aggressively.
"Not till breakfast time, they didn't.

I was waiting here, most all night--except right after you folks left.

She wasn't missed, and I never flagged her--and she ain't showed up yet!" Bud sat there stunned, trying to think what might have happened.

Those dark passages through the mountains--the ledge-- "Ed, you know that trail she took me over?
She was coming back that way.