Sis couldn't get off the trail if she rode him." "Something happened, then," Bud muttered stubbornly.

"Four men came through behind us, and we waited out in the dark to let them pass.

Then she sent me down to the creek-bottom, and she turned back.

If they got her--" He turned Sunfish in the narrow brush trail.

"She's hurt, or they got her--I'm going back!" he said grimly.
"Hell! you can't do any good alone," Eddie protested, coming after him.
"We'll go look for her, Mr.Birnie, but we've got to have something so we can see.