Frank was deeply puzzled.
"If the prospector came this way," said he, "there would be nothing else for it but for him to stop here.

He wouldn't dare go on into the desert without foot and water." "Possibly he stopped, got what he wanted, and went on," Clancy hazarded.
"No, Clan.

We can't be much more than half an hour from the mine; if we suppose that Porter had a full hour the start of us--it couldn't have been more than that--then he had only an hour and a half to ride here, and no time to pick up food and water and push his tired horse on into the desert.

We'd better go back to Loco's and take the fork to Gold Hill." "Let's not be in a rush, Chip.

Now that we're here, we'd better find out what McGurvin has got to say." "Of course," Frank returned, "we'll have a word or two with the rancher before we turn back." The rancher was not surprised to have visitors drop in on him at that hour.