Then he hurried to the little grove near by, washed and dressed the food, which seemed to be juicy and tender, and started a fire for the purpose of broiling it.
He had not paused in his work up to this point, but now he stopped with the first real thrill of alarm for his friend.
"Four o'clock!" he exclaimed to himself; "what can have become of him ?" He walked to the edge of the trees and looked out, anxiously peering in different directions, but nothing was seen of his friend.

Knowing Fred's waggish nature, Jack hoped that he was indulging in some jest, but he could not quite convince himself that such was the fact.

The hunger of Fred would have prevented his postponing the meal one moment longer than was necessary.
When an abundance of food was browned and crisped and ready the appetite of Jack Dudley was less than it was two hours before, the cause being his growing alarm over the unaccountable absence of Fred.
"I can't understand it," he repeated for the twentieth time; "some accident must have befallen him.

Can it be Motoza has had anything to do with it ?" It was the first time that Jack had expressed this fear in words, but it was by no means the first time he had felt it.

Rather curiously, from the moment his friend passed out of sight, several hours before, the vague misgiving began to shape itself in his mind.