His description had been telegraphed all up and down the valley and every farmer was on the alert.

Bands of men had been formed and the woods scoured for him, but as yet without result.

I was hourly expecting, however, that some clue would come to light.
The sheriff, on the other hand, in pursuance of his theory that Mose had been murdered, had been no less indefatigable in his search for the body.

The river had been dragged, the cave and surrounding woods searched, but nothing had been found.

Mose had simply vanished from the earth and left no trace.
To my disappointment the morning still brought no news; I had hoped to have something definite before the inquest opened.