‘Well, I’ve just happened to think,’ said pale Aunt Truth, ‘that papa came into the tent for some cartridges, after you left, and of course he took Dick with him. I don’t suppose it is any use to worry. He always does come out right; and I have told him so many times never on any account to go away from the camp alone that he surely would not do it. Papa and the boys will be home soon, now. It is nearly six o’clock, and I told them that I would blow the horn at six, as usual. If they are too far away to hear it, they will know the time by the sun.’ ‘Well,’ said Bell, anxiously, ‘I hope it is all right. Papa is so strict that he won’t be late himself. Did all the boys go with him, mamma?’ ‘Yes, all but Philip.’ ‘Oh, then Dicky must be with them,’ said Margery, consolingly. ‘Geoffrey always takes him wherever he can.’ So the girls went into the tent to begin their dinner toilet, which consisted in carefully brushing burrs and dust from their pretty dresses, and donning fresh collars and stockings, with low ties of russet leather, which Polly declared belonged only to the stage conception of a camping costume; then, with smoothly brushed hair and bright flower-knots at collar and belt, they looked charming enough to grace any drawing-room in the land. The horn was blown again at six o’clock, Aunt Truth standing at the entrance of the path which led up the cañon, shading her anxious eyes from the light of the setting sun.— ‘Here they come!’ she cried, joyously, as the welcome party appeared in sight, guns over shoulder, full game-bags, and Jack and Geoff with a few rabbits and quail hanging over their arms. The girls rushed out of the tent. Bell took in the whole group with one swift glance, and then turned to her mother, who, like most mothers, believed the worst at once, and grew paler as she asked: ‘Papa, where is little Dick?’ ‘Dick! Why, my dear, he has not been out with us. What do you mean?’ ‘Are you sure you didn’t take him?’ faltered Aunt Truth. ‘Of course I am. Good heavens! Doesn’t any one know where the child is?’ looking at the frightened group. ‘You know, uncle,’ said Geoffrey, ‘we started out at three o’clock. I noticed Dicky playing with his blocks in our tent, and said good-bye to him. Did you see him when you came back for the cartridges?’ ‘Certainly I did; he called me to look at his dog making believe go to sleep in the hammock.’ ‘We girls went down to the pool soon after that,’ said Bell, tearfully. ‘He asked to go with us, and I told him it was too far, and that he’d better stay with mamma, who would be all alone. He said “Yes” so sweetly I couldn’t mistrust him. Oh, was it my fault, papa? Please don’t say it was!’ and she burst into a passion of sobs. ‘No, no, my child, of course it was not. Don’t cry; we shall find him. Go and look about the camp, Geoff, while we consider for a minute what to do.’