At her direction the servants brought in the baskets of food. A cloth was spread over a stone table that they found at the far end of the church in the balcony. What its use had been, in those other days, they did not know, but it served their purpose very well now. "I am afraid we shall have to eat standing," said Miss Sadie. "We have no chairs." "That will suit Chunky," replied Ned Rector. "He always likes to eat standing." "Why?" asked Margaret, glancing up at him inquiringly. "For some reasons of his own," answered Ned mischievously. As the good things were spread before them the eyes of the lads lighted appreciatively, and all helped themselves gratefully. It was a jolly party, untouched by the air of mystery that was supposed to surround the place. "Why, where is Master Stacy?" asked Ruth Brayton in surprise, after they had been eating a few moments. "Chunky? That's so, where is he?" demanded Walter, glancing over the railing into the auditorium below. No one seemed to know. "He's prowling around the place somewhere," said Ned. "But what surprises me is that he doesn't scent the food and come running. It's not like him to hang back when there is anything good to eat." "Call him," suggested Margaret. "I will. O-h-h Chunky!" There was no reply. "I will go after him," said Walter, running lightly to the other end of the balcony and down the stone steps. The lad returned in a few moments, a perplexed frown on his face. "Find him?" asked Ned. "No." "Maybe he's gone back to camp. He's a queer chap." "I think not. I saw his pony there with the others." "Oh, well, never mind. He'll get so hungry that he will have to come out, wherever he is," decided Tad. "I imagine he is hiding somewhere to make us think he has gone away. Hark! What was that?" A far away call for help echoed faintly through the church. They looked at each other with growing uneasiness on their faces. "It's Chunky," breathed Walter. "Wh--where is he?" stammered Margaret. "I don't know. Excuse me; I must go," exclaimed Tad. "The boy is in trouble again. I knew it--I knew he couldn't keep out of it," he added, hurrying away from them. Ned sprang down the steps after Tad and together they disappeared through a rear door in the auditorium. CHAPTER XXII LOST IN THE ADOBE CHURCH Those up in the gallery could hear the two boys calling to their companion. There was no answer to their hails, and one by one the little party left the gallery. "I tell you he is playing tricks on us," said Ned, after they had searched all over the place without finding any trace of Stacy. "No; I don't agree with you," answered Tad. "Something has happened to him." "What shall we do?" asked Walter. "Keep on looking. That is all we can do just now." Once more they began their search, but with no better results than before. "Have you looked outside?" asked Miss Brayton.