“That’s Zeke and Thomas Jefferson!” exclaimed Grant in a low voice.

“What has become of the other two men?” inquired George.

“You’ll have to ask them,—­or Zeke and T.J.; perhaps they will be able to tell you something after they get back here.”

Grant’s surmise proved to be correct.  Within a half-hour both Zeke and the Indian returned to the camp.

Neither was willing to describe the details of very much of his effort to overtake the two white men who had gone from the camp.  It was manifest, however, that both white men had disappeared and that along with them had gone one of the packs, now doubly valuable in the eyes of the boys.

“Didn’t you see the men anywhere, Zeke?” inquired Fred.

“Not a sign.”

“Did you find out where they went?”

“Not exactly.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Why not seein’ ’em, I’m not sure where they are nor where they went.”

“But you think they went—­”

“I’m not doin’ very much ‘thinkin’’ just now,” replied Zeke as he at once began his preparations for the evening meal.

Fred however, was not to be turned aside so easily.

Approaching the place where Zeke was working he said, “Do you think those men have tried to go to the place where Simon Moultrie staked his claim?”

“I don’t know nothin’ ’bout it,” replied Zeke, without looking up from his task.  “My only ’pinion is that if there’s any such claim and we don’t get there pretty soon there won’t be much for us to look for.”

“Why do you suppose John and Pete don’t come back?”

“Because they have not returned.”

“Don’t you think that Kitoni found them?”

“I don’t know much about it.  I’m thinkin’, however, that if they are to be found, the Navajo will be as likely to find ’em as anybody.”

“I wish I never had started on this trip!” exclaimed Fred manifestly downcast at the outlook.

“It doesn’t make any difference what you ’wish’,” said Zeke gruffly.  “You have started and you’re here.  I don’t know of any way of gettin’ out of Thorn’s Gulch outside of flyin’ or walkin’.”

“I guess you’re right,” replied Fred dolefully.  “Hello, what’s that?” he added abruptly.  From far away had come a faint shout.  Fred was positive that he had heard a call, but Zeke, ignoring the words of the Go Ahead boy, abruptly arose and ran to a place far to the left of the camp.

His startling action when it was seen by the Go Ahead boys at once caused every one to follow his example.

Again the faint call was heard and this time it was answered abruptly by Thomas Jefferson, whose voice carried far and was almost as sharp as the report of a pistol.

“Who is it?  Who is it?” demanded Fred.

The Indian made no reply, but as the distant call was heard again he repeated his call, which this time was distinctly answered.  As yet no one was able to see the place from which the cry had come.