Harden nodded.  “I’ll get to bed at once.  Call me when you want me.”

He rolled himself in his blanket, Agnew following his example.  A moment or so later Jonas could be heard calling,

“Mr. Forrester!  Ohee!  Mr. Forrester!” The Canyon echoed the call, but there was no answer, Enoch strolled down to the river’s edge where Jonas was standing with his arms full of dishes.  “What’s up, Jonas?” he asked.

“Boss, I think he’s lit out!”

“Lit out?  Where, Jonas?”

“Well, there’s only one way, like you went this afternoon.  But his canteen’s gone.  And he had his shoes drying by the fire.  He must have sneaked ’em while we was working over Mr. Milton, because they’re gone, and so’s his coat that was lying by the Ida, with the rest of the clothes.”

Enoch lifted his great voice.  “Forrester!  Forrester!”

A thousand echoes replied while Agnew joined them and in a moment, Harden.  Jonas repeated his story.

“No use yelling!” exclaimed Enoch.  “Let’s build a fire out here.”

“Do you suppose he’s had an accident?” Enoch’s voice was apprehensive.

“No, I don’t,” replied Agnew, stoutly.  “He’s told me two or three times that if he had any real trouble with Hard, he’d get out.  What a fool to start off, this way!”

“You fellows go to bed,” Harden spoke abruptly.

“I’ll keep a fire going and if Milt needs more than me, I’ll call.  The Judge had a heavy afternoon and I was resting.  And this row is mine anyhow.”

Enoch, who was dropping with fatigue needed no urging.  He rolled himself in his blanket and instantly was deep in the marvelous slumber that had blessed him since the voyage began.

It was dawn when he woke.  He started to his feet, contritely, wondering who of the others had sacrificed sleep for him.  But Enoch was the only one awake.  Milton was tossing and muttering but his eyes were closed.  Jonas lay with his feet in last night’s ashes.  Agnew was curled up at Milton’s feet.  Harden was not to be seen.  Enoch hurried to the river’s edge.  A sheet of paper fluttered from the split end of a stake that had been stuck in a conspicuous spot.  It was unaddressed and Enoch opened it.

“I have gone to find Forrester, and help him out.  I took one-third of the grub and one of the guns and a third of the shells.  If we have good luck, you’ll hear of us at the Ferry.  I have the detail map of this section.

“C.  L. HARDEN.”

Enoch looked from the note up to the golden pink of the sky.  Far above the butte an eagle soared.  The dawn wind ruffled his hair.  He drew a deep breath and turned to wake Jonas and Agnew, and show them the note.

“Did you folks go to sleep when I did?” asked Enoch when they had read the note in silence.

Jonas and Agnew nodded.

“Then he must have left at once.  No fire has been built out in front.”