it a minute," he said, "until I get my lantern. We can't do
anything without a light. Mr. David may have fainted by the side of
the road. He is an old man, you know."

It did not take Jasper long to get the lantern, and soon they were
speeding across the field toward the main highway. He noticed that
Betty kept very close to him, and as they drew near the Haven she
seemed to be trembling violently. She started often, and Jasper
wondered what was the matter with her.

"Were you not frightened to come all the way alone?" he asked.

"Not at first," was the reply. "But I was frightened after a while and
I ran hard."

"What frightened you? Were you afraid of the dark?"

"No--yes," Betty faltered. Jasper wondered at her answer, but made no
comment.

All along the road they watched most carefully, thinking they might
find David. Especially careful was this search as they neared the
Haven but not a trace of him could they find.

The Petersons were greatly concerned over the missing man. The captain
suggested that the neighbours should be notified and a search-party
should start out at once. As this seemed the only thing to do, Jasper
hurried to the village and aroused Andy Forbes from his slumbers. It
took the storekeeper several minutes to grasp the significance of the
affair, and Jasper had to do considerable explaining.

"So you tell me that Crazy David is lost?" he at length queried.

"Certainly. Isn't that what I have been trying to tell you? We must
get a search-party out after him at once. I fear that evil has
befallen the old man. He may be wandering off in the woods somewhere,
as his mind seems to be uncertain at times."

"I'm afraid we can't do much to-night," and Andy scratched his head in
perplexity. "However, I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can get a bunch
of men together before morning."

"That's good," Jasper encouraged. "You round up the men here, and I'll
go to the camp down the road. There are several men there and I'll get
one of them to hurry to the falls and bring in all the men. I feel
responsible for the welfare of David as I had strict instructions to
look after him. If anything has befallen him I shall never forgive
myself."

It took Jasper over an hour to go to the camp and bring back a half
dozen men. In the meantime a dozen or more had left the village with
lanterns to begin the search. These he met up the road. They had
searched every nook and corner, but had