has gone down there," was the conclusion of Jack, "and I
shall do the same."

CHAPTER XVII.

INTO AND OUT OF THE CANYON.

Jack Dudley's enforced idleness had become intolerable. He could stay no
longer in the place from which Hank Hazletine had departed a half-hour
before. It was a waste of time to speculate over the intentions of the
veteran, and the youth made no attempt to do so. He had set out to see
whether he could act even an insignificant part in the recovery of his
loved comrade.

It has been said that the boy had the advantage over the man in that it
was not to be supposed any importance would be attached to his actions.
At the same time he was liable to "put his foot in it" in more ways than
one.

Somehow or other the conviction clung to Jack Dudley that the key to the
situation was in the neighborhood of the canyon. There must be hundreds
of places among the mountains where a prisoner could be hidden from
human eyes, but Hazletine's interest centred in that wild gorge, and
Jack was certain he had gone thither.

Then there was the fact of the cowman's visit two days before,
concerning which he would have said nothing but for his discovery by the
boys. Why Hank should have picked his way up that dangerous place was
known only to himself. Jack could form no theory to explain it. But he
did not forget the dispute of the three Indians in front of the break
and the start which one of them made to follow the footsteps of the
white man. There must be some attraction in the canyon for them all.

Jack's dread was that Hazletine, despite his undoubted skill, would
frighten Tozer and Motoza by his efforts to defeat their purpose, and
drive them into slaying Fred and making off before they could be
punished. But the cowman had his own views, and it was too late to
dissuade him.

Keeping in mind the warning of his friend to use all possible
circumspection in his actions, Jack was so guarded that a full hour had
passed when he once more reached the break in the canyon, which had
already afforded them more than one interesting experience.

So far as he could judge, he was the only living person within miles.
The two Indians that had flitted across his field of vision were gone,
and it was impossible to say what had become of Hazletine. Determined,
however, to run no unnecessary risk, Jack remained among the trees and
rocks on the upper side of the break, where he could not be seen unless
some one almost