morning's milk in the place where Jack usually left it. A few hours
later they were surprised to hear Roanie lowing near the yard gate, and
knew that the wandering animal must have actually come back of her own
accord to be milked. But where was Jack? Roanie's arrival caused
quite a stir. Mat Byrne began to think something was wrong, and he and
the two boys sallied forth to look for the truant in the village.

They asked various people, but no one had seen Jack, and though they
hunted every spot they could not find him. His uncle got very angry,
and vowed to pay him out when he caught him again.

Luckily for Jack, his uncle never once supposed so young a boy would
think of running away, and he made sure that by evening Jack would
return to his house hungry and repentant.

He at first thought he would find Jack with his own son, Steve, and
therefore was greatly surprised to see the latter riding carelessly
about the village all day. Steve rode past him, giving him an
indifferent nod, and his father little thought how closely the cowboy
was watching every movement he made.

Never for one moment did Mat Byrne connect Jack's disappearance with
the departure of the two miners that morning, and when it dawned on the
searchers the next day, after having ransacked every shed and building
in Longview, that they must look further afield, for the missing boy,
our fugitive was too far away to fear recapture. Byrne made many
inquiries from incoming travellers as to whether they had seen a lad
anywhere along the different roads; but, thanks to Jeff's precautions,
not a soul passing their waggon had seen the small boy hiding under the
blankets; and, unable to get any clue to the direction Jack had gone
in, his uncle was at last obliged to give up the search.

For three or four days Jack was very careful to keep out of sight; but
as they got farther away from Longview, he felt safer and breathed more
freely. He was always glad when they stopped to camp for the night, as
his legs got very cramped in the waggon. If possible, they halted each
time near some spring or creek of water, where they could get plenty
for man and beast to drink.

Everyone had his own work allotted to him, and in this way, knowing
what each one had to do, much confusion was saved when forming the
camps. Lem looked after the four horses, unharnessed them, watered
them, gave them their feeds, and picketed them out where the grass grew
most plentifu