"I'm ready now," and Skip started toward the door.

"I didn't mean quite as soon as this. Go for something to eat, while I
make the necessary arrangements. Come back here when you've had dinner."

"It'll be two or three dinners in one," Skip muttered, as he followed
Fred down stairs.

"Didn't you take any provisions?"

"Some; but not enough to last a great while. It don't make any
difference, though, so long as I found Tim."

Skip was not so excited but that he could eat a hearty meal, and when it
was finished the two boys returned to Mr. Hunter's office just as that
gentleman entered, accompanied by a constable.

The official questioned Skip very minutely as to Tim's whereabouts, and
when the boy had explained the situation to the best of his ability, the
former said:

"I reckon we won't have to walk all the way. By riding up the valley
road eight or ten miles it is possible to cut off a good bit of the
distance."

"Very well, adopt any method which will insure your return to-morrow
noon, for the trial is to come off at twelve o'clock. Go with him, Skip,
and see to it that there is no loitering by the way."

"Are you intending to hire a team?" Fred asked the constable.

"Yes."

"Then I'll go with you to the stables."

The constable walked rapidly ahead leaving the boys to follow more
leisurely, and Fred had time for a brief conversation.

"You've been a good friend, Skip, and none of us will ever forget what
you've done."

"I don't want you to remember what happened while I was boss of the
regulators."

"We never think of it. Now do you believe it is possible to go to the
camp and back by noon?"

"It'll be a tight squeeze, even allowin' that we ride a good part of the
way; but we'll pull through somehow."

"Then if Tim has run off, all your work will have been for nothing."

"It can't be helped if things turn that way; but I think he's too much
frightened by the disappearance of Gus to leave a good hiding-place."

At this moment the officer emerged from the stable in an open wagon
drawn by a powerful-looking horse, and Skip shouted, as he clambered in:

"We'll be back by noon."

Then the two were whirled rapidly away, and Fred walked slowly to Mr.
Hunter's office depressed by a sense of impending evil.

The lawyer was absent, and, not caring to stroll around the town where
he might meet acquaintances from Farley's, the boy remained alone until
late in the afternoon, when Joe and Sam arrived.