w
it."

"We likewise also are looking for a lost diary," broke in Zeke.

"It's a nice place to look for that, too," said the man with the scar.

For a moment the two visitors looked keenly at each other while neither
spoke.

"I tell you," said Fred excitedly in a whisper to George, "they are both
bad men and I wish we were out of this."

CHAPTER XVII

A DEPARTURE BY NIGHT

"If only John and Pete were here," said Fred in a low voice to his
companions as they withdrew to the border of the camp.

"But they aren't here," laughed George, "and there isn't any use in
wasting any time crying over their absence."

"That's right," joined in Grant. "We're doing everything we can do to find
them, and if we don't find them it won't be our fault."

"Do you really think," demanded Fred, "that they won't be found?"

"No, I don't think anything of the kind," said Grant. "I'm very sure they
will be found. All I'm saying is that it's foolish to waste your time
lamenting over what can't be helped."

"I'm not crying," retorted Fred somewhat sharply.

"Yes, you are," rejoined his friend. "You're wailing over the fact that
John and Pete aren't here."

"Well, they aren't here, and that's one fact."

"If you cry about it, that's another. My mother told me there are only two
things a fellow never ought to worry about in this world."

"What are they?" inquired Fred interested at once.

"The things you can help and the things you can't. There isn't any use in
worrying over things you can change, for if you're able to change them,
stop worrying and get at them and make them different. If you can't
possibly change them, then all the worrying in the world won't do you any
good."

"I'm wondering," inquired Fired, turning as he spoke and glancing again at
their uninvited visitors, "if those men are planning to stay here."

"They certainly look the part now," said George in a low voice.

"What can we do to get rid of them?" asked Fred.

Grant shook his head as he said, "I don't want the contract myself of
getting rid of them. If you want to try it you're welcome."

"But I don't see," continued Fred, "why we're bound to take them in and
treat them as if they were our long lost brothers. I would a good deal
rather see John and Pete come marching into the camp."

"So would I," acknowledged Grant, "but they'll come when they're found
and not before. These fellows are here now and Zeke says it's the law of
the desert that