The miner turned a face, deadly white, towards the table.

"Keno," he cried, "he's gone!"




CHAPTER VIII

OLD JIM DISTRAUGHT

For a moment Keno failed to comprehend. Then for a second after that
he refused to believe. He ran to the bunk where Jim was desperately
turning down the blankets and made a quick examination of that as well
as of the other beds.

They were empty.

Hastening across the cabin, the two men searched in the berths at the
farther end with parental eagerness, but all in vain, the pup meantime
dodging between their legs and chewing at their trousers.

"Tintoretto!" said Jim, in a flash of deduction. "He must have got out
when somebody opened the door. Somebody's been here and stole my
little boy!"

"By jinks!" said Keno, hauling at his sleeves in excess of emotion.
"But who?"