"Good idea," said Field. "But I ought to get back home and eat some
dinner."

He did not, however, depart. That Jim was in a fever of excitement and
despair they could all of them see. He hastened ahead of the group to
the shop of Webber. and taking a short length of iron chain, which he
found on the earth, he slashed and beat at the bar of steel with
frantic strength.

The sharp, metallic notes rang out with every stroke. The bar was
swaying like a pendulum. Blow after blow the man delivered, filling
all the hollows of the hills with wild alarm.

Out of saloons and houses men came sauntering, or running, according to
the tension of their nerves. Many thought some house must be afire.
At least thirty men were presently gathered at the place of summons.
With five or six informers to tell the news of Jim's bereavement, all
were soon aware of what was making the trouble. But none had seen the
tiny foundling since they bade him good-bye in the charge of Jim
himself.

"Are you plum dead sure he's went?" said Webber, the smith. "Did you
look all over the cabin?"

"Everywhere," said Jim. "He's gone!"

"Wal, maybe some mystery got him," suggested Bone. "Jim, you don't
suppose his father, or some one who lost him, come and nabbed him while
you was gone?"