Page:The Young Auctioneers.djvu/215

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER.
199

"So will I!" cried another.

"And I!" added a third, and soon six men stood ready to continue the search with Andy and Matt.

Seeing this, the freight agent decided to drive back home, taking a much better road, which led down to Easton. He did not lose any time in starting, and, if the truth must be told, both Andy and Matt were glad to be rid of him.

After he had gone the auctioneers procured another horse and wagon from the tavern-keeper and also a couple of lanterns. The mountaineer had a mule upon which he rode, and the other men went along on foot.

They traveled the road by which the young auctioneers had come. The village was situated in a small open spot, and now, when they once more found themselves between the mountains, they were enveloped in a darkness which the rays of the lanterns scarcely dispersed.

They traveled along as rapidly as possible, and inside of half an hour came to a fork in the road which Matt had had in mind since the discovery of their mistake had been made.

"We will examine the ground here," he said. "It is more than likely he branched off here."

He was soon hard at work, and all of the others with him. The wagon track they had followed was