"I dunno how you'll get out there.

Better have a drink--what'll you have ?" Hugh walked out of the store in despair.

He found himself engaged in what appeared to be an endless chase after a phantom Considine, and the difficulties in his way semed insuperable.

Yet how could he go back and tell them all at home that he had failed?
What would they think of him?
The thought made him miserable; and he determined, if he failed, never to go back to the old station at all.
So he returned to his hotel, packed his valise, and set out to look for the pack-horse man.

He found him fairly sober; soon bargained to be allowed to ride one of the horses, and in due course was deposited at the Margaret--a city consisting of one galvanised-iron building, apparently unoccupied.