CHAPTER XXI.
SAVED BY "SMOKE MORSE" Each member of the party regarded the other blankly.
The captain was right.

The deserted camp was only a blind trail and they had all their work to do over again.
"The first people to communicate with are Joe's parents," mused Rob.
"That note will be delivered very shortly, as the longer they delay the more dangerous it will be for them." "That's right," agreed Merritt, "Jack and his gang will not let the grass grow under their feet now that they know the chase must be on.
What can they have done with Joe ?" Rob had been looking about him with the instinct of the Boy Scout.

He was anxious to ascertain if there were not something tangible, some clue on which they could base a search for the missing member of the Patrol.

Suddenly something remarkable struck him about the tracks that lay about the tent.
They were all four those, of persons of larger growth than Joe Digby and mingling with them unmistakably was the broken-shoed track of Hank, the beach-comber.
"Boys," announced Rob suddenly, "Joe has not been here at all." "Not been here at all," echoed Merritt, amazedly.
"I mean what I say.

Look at these tracks.