That will show whether the rascals have quit their ambushes." "If they haven't," mocked Tom, "they'll also show your little party some new gasps in the way of excitement." Nevertheless Reade did not object when Fulsbee called for volunteers.
If any new firing was to be encountered it was better to risk a small force rather than a large one.
Harry Hazelton was one of the six volunteers who rode out with Deputy Dave.

Though they searched the country for miles they did not encounter any of the late raiders.

Neither did they find any dead or wounded men.
The abandoned transits and other instruments and implements were found and brought back to camp.
While this party was absent Tom took Mr.Newnham back to headquarters tent, where he explained, in detail, all that had been accomplished and all that was now being done.
Late in the afternoon Dave Fulsbee and his little force returned.

Tom listened attentively to the report made by the sheriff's officer.
"They've cheated you out of one day's work, anyway," muttered the man from Broadway, rather fretfully.
"We can afford to lose the time," Tom answered almost carelessly.
"Our field work is well ahead.

It's the construction work that is bothering me most.