Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/767

Rh He could not sit still, and arose to his feet and began walking around restlessly.

"You see, it is a long time since the car disappeared," said Ralph, "and we may not be able to find any trace of it. The car finder, in his investigations, must have heard of this wreck. Still, as you say, it is worth following up the clew, and that is why I got a leave from work for the afternoon."

"Hello," said Zeph, looking in among the bushes abruptly, "some one in there? No, I don't see anybody now, but there was a rustling there a minute or two ago."

"Some bird or animal, probably," said Ralph. "Come on, Zeph, we will go to the bridge and start on our investigations."

The river near Wilmer was a broad stream. It was quite deep and had a swift current. The boys started down one bank, conversing and watching out. Ralph laughed humorously after a while.

"I fancy this is a kind of a blind hunt, Zeph," he said. "We certainly cannot expect to find that car lying around loose."

"Well, hardly, but we might find out where it went to if we go far enough," declared Zeph. "I tell you, I shall never give it up now if I have to go clear to the end of this river."