Thesearcherssoonbegantoreturn,baffled。Afewshepherds,theonlypersonsinthevicinity,hadbeenaskedwhethertheyhadseenayoungladyandalaborer。Someofthemhadseenayoungwomanwithabasketofclothes,ifthatmoutbeher。SomethoughtthatPhilMartinthecarrierwouldseeherifanybodywould。Noneofthemhadanypositiveinformationtogive。
Astheafternoonworeon,andpartyafterpartyreturnedtiredandunsuccessful,depressionreplacedexcitement;conversation,nolongertumultuous,wascarriedoninwhispers,andsomeofthelocalvisitorsslippedawaytotheirhomeswithagrowingconvictionthatsomethingunpleasanthadhappened,andthatitwouldbeaswellnottobemixedupinit。Mr。Jansenius,thoughafewwordsfromhiswifehadsurprisedandsomewhatcalmedhim,wasstillpitiablyrestlessanduneasy。
Atlastthepolicearrived。Atsightoftheiruniformsexcitementrevived;therewasageneralconvictionthatsomethingeffectualwouldbedonenow。Buttheconstableswereonlymortal,andinafewmomentsawhisperspreadthattheywerefooled。Theydoubtedeverythingtoldthem,andexpressedtheircontemptforamateursearchingbyenteringonafreshinvestigation,pryingwiththegreatestcareintotheleastprobableplaces。TwoofthemwentofftothechalettolookforSmilash。ThenFairholme,sunburnt,perspiring,anddusty,butstillenergetic,broughtbacktheexhaustedremnantofhisparty,withasullenboy,whoscowleddefiantlyatthepolice,evidentlybelievingthathewasabouttobedeliveredintotheircustody。
Fairholmehadbeeneverywhere,and,havingseennothingofthemissingpair,hadcometotheconclusionthattheywerenowhere。
Hehadaskedeverybodyforinformation,andhadletthemknowthathemeanttohaveittoo,ifitwastobehad。Butitwasnottobehad。Thesoleresortofhislaborwastheevidenceoftheboywhomhedidn\'tbelieve。