"And what are we going to do all night?" asked another cowboy.
"Well, we'll keep on hunting, of course. But I don't believe well
find the lost Curlytops."
One of the men rode back to the ranch to tell Mrs. Martin that so
far, no trace of the missing children had been found. She could not
keep back her tears, but she tried to be brave.
"Oh, where can they be?" she asked.
"They'll be all right," the cowboy said. "It's a nice warm night,
and they're brave children. Even if they had to sleep out it would
not hurt 'em. They could take the blankets that are under the ponies'
saddles and wrap up in them. They'll be all right."
Though they were lost, the Curlytops were, at that moment, much
better off than the cowboy thought. For they had found the big
blanket and the bundle of food, and they were sleeping soundly on the
prairie.
At first they had been a little afraid to lie down all alone out in
the night, but their ponies were with them, and Janet said it felt as
though Clipclap and Star Face were like good watch dogs.
Then, being very tired and having had something to eat and drink,
they fell asleep.
All night long, though, the cowboys rode over the prairie looking
for the lost ones. They shouted and called, but the Curlytops were
too far away to hear or to answer, even if they had been awake.
"Well, now we can make a better hunt," said Baldy, when he saw the
sun beginning to rise.
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