"I don't know," answered a miner. "I found him cryin' 'cause yer wouldn't take him with yer."
"Poor little chap! But where's Jack?" she questioned.
"There they be," said a ranchman, pointing to Jack and Wathemah, standing apart from the crowd. She stepped toward them.
"I have come to say good-by," she said. "You won't forget, Jack, to follow the Christ; you won't forget to pray?"
She laid her hand on his arm. He stood battling with himself. Her tender voice, her eyes filled with tears, almost unmanned him.
"Is it not much, do yer think, ter let yer go, as have brought me ter know God, as have learned me ter live right, an' have been like God's angel ter me? God help me!" The strong man's face worked, and he turned from her. After a moment, he put his hand in his pocket, and drew forth the Bible she had given him.
"I wisht I'd a knowed about this when I was a lad. My life'd ben differnt. I thank yer fur all yer've done fur me, and all yer've learned me. But it seems I can't let yer go. God help me!"
He stood with head bent and hands clinched.
At last, Esther spoke again:
"Good-by, John. You have fought a good fight, and conquered. Now, help the others with all your might." Ah, how much she had helped him in his battle!