“It is too late to go now,” he said, “and would hardly be worth while, for I suppose the marks were days old when you saw them. We will have supper, and go to bed early for a start at sunrise to-morrow.”
Rising, he went into the cabin and, as Hugh could plainly hear, began to whistle gayly as he stirred the fire and brought out the frying pan. He seemed much more cheerful already now that there was, at last, a little hope. Hugh took up his pail and went to finish his long interrupted task of fetching water from the spring.
He came running up the path a few minutes later, spilling the water in wild splashes, and burst in at the cottage door.
“Oscar,” he cried, “did you say that you were sure Jake was still away?”
“Yes,” answered Oscar, looking up from the fire; “he can’t be back yet.”
“But he is,” insisted Hugh excitedly. “I thought so, and now I know. Just this minute I saw three men walk across the clearing and there is smoke coming from the chimney of the cabin on Jasper Peak. Just come to the door and see.”
CHAPTER VII
WHITHER AWAY?
It rained in the night, and blew so fiercely that the windows of the little house rattled and the door shook upon its hinges. When Hugh got up in the morning, all eagerness for the expedition, there was watery sunlight showing, but great gusts of wind were still thundering down the valley and the air was raw and chilly. The smiling autumn landscape of scarlet and gold was totally transformed; the flaming leaves had disappeared in one stormy night and the brown woods stood bare and bleak and cold.
“I wish this storm had waited just one day longer,” said Oscar as they were having breakfast before the welcome blaze of the big fire. “There may even be snow now before many hours.”