“It is doubtful, for about the only merits he has are his bravery and his loyalty to his friends.”
“In my ’pinion the same is considerable,” commented Ruggles.
“He would be a powerful friend to Nellie, because she is a female and because she is my daughter, but,” added the father with a sigh, “I have my doubts whether I shall ever take her to the settlement again.”
This announcement strangely affected the two who heard it, for the dearest schemes which they secretly 256 nourished included the spending of their days in the mining settlement. The hope of each had flickered into life once more with the prospect of recovering and punishing her abductor. They knew that she would bitterly mourn his loss, and would probably be inconsolable for a time, but the months and years would bring forgetfulness and then––who should say what might come to pass?
“We thought,” remarked Ruggles, as they resumed their seats, “that we should have a weary wait for Vose, but it didn’t prove so dull after all.”
The captain looked at his watch.
“He has been gone more than an hour, and there’s no saying when he will be back. He has his own way of managing this business, and, though I concede his skill and superior knowledge in this part of the world, it is hard to keep my patience when I see the hours slipping away without bringing any results.”
But the patience of the three men was tried more sorely than ever before, and to a greater extent than any one of them anticipated. Noon came and passed and without bringing Vose Adams. The party partook sparingly of their lunch, leaving enough for their absent friend, but the lagging hours wore away and they still waited. They said little to one another, but the captain, unable to restrain his restlessness, wandered down the cañon. The two left behind watched him 257 until he passed from view in the direction taken by Colonel Briggs and his company. A few minutes later, the report of his rifle came back to them.
“I wonder if he’s got into trouble,” exclaimed the parson, rising to his feet and peering to their left, without seeing everything to explain the sound that had reached them.
“I shouldn’t wonder,” replied Ruggles; “everything is going wrong; Vose wouldn’t stay away so long, unless he, too, was in difficulty.”