"Yes; Uncle Clarence. He helped me up to this ledge, and then he stayed outside while I came in here to look for you."
"Let us go and bring him in now, dear," said Rule.
And the two walked out together.
But no one was to be seen on the plateau; only, on the ground under the pine tree where Mr. Clarence had rested was a piece of white paper, kept in place by a small stone laid upon it.
Rule picked up the stone, and handed the paper to Cora.
It proved to be a leaf from Mr. Clarence's pocket tablets, and on it was written:
"I am going down the mountain to tell Captain Neville that my party will camp here to-night, and join him at the fort to-morrow, so that he may go on with his train at once, if he should see fit. Clarence."
"He saw you receive me; he knew it was all right; then he grew tired of waiting for me. He thought I had forgotten him, and so I had, and he left this paper and went down to the trail," Corona explained with a smile.
"Shall we go down and see your friends, Cora? Tell me what you wish, dear," said Rothsay.
Corona looked at her watch, and then replied: