“Thank you, Norton,” cried the colonel warmly; “I am most grateful. But you are wrong: he would not be happy if he stayed here and I went alone; I believe he would prefer running all risks with me. How odd!” added the colonel, smiling; “here he is, to speak for himself.”
For at that moment the door was softly opened, and Perry stood there, looking startled.
“Come in, boy, come in,” cried the colonel.
“I—I beg; our pardon; I thought Captain Norton had gone.”
“No, and we were just talking about you.”
“About me, father?”
“Yes; Captain Norton thinks it would be too risky and arduous a journey for you up into the mountains, and he says you are to stay here and make yourself happy with Cyril till I come back.”
The lad looked delighted.
“Oh father!” he cried. Then, quick as thought, his manner changed.
“It is very good of Captain Norton,” he said gravely, “but I could not stop here and let you go alone.”