“I mean hiding away, and will turn up directly.”
“No, he would not be so wanting in common sense,” said the captain sternly. “What pleasure could he find in so inane a prank?”
“None. I ought not to have said such a thing. He would not, of course.”
“No,” said Johannes decisively. “Is it possible, gentlemen, that he may have gone on, after putting the fire ready, so as to reach the boat?”
“I can see no reason.”
“You did not give him any order, sir—one that you have forgotten?”
“No, certainly not,” said the captain; and Johannes was silent, waiting for his superior to make some suggestion, the captain being very thoughtful as he stood there with his brow knit. At last he spoke.
“I cannot leave this place with the knowledge that he may have gone away for some reason that we cannot grasp and will perhaps return here by-and-by. It would be horrible for him to come and find that we had gone.”
“I should stay,” said Johannes shortly. “Thank you, my man,” said the captain warmly; “and we shall stay, too. Of course you would not go, Handscombe?”
“Impossible!” said the doctor quickly. “One minute, though,” he continued, looking upward toward the rugged face of the mountain, and higher still to the snow and ice. “Do you think he has climbed up yonder to pass the time till we overtook him?”