"I must be off, too," Dick remarked, as he rose from the table. "This hot sun is breaking up the trail, and it is necessary to get to Rapid City as soon as possible to record that claim. You will stay?" and he turned to Tom.
"Yes, pard," was the reply. "My old legs are not fit fer sich a trip at present. I shall git a cabin fixed up as quick as I can. I haven't much to live upon, to be sure, though I've been placed in a far worse position many a time before. I'll go down to the cache we left along the river an' git my rifle an' some grub. You'll need the rest."
Nance, too, had risen to her feet, and stood looking at the two men. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were bright.
"You will come back, will you not?" she faltered, as Dick took her hand to bid her good-bye.
"Just as soon as I can," Dick returned.
"Before the summer?" she queried. "I hope you will, as we are going away."
"What!" Dick dropped her hand, and looked intently into her eyes. "Going away! Surely you don't mean it!"
"Yes, it is true. We have been planning for some time to go outside, and so have everything arranged for this coming summer."
"But you must not go until I return. Promise me that," the young man urged.
"It all depends upon my father. I did want to go so much a while ago, but now I am not so anxious."