"No," said the miner simply, "I hadn't quite thought of that."
"Then if you head south for the settlements you will certainly be overtaken. In fact, I'm not sure the corporal will not have sent a man along the trail already. You can't live in the ranges with nothing to eat, and that only leaves Westerhouse. They would never expect you to strike out for there, but if you will listen for two minutes I'll tell you the trail."
He was scarcely so long, for time was precious, but, though few men unused to the wilderness would have understood or remembered most of what he said, it was quite plain to Tomlinson, who nodded.
"Well," he said, "I'll light out when I've got the major to record the agreement."
They pointed out that this was not exactly necessary and entailed a risk, but Tomlinson was quietly resolute.
"I'm going away to save my claim, and I'll make quite sure," he said. "It's an old woman back in Oregon I want the money for. She hasn't another son—they're all gone but me. Well, I guess I'm ready. The troopers would pick up my trail if I took a horse along."
He was scarcely a minute stowing the provisions Hetty thrust upon him inside two blankets, which he rolled up and lashed with strips of deer-hide to pack upon his back; and he wasted no time in thanks; but when Sewell opened the door he walked gravely up to the girl, and laid both his big hands on the one she held out to him.
"I guess I'm not going to worry you any more. It's scarcely likely I'll ever come back," he said.
Hetty's face flushed a little, and there was a slight tremor in her voice.
"It's all my fault," she said.