“They are not hard;—the time cannot be long since she left;” replied Oloompa.
“Did she leave to-day?” continued Earth.
“No,” answered Oloompa, “perhaps yesterday. If the white man is ready, Oloompa will go; he is troubled, his heart is soft;—the red maiden left her letter for Oloompa, and told him to follow.”
Rolfe felt that he had wronged Oloompa in the suspicions which he first entertained, and the deep feeling he now manifested, together with his whole conduct, served, every moment, to exalt him in his estimation. Regretting what had happened, he approached him and said, “Oloompa, you must forgive me; my heart is sorry for what I have done. The red maiden loves the pale face,—Oloompa must love the white man. We will travel the same path,—we must be friends.”
Oloompa did not reply to Rolfe's remark, but said, “Oloompa's eyes will know no sleep. The red maiden goes to the camp of the Prophet.”
“Does death await them?” said Rolfe.
“The Prophet is great,” was the reply, “the red people fear him. Will the hunters go? Oloompa is ready, he will show the path.”
Rolfe then, turning to Earth, began to consult with him. The evening was far advanced, and Earth suggested, that as they could not continue the pursuit after it was dark, that they had better rest themselves, and refresh their horses, that they might be the better able to prosecute their journey on the following day. Rolfe was now nearly paralyzed by disappointment; for with the tidings that Gay had been carried to the camp of the Prophet, went hope from his bosom, and he was merely a passive agent in the hands of Earth. “Do as you please,” said he to Earth, “I can advise nothing. Oh! it is sad, sad, that fresh hopes should have sprung up, only to be blighted.”
“Come, Rolfe,” said Earth, “the thing ain't drawn to a focus yet;—it may be mighty bad, and I am afraid it will be, but now is the time to try and prevent it. It will take 'em several weeks to reach the Prophet's camp, and I shall think it right strange; indeed, it would be very curious, if, when we three are following 'em, they should all get there safe.”
Rolfe made no reply, but seated himself in a corner of the hut, while Earth sought Oloompa, to discuss with him the plan best to be adopted. He was impatient to commence the pursuit, but, for the purpose of refreshing the horses, and with a belief that in doing so they would actually gain time, he came into Earth's measures. It was then settled that they should rest where they were for the night, and set out with the first light of day.