"Work—work like blazes. No use goin' furder ontil we find thet gal; ef it kin be did. Ef—it must be did! Thunder! I'll find her ef I hev to take an' rip the hull teetotal kentry through my old hat! See 'f I don't, now," and Castor spoke with strong emphasis.
Mrs. Wilson now gave signs of returning consciousness. Strong-nerved, she was not one to yield long to any misfortune, however heavy and bitter it might be.
"Now, Ed," added Tobe, thoughtfully, "this is what we must do. You may stay here with her an' the hosses, 'ca'se we may need them afore long. I'll go back 'long the trail as we kem by, an' look fer the gal. She must 'a' bin knocked off by some pesky limb, an' won't hev gone fur. I'll find her, never fear."
"But the Indians—those who fired at us? They may have found her," faltered Wilson.
"'Tain't likely, fer I didn't hear thar yell as they'd 'a' give ef they hed. I don't think they'd notice her tumble a-tall. An' then ag'in, I don't think thar was more'n one or two, or they'd 'a' follered us closter. Most likely jest a stray, prowlin' critter, who run jest as soon's he shot at us."
"I hope so—but why can't we all go?"
"Don't be a fool, now, Ed, don't. S'posin' thar was a wheen o' reds nigh, wouldn't we look nice a-blunderin' right spang into 'em? They'd hear us a-comin', an' then lay fer us. Then whar'd we be? No, sir. Whatever's did I must do, alone, by myself. You must stay here to keep her comp'ny—onless, indeed, you keep right on to the shanty fer Fred. Which is it?"
"No, we must not leave Annie—Fred is a man, and better able to take care of himself. We will wait here."
"All right, then. But fust, wait ontil I find a better place fer ye to lay low in than this," and Castor started away from the spot.
"Is Annie gone, Edward?" murmured Mrs. Wilson feebly.