Joshua reported elk signs upon his return, and was enjoying a new fever from that cause; but he never found any cartridges in the magazine when the weapon was left in camp.
We had passed two weeks in our delightful retreat, seeing no one except the inhabitants of the neighboring ranch, who would visit us at intervals for a supply of trout, which we always had for them. In return they brought us such quantities of rich milk that we became surfeited. The weather had been superb, without a drop of rain, and we had no use even for the fly to shelter us at night. The Major wished for a shower to break the monotony, but we did not get it.
We had wondered more than once during our idle moments concerning the deacon and his whereabouts. One evening when Mr. Dide and myself were alone at the camp-fire, the Major and Joshua having gone to the neighboring ranch, I made bold to inquire of the gentleman touching the ladies in whose company we had left our friend. Mr. Dide answered:
"Miss Jennie is a cousin, I believe, of the Deacon, as you call him."
"But about the other lady, Mr. Dide?"
"Aw,—Miss Gwace!—she is a vewy chawming young lady, as you say."
"You have known her some time?"
"Aw—y-a-s."
Mr. Dide retired within himself, and I concluded, if I would learn anything, I must come to the point without indirection.