Part 4 (1/2)

”Oh, d.i.c.k, you must keep out of danger,” said Dora. ”Promise me you will be careful!”

”I will be careful, Dora,” he answered, as he looked down into the depths of her clear eyes. ”I will be careful--for your sake,” he added, in almost a whisper.

”If something sh--should happen to you!” she faltered.

”I'll take care of myself, don't fear, Dora,” he made reply, and then, as they were all alone he drew her up to him. ”Dora, may I?”

he asked, softly and tenderly.

She did not answer, but looked up at him, innocently and confidingly.

He bent over and kissed her, and gave her hand a little squeeze.

”We understand each other, don't we, Dora?” he whispered.

”Of course we do,” she whispered in return.

”And some day you'll be Mrs. d.i.c.k Rover?”

”Oh, d.i.c.k!”

”But you will be, won't you?”

”I--I--suppose--Oh!” And then Dora broke from d.i.c.k's hold, as Fred Garrison and Hans Mueller appeared, around a bend of the pathway.

”Breakfast is waiting!” sang out Fred. ”Hurry up, if we are to start that search.”

”All right,” answered d.i.c.k.--”We'll be in right away.”

”See, I vos bick me a peautiful roses,” put in Hans Mueller, coming closer. ”d.i.c.k, of you ton't peen--vot you call him?--jealousness, yah, I gif him to Dora,” and he pa.s.sed over the flower.

”Oh, thank you, Hans,” replied Dora, and she placed the flower in her hair. Then she gave d.i.c.k a look that meant a good deal, and they understood each other perfectly, and both went in to breakfast feeling very happy.

In the meantime Sam and Tom had been out on a side veranda with Grace and Nellie. Tom was as full of fun as ever and kept the two girls in a roar of laughter. Yet both girls grew serious when the time for parting came.

”You look out for yourself,” said Grace. ”Remember, those men are bad characters to meet.”

”Yes, I shouldn't want you to get hurt for the world,” added Nellie, and when she shook hands with Tom there was something like a tear in her eye.

Then came good-byes all around, and the carriage that was to take d.i.c.k and the others to the town drove around to the door. The party climbed in and in a moment more were off, the girls and ladies waving their handkerchiefs and the boys swinging their caps and hats.

”Yo' boys dun take good care ob yo'selves,” said Aleck, who stood by, with a look of concern on his ebony face. ”If yo' come back killed dis c.o.o.n will neber fo'give himself!”

”Come back as soon as you can!” called out Dora.

”Don't worry--we may be back in a day or two,” answered d.i.c.k. But it was destined to be many a long day ere the two parties should meet again.

Down at the riverside they found the launch in charge of a negro and all ready for the start. The provisions were stored in two lockers on board, and another locker held their firearms and some raincoats.

”Hurrah! Here is news,” cried d.i.c.k, after perusing a telegram that had been handed to him. ”You'll remember I telegraphed to Benton, the town below here. Well, here is word that the houseboat was seen pa.s.sing Benton yesterday at about five o'clock, and headed towards the west sh.o.r.e. That ought to give us something to work on.

”It will,” answered Harold Bird. ”Come, the sooner we get started the better.”