Part 34 (1/2)

”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.

Tomlinson slowly shook his head. ”You couldn't do anything that wasn't just right if you tried, and you'll think of me now and then,” he said.

”I'm going to remember you while I live.”

He did not wait for her answer, but turned abruptly away, and Hetty stood still a moment with hot cheeks and misty eyes. Then she moved hastily forward, and touched Ingleby's arm as he went out of the door.

”There's one of the horses in the swamp. Couldn't you put the pack-saddle on him and make a trail down to the ford?” she said. ”The troopers couldn't help seeing it. The ground's quite soft.”

Ingleby laughed. ”Of course! It's an inspiration, Hetty.”

He was some little time catching the horse, and when he reached the commissioner's house Coulthurst was already sitting with a book in front of him. He looked up with a little dry smile when Ingleby came in.

”It is after my usual office hours, but I understand from Mr. Sewell that you are anxious I should register you to-night as one of the owners of the claim held by Tomlinson?” he asked.

”Yes, sir,” said Ingleby. ”There are one or two reasons that make it advisable.”

He fancied there was a very faint twinkle which might have suggested comprehension in Coulthurst's eyes as the latter took up a pen.

”Then I think I can make an exception in your case, especially as Tomlinson seems equally anxious, and we will get the business done,” he said.

There was silence for a minute or two, and they waited with an impatience that was the fiercer because it was suppressed while Coulthurst turned over the papers in front of him and took down a book.

There was no sound but the splas.h.i.+ng of the rain upon the roof and the snapping of the little stove, but Ingleby felt his nerves tingle as he listened. Coulthurst, however, closed the book at last and handed him a paper.

”That should meet your requirements, and it will be quite in order for you to carry on the work at the claim should Tomlinson be absent from any cause,” he said, and stopping abruptly looked up as though listening. ”I fancy you were wise in getting the agreement recorded--now. Delays, as you are aware, are apt to be especially dangerous in case of a placer claim.”

He appeared to busy himself again with his book; but Tomlinson rose suddenly, and stood a moment, tense and strung up, with head turned towards the door, as a sound that suggested men and horses splas.h.i.+ng in the mire reached them faintly through the rain. Then he stepped forward towards the veranda by which they had entered, but Ingleby seized his arm and pointed towards the other door at the back of the room. He and Sewell knew that one could reach the bush that way through the outbuilt kitchen.

Coulthurst, who could not see the door from where he sat, looked up from his book for just a moment, and did not appear to notice that Tomlinson was no longer in front of him.

”I presume there is nothing more I can do for you, and that is apparently Captain Esmond. I think he has some business with me,” he said.

The hint that he would excuse them was plain enough, even if it went no further, and he drew another bundle of papers towards him. This, no doubt, accounted for the fact that he failed to notice that while Leger and Sewell moved towards the veranda, Ingleby slipped out through the other door. Sewell, however, gasped with relief when he saw it swing silently to. Just then there was a tramp of feet outside, and in another few moments Esmond sprang upon the veranda, splashed with mire and dripping with rain. Two wet troopers appeared behind him, carbines in hand. He stopped them with a little gesture of command, and then, striding past Sewell and Leger into the room, appeared to have some difficulty in restraining himself when he saw only the major there.