"Why did they not come with you?"

"I advised 'em to wait till I found out how the land laid and they won't leave the spot till I get back."

Lieutenant Russell gave no expression to the thought that flashed upon him. Why not keep Vose Adams a prisoner? The loss of his services to the party would be irreparable, for, as it was, the present hiding place of the fugitives never would have become known to them without the help of the guide. It was a daring scheme, but there were so many objections to carrying it out, that the officer dismissed it. In truth he thought of a much better plan.

"You have told me enough, Vose, to prove that the four men--for I may as well include yourself--feel bitterer toward me than I suspected: do you think this enmity of theirs will last?"

"Not for long."

"How long?"

"They'll let up as soon as you're shot."

Lieutenant Russell could not restrain a smile at this way of putting it, while Nellie was so horrified that she gasped and stared and listened in silence.

"There can be little doubt that you are right, but I meant to ask whether you do not think the captain will moderate his anger when he is given time to think it over."

"He has had all night to do that, and this mornin' he was hotter if anything, than at any time since he larned what you had done."

"When did he learn it?"

Thereupon, Vose told the facts which have already been made known to the reader, the most interesting feature of which was that Adams was not an original member of the pursuing party. But, although the guide was so p.r.o.nounced in his opinion of the continuance of the enmity of Captain Dawson, the lieutenant believed otherwise. He was confident that if he and Nellie could reach Sacramento before meeting the irate father, the latter would be open to reason, and all would turn out well.

Vose turned to the young woman.

"Nellie, do you want a little advice from me?"

"I am glad to have it at any time."

"Howsumever, what I say is as much for the leftenant as for you, which the same is that both of you should give up this bus'ness."

"But," said Nellie, "you have just told us that father is so angry with Lieutenant Russell that he will shoot him the moment they meet."

"We can fix that easy 'nough; let the leftenant stay here while you go with me; I think we can explain matters to the captain and the others so they won't bother the leftenant."

"And what am _I_ to do?" asked Russell.

"Push on to Sacramento as fast as you can, for though I think I can fix it, I wouldn't advise you to take too many chances."

"In other words, after Nellie and I have fled from the settlement and got this far on the road to safety, you urge me to give her up forever."

"Wal, that's lookin' a little further ahead than I meant to, but I 'spose it amounts to that."

"You mean well, Vose, but do you imagine that Nellie and I did not count the cost before turning our backs on New Constantinople? Don't you suppose we knew we should be pursued and were prepared for the consequences?"

"I can't say as to that, but it strikes me that the plan I laid before you is the only one there is."

"Why?"

"You cannot get away from the captain and the men with him."

"Well, there is no call for me to repeat my opinion, but I will say that the decision shall rest with Nellie herself. If she wishes to go with you I will interpose not a word of objection."

He looked toward her as an invitation for her to speak. There was a world of affection and faith in the l.u.s.trous eyes, as she walked resolutely forward and placed herself by his side.

"Only death shall separate us!"

CHAPTER XXIV

AN UNEXPECTED ALLY

The lovelight shone in the eyes of Lieutenant Russell, as he looked down at the slight figure beside him. He tenderly pa.s.sed his arm around the girl and touched his lips to her forehead.

"It was not that I doubted you, Nellie," he said, "but that Vose might know the full truth."

Then turning to the guide, he asked:

"Do you still advise her to leave me?"

Vose Adams was unaccustomed to scenes like this. He moved about uneasily, coughed, cleared his throat, and for a few minutes was at a loss for words.

"I don't know what to advise," he finally said; "but don't you think, if she could go to the captain and let him see how she feels, he will give in? How would it do for both of you to walk back with your arms round each other's neck and sayin' sweet words--wouldn't that fetch him? Hanged, if I know what to tell you!" he exclaimed desperately, observing the smiles on their faces.

"I am afraid your plan wouldn't work," said the lieutenant, "but you have proved yourself the very friend we need."

These words were a hint of the scheme that had come into the brain of the young officer. Had he made a prisoner of Vose Adams, as he thought for a minute of doing, the guide would really be more dangerous, since there was no way of guarding against his treachery, but if he could be turned into a friend, it would be almost equivalent to saving the fugitives. It was that for which the young man planned, but he felt that the real work must be done by Nellie. He could not win the good will of Vose, but she could, for who was able to resist her appeals?

It was a proof of the brightness of the girl that she caught the purpose of her escort the moment his last words were uttered, and she performed her part with a cleverness that could not have been surpa.s.sed.

Tears were in the eyes of the emotional Nellie, but she stepped across the brief intervening s.p.a.ce and laid her hand on the arm of Adams.

"How glad I am, Vose, that you will help us, for you have told enough to show that it will not do for us to meet father for some time to come; we are now in your hands."

"Blamed if I won't do anything I can! But what can _I_ do? 'Spose I sneak back, shoot the captain and then plug Ruggles and the parson?

Will that suit you?"

"Gracious; I should rather you would kill me than harm a hair of father's head."

"Wal, 'spose I shoot you and the leftenant and the captain and the rest? No; that won't do; how the mischief shall I fix things?"

The cooler headed Russell saw that the problem had been solved; Nellie Dawson had won over Vose Adams, as may be said, by the turn of her finger. He was eager to do all he could to help them, but in the flurry of the moment could not reason with his usual ac.u.men.

"We don't want any shooting, Vose; I am sure that if we can reach Sacramento without meeting the captain, his anger will pa.s.s away. In Sacramento, I shall be able to arrange a meeting between him and his daughter, and his love for her will break down the barriers and do the rest."