hadn't done so, it
would have took me a blamed sight longer to find you; there are half a
dozen other places in the mountains ten times worse than the one
where you flew the track. Howsumever, if you don't want me, I'll go
back."

And Vose Adams, as if his dignity had received a mortal hurt, began
turning his mule around.

"Hold on," interposed Captain Dawson; "you have put things in their
true light; we are very glad to have you with us."

"That makes it all right," was the cheery response of the good natured
Vose; "I never like to push myself where I ain't wanted, but as you
seem glad to see me, after having the thing explained, we won't say
nothing more about it. Howsumever, I may add that I obsarved you
started in such a hurry that I thought it warn't likely you fetched
any vittles with you, so I made up a lunch and brought it with me,
being as you may not always have time to spare to shoot game."

The chilliness of Vose Adams' greeting changed to the warmest welcome.
He had shown more thoughtfulness than any of them, and his knowledge
of the perilous route through the mountains was beyond value. Indeed,
it looked as if it was to prove the deciding factor in the problem.

"Do you know our business, Vose?" asked the captain.

"I knowed it the minute I seen you sneaking off like shadows toward
the trail. I hurried to my cabin, got a lot of cold meat and bread
together and then hunted up Hercules, my boss mule. He isn't very
handsome, but he has a fine voice and has been through these mountains
so many times that he knows the right road as well as me. I knowed you
would travel fast and didn't expect to overhaul you afore morning, but
you went past the right turn and that give me a chance to catch up
sooner."

"But how was it you suspected our errand?" persisted the captain.

"How could I help it? What else could it be? I seen the miss and the
leftenant start for Sacramento, and being as you took the same course
it was plain that you was going there too, if you didn't overtake 'em
first."

"You saw them start!" thundered the father of Nellie Dawson; "why
didn't you hurry off to me with the news?"

"Why should I hurry off to you with the news?" coolly asked Vose
Adams; "it wasn't the first time I had seen the two ride in that
direction; sometimes she was with you, or with the parson or Ruggles,
and once or twice with me. Would you have thought there was anything
wrong if you had seen them?"

"No, I suppose