o."

"You ought to have returned to us as soon as you located them," added
Brush in the effort to soothe the ruffled feelings of the two.

"P'raps I didn't do the wisest thing," replied Adams with unexpected
meekness; "but I ain't the first person in the world that has made a
mistake. Howsumever, there won't be any more slips by me."

His companions looked inquiringly at him.

"I don't understand that remark," said the captain, "when you are sure
to blunder as long as you attempt to manage things."

"That's the p'int; I resign from this time forward; I haven't given
satisfaction and you may now do the work to suit yourselves."

"It's just as well," commented the captain, "for we can't make a
greater mess of it than you."

The story told by Vose Adams was a singular one, but the most singular
feature about it was that it did not contain a grain of truth. Every
statement was a falsehood, deliberately intended to deceive, and,
seeing that he had succeeded in his purpose, he was satisfied.

CHAPTER XXIII

VOSE ADAMS

Lieutenant Russell gave no hint to Nellie Dawson of the scheme upon
which he had fixed his hopes, until after she had confessed her love
for him, and he was certain beyond the shadow of a doubt, that he
possessed the sole affection of her heart. Even then he hesitated for
he knew the shock it would cause the gentle one, who was devotedly
attached to her father. But the resolution of Captain Dawson to spend
the remainder of his days at the mining settlement, and his intention
of selecting her husband from among those that had made New
Constantinople their home for years, crystallized the determination
that had been vaguely shaping itself in his brain for weeks.

As he expected, she recoiled shocked by the proposal to leave her
father; but love is eloquent, and he won by convincing her that the
separation would be only temporary. Her father would be quick to see
the great wrong his course would inflict upon his child, and he would
not only consent to the union, but would follow and make his home with
them. It was this implicit belief which made her the companion of
Lieutenant Russell in the flight from the mountain settlement.

The project having been carefully planned and arranged, the
preparations were more complete than those of their pursuers. They
took sufficient extra clothing in the form of wraps and blankets, and
enough food to last for several days. They were well mounted and had
t