rld of affection and faith in the lustrous 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 passed 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
surpassed.

Tears were in the eyes of the emotional Nellie, but she stepped across
the brief intervening space 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?"

"Gracio