"Horrible!" cried Jefferson; "horrible!"
Dismay and terror were on every face.
The dreadful news paralysed their movements, and rendered them momentarily helpless.
d.i.c.k Harvey was the first to break the silence.
He sprang to his feet, and made for the grounds, motioning the others to follow him.
"Let us try and catch the postman," he exclaimed; "if we get hold of him, we may learn something worth knowing."
"Bravo!" responded Jefferson; "a capital idea."
They were flying all over the grounds immediately.
But the result may be guessed in advance.
Not a sign was there of the bearer of this alarming letter.
They gave up the search only when there was not the faintest vestige of a hope left, and crestfallen and disappointed, they returned to the house.
"Come," said d.i.c.k to the bold American; "we must move; we must be stirring."
"What for?"
"For several reasons," replied d.i.c.k, "but firstly for the purpose of giving Jack something to do. It will never do to let a man in his condition brood."
They sought poor Harkaway again, and led him off to hold a consultation.
"Jack," said Harvey, brusquely, "you must not give way to despondency.
I say positively, must not. You will certainly undermine your health."
"Do not fear for me, d.i.c.k," returned Harkaway, "I shall be better for a little quiet."
"Indeed you"ll not. Besides, it is not just to the boys."
Harkaway"s lips quivered, and a big lump rose in his throat.
He swallowed it with considerable difficulty, and silently wrung d.i.c.k"s hand.
"Don"t, don"t, old friend," he faltered, in a broken-hearted voice. "I can"t bear the mention of their names. Poor boys! poor boys!"
"But you must," insisted Harvey. "I don"t mean to leave them in the lurch."
"What do you mean?"
"What I say. We must not give up the search."
"Ah, d.i.c.k, you would persuade me, if you can"t persuade yourself."
"You are wrong," replied Harvey. "I have the deepest conviction on the point."
"To what effect?"
"That they live--both live."
Jack Harkaway looked positively frightened at this reply.
"d.i.c.k, d.i.c.k," he exclaimed, mournfully, "what are you saying, old friend?"
"What I mean. They yet live," returned Harvey boldly.
"No, no."
"But I say, yes, yes."
"I should rather say that they were murdered long before we received their last message."
"Come, come, Jack," he said; "rouse yourself, man. Whatever can make you believe this to be true?"
"The letter."
d.i.c.k laughed at this.
"That is the very first thing to raise my doubts," replied d.i.c.k. "Why, we have known Hunston all his life, and never found him any thing but the most notorious liar."
"True; but--"
"He told lies as a boy--lies as a youth--lies as a man. His life has been one long lie, and yet you choose to make yourself wretched and all of us too upon the strength of such a vagabond"s word. Bah!"
Harkaway hung his head and sighed.
"That is not all, d.i.c.k," he said; "I have the direst presentiment upon me--"
"Presentiment!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed d.i.c.k, interrupting him.
"Well, Jack, I will not quarrel with you about presentiments, since I am urged on to what I am about to say and do by presentiments--only my presentiments are of the most hopeful description."
"d.i.c.k," said Harkaway, looking him straight in the face, "you are trying to deceive me."
"I swear I am not," retorted Harvey, with warmth. "And you shall soon see whether or not I am in earnest."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I am going to fetch the boys."
"What wildness are you talking, d.i.c.k? What is this?"
"Simply that to-morrow at daybreak I shall start off on the search."