Something white sticking from a little pocket in Dan"s coat caught Tony"s eye. Reaching down he drew it forth, and as he did so the little crushed rose dropped to the ground. One of the men picked it up and holding it in his big, rough hand looked curiously upon it. But Tony did not notice the flower, for his eyes were fixed upon the paper on which he saw his own name. Slowly and with difficulty he spelled out the queer letters scrawled there.
"deR toNy," so the missive began. "c.u.m hoM qiK they say paRson John sTol ol bilees goLD i tHINK yoU nO weR IT ISS
"yeR friEND TruLEE
"_Dan_."
Tony held the letter in his hand for some minutes and stared at those quaint words. He had heard from his mother of the death of old Billy and the burning of his house. But of the trouble later he knew nothing, for letters from home had been few. Now a new light dawned upon his mind.
Something must be wrong, and this lad had come all the way for him! But who was Dan? He had never seen nor heard of him before.
"As he stood there Big Sam drew near. He started with surprise as he saw the boy lying on the ground, his little pale face resting upon a rough coat.
"What! what"s this?" he exclaimed. "Why, this is the boy who came with me to-day! Has he fallen into the stream? I warned him to be careful."
"Poor boy! poor boy!" he remarked when the story of the brave deed had been related. "Do you think he"s badly hurt?"
"Can"t say," replied one. "But do ye know who he is?"
"Yes," and Big Sam in a few words told all that he knew.
"We must get him away from this as soon as possible," said the former speaker. "He needs the doctor. Where had we better take him?"
"Look here, boys," said Sam after a moment"s thought. "As soon as those horses have munched their oats they shall head for home. I"ll take the boy with me, and my wife will care for him. The doctor lives near."
Tony stood by listening to it all with his eyes fixed intently upon Dan"s face, while his hand still clutched the letter. He was weak, and ready to drop. But a burning desire throbbed within his breast. He partly realized the situation at Glendow. There was trouble, deep, serious trouble, and he was needed.
Chapter XXV
Beneath the Ashes
Far away in the West the sun was sinking low as Stephen Frenelle stood on the sh.o.r.e looking out over his newly rafted logs. Not a ripple disturbed the surface of the n.o.ble river, or the waters of the little creek lying between its semi-wooded banks. It was a balmy spring evening when the whole world seemed at peace. On a night such as this new longings and aspirations swell the heart, and the blood tingles joyfully through the body. Stephen had remained after the rest of the men had gone home. He wished to examine the logs to see that the work was well done. As he now stood on the sh.o.r.e his thoughts were not upon the gla.s.sy river or Nature"s loveliness. His mind was disturbed. All through the winter he had been looking forward to the time when the logs would be floating there secured by their wooden bonds. He had planned to have Nellie come to see the completion of his work. He knew how she would rejoice at what he had accomplished, and in his mind he had heard her words of congratulation.
But now all was changed. The work was done, but Nellie was not there to behold his victory. How lonely seemed the parish since her departure. He had thrown himself with great energy into his task, and the days had sped by. But, try as he might, he could not free himself from the weight which pressed upon his heart. Everything in the parish moved on as before. The new clergyman came, and service had been held in the church as usual. Many spoke favourably of the new man. He was young, full of spirit, and a clear, forcible speaker. But to Stephen it was not the same as formerly.
He missed the white-haired, venerable man in his accustomed place. The moment he entered the church his eyes sought the seat where Nellie always sat. It was empty. That form so dear to him was not there. He saw her Prayer Book and Hymn Book in the little rack, and a lump came into his throat, as he knew they would not be used.
He thought of these things, standing there on the sh.o.r.e. His tall, manly figure was drawn to its full height. He gazed straight before. It was a far-off vision he beheld, and suddenly there came into his heart a peace such as he had not known since she left. She seemed to be very near, standing right by his side. He saw her face, beheld her eyes looking into his, and heard her voice bidding him to be of good cheer, and to look up.
A sound near by startled him. He glanced quickly around, half expecting to see Nellie standing there. Instead, however, he beheld the tall, lank form of Tony Stickles approaching. His face was gaunt, his step weak and slow.
But Stephen did not notice these, so surprised was he to see him.
"Tony!" he exclaimed, reaching out his hand, "where did you drop from? I thought you were on the big drive."
"So I was, Steve," Tony replied, taking a seat upon a large boulder.
"Didn"t get fired, eh?"
To this Tony made no response. He looked thoughtfully before him for a while.
"Say, Steve," he at length remarked. "How"s Parson John?"
"He"s gone, Tony. Driven from Glendow."
"What!" and Tony sprang to his feet in excitement. "When did he leave?"
"Last week."
"Then I"m too late! I was afraid of it! But I came fast--I ran sometimes; but it was no use. Is he in the lockup?"
"In the lockup! What do you mean?" and Stephen stared at him in amazement.
From the depth of a capacious pocket Tony brought forth Dan"s soiled letter, and held it up.
"Read that," he said. "It"s all I know."
Quickly Stephen scanned the quaint words, drinking in almost intuitively the meaning of it all.
"Did Dan give you this?" he demanded.
"Yes."
"And where is the boy now?"
Tony"s eyes dropped at the question, and he did not answer.
"Is anything wrong?" Stephen insisted.
"Yes, I"m afraid so. But set down close, Steve. I"ve somethin" great to tell ye."
And sitting there in the dusk of even Tony poured into his companion"s ears the story of that terrible scene in Giant Gorge, and of Dan"s brave deed.
Stephen listened spell-bound to the tale. The meaning of Dan"s departure was all clear now. While people had been blaming the lad as an ungrateful runaway he had fared forth in loving service on behalf of his guardians. A mistiness blurred Stephen"s eyes as Tony paused.
"Where is Dan now?" he asked.
"At Big Sam"s house. We brought "im down on the waggon, an" I helped carry "im in."
"Who is Big Sam?"
"Oh, he"s the teamster. The booms are near his place whar the raftin" will be done. Sam hauls the stuff fer the gang."
"And you don"t know how badly Dan is hurt?"
"No, I came away at once. I wanted to help the old parson. An" say, Steve, did they find the gold?"
"Find it? No. And I don"t think they will now. It"s a great mystery."