re at that
time. He had not made up his mind yet as to his proper course, and he
knew that Missoo would become so excited that it would perhaps make him
ill; and he knew also that, if it should become known in the town that
Little Dick and Hoyt had done what they had, their lives would not be
safe for five minutes after they were caught.

He had no wish to be the cause of so pronounced an example of "miners'
justice," and preferred to trust himself to legal law, as soon as he
could have Mr. Harmon to advise with him.

The chances were that, if he were to return east now, Mr. Harmon would
be home by the time he reached there, if he were not already home.

He talked this over with Bill, later, when Missoo was asleep, and Bill
agreed with him, but pointed out the necessity of getting away before
Hoyt should discover that he was alive, lest he should contrive in some
way to play him another trick; but to that Harry said Hoyt must discover
it soon, anyhow.

Missoo was not by any means well, and it was considered desirable by the
doctor that he should remain in bed; but he could spare Harry, and, loth
as the latter was to leave him before he was fully recovered, he felt
that his safety and the interests of his sister, as well as of himself,
demanded his presence east as soon as possible.

He put off speaking to Missoo until Bill had made every preparation for
leaving, which occupied two days; for, to avoid the chance of being seen
by Little Dick, Harry kept close in the house all the time. Moreover, he
had decided to go on horseback, as being safer from the observation of
Hoyt than the stage.

He had not hoped, really, that it could be kept from the two would-be
murderers for a long time that he was still in existence; but he thought
that, by keeping out of sight, he might puzzle them as to his
intentions, and perhaps frighten them away from Buttercup.

On the third day, and when everything was ready for departure at an
hour's notice, Bill suggested that he should run over to the Tiny Hill
and take a look at Hoyt and discover what he could.

Harry opposed the plan as dangerous, but Bill laughed at that notion and
Harry finally agreed to it.

So Bill went over there early in the morning and was back in a very
short time, his eyes telling Harry that something was amiss.

"Gone--both of 'em gone," said Bill. "I was pretty sure of it the minute
I set eyes on the place--looked deserted, you know. But I waited a
little