while and then skirmished around, and finally went right up and
knocked at the door. The knocking opened it, and the cabin was empty and
everything that was worth a cent had been taken. The stove was cold, and
I felt certain that they had been gone over two days."

"Then, of course, they know I wasn't killed," replied Harry; "for Dick
would never leave the cabin alone so long if he were coming back at all.
Now what shall we do?"

Well, the end of it was that they could not make up their minds what
would be the wisest thing to do; but Harry told Missoo that he intended
going East soon.

There was evidently a big lump in the miner's throat when he tried to
answer Harry's announcement, and when he did speak it was to beg like a
child that Harry would stay anyhow until he was up out of bed and
walking around.

"It won't be more'n a week, Gent," he said, pleadingly.

In his uncertainty what to do, Harry decided to let his course wait on
Missoo's recovery, hoping that in the meantime something would occur to
help him decide.

He was a good horseman, but Bill had had very little experience in that
way, and so the two went out on their horses every day, generally
accompanied by such of the miners as had the leisure and the inclination
to ride.

This was an always acceptable escort to Harry, for he could not drive
away an uneasy feeling that danger lurked in every lonely place. There
were not many rides in the vicinity of the mines, but the mountain
trails would do better than no roads at all, and the parties used to go
stumbling and straggling over these.

Once Harry dismounted near the cave and ran up to it and looked in; then
he was certain that his escape had been discovered, and it seemed
probable that it had happened on the same day or the next.

The week passed by and Missoo was gaining his strength rapidly and was
sitting up every day. Harry, too, was gaining confidence in the absence
of any sign of danger, and two or three times went out riding with Bill
without anybody else.

One day they started out alone, and Harry talked of soon being able to
start.

"What do you think has become of Hoyt?" asked Bill.

He had asked the same question a great many times, but hoped each time
to get a more satisfying answer. It was a question he could not answer
to his own satisfaction.

"I wish I knew," Harry responded; "but anyhow we must make a start soon.
I wrote to Mr. Harmon that I would be there and he will be ex