"it's the same that puzzles me sorely. Could yees be afther
accounting for it?"

"Elwood and I both know that you think a great deal of us, and no doubt
it is because your affection is so equally divided."

"That's it. Yees have made it all plain. I likes each of yees more than
the other, and both of yees a great deal the most, whither be the towken
of takin' yees apart or together, or takin' both of yees separate, and
also wid each other."

Tim nodded his head again and again, as if to signify that it was clear
to his mind. Perhaps it was; but if so, one may doubt whether it was as
clearly expressed.

"There's another thing that troubles me," added the Irishman, with one
of those great inhalations of breath which seem to fill the entire
being.

"What is that?"

"Me pipe has gone out, and I hasn't the maans convanient to relight it."

"That is a small infliction which you can well afford to bear. I am only
anxious for the night, that we may speed on our way home to get
assistance for poor Elwood."

"Yis, if it's bist."

And just in that exclamation Tim O'Rooney echoed the sentiments of his
companion. Ever since leaving the range of hills, with the resolve to
hurry away in search of help, the question had been constantly rising in
his mind: "Is it best to do so?"

He tried to put it out of hearing, with the determination that he had
already decided; but, as if it were the pleadings of conscience, it
would not be stifled, and it came again and again, until when Tim spoke
it seemed almost as loud as his.

"I can't make up my mind about that," said he. "When we left the hills I
had not a moment's doubt but that he was in the hands of the Indians,
where there was great danger of our getting ourselves; but then we are
not sure of it, and suppose we go away and leave him wandering through
the woods until he is captured or is obliged to give himself up to keep
from starving. I imagine him following along the shore of the river
looking for us----"

"There! there! do yez shtop! No more for me; I've plenty," and the
Irishman drew his sleeve across his eyes, as if he were wiping an undue
accumulation of moisture, while Howard Brandon was scarcely less
affected at the touching picture which he had drawn, and which he felt
might be realized from his own remissness.

"I am sure I cannot tell which is for the best," he added in great
perplexity. "If a prisoner, he may be able to get away."

"Yis, yees are right; some