woe.

"Why do you think that?" asked the parson, sympathetically.

"Lieutenant Russell has gone too! They have fled together!"

CHAPTER XV

COMRADES IN SORROW

Wade Ruggles and Parson Brush sprang to their feet and confronted the
white-faced Captain Dawson, who stared at them and breathed fast. For
a full minute they gazed into one another's faces, dazed, motionless
and speechless. The partners stood, each with pipe in hand, the faint
smoke curling upward from the bowls, their slouched hats still on
their frowsy heads, the revolvers at their cartridge belts spanning
their waists, their trousers tucked in the tops of their boots, and
with their heavy flannel shirts serving for coats and vests.

Captain Dawson was similarly attired. He had dashed out of his own
cabin and into that of his friends, his long locks flying, and even
the strands of his heavy beard rigidly apart, as if from the
consternation that had taken possession of his very soul.

In those seconds of tomb-like stillness, an ember on the earthen
hearth fell apart and a twist of flame threw a yellow illumination
through the small room, grim and bare of everything suggesting
luxury.

It was the parson who first found voice, but when he spoke the tones,
even to himself, sounded like those of another person.

"Captain, it is possible that there is some mistake about this."

"Would to God there might be!"

"Let us hope there is."

"Mistake!" he repeated in a husky, rasping voice; "can there be any
mistake about _that_?"

He threw out his single arm as he spoke, as if he would drive his fist
through their chests. But he held a crumpled bit of paper in the face
of the parson, who silently took it from him, crinkled it apart and
turning his side so that the firelight fell on the sheet, began
reading the few words written in pencil and in the pretty delicate
hand which he knew so well.

"Read it out loud, parson," said Ruggles, speaking for the first
time.

Felix Brush did so in a voice of surprising evenness:

"MY DEAREST FATHER:--I have decided to go with Lieutenant Russell.
We love each other and I have promised to become his wife. Do not
think I love you any less for that can never be. I cannot remain
here. You will hear from us soon and then I pray that you will
come to your own

NELLIE."

"Have you been to his shanty?" asked Ruggles, who hardly comprehended
th