e meaning of his own words.

"Why would he go there?" angrily demanded the parson.

"Mebbe the villain changed his mind."

"But, if he had, _she_ would not be there."

"Yes; I went to his cabin," bitterly answered Captain Dawson; "he has
not been in the place for hours; all is dark and deserted; if I found
him, I would have killed him."

The three were laboring under fearful emotion, but with surprising
power forced themselves to seem comparatively calm.

"Captain, tell us about it," said the parson, carefully folding the
bit of paper upon itself and shoving it into his pocket, unobserved by
the others.

Despite his apparent calmness it took a few moments for the father to
gain sufficient self-control to speak clearly. Seated in the chair, he
looked into the embers of the fire on the hearth, compressed his lips
and breathed hard. His two friends had also seated themselves, for it
seemed to them it was easier to master their agitation thus than while
upon their feet.

"What have I to tell, but my everlasting woe and shame? The lieutenant
and I have been working for several days by ourselves on a new lead. I
had noticed nothing unusual in his manner nor indeed in that of my
child. At lunch time to-day he complained to me of not feeling like
work, and told me not to expect him back this afternoon. I would have
returned with him, had not the indications of the new lead been so
good. And actually he invited me to do no more work until to-morrow,
though why he should have done it, when it would have spoiled their
whole scheme, is more than I can explain.

"It was part of his plan to deceive you."

"I don't see how it could do that, for there was no need of his
inviting me,--but let it go. It came about that I worked later than
usual, so that it was dark when I got home. I was surprised to see no
light and to find no fire or Nellie. I thought nothing of that,
however, for who would have believed it possible that there could be
anything wrong? I supposed she was with some of the folks and being
tired I sat down in my chair and fell asleep.

"When I awoke, the room was cold, silent and as dark as a wolf's
mouth. I felt impatient and decided to give her a scolding for being
so neglectful. I groped around until I found a match, intending to
start a fire. I had just lit the lamp and set it down on the table,
when I caught sight of a folded piece of paper with my name in her
handwriting on the outside. It gave me a que