Wade¹ 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 cartridge² belts spanning their waists, their trousers tucked in the tops of their boots, and with their heavy flannel³ shirts serving for coats and vests.  
Captain Dawson was similarly attired⁴. He had dashed out of his own cabin and into that of his friends, his long locks flying, and even the strands⁵ of his heavy beard rigidly⁶ apart, as if from the consternation⁷ that had taken possession of his very soul.
 
In those seconds of tomb-like stillness, an ember on the earthen hearth⁸ 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 152 spoke⁹ 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 crumpled¹⁰ 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 decided¹¹ to go with Lieutenant¹² 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 shanty¹³?” asked Ruggles, who hardly comprehended the meaning of his own words.
 
153
“Why would he go there?” angrily demanded the parson.
 
“Mebbe the villain¹⁴ 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 deserted¹⁵; if I found him, I would have killed him.”
 
The three were laboring¹⁶ 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 agitation¹⁷ thus than while upon their feet.
 
“What have I to tell, but my everlasting¹⁸ woe¹⁹ 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 154 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 inviting²⁰ 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 queer feeling and my hands trembled when I unfolded and read it.
 
“I don’t clearly remember the next few minutes. The room seemed to be spinning around, and I think 155 I had to sit down to keep from falling, but wh............