Jack fought hard for his good name. His need lent him an eloquence
more than his own. In all this he never stooped by so much as a word
to plead for himself. "Why shouldn't you tell the truth?" he
persisted. "What good is this life you're leading to you? It'll kill
you in a month. Chuck it all, and stay in this country, and win back
your health, and your brains, and your self-respect."
Garrod wavered. He half turned to Jack with a more human look.
"Would--would you be friends with me again?" he murmured.
"I'd stand by you," said Jack quickly. "I've got my start up here, and
I could give you a good one. As long as I stood by you no one could
rake up old scores. But it couldn't be just the same as it used to
be," his honesty forced him to add.
Jack waited with his eyes fixed compellingly on the other man.
Garrod's eyes struggled to escape them, and could not. Suddenly he
broke down, and buried his head in his arms. "I'll do it!" he sobbed.
Jack sprang up. "Good!" he cried with blazing eyes. "The whole truth?
You took the money, and spent it, and let them fasten the theft on me?"
"I took the money, and spent it, and let them fasten the theft on you,"
repeated Garrod.
Jack drew a long breath, and, sitting again, wiped his face. Not until
he felt the sense of relief that surged through him did he realize how
much this had meant to him. He could look almost kindly on the
stricken figure in front of him now, and the sobs inspired him with
none of the disgust he would have felt at any other time. He waited
patiently for Garrod to recover himself. When the man at last became
quiet he said, not unkindly:
"Are you ready now?"
"For what?" asked Garrod, lifting a terrified face.
"Let us go back to camp. Vassall is there. You can tell him."
Garrod desperately shook his head. "Linda--Miss Trangmar is there. I
couldn't--I couldn't have her hear me!"
"But we could take Vassall away."
"No," he said. "Don't you understand? Vassall is after her. He'll be
glad of this. I couldn't tell him."
"What if he knew about Linda and me," thought Jack with a sidelong
look. "Gad! but life's a rum go!"
"I'd rather face Sir Bryson," stuttered Garrod. "Wait till Sir Bryson
comes back. I swear I'll tell him the whole truth, and you shall be
there."
"You're right, I'll be there," said Jack grimly. He considered,
frowning. It might be better to confront Sir Bryson with Garrod
direct, but Sir Bryson would not be back for five or six hours, and who
could tell what contradictions of mood would pass over this half-insane
man in the interval.
As if reading his mind, Garrod said: "I won't take anything back. You
needn't be afraid--if you let me stay with you. You're my only hope.
Let me stay with you. Give me something to do all day."
Jack rubbed his chin in perplexity. "Will you write out a confession?"
he finally asked.
Garrod eagerly nodded his head.
"Wait here, then," commanded Jack.
Jack ran to his tent, where he got a pen and his note-book, and
returned to the dugout. He was gone but two minutes, nevertheless as
he sprang down the bank he saw that Garrod was no longer alone. Jean
Paul had joined him.
It did not occur to Jack that the half-breed had any concern in this
affair, but he was annoyed by his intrusion just at this minute. He
looked at him sharply. Jean Paul stood idly chewing a grass-stalk, and
looking out over the river with a face as expressionless as brown
paper. Garrod was sitting as Jack had left him, looking at Jean Paul.
A change had passed over his eyes.
Jack's temper got a little the better of him. "What do you want here?"
he demanded.
Jean Paul turned with an air of mild surprise. "Not'ing," he said.
"Wat's the matter? I saw you and Garrod here, and I came. I got
not'ing to do."
"Go find something," said Jack. "Clear out! Make yourself scarce!
Vamoose!"
Jean Paul, with a deprecatory shrug, walked slowly on up the beach.
"I have pen and paper," Jack said eagerly to Garrod.
Garrod's dazed eyes were following Jean Paul's retreating figure. He
paid no attention. It was only too evident that his mood had changed.
Jack's face grew red. "Have you gone back on it already?" he said with
an oath.
"I must go," muttered Garrod, struggling to rise.