"Nothing!" said the traffic manager. "If there's anything wrong with
your sorting you'll probably hear about it in a week or so."
They went out of the office, and Ingleby turned to his comrade.
"I'm afraid we'll be adrift again before very long, and while I wish you
had seen nobody moved those cases, it's my fault," he said. "There's
another thing I must mention so that you may realize all you owe me.
That was Miss Coulthurst of Holtcar to whom I was talking, though, of
course, I should have been attending to my business instead, and from
what she told me it seems that I needn't have brought you and Hetty out
here at all. Esmond got better rapidly, and could not even be induced to
prosecute."
Leger smiled. "Well," he said, "I'm uncommonly glad to hear it; and in
regard to the other question neither of us has any intention of blaming
you. So far, we have been a good deal better off than we probably should
ever have been in England."
Nothing further was said about the affair, though both of them devoted
more than a little anxious thought to it, until one morning they were
summoned before the head wharfinger.
"They're raising Cain in the office about a consignment of tea billed
through urgent to the East that's gone down the Soo Line into the
States," he said. "I guess I've no more use for either of you."
"I can't grumble," said Ingleby, who had almost expected this. "Still I
should like to point out that only one of us is responsible."
"No," said Leger. "As a matter of fact, there were two, and if there
hadn't been it would have come to the same thing, anyway."
The wharfinger nodded. "Well," he said, "I'd keep you if I could, but
after the circus that's going on about the thing it's out of the
question. I guess I'd try the Green River diggings if I were you."
They went out together, and when Ingleby was about to speak Leger
checked him with a gesture. "I think I know what you mean to say--but
there's another question to consider," he said. "Trade's slack in the
city just now, and taking it all round I fancy that man's advice is
good. If we can induce Hetty to stay here we'll try the new mining
country."
In different circumstances Ingleby would have been exultant at the
prospect, but as it was he recognized his responsibility. It was,
however, late that evening before they were able to lay the state of
affairs before Hetty, and Ingleby was almost astonished at the quietness
with which she listened.
"Well," she said, "there's no use worrying about it now. All you have
to do is to try the mines. The man who came down with the gold yesterday
said they were offering five and six dollars to anybody who would work
on some of the claims."
"But you don't seem to realize that we should have to leave you behind,"
said Leger.
Hetty laughed, and flashed a covert glance at Ingleby. "No," she said,
"I'm coming with you."
The two men looked at each other, and Leger protested. "Hetty," he said,
"it's out of the question. You couldn't face the snow and frost, and I
don't even know how we could get you there. There are forests one can
scarcely drag a pack-horse through, as well as rivers one has to swim
them across, and we should probably have to spend several weeks on the
trail. In fact, it seems to be an appalling country to get through."
"Go on!" said Hetty drily. "Isn't there anything else?"
"There are certainly mosquitoes that almost eat you alive. You know you
never could stand mosquitoes!"
"Are they quite as big as bluebottles?" said Hetty.
Leger made a little gesture, and glanced at Ingleby, as if to ask for
support, but though Hetty's brows were assuming a portentous
straightness she smiled again.
"Walter was anxious to leave me behind once before, so you needn't look
at him," she said. "In fact, there's not the least use in talking. I'm
coming."
Ingleby said nothing. He did not wish to hurt the girl, though he
fancied he knew how hard she would find the life they must lead in the
great desolation into which they were about to venture. That Grace
Coulthurst was going there did not affect the question, for there could
be no comparison between the lot of a prospector's sister and that of
the daughter of the Gold Commissioner. Then he saw that Hetty was
watching him.
"Of course you don't want me, Walter," she said.
Ingleby felt his face grow hot. "Hetty," he said simply, "you ought to
know that isn't so. If you must come we shall be glad to have you, and
if you find the life a hard one you must try to forgive me. If I had
known what I was doing I might have spared you this."
They had decided it all in half an hour, but Ingleby frowned when he and
his comrade were left alone.
"The whole thing hurts me horribly, Tom," he said. "Of course, we can
worry along, and may do well--but you have read what the country is
like--and Hetty----"
Leger appeared unusually grave. "It is," he said, "certainly a little
rough on Hetty. She, at least, was not to blame, but she will have to
face the results all the same, and whatever we have to put up with will
be twice as hard on her."
Ingleby said nothing, for he realized his responsibility. In
compensation for the few minutes he had spent with Grace Coulthurst,
Hetty Leger must drag out months of privation and peril.