THE MEETING.
Tim O'Rooney and Howard Lawrence, awaking at the same moment, observed
the alarming action of the dog. Raising their heads they looked
carefully around but could detect nothing unusual. They were so securely
drawn under the overhanging shrubbery and undergrowth that they were
pretty certain no one else was aware of their presence; but the gaze of
the dog being turned toward the river they judged that something must be
nearing them from that direction.
Nor were they mistaken. A slight ripple was heard, and the next moment a
canoe glided to view. In the center, controlling its movements, sat
Shasta, the Pah Utah, and directly behind was Elwood Brandon.
Howard could scarcely believe his eyes. He stared again and again, while
Tim rubbed his organs of vision, winked and blinked, as though vainly
seeking to recover from the bewilderment of a sudden awaking from sleep.
Finally he muttered to himself:
"Heaven save me! me intellect has toppled over intirely by raison of the
want of me pipe."
"Elwood! Elwood!" called Howard, leaning forward and pulling the bushes
apart.
But secure as they deemed their concealment, the eagle eyes of the Pah
Utah had penetrated it, while they were yet several rods apart, and
abruptly turning the prow of his canoe to one side, he brought it to
rest directly opposite and within two feet of the other boat.
Elwood heard his name and saw his friends the next instant. Reaching
forward, he grasped the hands of his cousin and the tears trickled down
their smiling faces, while Tim continued rubbing his eyes.
"Am I draaming? as me uncle said when they towld him his grandfather had
died and willed him two pounds and a half, or does I raaly see before me
the youngster that the rid gintlemin had burned up? Let me faal the baal
of yer hand."
The two closed hands, and the joy of both was unbounded. Shasta, at this
point, showed a delicacy of feeling that did his heart credit. Joining
the canoes together in the old-fashioned manner, he motioned Elwood to
enter that of his friends, while he gave his exclusive attention to that
of propelling the two.
Of course, now that the three were reunited, they overran each other
with questions, exclamations and the interchange of experiences since
they had separated. It did not require much time for the voluble tongue
of Elwood to rattle on his brief stay with the Indians and the
remarkable manner in which Shasta had secured his escape. Howard had but
little to tell, and that was soon given, and they were left to speculate
and conjecture on the future.
Tim's joy drowned his craving for his tobacco, and as he joined in the
glowing conversation of the boys he made no reference to it.
"I think for the prisent," he remarked, "we won't take any hunts upon
shore, especially if aich of us has to go alone. The red gintlemen, for
some raisin at all, or more likely without any raisin, have taken a
great anxiety to make our acquaintance. As fur meself, I prefers to live
upon fish to having these same fellows faading upon me."
"Yes," replied Elwood, "I have learned something during the last few
days. It is all well enough to be reckless and careless about danger
when we are at home and there is no danger, but it is another thing when
we are in these parts."
"As the Frenchman remarked, 'tiger hunting is very fine so long as we
hunt the tiger, but when he takes it into his head to hunt us the
mischief is to pay."
"If Shasta will have the onspakable kindness to tow us along in this
shtyle for a few waaks, I think we will cast anchor at the wharf in San
Francisco without any loss to passingers and freight."
"He has seen what ninnies we were," said Elwood, "and no doubt will
accompany us some distance further when he certainly ought to let us try
it alone again."
"Ah! but he's a smart young gintleman, as the acquaintances of Tim
O'Rooney used to say when they made the slightest reference to him.
Couldn't we persuade him to go on to San Francisco wid us? I think your
father would be plaised to take him in as a partner in their business
wid them."
"But _he_ would hardly fancy the change," laughed Howard.
"He might now. When we should state the sarvices he has rindered to us,
it's meself that doesn't think they'd require him to put in a very large
pile of capital."
"I am sure if he should prove as keen and sharp in business matters as
he does in the way of the woods, he would make one of the most
successful merchants in the country."
"It's a pity that he doesn't understand the illegant use of the tongue,
that we might confaar wid him. We could lay the proposition forninst
him, and he could gives us the tarms to carry wid us."
However philanthropic this might be as regarded the Pah Utah, our
friends deemed it hardly feasible to make the attempt to reach his views
through the medium of signs.
As for Shasta, he did not once look backward to observe what his
passengers were doing. He was propelling his boat through the water with
his usual celerity, his head occasionally turning slightly as he glanced
first at one shore and then the other, as though looking for some sign
or landmark.
The day that succeeded the storm was beautiful and clear, everything in
nature wearing a fresh and rosy look, as if refreshed by the needed
shower. The current of the Salinas was as clear and crystal-like as
though it had not received the muddy contents of a thousand brooks,
rivulets and torrents gorged with the debris and leaves of its own
valley.
"I am troubled by one sore anxiety."
"What can that be?"
"It is for Mr. Shasta. He seems quite forgetful this morning."
"In what respect?" asked Elwood, who did not see the drift of the
Irishman's remarks.
"He hasn't had his breakfast, and he must be faaling a wee bit hungry,
and be the same token, he must be the victim of great distress, that he
hasn't indulged in the use of his pipe."
As Tim O'Rooney had made similar remarks on more than one previous
occasion, it may be that the Pah Utah gathered an inkling of his
meaning, for the words were scarce uttered when the canoes were headed
toward shore, and a landing speedily made.
A piscatorial meal was provided after the manner already fully given,
and when finished the soothing pipe of Tim O'Rooney was produced and
enjoyed to its full extent.
But Shasta showed no disposition to wait, or to indulge in the solace of
the weed. Motioning to his friends to enter the boat, he towed them to
the center of the river, where he loosed the fastenings, and without a
word or sign he headed his canoe up stream and sped away.
"He is going home," said Howard.
"He must imagine that we are owld enough to walk alone," remarked Tim as
he took the paddle.
"But why not bid us good-by?" asked Elwood.
"As he has already done so," replied Howard, "he doubtless does not
believe in adding a postscript."