CHAPTER XLVIII.
THE MEETING.
Tim O'Rooney and Howard Lawrence, awaking at the same moment, observedthe alarming action of the dog. Raising their heads they lookedcarefully around but could detect nothing unusual. They were so securelydrawn under the overhanging shrubbery and undergrowth that they werepretty certain no one else was aware of their presence; but the gaze ofthe dog being turned toward the river they judged that something must benearing them from that direction.
Nor were they mistaken. A slight ripple was heard, and the next moment acanoe glided to view. In the center, controlling its movements, satShasta, the Pah Utah, and directly behind was Elwood Brandon.
Howard could scarcely believe his eyes. He stared again and again, whileTim rubbed his organs of vision, winked and blinked, as though vainlyseeking 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 thewant of me pipe."
"Elwood! Elwood!" called Howard, leaning forward and pulling the bushesapart.
But secure as they deemed their concealment, the eagle eyes of the PahUtah had penetrated it, while they were yet several rods apart, andabruptly turning the prow of his canoe to one side, he brought it torest directly opposite and within two feet of the other boat.
Elwood heard his name and saw his friends the next instant. Reachingforward, he grasped the hands of his cousin and the tears trickled downtheir smiling faces, while Tim continued rubbing his eyes.
"Am I draaming? as me uncle said when they towld him his grandfather haddied and willed him two pounds and a half, or does I raaly see before methe youngster that the rid gintlemin had burned up? Let me faal the baalof yer hand."
The two closed hands, and the joy of both was unbounded. Shasta, at thispoint, showed a delicacy of feeling that did his heart credit. Joiningthe canoes together in the old-fashioned manner, he motioned Elwood toenter that of his friends, while he gave his exclusive attention to thatof propelling the two.
Of course, now that the three were reunited, they overran each otherwith questions, exclamations and the interchange of experiences sincethey had separated. It did not require much time for the voluble tongueof Elwood to rattle on his brief stay with the Indians and theremarkable manner in which Shasta had secured his escape. Howard had butlittle to tell, and that was soon given, and they were left to speculateand conjecture on the future.
Tim's joy drowned his craving for his tobacco, and as he joined in theglowing conversation of the boys he made no reference to it.
"I think for the prisent," he remarked, "we won't take any hunts uponshore, especially if aich of us has to go alone. The red gintlemen, forsome raisin at all, or more likely without any raisin, have taken agreat anxiety to make our acquaintance. As fur meself, I prefers to liveupon fish to having these same fellows faading upon me."
"Yes," replied Elwood, "I have learned something during the last fewdays. It is all well enough to be reckless and careless about dangerwhen we are at home and there is no danger, but it is another thing whenwe are in these parts."
"As the Frenchman remarked, 'tiger hunting is very fine so long as wehunt the tiger, but when he takes it into his head to hunt us themischief is to pay."
"If Shasta will have the onspakable kindness to tow us along in thisshtyle for a few waaks, I think we will cast anchor at the wharf in SanFrancisco without any loss to passingers and freight."
"He has seen what ninnies we were," said Elwood, "and no doubt willaccompany us some distance further when he certainly ought to let us tryit alone again."
"Ah! but he's a smart young gintleman, as the acquaintances of TimO'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 yourfather would be plaised to take him in as a partner in their businesswid 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 largepile of capital."
"I am sure if he should prove as keen and sharp in business matters ashe does in the way of the woods, he would make one of the mostsuccessful 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 forninsthim, and he could gives us the tarms to carry wid us."
However philanthropic this might be as regarded the Pah Utah, ourfriends deemed it hardly feasible to make the attempt to reach his viewsthrough the medium of signs.
As for Shasta, he did not once look backward to observe what hispassengers were doing. He was propelling his boat through the water withhis usual celerity, his head occasionally turning slightly as he glancedfirst at one shore and then the other, as though looking for some signor landmark.
The day that succeeded the storm was beautiful and clear, everything innature wearing a fresh and rosy look, as if refreshed by the neededshower. The current of the Salinas was as clear and crystal-like asthough it had not received the muddy contents of a thousand brooks,rivulets and torrents gorged with the debris and leaves of its ownvalley.
"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 theIrishman'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 hehasn't indulged in the use of his pipe."
As Tim O'Rooney had made similar remarks on more than one previousoccasion, it may be that the Pah Utah gathered an inkling of hismeaning, for the words were scarce uttered when the canoes were headedtoward 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 andenjoyed to its full extent.
But Shasta showed no disposition to wait, or to indulge in the solace ofthe weed. Motioning to his friends to enter the boat, he towed them tothe center of the river, where he loosed the fastenings, and without aword 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 ashe took the paddle.
"But why not bid us good-by?" asked Elwood.
"As he has already done so," replied Howard, "he doubtless does notbelieve in adding a postscript."