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The whole company streamed out to join the hunt. All the southern half of the village was up, a hundred men strong, and waiting outside, a vague dark mass sprinkled with twinkling lanterns. The mass fell into columns by threes and fours to accommodate itself to the narrow road, and strode briskly along southward in the wake of the leaders. In a few minutes the Hogan cabin was reached. Theres the bunk, said Mrs. Hogan; theres where she was; its where I laid her at seven oclock; but where she is now, God only knows. Hand me a lantern, said Archy. He set it on the hard earth floor and knelt by it, pretending to examine the ground closely. Heres her track, he said, touching the ground here and there and yonder with his finger. Do you see? Several of the company dropped upon their knees and did their best to see. One or two thought they discerned something like a track; the others shook their heads and confessed that the smooth hard surface had no marks upon it which their eyes were sharp enough to discover. One said, Maybe a childs foot could make a mark on it, but I dont see how. Young Stillman stepped outside, held the light to the ground, turned leftward, and moved three steps, closely examining; then said, Ive got the directioncome along; take the lantern, somebody. He strode off swiftly southward, the files following, swaying and bending in and out with the deep curves of the gorge. Thus a mile, and the mouth of the gorge was reached; before them stretched the sage- brush plain, dim, vast, and vague. Stillman called a halt, saying, We mustnt start wrong, now; we must take the direction again. He took a lantern and examined the ground for a matter of twenty yards; then said, Come on; its all right, and gave up the lantern. In and out among the sage-bushes he marched, a quarter of a mile, bearing gradually to the right; then took a new direction and made another great semicircle; then changed again and moved due west nearly half a mileand stopped. She gave it up, here, poor little chap. Hold the lantern. You can see where she sat. But this was in a slick alkali flat which was surfaced like steel, and no person in the party was quite hardy enough to claim an eyesight that could detect the track of a cushion on a veneer like that. The bereaved mother fell upon her knees and kissed the spot, lamenting. But where is she, then? some one said. She didnt stay here. We can see that much, anyway. Stillman moved about in a circle around the place, with the lantern, pretending to hunt for tracks. Well! he said presently, in an annoyed tone, I dont understand it. He examined again. No use. She was herethats certain; she never walked away from hereand thats certain. Its a puzzle; I cant make it out. The mother lost heart then. Oh, my God! oh, blessed Virgin! some flying beast has got her. Ill never see her again! Ah, dont give up, said Archy. Well find herdont give up. God bless you for the words, Archy Stillman! and she seized his hand and kissed it fervently. Peterson, the new-comer, whispered satirically in Fergusons ear: Wonderful performance to find this place, wasnt it? Hardly worth while to come so far, though; any other supposititious place would have answered just as wellhey? |
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