Arizona -- Fiction; Grand Canyon (Ariz.) -- Fiction; Western stories
Agnew shrugged his shoulders and the scanty meal was finished in
silence. When Jonas had collected the pie tins and cups, Enoch said,
"While you're outside with those, Jonas, you'd better persuade
Forrester to come in to supper. Tell him no one will bother him.
Boys, I think we ought to sit up with Milton for a while. I'll take
the first watch, if you'll take the second, Harden."
Harden nodded. "I'll get to bed at once. Call me when you want me."
He rolled himself in his blanket, Agnew following his example. A
moment or so later Jonas could be heard calling,
"Mr. Forrester! Ohee! Mr. Forrester!" The Canyon echoed the call,
but there was no answer, Enoch strolled down to the river's edge where
Jonas was standing with his arms full of dishes. "What's up, Jonas?"
he asked.
"Boss, I think he's lit out!"
"Lit out? Where, Jonas?"
"Well, there's only one way, like you went this afternoon. But his
canteen's gone. And he had his shoes drying by the fire. He must have
sneaked 'em while we was working over Mr. Milton, because they're gone,
and so's his coat that was lying by the Ida, with the rest of the
clothes."
Enoch lifted his great voice. "Forrester! Forrester!"
A thousand echoes replied while Agnew joined them and in a moment,
Harden. Jonas repeated his story.
"No use yelling!" exclaimed Enoch. "Let's build a fire out here."
"Do you suppose he's had an accident?" Enoch's voice was apprehensive.
"No, I don't," replied Agnew, stoutly. "He's told me two or three
times that if he had any real trouble with Hard, he'd get out. What a
fool to start off, this way!"
"You fellows go to bed," Harden spoke abruptly.
"I'll keep a fire going and if Milt needs more than me, I'll call. The
Judge had a heavy afternoon and I was resting. And this row is mine
anyhow."
Enoch, who was dropping with fatigue needed no urging. He rolled
himself in his blanket and instantly was deep in the marvelous slumber
that had blessed him since the voyage began.
It was dawn when he woke. He started to his feet, contritely,
wondering who of the others had sacrificed sleep for him. But Enoch
was the only one awake. Milton was tossing and muttering but his eyes
were closed. Jonas lay with his feet in last night's ashes. Agnew was
curled up at Milton's feet. Harden was not to be seen. Enoch hurried
to the river's edge. A sheet of paper fluttered from the split end of
a stake that had been stuck in a conspicuous spot. It was unaddressed
and Enoch opened it.
"I have gone to find Forrester, and help him out. I took one-third of
the grub and one of the guns and a third of the shells. If we have
good luck, you'll hear of us at the Ferry. I have the detail map of
this section.
"C. L. HARDEN."
Enoch looked from the note up to the golden pink of the sky. Far above
the butte an eagle soared. The dawn wind ruffled his hair. He drew a
deep breath and turned to wake Jonas and Agnew, and show them the note.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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