“So he has, Missoo, as you’ll understand, when I tell you his story some day,” replied Harry.

“Why not now?” asked Missoo.

Harry made a sign to Bill, and answered: 

“Because I want to talk about other things with him.  You won’t mind if we talk before you, will you, Missoo?”

“Mind ye a-talkin’!  Thet’s music to me, thet is, Gent,” said the admiring giant.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Harry had a two-fold reason for not telling Missoo his adventure at that time.  He had not made up his mind yet as to his proper course, and he knew that Missoo would become so excited that it would perhaps make him ill; and he knew also that, if it should become known in the town that Little Dick and Hoyt had done what they had, their lives would not be safe for five minutes after they were caught.

He had no wish to be the cause of so pronounced an example of “miners’ justice,” and preferred to trust himself to legal law, as soon as he could have Mr. Harmon to advise with him.

The chances were that, if he were to return east now, Mr. Harmon would be home by the time he reached there, if he were not already home.

He talked this over with Bill, later, when Missoo was asleep, and Bill agreed with him, but pointed out the necessity of getting away before Hoyt should discover that he was alive, lest he should contrive in some way to play him another trick; but to that Harry said Hoyt must discover it soon, anyhow.

Missoo was not by any means well, and it was considered desirable by the doctor that he should remain in bed; but he could spare Harry, and, loth as the latter was to leave him before he was fully recovered, he felt that his safety and the interests of his sister, as well as of himself, demanded his presence east as soon as possible.

He put off speaking to Missoo until Bill had made every preparation for leaving, which occupied two days; for, to avoid the chance of being seen by Little Dick, Harry kept close in the house all the time.  Moreover, he had decided to go on horseback, as being safer from the observation of Hoyt than the stage.

He had not hoped, really, that it could be kept from the two would-be murderers for a long time that he was still in existence; but he thought that, by keeping out of sight, he might puzzle them as to his intentions, and perhaps frighten them away from Buttercup.

On the third day, and when everything was ready for departure at an hour’s notice, Bill suggested that he should run over to the Tiny Hill and take a look at Hoyt and discover what he could.

Harry opposed the plan as dangerous, but Bill laughed at that notion and Harry finally agreed to it.

So Bill went over there early in the morning and was back in a very short time, his eyes telling Harry that something was amiss.

“Gone—­both of ’em gone,” said Bill.  “I was pretty sure of it the minute I set eyes on the place—­looked deserted, you know.  But I waited a little while and then skirmished around, and finally went right up and knocked at the door.  The knocking opened it, and the cabin was empty and everything that was worth a cent had been taken.  The stove was cold, and I felt certain that they had been gone over two days.”