第61章

"Do not disappoint me," said the old man, taking hold of Shock's hand eagerly with his two hands so thin and worn and trembling.

"Promise me," he said.

"I promise," said Shock solemnly.

"I want you to follow this trail, to stake out this claim, to register it in your name for my daughter, and to develop or dispose of this mine in the way that may seem best to yourself.I trust you entirely.I have watched you carefully through these months, and have regained my faith in my fellow men and my faith in God through knowing you.I will die in peace because I know you will prove true, and," after a pause, "because I know God will receive a sinful, broken man like me.You promise me this, Mr.Macgregor?" The old man in his eagerness raised himself upon his elbow and stretched out his hand to Shock.

"Once more," said Shock, in a broken voice, "I promise you, Mr.

Mowbray.I will do my best to carry out what you desire, and so may God help me!"The old man sank quietly back on his couch.A smile spread over his face as he lay with closed eyes, and he breathed, "Thank God! I can trust you as if you were my son.""Hark!" he said a moment afterwards in an anxious whisper."There is someone near the tent." The doctor hurried out, and found Crawley in the neighbourhood of the tent gathering some sticks for the fire.He hastened back.

"It is only Mr.Crawley," he said, "getting some wood for the fire."A spasm of fear distorted the old man's face.

"Crawley!" he whispered, "I fear him.Don't let him see--or know.

Now take these things--away.I have done with them--I have done with them! You will give my love--to my daughter," he said to Shock after some moments of silence.

"She is here," said Shock quietly.

"Here! Now! I feared to ask.God is good.Yes, God is good."The doctor stepped out of the tent.The old man lay with eager eyes watching the door.

Swiftly, but with a step composed and steady, his daughter came to him.

"Father, I am here," she said, dropping on her knees beside him.

"My daughter!" he cried with a sob, while his arms held her in a close embrace."My daughter! my daughter! God is good to us."For a long time they remained silent with their arms about each other.Shock moved to the door.The girl was the first to master her emotions.

"Father," she said quietly, "the doctor tells me you are very ill.""Yes, my daughter, very ill, but soon I shall be better.Soon quite well."The girl lifted up her face quickly.

"Oh, father!" she cried joyfully, "do you think--" The look on her father's face checked her joy.She could not mistake its meaning.

She threw herself with passionate sobs on the ground beside him.

"Yes, my daughter," went on the old man in a clear, steady voice, "soon I shall be well.My life has been for years a fevered dream, but the dream is past.I am about to awake.Dear child, I have spoiled your life.We have only a few precious hours left.Help me not to spoil these for you."At once the girl sat up, wiped her eyes, and grew still.

"Yes, father, we will not lose them."

She put her hand in his.

"You make me strong, my daughter.I have much to say to you, much to say to you of my past."She put her fingers on his lips gently.

"Is that best, father, do you think?" she said.looking lovingly into his face.

He glanced at her in quick surprise.She was a girl no longer, but a woman, wise and strong and brave.

"Perhaps you are right, my daughter.But you will remember that it was for you I lived my lonely life, for you I pursued my fevered quest.You were all I had left in the world after I had laid your mother in her grave.I feared to bring you to me.Now I know I need not have feared.Now I know what I have missed, my daughter.""We have found each other, dear, dear father," the girl said, and while her voice broke for a moment in a sob her face was bright with smiles.

"Yes, my daughter, we have found each other at length.The doors of my heart, long closed, had grown rusty, but now they are wide open, and gladly I welcome you."There was silence for some minutes, then the old man went on, painfully, with ever-shortening breath."Now, listen to me carefully." And then he told her the tale of his search for the Lost River, ending with the eager exclamation: "And last year I found it.