Then another figure appeared, and they started
running towards me.
Suddenly I became frightened. Perhaps all the excitement was not
on my account after all, and I began to wonder if something
dreadful had happened. Had any one been hurt, or drowned? I
started quickly towards them, but as soon as they were near enough
for me to see their faces plainly, I knew that I had been the sole
cause of the trouble. It was George and Job. The perspiration was
dripping from their faces, which were pale and filled with an
expression, the funniest mixture of indignant resentment, anxiety,
and relief, that could possibly be imagined.
When they came up I smiled at them, but there was not any answering
smile. Then George began to remonstrate with me. He stood with
folded arms, and serious, reproachful face, and said: "Well, I
guess you very near done it this time."
"Very near done what?" I asked.
"Why, you have just about had us crazy."
"Had you crazy! What about?"
"Why, we thought you were lost."
"Didn't you see me over there on that ridge when I fired those
shots?"
"Yes, we did; and when we got up to the other end of the lake we
fired two shots, and we thought you would come back then. I went
up the ridge to meet you, and when I saw you were not there I was
sure you went down to the rapids.
