human
Garth! she said suddenly.
gpt
Let's make a break for it! Anything would be better than this!
human
No go, dearest, he said.
gpt
I've been over that, over and over it, every night for a week!
human
Couldn't we start down the lake in the canoe? she said.
gpt
And make our way from some point below? We could cover our tracks that way, and gain much time. You have a rough map and a compass.
human
They would discover in the morning that the canoe was gone,
gpt
They might not miss it for a day or two.
human
They have the smoke of our fire to go by, too.
gpt
They're careless. We might get a good start.
human
Dearest, even if we had many days' start, they know we must make for the Settlement. How easy it would be to head us off!
gpt
But it _might_ succeed,
human
It's seventy-five miles, he said sadly.
gpt
You're not strong yet. How could you walk it, without food to support you on the way?
human
You have your gun,
gpt
There's no hunting on the open prairie for a man on foot!
human
Do not lose heart, dear, he said at last, in a gentle voice that was strangely at variance with his eyes.
gpt
Matters will take a turn to-morrow; I promise you that.
human
What are you going to do?
gpt
I'm thinking it out, he said, evasively.
human
I'll tell you when it's pieced together.