human
There is something about which you don't know, he said to me, one evening.
gpt
I am wholly unacquainted with the interior of your country. What would you say, for instance, regarding its safety for a lady traveling across--a small party, you know, of her own? I presume of course you know whom I mean?
human
You must mean the Baroness von Ritz.
gpt
Yes. She has been traveling abroad. Of course we took such care of her on shipboard as we could, although a lady has no place on board a warship. She had with her complete furnishings for a suite of apartments, and these were delivered ashore at Fort Vancouver. Doctor McLaughlin gave her quarters. Of course you do not know anything of this?
human
Well, she has told us calmly that she plans crossing this country from here to the Eastern States!
gpt
That could not possibly be!
human
Quite so. The old trappers tell me that the mountains are impassable even in the fall. They say that unless she met some west-bound train and came back with it, the chance would be that she would never be heard of again.
gpt
You have personal interest in this?
human
Awfully so,
gpt
I would have the right to guess you were hit pretty hard?
human
To the extent of asking her to become my wife!
gpt
You do not in the least know her, he went on.
human
In my case, I have done my turn at living, and have seen my share of women, but never her like in any part of the world! So when she proposed to make this absurd journey, I offered to go with her. It meant of course my desertion from the Navy, and so I told her. She would not listen to it. She gives me no footing which leaves it possible for me to accompany her or to follow her. Frankly, I do not know what to do.
gpt
It seems to me, Lieutenant Peel, I ventured,
human
You do not tell me _you_ would do that?
gpt
It seems a duty.
human
But could you yourself get through?
gpt
As to that, no one can tell. I did so coming west.
human
It will be the last I shall ever see of her in any case, said he, at length.
gpt
We don't know how long it will be before we leave the mouth of the Columbia, and then I could not count on finding her. You do not think me a fool for telling you what I have?
human
No, said I.
gpt
I do not blame you for being a fool. All men who are men are fools over women, one time or other.
human
Good luck to you, then! Now, what shall we do?
gpt
In the first place, said I,
human
It looks an awfully slender chance, he sighed.
gpt
You will follow as close on their heels as you can?
human
Of that you may rest assured.
gpt
What is the distance, do you think?
human
Two thousand miles at least, before she could be safe. She could not hope to cover more than twenty-five miles a day, many days not so much as that. To be sure, there might be such a thing as her meeting wagons coming out; and, as you say, she might return.
gpt
You do not know her! said he.
human
She will not turn back.