"I don't know that I shall find her." The two men looked at each other, until Alton moved his head.

"Still, one of us must try," he said.

"Take all you can carry, and a rifle.
I'll load up as much as I'm fit for, and we'll cache the rest.

You'll come on after me, or join Tom, as you think best." Seaforth smiled a little.

"I'll come on, and even if I sacrifice something else I'll take the rifle." Alton said nothing, and for an hour they were busy about the camp.
Then as they stood a moment, loaded like beasts of burden, under the dripping pines, Seaforth held out his hand.
"Harry, are you wise ?" he said.
"I don't know," said Alton simply; "but I'm going on." It was noticeable that they shook hands, which they were not in the habit of doing, and that there was a very faint but perceptible tremor in Seaforth's voice.
"Good-bye," he said.
"Well," said Alton with a smile, which seemed to lack heartiness.