I brought
along some drawing-paper and drew your father's picture in phosphorus,
and gave him the benefit in the dark. That caught Murphy all right,
and everything was coming my way. He threw up his hands, and even
agreed to come in here with me, and tell the whole story, but the poor
fellow's brain could n't stand the strain of the scare I had given him.
He went raving mad on the Powder; he jumped on me while I was asleep,
and since then every mile has been a little hell. That's the whole of
it to date."
They were up with the pack-train by now, and the cavalrymen gazed with
interest at the new arrivals. Several among them seemed to recognize
Murphy, and crowded about his horse with rough expressions of sympathy.
Brant scarcely glanced at them, his grave eyes on Hampton's stern face.
"And what is it you wish me to do?"
"Take care of Murphy. Don't let him remain alone for a minute. If he
has any return of reason, compel him to talk. He knows you, and will
be as greatly frightened at your presence and knowledge as at mine.
Besides, you have fully as much at stake as any one, for in no other
way can the existing barrier between Naida and yourself be broken down.
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