“I couldn’t do anything, Jim,” he faltered.
“Sorry--’cause dey’ll be kind ob heavy on him.”
“That Indian that was in the cave thinks a great deal of you. Go and plead with him.”
“What if he did; if you can save his life, don’t you wish to do it?”
Jim was greatly agitated, and rubbed a tear from his eye.
“You’re right Ned; dar’s sumfin’ in me dat tells me I ought to do it, an’ by de help ob God _I will_!”
“Be quick then, for there is no time to lose.”
The negro needed no urging, for he was prompted by the most powerful of motives--Conscience, the “still small voice,” which, if listened to, guides us all aright.
When he reached the camp, matters were about the same as Inwood had left them.
“Mr. Gaylor,” said Jim, speaking abruptly, “I’ve come to see if I can sabe you.”
The man turned around and looked at him silently for a moment, as if unable to comprehend what he meant. Then he slowly shook his head from side to side.
“I’m goin’ to coax these fellers, an’ if dey won’t do it, we’ll pitch in an’ fight.”
The Mohaves stood in a sort of irregular circle, their expression forbidding enough. Jim walked straight up to his first acquaintance, and, leading him to where Gaylor stood, pointed at him, and motioned toward Inwood, whose great anxiety had brought him within sight and hearing. The Indian shook his head, and looked around at his companions in a manner that showed _he_ had no particular objections, if they would give their consent.
Jim repeated his request, and he again swayed his head, but he was solicited more vehemently than before, whereupon the savage withdrew, and began an earnest conference with his friends. The consultation was long, earnest and stormy--but the end was victory. The Indian was a man of authority--Gaylor was loosed from his bonds, and he and Jim walked away side by side, and, rejoining Edwin Inwood, all three took their departure.
“We do not make our thoughts; they grow in us, Like grain in wood; the growth is of the skies, Which are of nature; nature is of God. The world is full of glorious likenesses.”
The three walked silently forward for a considerable distance, when Gaylor paused, and, stepping in front, so as to face the two, he spoke as a man speaks when in earnest.