I tried to coax Patsy to come with
me, but he would not desert his master. Then I placed water in a dish
and gave the animal my food, but he would not eat or drink.
"I hurried home to tell father and he rode back that same evening, to
arrange for the old man's burial. Jeb and John went with him, and the
coroner from Oak Creek, who is a friend of ours.
"When they reached the cabin they found faithful Patsy stretched across
his master's body dead also. So both old comrades were buried together,
although the minister from over the mountain said it was a sin to place
both in one grave. When John told me, I said I was glad the two could
travel the same trail together, for Old Man Montresor had found Patsy
his best friend for ten years.
"We found no clew to his eastern friends, and when the last will and
testament of Ralph Montresor was filed at Oak Creek, every one laughed
at us for believing the fairy-tale of a crazy man. But I never believed
he was crazy, and I do believe he once discovered that gold-mine!"
"Oh, Polly!" wept Anne and Eleanor, deeply affected by the tale, but
Barbara plaintively remarked, "Do talk of something cheerful!"
"All right, Bob, I'll tell you something that will cheer your woeful
heart!" jeered Eleanor, impatiently. "I'm going to take that Red Man's
up-trail, soon, and rediscover the mine, then I'll give it to Polly for
a present for her loyalty to Old Montresor!"
"Don't be silly! If you ever did find a gold-mine you'd hold on to it,
fast enough!" retorted Barbara.
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