Page:Lost with Lieutenant Pike (1919).djvu/327

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the papers in my trunk again (this was a little hand-trunk that the lieutenant had carried, with help, from the Arkansaw, as his only important baggage); then early this morning the governor unexpectedly sent for me and my trunk and I had no chance to open it privately. By trusting in him I was cleverly outwitted, but thanks to you I've saved my journal. Had I found you last night I would have taken it, to place it with the other papers."

So, thanks to a boy, the journal of Lieutenant Pike was saved to the world.

"Can't you get your trunk again?" Stub asked, as they hurried on.

"It will go down to Chihuahua with me, but in charge of the officer of the escort, for the commanding general."

"Do the papers tell anything wrong?"

"No, unless they are wrongly read. There are letters, and scientific notes upon the locations and distances; and maps. If the commanding general thinks we were spying out the country, he may try to keep everything. But the journal would be the greatest loss."

And truth to say, Lieutenant Pike never did get back any of the papers in the trunk.

Freegift and John Brown were at the barracks;