The trip down Bright Angel the next day was an unqualified success.
They took old Funny Face and camped for the night. After supper, Frank
muttered an excuse and wandered off toward the mules, leaving Nucky and
Seaton by the fire.
"Frank thinks you ought to stay out here with him, Enoch," said Seaton.
"What did you say to him when he told you that?" asked Nucky eagerly.
"I said I hoped you'd go back to New York with me, but that the
decision was up to you."
Nucky said nothing for the moment. Seaton watched the fire glow on the
boy's strong face. When Nucky looked up at his friend, his eyes were
embarrassed and a little miserable.
"Did Frank tell you about our talk down here?"
Seaton nodded.
"Do you know?" the boy's voice trembled with eagerness. "Was she my
mother?"
"Foley thinks not. He says she spoke with an accent he thought was
Italian. When I get back to New York I'll do what I can to clear the
matter up for you. Queer, isn't it, that human beings crave to know
even the worst about their breed."
"I got to know! I got to know! Mr. Seaton, I ran away from Luigi one
time. I guess I was about eight. I wanted to live in the country.
And I got as far as Central Park before they found me.
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