whole frame
shaking as she clung to him.

For a single instant the old man held her to him, his pale face once
more illumined by that momentary gleam, then loosening her arms from
his neck, he said in calm tones, in which mingled surprise, raillery,
almost rebuke, "Why, my child, this is indeed an extraordinary welcome
home."

At the tone the girl shrank back, and with marvellous self-control
regained her ordinary quiet manner.

"You are hurt, father," she said so quietly that her father glanced
with quick surprise at her. He hardly knew as yet this daughter of his,
who had come to him only two months ago, and whom for fifteen years he
had not seen.

"A mere touch," he answered carelessly. "A broken collar-bone,
inconvenient, but neither painful nor dangerous, and an additional
touch of rheumatism, which, though extremely annoying, will prove only
temporary. After a few days of your nursing we shall be able to resume
our march, eh, Perault?"

"Oui! bon! dat so," said Perault, grinning his eager acquiescence. "De
ole boss he stop for noting."

"But now we shall get with all speed between the blankets, my girl. Hot
blankets, Josie, eh?"

"Oui, certainment, tout suite!" cried Josie, darting into the house.

The old man began carefully to raise himself off the seat of the
buckboard.

"Ha!" catching his breath. "Rather sharp, that, Mr. Macgregor. Oh! I
forgot. Pardon me," he continued, with fine, old-time courtesy. "Permit
me to introduce you to my daughter. Marion, this is Mr. Macgregor, but
for whose timely and heroic assistance I might even now be tumbling
about at the fitful fancy of the Black Dog. We both have cause to be
grateful to him."

With a surprised cry the girl who, during her father's words, had been
looking at him with a white face and staring eyes, sprang towards
Shock, who was standing at the pony's head, seized his hand between
hers, kissed it passionately, flung it away, and returned hurriedly to
her father's side.

"It was nothing at all," said Shock, when he had recovered from his
confusion. "Any one would have done it, and besides--"

"Not many men would have had the strength to do it," interrupted the
Old Prospector, "and few men the nerve to try. We will not forget it,
sir, I trust."

"Besides," continued Shock, addressing the girl, "I owe something to
your father, for I was helplessly lost when he found me."

With a wave of his hand the old man brushed aside Shock's statement as