e point. Now I judge this ought to go to
the preacher or, if he aint round, to the young lady."

So saying, Ike, without another glance at the disappointed Crawley,
strode away with the letter to find Marion.

He found her busy in the school. She read the letter, looked at Ike
with white face and wide-open eyes, read it a second time, and said,
"He wants Mr. Macgregor, quick--and me. He is ill. Oh, Ike!" she cried
suddenly, "he is ill, and Mr. Macgregor is away."

"Where did he go?" said Ike shortly.

"I heard him say to Willow Creek, to the Martins. The doctor is with
him."

"The Martins, eh? Why, that's only eight miles, I reckon. Well, git
yourself ready and your horse. I'll be back in an hour and a half."

He turned away, but after he had gone a few steps he strode back.

"No use lookin' like that," he said almost gruffly. "We'll git a wagon
and bring him home easy. A wagon's easier than ridin', though 'taint
likely he's very bad."

"Bad!" exclaimed Marion, with a sob. "Oh, Ike you don't know my father.
If he were not bad he would not--" Here her voice failed her.

"Don't you worry, miss. We'll be on the trail in two hours. And look
here, we'll want beddin' and lots of things, so hustle." And Ike set
off with long strides. "Hustle's the word for her. Got to keep her
busy, poor girl!" he said to himself. "Guess he's a goner. You bet that
old chap don't weaken for no belly-ache. He's right bad."

The only wagon in the place belonged to Carroll. "Want your wagon and
outfit, Carroll," said Ike briefly. "Old Prospector's pretty bad. Got
to get him home."

Carroll growled a refusal. He had never recovered his wanted good
nature since his encounter with Shock, and his resentment against the
one man, seemed to poison his whole nature against all.

"What!" said Ike, amazed at Carroll's refusal. In that country men in
need of anything helped themselves without reference to the owner.

"Why, sure, Carroll," interposed Crawley hastily. "You'll let Ike have
that wagon. I tell you what, I'll drive it for him. Shut up, Carroll!"
he said in an aside. "When do you start, Ike? Two hours? I'll be there."

In an hour and a half, true to his word, Ike was back with Shock and
the doctor. Before another half hour had gone past they were all on the
trail, Marion riding her pony, Shock and the doctor in the buckboard,
and Crawley driving the wagon, in which, besides mattress and bedding,
were saddles for use when the trail s