pletely played out.

"At night we suffered from the cold. We could not make a fire because
the light of it blinded us and showed us to the Indians. On the fourth
night as we were trying to push on in the hope of losing them in the
dark, the horse that Nesis was riding fell down and died in his tracks.
After that we took turns walking.

"Next day they easily found us again. It was very cold, and we could
scarcely keep going. In the afternoon we came to the edge of the bench
of the Spirit River. It was a long way down to the bank.

"When we got there we saw that heavy ice was running in the river. We
had to travel another mile along the bank before we saw enough dead
timber in one place to make a raft. I was afraid we wouldn't have
strength enough to move it. We hadn't eaten for two days.

"It was still daylight, and we made a fire there. The Indians came and
watched us from a little knoll, less than a quarter of a mile back.

"Cora took one of the remaining horses away and killed it, and brought
back meat to the fire and we ate a little. I thought if we slept a
little while we would be better able to start the raft. So Cora and I
lay down while Nesis kept watch."

Colina's voice was shaking. She paused to steady it. "I was careful
to choose a place out in the open," she went on. "We were in a grassy
bottom beside the river.

"The nearest cover was a poplar bluff about three hundred yards back.
He--he must have crawled down to that. I was awakened by a shot. They
had got her!"

Colina's clenched hands were pressed close together, her head was down.
The quiet voice broke out a little wildly.

"Ah! I have never, never ceased to blame myself! I should not have
slept! I ought not to have let her watch! But I never thought they
would dare shoot!"

Colina went on in a schooled voice more affecting than an outcry.

"Nesis was shot through the breast. I had nothing to give her. I
stanched the wound the best way I could.

"I saw at once that she could not live. Indeed, I prayed that she
would not linger--in such pain. She lived throughout the night. She
was conscious most of the time--and smiling. She died at daybreak.

"I do not know what happened after that. I gave out. It was Cora who
saw the launch coming down the river, and signaled it with her
petticoat. They landed and carried us aboard. I remember that.

"I wanted them to turn back and take us up to the crossing. But it was
i