d more sharply.

"Wher' is she?"

"She's under that red willow--yonder."

The girl's voice was low. Her words were little more than a whisper.

"Is she--hurt?"

"She's--dead."

At that moment Bud reappeared bearing a hat full clear river water.

Nan looked up.

"How can we give it him?" she questioned. Somehow the importance of
the water had lessened in her mind.

Jeff answered the question himself.

"I don't need it, Bud," he said. Then he added as an afterthought:
"Thanks."

Nan looked up at her father who stood doubtfully by.

"Set it down, Daddy. Then get right along an' look out for the doc,
an' the wagon. Hustle 'em along."

Bud obeyed unquestioningly. He felt that Nan's understanding of the
situation was better than any ideas of his. He set the hat down for
the water to percolate through the soft felt at its leisure. Then he
moved on.

The moment he was out of earshot Jeff's voice broke the silence once
more.

"Nan?"

"Yes, Jeff?"

"Wher's the red willow? How far away?"

"A few yards."

"Can you help me up?" The question came after a long considering
pause. It came with a certain eagerness.

But Nan remonstrated with all her might.

"No, no, Jeff," she cried, in serious alarm. "You mustn't. True you
mustn't. It'll kill you to move now."

Her appeal was quite without effect.

"Then I'll have to do it myself."

Jeff's obstinate decision was immovable, and in the end the girl was
forced to give way.

The sick man endured five minutes of the intensest agony in the effort
required. Twice he nearly fainted, but, in the end, he stood beside
the somewhat huddled figure under the red willow, gasping under the
excruciation of internal pains.

"I can lie here, Nan," he said. "Will you--help me?"

Exerting all her strength the girl helped him to the ground. The
position he had chosen was close to the still form of his dead wife.
Once he was safely resting again, Nan breathed her relief.

He looked up at her, and something like a smile was in his blue eyes.

"Thanks, Nan. Say--I'll need that coat of yours--later. Will you go
along--and get it?"

Nan moved away. She needed no second bidding. Nor did she return
until the man's voice summoned her.

"Nan!" he called.

She came to him at once bearing her coat in her hands. For a second,
surprise widened her eyes. He was no longer where she had left him.
He had moved a few yards away. And she wondered how he had