deal of room and I am sure there were some seats in this wagon."

Van Shaw protested that his party had two extra saddle horses and that
as for himself he preferred to walk. He needed the exercise.

The other young men joined in gallantly. Miss Douglas was free to ride
in any or all of the wagons as long as she chose.

Helen smiled at all of them impartially and expressed her thanks to Van
Shaw in particular. Felix Bauer who with Walter was standing in the
group with the rest during this little conversation, wondered for the
first time in his life if Helen Douglas was a coquette. If she knew Van
Shaw as well as he and Walter knew him would she smile so sweetly at
him, and on such brief acquaintance? To Felix Bauer the whole thing was
incomprehensible. Even allowing something for the swiftness with which
acquaintances can be made in the desert during a camping experience,
especially under circumstances favoured by such an accident as had
occurred, it still was not seemly that a girl like Helen Douglas should
even in the slightest degree encourage the attention of fellows like Van
Shaw.

Felix was so disturbed by his own feelings over the affair that during
the whole of the afternoon he avoided the wagon where Helen was. Once,
however, as he looked back, to his indignant surprise he noted Van Shaw
driving the team and turning about from time to time as if to converse
with Helen, who was lying on a camp bed under the canopy cover which had
been pulled back, on account of the heat, so as to allow Helen a glance
now and then of some passing point of interest. Once Felix was sure he
heard her laugh at some remark made by Van Shaw in comment perhaps on
Touchiniteel's curious sailor made costume.

As soon as he could get a chance to speak to Walter, Felix gave voice to
his feelings, for the time being entirely forgetful of the very
important fact that up to this time he had never by word or look
betrayed to Walter his feeling for his sister.

"Do you see that?" he spoke to Walter as they walked along together a
little distance from the wagons. The men had nearly all got down to walk
over a piece of particularly hard going for the teams.

Walter looked over in the direction of Helen where Bauer was looking as
he spoke, and shrugged his shoulders.

"Yes, but what of it?"

"You know Van Shaw?"

"Well, I don't like it, of course, but Helen is old enough to look out
for herself."

"Do you mean that you are willing to h