e out.
They came up now, greeting the other tourists, some of whom they had met
for the first time that afternoon.

Van Shaw, however, seemed especially anxious to reach the spot where
Mrs. Douglas was standing talking with one of the government teachers
from Kean's Canyon. In passing one of the tourists who was in the middle
of the aisle, Van Shaw came face to face with Bauer, and to Bauer's
tremendous astonishment Van Shaw said at once in a threatening
tone--which, however, he guarded so as not to be heard by anyone else:

"I understand you have been meddling in my affairs. I consider it a
mighty sneaking thing for you to do and I want you to understand I
won't------"

Bauer recovered his composure quickly as he interrupted Van Shaw.

"We can't very well discuss this matter in here."

"I want a word with Mrs. Douglas first," said Van Shaw.

But Bauer stepped in front of him and said:

"I think you had better have a word with me first."

Van Shaw looked at him uncertainly and then turned and walked out of the
chapel. Bauer followed him immediately.

The only light out on the rock was starlight. Darkness covered the
blurred outline of Oraibi's houses, with only an occasional point of
light here and there, or the sudden glow from some kiva as the opening
reflected the fire at the bottom.

Van Shaw walked slowly as if by appointment out to the edge of the rock.
When he stopped, Bauer was close by him. In the mist far below a red
glow marked the camp by the Oraibi Wash. The night was very still and
they were almost near enough to the chapel to distinguish the sound of
voices within.

CHAPTER XVI

"NOW that we are here," said Van Shaw, "I simply want to repeat what I
said. You don't butt into my affairs. Keep out. Coleman overheard a part
of what you told Mrs. Douglas to-day while you were near the cemetery
rock. He was on the other side of it. What you said may be true, but I
consider it a sneaking thing and I won't stand for it."

Bauer was still. In the first place he had never faced such a situation
and in the darkness there he swiftly recurred to his talk with Mrs.
Douglas. He had found her already prepared for a part of what he had to
say. Esther, sensitively intelligent in anything relating to Helen's
welfare, had not seen Van Shaw a moment before she felt a repulsion for
him amounting to horror. What Bauer told her from his own knowledge of
Van Shaw's immoral life in Burrton roused all her mother