her."

"Say, that's too bad!" Long Jim declared. "If you've got to stay around
for a time, though, you can have the tents. We boys can double up
anywhere, or bunk on the ground. That's right, ain't it?" he added,
turning around to the cowboys.

There was a little grunt of acquiescence. They carried Lenora to the
largest of the tents and made her as comfortable as possible. She opened
her eyes on the way.

"I am so sorry," she faltered. "It's just my side. It--hurts. How did I
get out of the stream?"

"I fished you out," Quest whispered. "Don't talk now. We are going to make
you comfortable."

She pressed his hand and closed her eyes again. The Professor returned.

"We'll make the young lady comfortable all right," he assured them
cheerfully, "but there's one thing you can make up your minds to. We are
here for a week at the least."

They all looked at one another. The Inspector was the only one who
preserved an air of cheerfulness, and he was glancing towards Laura.

"Guess we'll have to make the best of it," he murmured.

2.

The girl drew a low stool over to Craig's side. He was sitting in a rough
chair tilted back against the adobe wall of the saloon.

"As tired as ever?" she asked, laying her hand upon his for a moment.

He turned his head and looked at her.

"Always tired," he answered listlessly.

She made a little grimace.

"But you are so strange," she protested. "Over the hills there are the
steam cars. They would take you to some of our beautiful cities where all
is light and gaiety. You are safe here, whatever your troubles may have
been. You say that you have money, and if you are lonely," she added,
dropping her voice, "you need not go alone."

[Illustration: LENORA KNOWS THAT QUEST IS IN DANGER AND GOES TO FIND HIM.]

[Illustration: MARTA TRIES TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH CRAIG.]

He patted her hand affectionately but there was something a little forced
about the action.

"Child," he said, "it is so hard to make you understand. I might lose
myself for a few minutes, it is true, over yonder. Perhaps, even," he
added, "you might help me to forget. And then there would be the
awakening. That is always the same. Sometimes at night I sleep, and when I
sleep I rest, and when my eyes are opened in the morning the weight comes
back and sits upon my heart, and the strength seems to pass from my limbs
and the will from my brain."

Her eyes were soft and her voice shook a little as she leaned tow