approaching the cook wagon. Laura was
carrying a large bunch of wild flowers, one of which she was in the act of
fastening in French's buttonhole.

"That fellow French has got grit," Quest declared. "He sticks to it all
the time. He'll win out with Laura in the end, you mark my words."

"I hope he will," Lenora said. "She's a dear girl, although she has got an
idea into her head that she hates men and love-making. I think the
Inspector's just the man for her."

The two had paused outside the cook wagon. Laura held out the flowers to
the Chinaman.

"Can't you find me a bowl for these?" she asked.

He looked slowly up at her.

"No bowlee for flowers," he answered. "All want for eatee."

Laura leaned over and shook him by the shoulder.

"Well, I'll eatee off the ground," she said. "Give me a bowl, you
slant-eyed old idiot."

"Why don't you obey the lady?" French intervened.

Very slowly the Chinaman rose to his feet, disappeared inside the cook
wagon and reappeared with a basin, which he handed to Laura. She thanked
him carelessly, and they passed on. From where they stood, both Quest and
Lenora saw the look which for a moment flashed from the Chinaman's eyes.
Lenora shivered.

"I'll be glad when we get away from here," she declared, clinging to
Quest's arm. "That Chinaman hates Laura like poison, and I'm afraid of
him."

Quest nodded.

"She does seem to have put his back up," he agreed. "As to going on, I
think we might just as well move tomorrow. My arm's all right."

"And I'm quite well," Lenora asserted eagerly.

"We've wired for them to meet Craig," Quest said. "I only hope they don't
let him slip through their fingers. I haven't much faith in his promise to
turn up at the Professor's. Let's see what Laura and French have to say."

"Can't see any sense in staying on here any longer," was French's
immediate decision, "so long as you two invalids feel that you can stand
the journey. Besides, we're using up these fellows' hospitality."

"We'll get everything in order to-night," Laura decided, "and start first
thing to-morrow."

They busied themselves for the next hour or two in making preparations.
After their evening meal, the two men walked with Lenora and Laura to
their tent.

"I think you girls had better go to bed," Quest suggested. "Try and get a
long night's sleep."

"That's all very well," French remarked, "but it's only eight o'clock.
What about a stroll, Miss Laura, just up to the ridg