d man and remarked, "It
looks as though your blood and mine had been mixing, this morning. Why
not complete the ceremony and make it an adoption by blood; the way they
used to do in some of the Indian tribes, you know?" he added, half
jestingly, and acting on a sudden impulse. "You can take me into the
clan as ... well, as your foster-son."

"Thar haint no clan nowadays, I reckon, but ef yo' wants fer ter be my
foster-son I'd shor' be pleased fer ter hev ye es such, lad."

"Great. I feel like 'one of the family' already, and if you _will_ adopt
me as a new son--with all the privileges and obligations of one--I'll
appreciate it, no joking."

As a pledge of their compact the city and mountain man clasped hands
solemnly, while Rose stood by, delightedly smiling her benediction upon
their act. "Why," she cried, "that makes me your little foster sister,
Doctor Mac. Oh, I'm so glad!"

"Yes, so it does." Donald answered with a cheery voice, but no sooner
were the words spoken than a sense of rebellion took possession of him.
"Idiot!" he muttered, shaking off the feeling with an effort of his
will.

"But haint ... aren't you going to do up your hurt finger, too?" she
queried anxiously.

The man seized the broken sliver with his fingers and jerked it out,
examined the tiny incision and then thrust the wounded member into his
mouth. "Don't ever tell any of my patients that you saw me do this," he
laughed, with a return to good humor, "but that is my way of treating a
minor injury ... then I forget it. It's a fearful secret," he added,
lowering his voice, "but nature, aided by sun and air, are wonderful
healers, and just ordinary saliva, if a person is healthy, is both
cleansing and healing."

"Thet air the way anumals cures thar hurts," remarked Jerry.

"Yes, it is nature's way, and if the blood is pure, and the cut not so
deep as to make infection likely, there isn't a much better one, after
all. However, Miss Nurse, you may practice your art on my finger, too,
if you want."

He held his hand out, and, flushing with childish happiness, Rose bound
up the little scratch painstakingly, answering Donald's brief word of
commendation with a flashing smile. Indeed, experience with many nurses
of many grades of ability made him aware that her untrained fingers held
an unusual degree of natural knack which augured well for the future.

During a simple breakfast, leisurely eaten, the trio talked over in
detail the varied happ