ed with tears of sympathy and
regret.

"Tell me," he went on, after a pause. "I ain't got it right. The fall
knocked you plumb out. An' then?"

His eyes were still on the distant break of the trees.

"I don't know what happened," Joan said wearily, spreading out her
drenched skirt to the now blazing sun. "I know I woke up quite
suddenly, feeling so cold that even my teeth were chattering. The rain
was falling like--like hailstones. It was dark, so dark, and I was
terribly afraid. I called to you, but got no answer, and--and I
thought I was alone. It was terrible. The thunder had ceased, and the
lightning was no longer playing. There was no longer any forest fire,
or--or earthquakings. All was still and black, and the rain--oh, it
was dreadful. I sat where I was, calling you at intervals. I sat on,
and on, and on, till I thought the dark would never go, that day would
never break again, and I began to think that all the world had come to
an end, and I, alone, was left. Then at last the rain stopped, and I
saw that day was breaking. But it was not until broad daylight that I
knew where I was. And then--and then I saw you lying close at my feet.
Oh, Buck, don't let me think of it any more. Don't remind me of it. It
was awful. I believed you were dead--dead. And it seemed to me that my
heart died, too. It was so dreadful that I think I--I was mad. And
then--you saved me--again."

Buck raised a stiff arm and gently drew her toward him with a
wonderfully protecting movement. The girl yielded herself to him, and
he kissed her sweet upturned lips.

"No, little Joan, gal. Don't you think of it. We got other things to
think of--a whole heap."

"Yes, yes," cried the girl eagerly. "We've got life--together."

Buck nodded with a grave smile.

"An' we must sure keep it."

He released her and struggled to his feet, where he stood supporting
himself by clinging to a projection of rock.

"What do you mean, Buck? What are you going to do?" Joan demanded
anxiously, springing to her feet and shaking out her drenched skirt.

"Do? Why, look yonder. Ther' across the water. Ther' wher' them
burnt-up woods break. See that patch o' grass on the sky-line? Look
close, an' you'll see two--somethings standin' right ther'. Wal, we
got to git near enough that way so Caesar can hear my whistle."

"Caesar? Is--is that Caesar? Why--how----?"

Buck nodded his head.

"Maybe I'm guessin'. I ain't sayin'. But--wal, you can't be sure this
w