ee that you reached here in safety.
You have forgotten me. I am Major Robinson."

"I remember," said Clara, who had not recollected him at first because she
was looking solely for Thurstane. "You passed us in the desert."

"Yes, I took your soldiers away from you, and you declined my escort. I
was anxious about you afterwards. Well, it has ended right in spite of me.
Of course you have heard of Thurstane's escape."

"Escape!" exclaimed Clara, her face turning scarlet and then pale. "Oh!
tell me!"

The major stared. He had guessed a love affair between these two; he had
inferred it in the desert from the girl's anxiety about the young man.
How came it that she knew nothing of the escape?

"So I have heard," he went on. "I think there can be no mistake about it.
I learned it from a civilian who left Fort Yuma some weeks ago. I don't
think he could have been mistaken. He told me that the lieutenant was
there then. Not well, I am sorry to say; rather broken down by his
hardships. Oh, nothing serious, you know. But he was a trifle under the
weather, which may account for his not letting his friends hear from him."

At the story that Thurstane was alive, all Clara's love had arisen as if
from a grave, and the mightier because of its resurrection. She was full
of self-reproaches. It seemed to her that she had neglected him; that she
had cruelly left him to die. Why had she not guessed that he was sick
there, and flown to nurse him to health? What had he thought of her
conduct? She must go to him at once.

"I am sorry to say that I can tell you no more," continued the major in
response to her eager gaze.

"I am so obliged to you!" gasped Clara. "If you hear anything more, will
you please let me know? Will you please come and see me?"

The major promised and took down her address, but added that he was just
starting on an inspecting tour, and that for a fortnight to come he should
be able to give her no further information.

They had scarcely parted ere Clara had resolved to go at once to Fort
Yuma. The moment was favorable, for she had with her an intelligent and
trustworthy servant, and Coronado had been summoned to a distance by
business, so that he could make no opposition. She hastened to her
lawyer's, finished her affairs there, drew what money she needed for her
journey, learned that a brig was about to start for the Gulf, and sent her
man to secure a passage. When he returned with news that the Lolotte would
s