ect the
unloading of the wagons. A little later still, Bob and the two negro
women who had hitherto done the cooking went out among the men at work,
bearing great kettles of steaming coffee for the refreshment of the
well-nigh exhausted toilers. Bob accompanied his share of the coffee
distribution by a little speech of his own devising:

"Dar, now! Dat's coffee as is, an' it's hot an' strong, too. Little
Missie done mek it wif her own han's and she's de lady wot sen's it to
you. She's done come out inter de wilderness, jes to cook victuals fer
you men, and you jes bet yer bottom dollar you'll git a breakfas' in the
mawnin'."

Realizing the situation, and stimulated by their deep draughts of
coffee, the men set up a cheer for "Little Missie," though they knew not
who she was, and thought of her chiefly as a source of food supply. But
they worked the better for the coffee, and for the promise it held out
of good things to come.

XXXV

THE END OF A STRUGGLE

When Duncan and Temple went to Barbara's fire for their breakfast, after
the workmen had been served, both were quick-witted enough to see that
the little lady was in no condition to endure emotion of any kind. She
had slept little on the night before leaving Cairo, very little more at
the night camp during the journey, and not at all on the night of her
arrival. Her first words indicated a purpose on her part to fend off all
talk that might touch upon personal matters.

"Good-morning, gentlemen," she said. "I'm very well, thank you, so you
needn't ask me about that, especially as there are more important things
to be discussed. I brought all the supplies I could, but after seeing
the men eat, I realize that we shall run short of food very soon. How
many more days are there?"

"Four more--including to-day."

"Then you must telegraph at once to Cairo for more beef, or we shall run
short. Please go and telegraph at once, Guilford. Then come back and
your breakfast will be ready."

When he had gone, the girl turned to Temple and said:

"Everything is ready for you two. Bob will serve it. I think I'll go and
sleep a little, now. Don't fail to wake me at ten o'clock, Bob, and have
the roasts cut and ready to hang over the fire when I get up."

With that, she tripped away to the canvas-covered wagon, which Duncan
had detained at the camp to serve her as sleeping quarters.

Late in the evening of that day, the two teamsters, who had started
early in th