wly scraping yet safely missing the
edge, and so, gradually, they found themselves galloping out once more
over the prairie and away from the homeward road and back toward that
narrow ravine whence two Indians were now lashing their finally captured
ponies southward across the valley; and then, still circling, the
pygmies discovering that they were heading westward once more and
farther from home, their enthusiasm by degrees, therefore, became
beautifully less. They slowed gradually down to a lunging canter, then
to a shame-faced trot, and finally, with Priscilla in complete control
of both reins, her own head and theirs, they were brought at a decorous
gait back to the road and the point where their mistress had quit
them--and the lady had disappeared.

Guiding them carefully down the short declivity to the water's edge,
Priscilla came upon a not unlooked-for explanation. Sandy's horse had
disappeared. His owner was kneeling at the edge of the rippling waters,
bending over a lovely, prostrate form, alternately sprinkling and
fanning the dusty, pallid, but beautiful face, then dropping his hat to
chafe the limp little hands. With eyes full of terror he glanced up at
his cousin. With a voice half-choked with dread, he called to her, "Let
those little brutes go, Pris, and come here quick!" But Priscilla, with
wisdom untrammeled by passion and dread, lashed their bits to a tree
trunk before she would quit her charges, and by the time she reached the
interesting group at the water's edge the dusky head was pillowed on a
tan-colored knee, and further supported by a tan-colored arm, and the
loveliest dark eyes in the world, just unclosing, were gazing
imploringly up into her cousin's agonized features. A faint flush was
rising to the soft cheek, and lips that were colorless but a moment or
two agone, now reddening again, now quivering and beautifully alluring,
seemed almost uplifting, as though to reward, to welcome his, as with
joy unmistakable they murmured, "Sandy--Sandy--I knew--you'd come."

CHAPTER XVIII

BLENKE COVERS HIS TRACKS

Priscilla Sanford in the next few days, despite the fact that most of
her pupils were gone, found her duties increasing. She had seen Blenke,
but only through enlisting the interest of his captain, who directed
Blenke to call upon Miss Sanford and give account of his stewardship or
be sent thither in charge of a sergeant. Blenke appeared at last in the
dusk of evening and the depth