ough."

"Across the river," she repeated the words dully, sitting up to stare
out toward the water. Then her head sank into her hands. "Can we--can
we ever do that?"

Hamlin bent forward on his knees, striving with keen eyes, sharpened by
his night's experience, to learn more of what lay before them. The
movement, slight as it was, served to frighten her, and she grasped him
by the sleeve.

"Do not leave me; do not go away," she implored swiftly. "Whatever you
say is best, I will do."

CHAPTER IX

ACROSS THE RIVER

He dropped his hand upon hers, clasping the clinging fingers tightly.

"Yes, we can make it," he answered confidently. "Wait until I make
sure what is out there."

He had slight recollection of the stream at this point, although he had
crossed it often enough at the known fords, both above and below. Yet
these crossings had always been accomplished with a horse under him,
and a knowledge of where the trail ran. But he knew the stream, its
peculiarities and dangers. It was not the volume of water, nor its
depth he feared, for wide as it appeared stretching from bank to bank,
he realized its shallow sluggishness. The peril lay in quicksand, or
the plunging into some unseen hole, where the sudden swirl of water
might pull them under. Alone he would have risked it recklessly, but
with her added weight in his arms, he realized how a single false step
would be fatal. The farther shore was invisible; he could perceive
nothing but the slight gleam of water lapping the sand at his feet, as
it flowed slowly, noiselessly past, and beyond, the dim outline of a
narrow sand ridge. Even this, however, was encouragement, proving the
shallowness of the stream. He turned about, his face so close he could
see her eyes.

"We shall have to try it, Miss McDonald; you must permit me to carry
you."

"Yes."

"And whatever happens do not scream--just cling tight to me."

"Yes," a little catching in her throat. "Tell me first, please, just
what it is you fear."

"Quicksand principally; it is in all these western rivers, and the two
of us together on one pair of feet will make it harder to pull out of
the suck. If I tell you to get down, do so quickly."

"Yes."

"Then there may be holes out there in the bottom. I don't mind those
so much, although these cavalry boots are no help in swimming."

"I can swim."

"Hardly in your clothes; but I am glad to know it, nevertheless. You
could keep af