ets lost up here at
San Leon!" and Molly's absurd appeal: "Tie me tight!"

After a moment when Zaraza seemed rested she urged the docile creature
forward, and now the "calico" had certainly discovered a smooth and easy
way. That was good. It must be a well-traveled road, though it was still
but a "trail" to her eyes. Probably this was the final stretch of the
trip, and in a moment she would come face to face with the gigantic
Rock.

Instead, the way grew smoother all the time and now quite level. A
little way farther she could see a wide plain, or mesa, with sheep
grazing. How odd! that anybody should feed sheep upon a mountain that
looked all rock and forest, seen from below. The sun was hot. It must be
noon. She hoped she wouldn't be late for that famous lunch they had
talked about so much.

Zaraza trotted around a last clump of trees, as if she knew her task was
ended, and her own feeding time at hand.

Then Dorothy brought her up with a sharp, silent tug upon the reins.
Yonder in that open space was a small hut, or cabin; and sitting on the
ground before it was an Indian, with a little Indian child beside him.
Evidently, they also were having a mid-day meal, for she saw the child
lift a tin dipper to his lips and drink.

Zaraza whinnied. She was thirsty and scented water, and at that sound
the man sprang up and turned around. For one astonished moment he gazed
at that girlish apparition and Dorothy at him. Then with a cry of
ecstasy she sprang to the ground and sped toward him.

"Jim! O Jim!"

"Why--Dorothy!"

CHAPTER XVI

PROSPERITY AND PARTING

They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could
only stare at each other in speechless delight. Jim was trembling, for
he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by
attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the
stranger a drink.

Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and
watched the child.

He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a
nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish. The spring
had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the
herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for
him--and use from that till the supply failed. He did not yet understand
how the stagnant water had had anything to do with his own fever, that
had followed on Jim's partial recovery.

Children are quick w