itted. Jose came running back with the dipper, after
having carefully rinsed and filled it at the spring, as Jim had taught
him. His eyes were bright and there was a winning smile on his chubby
face, now clean. He recognized Dorothy as the girl to whom he had given
his pet lamb and promptly demanded:

"_El cordero? Donde?_"

Dorothy stared at him, then put her hands on each side his chubby face
and kissed him. The child screamed with delight and repeated his
question. At which the girl also laughed and turned to Jim, asking:

"What does he say? What does he want?"

"I reckon he wants his lamb. He's asking you where it is," answered the
lad, gladly using this chance to air his own new knowledge.

That broke the spell of not knowing how to begin and their loosened
tongues wagged fast enough after that. Dorothy forgot all about her lost
company and seizing a piece of the coarse bread her old friend had been
eating devoured it as if it had been a great delicacy.

Jim laughed, glad to see her so hungry and so eager, and obeyed her
command:

"Now begin just as we used to do at home at Deerhurst. 'I went from
here' and don't you miss a single thing until you come to 'and here I
am.' I'll help you start. You went from San Leon the very night you got
there. Now why?"

"I shall never know why, girlie. I was crazy with fever, I guess. I
hadn't been real well before I came west and that was one reason Dr.
Sterling made me come. He thought the change would cure me. It didn't. I
must have got out the window but I don't really know, only I half
remember that. Then the next thing I did know I was in Alaric's cabin
yonder with him and little Jose here. I was pretty sick. I couldn't
write but I was wild to tell you where I was and not to worry nor think
me terrible mean. I didn't want to act that way, you know, even though I
did find myself in the wrong box with those other rich boys----"

"No such thing, Jim Barlow! That was all your own self-consciousness.
They're the nicest boys in the world and the friendliest. And it seems
you can remember some things--bad ones--even if not how you ran away and
got away up here to this peak. Jim, I'm ashamed of you. I certainly am!"

But the way in which she reached out and clasped his hand in both of
hers disarmed the words of all offence. Jim threw back his head and
laughed as he hadn't done in many a day. It was just glorious to be
scolded again by his old comrade! It was so homelike t