s nature demanded. For her own sake, not for his, he must hasten her
onward to Goldite, by way of the "Laughing Water" claim.

He walked off eastward where a natural furrow made a deep depression in
the valley. His pony followed, the lasso dragging in the sand. Once
over at the furrow edge, the man took out his pistol and fired it off
in the air.

Beth was duly aroused. Van saw her leap to her feet, then he
disappeared in the hollow, with his broncho at his heels.

The girl was, if possible, stiffer than before. But she was much
refreshed. For a moment she feared Van was deserting, till she noted
his saddle, near at hand. Then he presently emerged upon the level of
the plain and returned to the site of their camp.

"First call for breakfast in the dining-car," he said. "We can make it
by half-past eight."

"If only we could have a cup of good hot coffee first, before we
start," said Beth, and she smiled at the vainness of the thought.

"We won't get good coffee at the claim," Van assured her dryly. "But
near-coffee would lure me out of this."

He was rapidly adjusting the blanket and saddle on his horse.

"You'll have to ride or we can't make speed," he added. "As a walker
you're sure the limited."

She appreciated thoroughly the delicacy with which he meant to continue
the fiction of her sex. But he certainly was frank.

"Thank you," she answered amusedly. "I'd do better, perhaps, if I
weren't so over-burdened with flattery."

"You'll have to do better, anyhow," he observed, concluding
preparations with Suvy. "There you are. Get on. Father Time with
hobbles on could beat us getting a move."

He started off, leaving her to mount by herself. She managed the
matter somewhat stiffly, suppressing a groan at the effort, and then
for an hour she was gently pummeled into limberness as the pony
followed Van.

They came at the end of that time to one of the upper reaches of that
same river she had forded the previous day. To all appearances the
wide shallow bed was a counterpart of the one over which her horse had
waded. But the trail turned sharply down the stream, and followed
along its bank.

They had halted for the pony to drink. Van also refreshed himself and
Beth dismounted to lie flat down and quench her long, trying thirst.

"Right across there, high up in the hills, is the 'Laughing Water'
claim," said Van, pointing north-eastward towards the mountains. "Only
three miles away, if w