it still where
you are, and we'll load up again."

As a matter of fact the grayling were rising freely, and in a moment or
so he had fastened another which he added to the one in the basket.
This one she insisted that he land alone, so that he might have all the
sport. And thus, he generously sharing with her, they placed six of
the splendid fish in the basket, and he declared they had enough for
the time.

"Come," said he, "we'll go back now."

She reached out a hand. "I want to carry the fish," said she. "Let
me, please. I want to do something."

He passed the basket strap over her shoulder for her, Tim following on
behind, panting, as guardian of the spoils. "You're a good sport,"
said Major Barnes. "One of the best I ever saw, and I saw a lot of
them over there."

She was stumbling forward through the sage as best she might, tripping
here and there, sweeping her skirts now and again from the ragged
branches which caught against them. He took her hand in his to lead
her. It lay light and warm in his own--astonishingly light and warm,
as suddenly he realized. She had pushed the sunbonnet back from her
forehead as she would have done had she been desirous of seeing better.
He noted the color of her cheeks, the regularity of her features, the
evenness of her dark brows, the wholly pleasing contour of her figure,
as she stumbled bravely along at his side.

"You're fine!" he repeated, suddenly. "You're fine! I expect to see
you live to bless the day you came here. I expect to hear you say yet
that you're _glad_ you're alive--not alive just because it was your
duty to live. Don't talk to me any more about duty."

He was striding along excitedly. "Not too fast!" she panted, holding
fast to his hand.

And so they came presently to the cabin door again, and saw Sim Gage
perched high on a load of logs, coming down the lane.

"I'm going to put the new cabin for the men right over there," said
Doctor Barnes. "And when Annie Squires comes--why, we're going to have
the grandest little ranch here you ever saw. And, of course, I can
telephone up every once in a while."

"Telephone?" said she vaguely. "Then you won't be coming up yourself?"

CHAPTER XXIII

THE OUTLOOK

Doctor Barnes was making ready to depart when Sim Gage came in at the
gate with his load of logs. They exchanged greetings, Sim regarding
his visitor rather closely.

"We've just got back from fishing," said Doctor Barnes.