wo came upon landmarks which told they were nearing the encampment.

His father was ghastly pale. The big drops of sweat on his forehead
told of intense pain; and, in order to revive his courage yet a little
longer, Dick shouted loudly to warn the dear ones who were waiting.

"They'll soon come running to meet us; and you must put on a bold
front, daddy, else mother will think you're near dead. Hold hard a
little while longer, and then we'll have you in the wagon, where all
hands of us can doctor you in great shape."

It is more than probable that, had he been alone, with no one to cheer
him, Mr. Stevens might never have been able to endure the agony which
must have been his. Thanks to Dick's cheering words, however, he not
only kept his seat, but remained conscious until his wife and son
lifted him from the horse to the bed hastily prepared in the vehicle.

Then nature asserted herself; and he speedily sank into unconsciousness
accompanied by delirium, as when Dick had watched by his side.

"He was just that way all night, and it frightened me, mother. What
can we do for him?"

"I don't know, Dick dear; indeed I don't. Unless he can have proper
attention death must soon come, and I am ignorant of such nursing as
he needs. If we were only where we could call in a doctor!"

"Wouldn't it do almost as well if we had medicine for him?"

"Perhaps so; but if we could get such things it would also be possible
to at least find out what we should do."

"The horses wouldn't pull us across the desert until after they've
rested a spell," Dick said half to himself.

"And even if they could, we must have food."

"See here, mother; you fix up daddy's leg the best you know how, and
I'll look around for something that'll fill the pot. There are rabbits
here in plenty, though it's mighty hard luck when you have to waste a
cartridge on each one. I'll have enough in the way of meat by the time
you've washed the wound. I've heard the poor old man himself say that
plenty of cool water was needed on a bullet-hole."

Mrs. Stevens could not be hopeful under the circumstances, for she knew
better than did Dick how slight was the chance that the injured man
could live where it was impossible to care properly for the wound; but
she would not deprive the boy of hope, and turned to do as he suggested.

Although weary and footsore, Dick did not spend many moments in camp.

He waited only long enough to get his rifle and ammunition, and