ly won't understand it or believe it--I can scarcely believe
it myself, for it's a miracle. All the same, it is out, shut in, and
not much damage done. You're not ruined, either, for Buddy says they're
short of fuel here, and a gasser this size is worth a good deal--'most
as much as a fair oil well.'"

"How can it be shut in? It was blazing, roaring--a tower of flame. The
derrick itself was going--"

"I know, but the strangest thing--" Allie spoke breathlessly. "Let me
do the talking, please. You remember the drill stems were standing over
in one corner? Well, the fire drove everybody off, of course; there was
no facing it, and they thought sure they'd have a job--have to send for
boilers and smother it down with steam, maybe, or tunnel under, or
something--work for days, maybe weeks, and spend a fortune. Anyhow,
they were in a panic, but when the derrick went down what do you think?
That stack of drill stems fell in such a way as to close the gate valve
at the top of the casing."

Gray frowned, he shook his head. "Impossible. You're trying to ease my
mind."

"Of course it's impossible. But it happened, just as I tell you. Buddy
had a bar fixed in the valve wheel, like a long handle, so that a half
turn, or maybe a quarter, would shut it. Anyhow, those drill stems
caught that bar in falling and closed the valve. Somebody said it
happened once before, to an oil well over in Louisiana--"

"It--sounds incredible." The speaker made an effort to collect himself,
he raised an uncertain hand to his bandaged head. "What ails me? I
recall a lot of things, but they're pretty well confused."

Allie made known, the nature of the accident resulting in Gray's
injury, and he nodded his understanding. "So Buddy saved my life!" He
smiled. "Great boy, Buddy! I'll know better than to mix it with him
again--he learns too quickly."

"Oh, it was terrible! I've been so--so frightened!" Allie Briskow
suddenly lost control of herself and, bowing her head, she hid her face
in the musty patchwork quilt. Her shoulders shook, her whole strong
body twitched and trembled. "You've b-been awful sick. I did the best I
could, but--"

"There, there!" Gray placed his hand upon the girl's head; he took her
palm in his and stroked it. "I'm not worth your tears, child. And,
anyhow, I'm all right again; I am, indeed. I'm as well as ever, so far
as I can tell. By the way, what set the well afire?"

"Buddy thinks somebody must have dropped a cigarette