it, and his fingers trembled, so that he could scarcely scratch
the match that he took from his pocket. But it was lighted at last and,
as its tiny blaze grew brighter, the Captain saw John Baxter lying face
downward in the path, his head pointed toward his home and his feet
toward the billiard saloon.

CHAPTER VII

CAPTAIN ERI FINDS A NURSE

For a second, only, Captain Eri stood there motionless, stooping over
the body of his friend. Then he sprang into vigorous action. He dropped
upon his knees and, seizing the shoulder of the prostrate figure,
shook it gently, whispering, "John! John!" There was no answer and no
responsive movement, and the Captain bent his head and listened. Breath
was there and life; but, oh, so little of either! The next thought was,
of course, to run for help and for a doctor, but he took but a few steps
when a new idea struck him and he came back.

Lighting another match he examined the fallen man hurriedly. The old
"Come-Outer" lay in the path with his arms outstretched, as if he had
fallen while running. He was bare-headed, and there was no sign of a
wound upon him. One coat-sleeve was badly scorched, and from a pocket in
the coat protruded the neck of a bottle. The bottle was empty, but its
odor was strong; it had contained kerosene. The evidence was clear, and
the Captain knew that what he had feared was the truth.

For a moment he stood erect and pondered as to what was best to do.
Whatever it was, it must be done quickly, but if the doctor and those
that might come with him should find the burned coat and the tell-tale
bottle, it were better for John Baxter that consciousness and life never
were his again. There might, and probably would, be suspicion; but here
was proof absolute that meant prison and disgrace for a man whom all the
community had honored and respected.

Captain Eri weighed the chances, speculated on the result, and then did
what seemed to him right. He threw the bottle as far away from the path
as he could and then stripped off the coat, and, folding it into a small
bundle, hid it in the bushes near by. Then he lifted the limp body, and
turned it so that the gray head was toward the billiard saloon instead
of from it.

Perez and Jerry were still busy with the water buckets when their friend
came panting up the knoll to the pump.

"Hello, Eri!" said the former, wiping his forehead with his arm. "It's
'bout out, ain't it? Why, what's the matter?"

"Nothin';