life had wronged her.

"Reckon you're wise, Blink, to keep your wagon away from the others
like this," said Pan. "Because when your wife wakes up there's liable
to be hell. Call me pronto."

"Pard, you're shore she ain't in a stupor or somethin'?" queried
Blinky, apprehensively.

"Blink, you know she was ill for ten days. Then she drank a lot.
Reckon she's knocked out. But there's nothing to worry about, except
she'll jump the traces when she comes to."

"You mean when she finds out--I--she--we're married?"

"That's what, Pard Blink. I wish you didn't have to tell her."

"_Me_? My Gawd, I cain't tell her," replied Blinky, in consternation.
"Shore you gotta do that."

"All right, Blink. I'll save what little hair you have left," returned
Pan, good humoredly.

He walked out to take a look at the horses, which were scattered on the
far side of the pasture. They could not be closely approached, yet
were not nearly so wild as he had expected them to be. The saddle and
wagon horses grazed among them. The blue roan looked vastly better for
two days' rest. Whitefoot was a noble stallion. Sight of Little Bay
brought keen pain to Pan. What boundless difference between his state
of mind when he had caught that beautiful little horse and what it was
now!

Pan went back to the campfire. Supper was in progress, with the
capable Mrs. Smith bustling about. Lucy and Alice were assisting. Pan
stole a glance at Lucy. Her face was flushed from the wind and sun;
she wore a white apron; her sleeves were rolled up to show round strong
arms. Bobby and his two puppies were much in the way.

"Pan, how is Mrs. Somers?" inquired his mother solicitously.

"Who?" queried Pan, puzzled.

"Why, your partner's wife."

"Oh, Blinky! ... Gee, I'd clean forgot his right name," laughed Pan,
mentally kicking himself. "She's still sound asleep. I told Blinky
not to wake her. She looked white and worn out."

"But she'll starve," interposed Lucy, with questioning eyes on Pan.
Indeed their meaning had no relation to her words. "You men don't know
anything. Won't you let me wake her?"

"Thanks. Better let her alone till tomorrow," replied Pan briefly.

Presently there came the call to supper, which had been laid upon a new
tarpaulin spread on the ground. The men flopped down, and sat
cross-legged, each with silent or vociferous appreciation of that
generous repast.

"Shades of the grub line!" ejaculated Blinky. "Am