in a hurry, oh, no."

"Big fool," the captain muttered to himself as he watched Tom shuffle
away. "It takes a mighty hard blow to knock any sense into a head sich
as his."

As the days passed, Rod became more restless, and kept calling for Anna
Royanna. It was hard for the anxious watchers to listen to his piteous
pleadings. The doctor's face grew grave during one of his frequent
visits as he watched the raving boy.

"Do you suppose she'd come?" he asked Parson Dan, who had followed him
into the room.

"Would it do any good, doctor?"

"It might. One can never tell. Anyway, I think that Miss Royanna
should be told how sick he is. She is very fond of the boy. You
should send word to his mother as well."

"You're right, doctor," the clergyman replied.

"I shall send two messages at once."

In less than two days Anna Royanna entered the room where Rod was
lying. She had been driven from the station by a fast team. Her face
was pale and worn, clearly showing that little or no sleep had come to
her eyes the night before. In fact, she had not slept since she had
received Parson Dan's message. Everything else was forgotten. Only
one thing mattered to her, and that was the boy lying sick unto death
in far-off Hillcrest.

Rod had been more restless than ever during the night, and the fever
was at its highest. All realised that this was the crisis, and that a
short time would decide everything. He was still calling and raving as
the singer entered the room. Stepping quickly to his side, she placed
her hand upon his hot forehead.

"Hush," she soothed. "I am here. It is Anna Royanna."

That touch, more than the words, seemed to have a magic effect. The
parched burning lips ceased to move, the staring eyes closed, and with
a deep sigh Rod turned his head on the pillow, and sank into a peaceful
sleep. Lovingly, and with eyes brimming with tears, the woman stood
for some time and watched the boy. Then a light step aroused her. It
was the doctor.

"The turn has come," he whispered. "You were just in time."

Rod rapidly recovered, and there was joy not only at the rectory but
throughout the entire parish. Captain Josh was almost beside himself
with joy, while the scouts plucked up sufficient courage to meet at
Headquarters to talk about the accident, and their patrol-leader's
illness.

It was a great day for Rod when he was able to sit up and receive
visitors. Captain Josh had been often in the