f if I didn't feel so necessary here. But Mr. Douglas can't drive
these mustangs back to Tolchaco."

He winked at Bauer good naturedly and hastened to inquire into his
condition.

"I'm black and blue," said Bauer, "but otherwise, sehr gut. This is a
miraculous climate. My hemorrhage is slight, and I don't believe it will
recur. I have no symptoms. I don't want you to delay the return on my
account." Then he added after a pause, "How is Van Shaw?"

"That fellow," said Elijah, "has missed breaking his neck by a miracle.
His collar bone was fractured clear up to the last bone in his spinal
column. Both of his legs were broken below the knee. He must have struck
right on his toes when he fell, and doubled up on himself. He can't move
out of here for some while. But I understand his mother has sent a wire
from Winslow for Mr. Van Shaw to come on from Pittsburgh. She is pretty
well upset by the whole business. She tried to thank me for saving her
son's life and I think she was too hysterical and excited to understand
me when I told her you were the party. She hinted that her husband would
probably deed a railroad or two to me for saving her precious son's
life. If they send the railroad out here I'll turn it over to you. I
don't want it."

"But you did save him," said Bauer with some feeling.

"Well, no, I reckon I just preserved him. You had him saved, and I just
took what you handed over and passed it up. But, what were you doing out
there on the edge of that rock last night, anyhow? I forgot to ask when
I was down there on the ledge and never thought of it again until just
now."

Bauer was spared the embarrassment of trying to satisfy Clifford's good
natured curiosity by the arrival into the tent of Mrs. Douglas,
accompanied by the tourist doctor who had offered his services to both
Bauer and Van Shaw and had fortunately had enough of his repair kit with
him to do all that could be done outside of a well appointed hospital.

He pronounced Bauer to be in good condition and anticipated no
recurrence of the flow for him if he were careful. Van Shaw was in a
more serious case. He was suffering from a nervous shock and would have
to stay where he was for some time. A room had been hired in a small
stone house belonging to the government farmer, and Van Shaw was as
comfortable as he could be under the circumstances. But he was delirious
a part of the time and the doctor evidently believed his condition to be
serious, if