en was going in response to Mrs. Van Shaw's request, he
brooded miserably over the whole affair and sat there gazing gloomily at
the little stone house into which the group with Helen had gone.

Paul and Clifford and the Indians soon came out and went on completing
their preparations for the departure.

Meanwhile, in the little room where Ross Van Shaw lay, tortured in mind
and body, a remarkable scene was being enacted.

There was just room close by the door for the cot on which Helen was
sitting, and the moment she was placed there, she was aware of Van
Shaw's face staring at her. The sight of it shocked her almost to the
verge of hysterics. She instantly controlled herself as she quickly
noted the fact that both her mother and Mrs. Van Shaw were watching her.

"I wanted to see you before you went away," Van Shaw was saying, and his
voice sounded very weak and a long ways off to Helen as she saw the
tremble of his hands and the uncertain glance he cast at her, so sharply
different from his previous bold and positive attitude towards her.

"We are so sorry for you," said Helen. "It was a miracle you were not
killed."

"Yes. Thanks to Mr. Clifford, mother tells me. I want to thank him
before he goes. Mother, won't you ask him to come in?"

"Yes, Ross. But do you think you can bear all this excitement? I am
afraid it will be too much for you." The government farmer's wife, who
was acting as nurse, added a word of objection.

"No, it won't," he said irritably. "I want to see him. Didn't you tell
me he saved my life? I ought at least to thank him for it."

"I'll tell him, yes I will!" Mrs. Van Shaw spoke in the hurried, anxious
tone of one who feared a scene if she refused his request.

"Tell him now, then mother. Ask him to come in now."

"I will. I will." Mrs. Van Shaw rose and went out of the room, leaving
Mrs. Douglas and Helen staring at Van Shaw and wondering how he had not
heard the news of his rescue by Bauer.

Van Shaw turned his look again towards Helen. And she saw then, even in
her agitation, that he was moved by the excitement of his fever. As a
matter of fact, the doctor, when he came the next day, was in a towering
rage with Mrs. Van Shaw over what he called her insane yielding to the
request of a delirious patient.

"I wanted to see you, Miss Douglas, before you went and warn you about
that German fellow Bauer. He's been telling you stories about me, and
trying to butt into my affairs and I ju