read upon her master, who lay in a motionless
heap close beside her. Then Virginia's quick eyes discovered blood upon
the man's head and face. She jumped to her feet.

"He's hurt somehow, Vivian," she said, "terribly hurt, I'm afraid. We
mustn't leave him like this. He might die here all alone! Come on! Let's
see what we can do."

Vivian, too surprised to remonstrate, followed Virginia through the
quaking-asps. The man lay where he had fallen, unconscious of anything
about him. Blood was flowing from an ugly wound just above his forehead.
He was a sad and sorry sight. Vivian shuddered and drew back.

"Who is he, Virginia?" she breathed. "You know who he is, don't you? Oh,
what are you going to do?" For Virginia's strong young arms were trying
to pull the man into a more comfortable position, and farther beneath the
trees.

"No, I don't know who he is," she whispered, fanning the man's white face
with her broad-brimmed hat. "That doesn't make any difference. He's
awfully hurt! I thought at first 'twas a shot, but I guess he's fallen. It
looks like that. The horse belongs to Michner's. I know by the brand. Fan
him, Vivian, while I fix his head and see if he has any whisky about him
anywhere."

The dazed and frightened Vivian obediently took the fan, and turning her
face away, frantically fanned the quaking-asps until they danced and
fluttered once more. Virginia untied the cow boy's slicker from the back
of the buckskin's saddle and folded it into a pillow, which she placed
beneath the sick man's head. The buckskin was relieved and whinnied her
thanks. Then from one pocket she drew a small, leathern flask and shook
it.

"Empty!" she said. "Hard luck! Water will have to do. We were careless to
forget our drinking-cups. Rinse this flask, and get some water from the
spring, Vivian."

Vivian, still waving the fan in the air, brought the water, which Virginia
tried to pour between the man's lips. It seemed to arouse him, for he
drank some gratefully, though without opening his eyes.

"I ought to wash some of this blood away," said Virginia, "but I guess I
won't take the time. You can do that after I'm gone. There's only one
thing to do. We can't leave this man here in this condition. He might die
before any one found him. I'll take Pedro and ride on to Michner's as fast
as I can for help. Or," she added, seeing Vivian's eyes open wider, "_you_
take him, and I'll stay here. Either you like, only we must decide at
once