en he fired?"

"It's in my shoulder--just a flesh wound. The bleeding has stopped
except when I move."

"Why didn't you say something about it?" she asked impatiently. "Do
you think we're clairvoyants? We'd better get him into the house and
look at it, Mr. Dingwell."

They did as she suggested. A bullet had ploughed a furrow across the
shoulder. Except for the loss of blood, the wound was not serious.
With the help of Miss Rutherford, which was given as a matter of course
and quite without embarrassment, Dave dressed and bandaged the hurt
like an expert. In his adventurous life he had looked after many men
who had been shot, and had given first aid to a dozen with broken bones.

Roy winced a little at the pain, but he made no outcry. He was not a
baby about suffering. That he could stand as well as another. What
shook his nerve was the fear of anticipation, the dread of an impending
disaster which his imagination magnified.

"You'd better hurry," he urged two or three times. "Some one might
come any minute."

Dave looked at him, a little surprised. "What's the urge, son? We've
got two six-guns with us if anybody gets too neighborly."

But Beulah was as keen for the start as Beaudry. She did not want the
men escaping from the park to meet with her people. To avoid this,
rapid travel was necessary.

As soon as Roy was patched up they started.

Chapter XIV

Personally Escorted

Before they reached the mouth of the canon, Dave was supporting the
slack body of his friend. When the party came to the aspens, Beulah
hurried forward, and by the time the two men emerged she was waiting
for them with Blacky.

Roy protested at taking the horse, but the girl cut short his
objections imperiously.

"Do you think we've only your silly pride to consider? I want you out
of the park--where my people can't reach you. I'm going to see you get
out. After that I don't care what you do."

Moonlight fell upon the sardonic smile on the pitifully white face of
the young man. "I'm to be personally conducted by the Queen of
Huerfano. That's great. I certainly appreciate the honor."

With the help of Dingwell he pulled himself to the saddle. The
exertion started a spurt of warm blood at the shoulder, but Roy
clenched his teeth and clung to the pommel to steady himself. The
cattleman led the horse and Beulah walked beside him.

"I can get another pony for you at Cameron's," she explained. "Just
abov