"Why do you want the gun?"

Jim made an impatient gesture. He had forgotten that Carrie had come
to his help, and although he noted, mechanically, that she was highly
strung and bearing some strain, he did not dwell on this. His
antagonist had got away. He wanted to go after him, not to talk.

"The brute's not far off, and unless I'm quick he'll light out. Give
me the gun!"

"I won't," said Carrie.

She stood a few yards above Jim, and jerked out the cartridges.
Stooping swiftly, she picked them up and threw them among the trees.
Then she laughed, a strained laugh, and held out the gun.

"You may have it now," she added. "You can't find the shells."

"Then I'll go without them," Jim rejoined, and plunged down the hill.

When he had gone a short distance he stopped. His leg hurt and he had
a dull recollection of a blow. His leg was not cut; perhaps the
chopper had hit him with the flat of the ax or he had struck it on the
rock. Anyhow, he was lame and could hardly keep his balance on the
rough slope. There was no use in going on like that, particularly as
he heard a faint rattle of gravel some distance off. It was obvious
that the chopper had got away and Jim awkwardly climbed back. Now he
was getting cool, he began to see what Carrie had done and when he
joined her he felt embarrassed.

"I'm sorry; I expect I was very rough," he remarked.

"Oh," she said, "that doesn't matter! I think I understand. Besides,
you are hurt."

"Leg's stiff; that's all. I ought to have remembered. But, you
see----"

Carrie smiled. "You mean you didn't think about me at all? You had
concentrated on catching the fellow."

"Something like that," Jim admitted. "I ought to have thought, and
after a few minutes I did think."

"When you found you couldn't walk?"

"Well," said Jim, awkwardly, "I now see how mean I was." He paused and
resumed with sincere emotion: "If you hadn't come, the brute would have
cut me down."

Carrie's rather ironical amusement vanished and she colored. "It
doesn't matter, Jim. All that's important is, I did come. But you are
lame and mustn't stand."

"I can stand as long as you can stand," said Jim, who pulled off his
jacket and threw it on the ground. "You'll find this softer than the
stones." He sat down opposite her and resumed: "Now, how did you
happen----?"

"I found some flour and pork had gone. Since one can't get food
between here and the settlement, it looked as if s