ular
intervals and brought him his broth every two hours.

At a little before noon Gloria, stooping over the fire, started erect
and whirled about. King's eyes were open! She ran to him, dropping on
her knees beside him, catching up his hand, whispering:

"Mark! Oh, Mark--thank God!"

He looked at her strangely. There was a puzzled, bewildered expression
in his eyes. He strove to move and again looked at her with that strange
bewilderment. She saw his lips move--he wanted to say something, to ask
something and, deserted now by all of that magnificent strength on which
he had always leaned, was as weak as a baby.

"Don't try to talk, Mark," she cried softly. "Please; not yet. You are
better; everything is all right."

She gave his hand a last squeeze and hurried back to the fire; his eyes,
still shadow-filled, followed her curiously. She came back to him with
cup and spoon. This he could understand; he opened his lips for the
spoon, he accepted what she gave him and when she had finished lay
looking up at her wonderingly.

"You mustn't talk, Mark," she commanded him gently as, again, she knelt
by him. "You are getting so much stronger! I'll tell you everything. It
was last night; you have been unconscious ever since. None of the other
men have been near; I haven't even seen one of them."

She saw his eyes clear.

"Mark," she whispered, "we are safe here because--because you are so
wonderful! You were like a god--the bravest, noblest, best man in, all
the world! You came in time; you saved me, Mark; they had not put hand
upon me. And I am well and strong now; I am going to take care of you;
you must just lie still and get well--_Oh, Mark_----"

His eyes closed again; he seemed very faint, very weary. Hushed, she sat
tense, her eyes never moving from his face. After a long time he opened
his eyes again; he tried again to speak; when the words did not come he
managed a strange, shadowy smile with his bloodless lips and in another
moment had sunk again into that heavy sleep that was so like death.

When next, two hours later, she again brought his broth, he stirred at
her touch and awoke. This time his eyes cleared swiftly; he remembered
the other awakening and her words. He looked at her long and searchingly
and she understood what lay back of that look; he was wondering how she
managed, how she endured to care for them both, how without his active
aid she withstood hardship. And this time she smiled at him.

"