ou eat anything solid for a bit, but you can have all of the broth
now if you want it."

As he stooped over him the young man's fingers caught at his shirt
sleeve and pulled him down to listen to his whispered words.

"Pull me out of this--quickly--quickly--there's a--party--down
the--mountain--dying of thirst. Is this Higgins' Camp? I--I--tried to
get there for--for help." He panted and could say no more.

The big man whistled softly. "Thought you'd get to Higgins' Camp?
You're sixty miles out of the way--or more,--twice that, way you've
come. You took the wrong trail and you've gone forty miles one way
when you should have gone as far on the other. I did it myself once,
and never undid it."

The patient looked hungrily at the tin cup from which he had been
taking the broth. "Can you give me a little more?"

"Yes, drink it all. It won't hurt ye."

"I've got to get up. They'll die." He struggled and succeeded in
lifting himself to his elbow and with the effort he spoke more
strongly. "May I have another taste of the whisky? I'm coming
stronger now. I left them yesterday with all the food--only a
bit--and a little water--not enough to keep them alive much longer.
Yesterday--God help them--was it yesterday--or days ago?"

The older man had a slow, meditative manner of speech as if he had
long been in the way of speaking only to himself, unhurried, and at
peace. "It's no use your trying to think that out, young man, and I
can't tell you. Nor you won't be able to go for them in a while. No."

"I must. I must if I die. I don't care if I die--but they--I must go."
He tried again to raise himself, but fell back. Great drops stood out
on his forehead and into his eyes crept a look of horror. "It's
there!" he said, and pointed with his finger.

"What's there, man?"

"The eye. See! It's gone. Never mind, it's gone." He relaxed, and his
face turned gray and his eyes closed for a moment, then he said again,
"I must go to them."

"You can't go. You're delirious, man."

Then the stranger's lips twitched and he almost smiled. "Because I saw
it? I saw it watching me. It often is, and it's not delirium. I can
go. I am quite myself."

That half smile on the young man's face was reassuring and appealing.
The big man could not resist it.

"See here, are you enough yourself to take care of yourself, if I
leave you and go after them--whoever they are?"

"Yes, oh, yes."

"Will you be prudent--stay right here, eat very spa