s, that are bound to think
things. What _can_ they think, not knowing Marion at all, and just
judging by appearances?"

"I suppose they understood perfectly that it would be impossible for
her to get home across the fire, Kate. By George! I can see myself
that she couldn't do it. I shouldn't blame the girl for that, Kate.
And I can see also that it was a consideration for you that prompted
her to send word in the only way she could. Poor girl, you are
completely worn out. Now be a good girl and go in and rest, and don't
worry any more about it. I shall stay here and keep an eye on
camp--and I want you to promise that you will lie down and take a
good, long sleep. Go--you need it more than you realize."

Tears--unreasoning, woman tears--stood in Kate's eyes at the tender
solicitude of his tone. Very submissively she picked up the pitcher
and the glasses and went into the cabin. The professor sighed when she
was gone, kneaded the pillows into a more comfortable position and
proceeded to keep an eye on camp by falling into so sound a sleep that
within five minutes he was snoring gently. It would be cruel to
suspect him of wanting to be rid of Kate and her troubles so that he
could sleep, but he certainly lost no time in profiting by her
absence. Nature had skimped her material when she fashioned Professor
Harrison. He was not much taller than Kate--not so tall as Marion by a
full inch--and he was narrow shouldered and shallow chested, with
thin, bony wrists and a bulging forehead that seemed to bulge worse
than it really did because of his scanty growth of hair. He was a kind
hearted little man, but the forest rangers had worked him hard all
night. One cannot blame him for wanting to sleep in peace, with no
sound but the gurgle of the creek two rods away, and the warbling call
of a little, yellow-breasted bird in the alders near by.

It was Fred Humphrey tramping wearily into camp three hours later, who
awoke him. Fred was an altogether different type of man, and he was
not so careful to conceal his own desires. Just now he was hungry, and
so he called for Kate. Moreover, he had with him two men, and they
were just as hungry as he was, even if they did suppress the fact
politely.

"Oh, Kate! Can you scare up something right away for us to eat? Make a
lot of coffee, will you? And never mind fancy fixings--real grub is
what we want right now. Where's Marion? She can help you get it ready,
can't she?"

Kate was heard m