as was his
nature, there was in him the quality of being loyal to a trust. He
could make all preparations for leaving--but until the fire was out
and the forest safe for the time being, he could not go.

Then, quite early the next day, Marion herself came up the trail with
three movie magazines and a loaf of bread that she had purloined from
Kate's makeshift pantry. On this day she was not so frivolous, but
helpful and full of sympathy. Jack could not believe that she had told
his secret to Kate; and because he could not believe it he asked her
point blank whether Kate had come spying up there deliberately, and
was vastly reassured by Marion's vehement denial.

They worked out a heliograph code that day, and they planned an
exploring trip to Taylor Rock the next time Jack was relieved. It
seemed very important that Jack should have a picturesque hide-out
there; a secret cave, perhaps, with a tilting rock to cover the
doorway.

"It would be great," declared Marion, clasping her hands together with
her favorite ecstatic gesture. "If we could just find a cave with a
spring away back in it, don't you know, and a ledge outside where you
could watch for enemies--wouldn't that be keen? It makes me wish I had
done something, so I had to hide out in the hills. And every day at a
certain time, I can come up here where that hydrometer thing was
before it burned, and signal to you. And we'll find a place where I
can leave magazines and things like that, and you can come and get
them. Honestly, I've always wished I could be an outlaw--if I could be
one without doing anything really bad, you know. I'd love having to
live in a cave somewhere. You're lucky, Jack--Johnny Carew--if you
only knew it."

"I do know it. I never found it out till today, though," Jack told her
with what he fancied was an enigmatic smile.

"Now listen. If you want me to help you enjoy being an outlaw, Jack
Corey, you simply must cut out the sentimental stuff. Let me tell you
how I feel about it. It's nothing new to have men make love--any kind
of a man will sit up and say 'bow-wow' if you snap your fingers at
him. That's deadly common. But here you are, a bandit and an outlaw
without being bad or tough--I don't think you are, anyway. You didn't
do such awful things to get in bad with the law, you see. But you're
hiding out just the same, with the police sleuthing around after you,
and disowned by your mother and all, just like the real thing. Why,
it's