e looked away from him seized by temptation that rose from contrition
not pity.

"If you cared for me you could get it. Low's certain to find a spring."

"Very well. I will," she said and rose to her feet.

She moved softly to the camp the darkness hiding her. Daddy John was
taking a cat nap by the fire, a barrier of garnered sage behind him.
She knew his sleep was light and stole with a tiptoe tread to the back
of the wagon where the water cask stood. She drew off a cupful, then,
her eye alert on the old man, crept back to David. When he saw her
coming he sat up with a sharp breath of satisfaction, and she knelt
beside him and held the cup to his lips. He drained it and sank back
in a collapse of relief, muttering thanks that she hushed, fearful of
the old man. Then she again took her seat beside him. She saw Daddy
John get up and pile the fire high, and watched its leaping flame throw
out tongues toward the stars.

Midnight was past when David woke and again begged for water. This
time she went for it without urging. When he had settled into rest she
continued her watch peaceful at the thought that she had given him what
was hers and Courant's. Reparation of a sort had been made. Her mind
could fly without hindrance into the wilderness with the lonely
horseman. It was a luxury like dearly bought freedom, and she sat on
lost in it, abandoned to a reverie as deep and solemn as the night.

CHAPTER IV

She woke when the sun shot its first rays into her eyes. David lay
near by, breathing lightly, his face like a pale carven mask against
the blanket's folds. Down below in the camp the fire burned low, its
flame looking ineffectual and tawdry in the flushed splendor of the
sunrise. Daddy John was astir, moving about among the animals and
pausing to rub Julia's nose and hearten her up with hopeful words.

Susan mounted to a ledge and scanned the distance. Her figure caught
the old man's eye and he hailed her for news. Nothing yet, she
signaled back, then far on the plain's rose-brown limit saw a dust blur
and gave a cry that brought him running and carried him in nimble
ascent to her side. His old eyes could see nothing. She had to point
the direction with a finger that shook.

"There, there. It's moving--far away, as if a drop of water had been
spilled on a picture and made a tiny blot."

They watched till a horseman grew from the nebulous spot. Then they
climbed down and ran to the camp