e air with which she faced her terrible situation!
The proud sadness of her face was infinitely more affecting than any
extreme of distress could have been. Garth bled inwardly, to think of
the torments of mind she must have endured. He yearned mightily to let
her know he was near. He crouched at the edge of the water, willing a
message of cheer to her; and heartened himself with the assurance that
she could not but feel it.

She ate little; and, presently arising, disappeared within the tent.
Grylls drew out the inevitable cigars, and, carelessly tossing one
to Mabyn, lit his own. Mary went about collecting the dishes. Xavier
carried his plate to the river side to wash it. Garth handled his
rifle with fingers itching for the trigger. There were the four of
them, all unconscious, delivered into his hands, it seemed.

But he spared them for a while. It was not that he shrank from shedding
blood now; taking their lives troubled him no more than killing so much
vermin. But, close as they were, he could not be sure of nailing them
all; a dive outside the firelight, and they were safe. And Natalie was
in their hands; and he had no way of crossing the river. He must rescue
her first.

Mary went into the tent, which she apparently shared with Natalie; and
presently reappeared with a dishtowel. Lifting a pail of hot water from
the fire, she prepared to wash the dishes. The fire was dying down, and
gathering an armful of brush, she heaped it on to make a light.

Too late Garth appreciated the significance of this act. He turned to
escape up the path again; and in his hurry dislodged a heavy stone,
which rolled into the water with a splash. He faced about with his rifle
ready. Only Xavier, at the water's edge, heard the sound, and looked up.
At the same instant the fire sprang into a blaze, filling the canyon
with light; and plainly revealing Garth and his shadow behind him on the
rock. The breed sprang to his feet with a cry of warning. It was the
last sound, save one, that he ever made. The sharp, light bark of
Garth's rifle reverberated in the gorge; the breed spun around with a
throaty, quenched cry, toppled over backward into deep water, and was
swept away.

Before Garth could aim again, Mary Co-que-wasa seized her pail of water,
and flung it hissing on the fire. Absolute darkness filled the canyon.

XXIV

IN DEATH CANYON

Garth crouched at the water's edge, striving to pierce the murk with his
eyes; but th