you!"

"I never felt it. I lost all sense of feeling.... Kiss me now! Prove
you're alive and love me still!"

And then presently, when Neale caught his breath again, it was to
whisper, "Precious Allie!"

"Am I alive? Do I love you?" she whispered, her eyes like purple stars,
her face flooded with a dark rose color.

"I'm forced to believe it, but you must prove it often," he replied.
Then he drew her to a seat beside him. "I've had many dreams of you, yet
not one like this.... How is it you are alive? By what Providence?... I
shall pray to Providence all my life. How do you come to be here? Tell
me, quick."

She leaned close against him. "That's easy," she replied. "Only sometime
I want to tell you all--everything.... Do you remember the four ruffians
who visited Slingerland's cabin one day when we were all there? Well,
they came back one day, the first time Slingerland ever left me
alone. They fired the cabin and carried me off. Then they fought among
themselves. Two were killed. I made up my mind to get on a horse and
run. Just as I was ready I spied Indians riding down. I had to shoot the
ruffian Frank. But I didn't kill him. Then I got on a horse and tried
to ride away. The Indians captured me--took me to their camp. There
an Indian girl freed me--led me away at night. I found a trail and
walked--oh, nights and days it seemed. Then I fell in with a caravan.
I thought I was saved. But the leader of that caravan turned out to be
Durade."

"Durade!" echoed Neale, intensely.

"Yes. He was traveling east. He treated me well, but threatened me. When
we reached the construction camp, somewhere back there, he started his
gambling-place. One night I escaped. I walked all that night--all the
next day. And I was about ready to drop when I found this camp. It was
night again. I saw the lights. They took me in. Mrs. Dillon and the
other women were so kind, so good to me. I told them very little about
myself. I only wanted to be hidden here and have them send for you. Then
they brought General Lodge, your chief, to see me. He was kind, too.
He promised to get you here. It has been a whole terrible week of
waiting.... But now--"

"Allie," burst out Neale, "they never told me a word about you--never
gave me a hint. They sent for me to come back to my job. I could have
come a day sooner--the day Campbell found me.... Oh!"

"I know they did not find you at once. And I learned yesterday they had
located you. That eased my