l.
And they had left a trail easily followed. Perhaps the hard, dry
ground might confuse those savage trackers, but they would scour the
open country between bluff and river, and find the dead warrior in the
gully. That would tell the story. To go west, along the edge of the
river, wading in the water, would be useless precaution; such a trick
would be suspected at once, and there was no possibility of rescue from
that direction. They might as well walk open-eyed into a trap. There
was but one hope, one opportunity--to cross the stream before dawn came
and hide among those shifting sand-dunes of the opposite shore. Hamlin
thoroughly understood the risk involved, the treacherous nature of the
Arkansas, the possibility that both might be sucked down by engulfing
quicksand, yet even such a lonely death was preferable to Indian
torture.

The girl at his feet stirred and moaned. In another moment he had
filled his hat with water from the river, had lifted her head upon one
arm, and using the handkerchief from about his throat, was washing away
the blood that matted her hair. Now that his fingers felt the wound,
he realized the force of the blow stunning her, although its outward
manifestation was slight. Her figure trembled in his arms and her eyes
opened, gazing up wonderingly at the black outlines of his shadow.
Then she made an effort as though to draw away.

"Lie still a while yet, Miss McDonald," he said soothingly, "until you
regain your strength."

He heard the quick gasp of her breath, and felt the sudden relaxing of
her muscles.

"You!" she exclaimed in undisguised relief at recognition of the voice;
"is it really you? Where are we? What has happened?"

He told her rapidly, his face bent close, realizing that she was
clinging to him again as she had once before back in the stage. As he
ended, she lifted one hand to her wound.

"And I am not really hurt--not seriously?" her voice bewildered. "I--I
never realized I had been struck. And--and you carried me all that
way--" she shuddered, looking about into the black silence. "I--I can
hardly comprehend--yet. Please explain again; they are back there
watching for us still, believing we are in the coach; they will follow
our trail as soon as it becomes daylight. Why--why, the sky is
brighter over in the east already, is n't it? What was it you said we
must do?"

"Get across the river; once hidden in those sand-dunes over there we
'll be safe en