mind had it been half an inch
lower it would have proved fatal. He knelt there staring at it,
wondering and speculating. He glanced at the corner of the box, and
the thought of Eve's height suggested the impossibility of a tumble
causing such a wound. Suspicion stirred him to a cold, hard rage. This
was no accident, he told himself, and his mind flew at once to the
only person who, to his way of thinking, could have caused it. Will
had left her just as Elia came in; but Peter's voice called him to
himself.

"Best keep on with the bathing," he said.

And without a sign Jim bent to his task once more. A moment later Eve
stirred, and her eyes opened. At first there was no meaning in her
upward stare. Then the eyes began to move, and settled themselves on
Jim's face. In a moment consciousness returned, and she struggled to
sit up. It was then the man's arm was thrust under her shoulders, and
he gently lifted her.

"Feeling better, Eve?" he asked gently.

There was a moment's pause; then a whispered, "Yes," came from her
lips. But her wound began to bleed afresh, and Jim turned at once to
Elia.

"Go you and hunt up Doc Crombie," he said hastily. And as the boy
stirred to depart, he added in a tone that was curiously sharp set,
"Then go on to the saloon and tell Will Henderson to come right up
here."

But Peter interfered.

"Let him get the Doc," he said. "I'll see to him--later."

The two men exchanged glances, and Jim gave way.

"Very well. But hurry for Crombie."

After that Eve's voice demanding water held all Jim's attention. And
while Peter procured a cupful, he lifted her gently in his arms and
carried her into the parlor, and laid her on an old horsehair settee,
propping her carefully into a sitting position. When the water was
brought she drank thirstily, and then, closing her eyes, sank back
with something like a sigh of contentment.

But with the first touch of the wet flannel which Jim again applied to
her head she looked up.

"I fell on the coal box," she said hastily. And before Jim could
answer Peter spoke.

"That's how we guessed," he said kindly. "Maybe you were stooping for
coal--sure."

"Yes, yes. I was stooping for coal for the kitchen stove. I must have
got dizzy. You needn't send for the doctor. I'm all right, and the
bleeding will stop. I've just got a headache. Please don't send for
Will; I'm glad you haven't. He'd only be alarmed for--for nothing--and
really I'm all right. Thank y