ips of
the wounded man, which was followed by a spluttering cough, then a long
sigh, and Caruthers opened his eyes.

For a moment he glanced around, and with a faint smile closed his eyes
again, and sank into a gentle sleep.

"Bully!" exclaimed Ted, with satisfaction. "He'll get well now, I think,
but he had a close call. A little longer on the back of that pony,
jostled and being tossed around, would have finished him in spite of his
splendid physique."

"What shall we do now?" asked the major.

"There is nothing we can do except care for him faithfully, and nurse
him. Some one will have to watch him, and give him his medicine, which I
shall prepare from your medicine chest, major."

"Let me nurse him," exclaimed Stella, who had come into the room in time
to hear this.

"The very thing, if you don't mind," said Ted.

"Mind! I should like to. And you know that I can nurse some," said
Stella proudly.

"I know it from experience. Keep him quiet. Don't let him talk, and
whenever he gets restless give him a spoonful of his medicine. He
mustn't be allowed to toss around, for that would start internal
bleeding. He is not out of the woods by a long shot. When he is well
will be time enough for him to do his talking, and tell us what happened
to him. Now, fellows, we'll clear out and give nurse and patient a fair
show."

For several days Caruthers hung between life and death. Most of the time
he was in a state of delirium, during which he continually muttered
something about "joy." When Stella told Ted about this he was greatly
puzzled. What had the poor chap to do with joy?

Then it suddenly occurred to him that Caruthers meant Ban Joy, Helen
Mowbray's Japanese servant, who was called Joy for short.

"He wants to tell us about that Jap," said Ted. "Evidently he knows
something about the murder of his sister, and wants us to find the Jap."

"Thar's nothin' doin' until he gets over his fever an' is strong ernough
ter talk," said Bud, "So ther best thing ter do is not ter mind what he
says, but ter git him over his fever."

Stella was well-nigh worn out, but she would not consent to leave the
bedside of the sick man, except at short intervals, when Ted or Bud, who
were the best nurses among the boys, took her place that she might get
some much-needed sleep.

That night Caruthers awoke from a long sleep and looked up at Stella.

"Where am I?" he asked, in a low voice.

"You are with friends," she replied gentl