y. "Hush, you are not strong
enough to talk."

"Yes, I am. I am all right now. Whose house am I in?" he asked.

"You are in Major Caruthers' house."

"I am glad. Is Ted Strong here?"

"Yes."

"Send him to me. I must talk to him. How long have I been here?"

"About a week."

"Hurry. It may be too late."

Stella saw that Caruthers' head was clear, and that he had something
important to communicate, and that it would not be well with him if he
were permitted to worry, so she went out, and presently Ted entered the
room.

"Well, old chap, you look fit," he said, giving Caruthers' hand a gentle
pressure.

"I'll be all right in a day or two. But I must talk with you. Tell me,
have the Gray Wolves been here yet, and have you driven them off?" said
Caruthers excitedly.

Ted was sure now that the patient had relapsed back into his delirious
talk, and tried to soothe him.

"I'm all right," said Caruthers impatiently. "I know what I'm saying. I
don't mean the pack that chased me."

"No, we have not been attacked by wolves," Ted answered.

"Then you will be. Have you seen Joy--Ban Joy, the Jap, I mean?"

"No."

"That is strange. He should have been here if he got away."

"I'm up in the air as to what you mean. If you are strong enough,
perhaps you'd better tell what you mean, beginning at the time you left
us, and telling it as briefly as possible."

"All right. But first give me a dose of that medicine."

Ted administered the medicine, which was a mild stimulant, and Caruthers
began:

"When I jumped through the window, I did so, not because I was afraid of
the four men, but to save you from trouble. I knew that the fellows had
been sent to get me, not by the authorities, but by my brother-in-law
Mowbray. You know about him?"

Ted nodded, and Caruthers went on:

"I went directly to Sombrero Peak. I knew they would look for me in
another place. I was right, but I had not foreseen another thing. When I
was in hiding I was surprised by the sudden appearance of Ban Joy and
his sister Itsu San, the servants of my sister. They, too, had fled from
Mowbray and his gang of murderers.

"This was somewhat inconvenient for me, for I knew that Mowbray, while
he would not probably get on my track until I could communicate with
you, would easily track the Japanese, and I was not in any position to
defend myself and them, for I was out of ammunition, having lost my
cartridge belt. But I found a small cave and fortif