nd he staggered to his feet.

He was sober as a jail bird, and, excepting for his broken lip and
chafed wrists, he was, to all appearances, none the worse for his
experiences. It surprised me to notice how little he seemed interested
in the recovery of his money. All his attention and sympathy were
centred on the wretched dog, Mike, who was slowly getting over the
clubbing he had received and was whimpering like a discontented baby.

Mike had a long gash in his neck, evidently made by one of the robbers
with Jake's bread-knife. Mary washed out the wound and I stitched it
up with a needle and thread, so that, all things considered, Mike was
lucky in getting out of his encounter as easily as he did.

As for the crack I had received over the head, it had made me bloody
enough, but it was superficial and not worth worrying about.

I decided I would not leave Jake alone that night and that, as soon as
I had seen Mary safely home, I would return and sleep in his cabin till
morning.

"When you come back," said Jake gruffly, "bring ink and paper with you.
I want you to do some writin' for me, George."

I laughed, for I knew what was in his mind.

As Mary and I wended our way back through the narrow path, in the dead
of that moonlight night, the daring and bravery of her action caught me
afresh. How I admired her! I could scarcely refrain from telling her
of it, and of how I loved her. But it was neither the time nor the
place for protestations of affection.

"How in the world did you happen to get down there at the right
moment?" I asked.

She gave a quiet ripple of laughter.

"I couldn't sleep and I was up and standing at the window----"

"Just as I was doing," I put in.

"I saw that boat come up,--as you must have seen it, George,--I went to
the door, and, in the moonlight, I saw you come out and take the back
path. Later still, I heard noises and the cursing of these men.

"I became afraid that something was wrong, so I dressed, took up my
little revolver and followed you.

"I was at the window of Jake's cabin all the time he was being forced
to drink and while you were tied up. I had to get out of the way when
they came out."

At the door of Mary's house I took her hand in mine.

"We are quits now, Mary. Those blackguards certainly would have
finished me off but for you.

"Where did you learn to shoot, you wild and woolly Westerner?" I asked.

"Why! Didn't I ever tell you? For quite a while,