ed again, but in a voice which sounded more familiar; and a
great hope sprang up in the boy's heart as he said,--

"There's only a little left, you poor old man, and we can't get more
this side the camp. Shall I give it to you now?"

"Let me moisten my lips, Dick dear. They are parched, and my tongue is
swollen until it seems ready to burst."

Dick handed him the canteen; and his father drank sparingly, in marked
contrast to his greedy swallowing of a few moments previous.

"It tastes sweet, my boy; and when we are at the camp I'll need only
to look at the brook in order to get relief. Are you soon going for
the horse?"

"I went, an' have got back, daddy dear. You've been talking mighty
queer--on account of the wound, I suppose."

"How long have you been with me, child?"

"I must have got here before midnight, and the morning is just coming
now."

"You're a good boy, Dick."

"That's what mother said before I left, and between the two of you I'm
afraid you'll make me out way beyond what I deserve. We must get back
as soon as we can, you poor old man; for she'll be crying her eyes
sore with thinking we've both knocked under. Will we have a try at
getting on horseback?"

"Yes; and I reckon it can be done. Lead the beast up here, and then
help me on my feet--I've grown as weak as a baby, Dick."

"And I don't wonder at it. According to the looks of this sage-brush
you must have lost half of all the blood you had at this time
yesterday."

Now that his father was conscious once more, all Dick's reasonless
terror fled, and again he was the manly fellow he had always shown
himself to be.

The horse was led to Mr. Stevens's side; and Dick raised the nearly
powerless body until, at the expense of most severe pain, but without
sign of it by even so much as a groan, his father stood on the
uninjured limb.

Fortunately the horse was too weary to make much protest at what
followed; with a restive steed it would have been impossible for the
boy to half lift, half push his father up until he was seated on the
bag that served as saddle.

"How is it now, you poor old man? Can you hold on there a couple of
hours?"

"I must, my boy; and if it so be I show signs of losing my reason
again, you must contrive to lash me here, for unless this wound is
attended to in better shape than it is just now, I'll go under."

"For mother's sake you must keep a good grip on yourself. It'll come
tough, I know; but once we're in camp