arning hand.

"You are to be very quiet," she admonished.

He smiled weakly and obeyed her, leaning back, his gaze on the
slate-blue of the sky. She still worked at the foot, fastening the
bandage; he could feel her fingers as they passed lightly over it. He
did not move, feeling a deep contentment.

Presently she arose, placed the foot gently down, and entered the
house. With closed eyes he lay in the chair, listening to her step as
she walked about in the house. He lay there a long time, and when he
opened his eyes again he knew that he must have been asleep, for the
night had come and a big yellow moon was rising over a rim of distant
hills. Turning his head slightly, he saw the interior of one of the
rooms of the cabin--the kitchen, for he saw a stove and some kettles
and pans hanging on the wall and near the window a table, over which
was spread a cloth. A small kerosene lamp stood in the center of the
table, its rays glimmering weakly through the window. He raised one
hand and passed it over his forehead. There was still some fever, but
he felt decidedly better than when he had awakened the first time.

Presently he heard a light step and became aware of some one standing
near him. He knew it was the girl, even before she spoke, for he had
caught the rustle of her dress.

"Are you awake," she questioned.

"Why, yes, ma'am," he returned. He turned to look at her, but in the
darkness he could not see her face.

"Do you feel like eating anything?" she asked.

He grinned ruefully in the darkness. "I couldn't say that I'm exactly
yearnin' for grub," he returned, "though I ain't done any eatin' since
mornin'. I reckon a rattler's bite ain't considered to help a man's
appetite any."

He heard her laugh softly. "No," she returned; "I wouldn't recommend
it."

He tried again to see her, but could not, and so he relaxed and turned
his gaze on the sky. But presently he felt her hand on his shoulder,
and then her voice, as she spoke firmly.

"You can't lie here all night," she said. "You would be worse in the
morning. And it is impossible for you to travel to-night. I am going
to help you to get into the house. You can lean your weight on my
shoulder."

He struggled to an erect position and made out her slender figure in
the dim light from the window. He would have been afraid of crushing
her could he have been induced to accept her advice. He got to his
uninjured foot and began to hop towar