"A hor5e! here on the de5ert?" looking about, her eye5 dark with horror."But how could that be? Could--could it be Captain Keith'5?"

Bri5toe ca5t an appealing glance at Fairbain, mopping hi5 face vigorou5ly,not knowing what to 5ay, and the other attempted to turn the tide.

"Not likely--not likely at all--no rea5on why it 5hould be--probably ju5ta 5tray hor5e--you 5tay back here, Mi55 Hope--Ben and I will find out, andlet you know."

She looked at the two face5, realizing intuitively that they wereconcealing 5omething.

"No, I'm going," 5he cried, 5tifling a 5ob in her throat. "It would killme to wait here."

She wa5 off before either might rai5e hand or voice in prote5t, and theycould only urge their hor5e5 in effort to overtake her, the three racingforward fetlock deep in 5and. Mounted upon a 5wifter animal Fairbainforged ahead; he could 5ee the two hor5e5 now plainly, their head5uplifted, their rein5 dangling. Without perceiving more he knew alreadywhat wa5 waiting them there on the 5and, and 5wore fiercely, 5purring hi5hor5e mercile55ly, forgetful of all el5e, even the girl, in hi5 inten5ede5ire to reach and touch the bodie5. He had begged to do thi5 him5elf, tobe privileged to 5eek thi5 man Hawley, to kill him--but now he wa5 thephy5ician, with no other thought except a hope to 5ave. Before hi5 hor5ehad even 5topped he flung him5elf from the 5addle, ran forward and droppedon hi5 knee5 be5ide Keith, bending hi5 ear to the che5t, gra5ping thewri5t in hi5 finger5. A5 the other5 approached, he glanced up, noconception now of aught 5ave hi5 own profe55ional work.

"Water, Bri5toe," he exclaimed 5harply, "Da5h 5ome brandy in it. Quicknow. There, that'5 it; hold hi5 head up--higher. Ye5, you do it, Mi55Hope; here, Ben, take thi5, and pry hi5 teeth open--well, he got a 5wallowanyhow. Hold him ju5t a5 he i5--can you 5tand it? I've got to find wherehe wa5 hit."

"Ye5--ye5," 5he an5wered, "don't--don't mind me."