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"If I catch that Injun alone I'll cut his throat!"

"Was Miss Tuttle bad off?" gasped Porter

"She? Naw; she looked fine He sassed h, as I won't take it from any man!"

"Tell us what happened, for heaven's sake," cried DeWitt, eying Provenso disgustedly

Jim told his story in detail

"That Injun Alkus," he ended, "he tied a rag over my eyes, tied my hands up and, say, he lost ht he tied ot my hands loose I was sure lost, now, I can tell you! I struck a cowrub and a canteen and Isouth all the tiot crazy with thirst and threw ain, but I'm about all in"

"How did Miss Tuttle seem?" asked John with curious quietness It see of all that first the Mexican, then this coarse, tramp-like fellow, should have talked to Rhoda while he could only wander wildly through the Hades of the desert without a trace of her caood! She thanked me and told me to tell you all to hurry"

They gave to Provenso a burro whose pack was nearly empty, what food and water they could spare, and he left them They started on dejectedly Provenso had told them where Kut-le had camped ten days before

They could only find that spot and attempt to pick up the trail from there

"Just the saet aith Miss Rhoda He's a tough pill, that Provenso She'd better be with the Injun than him!"

"Provenso riht near a smooth-faced , when Carlos gave a lohistle Every ear was strained On the exquisite stillness of the dawn sounded a woman's voice which a man's voice answered