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A look of sadness passed over Kut-le's face

"Porter," he said very gently, "I counted on all of that before I did this thing I thought that the sacrifice orth while, and I still think so I'oing to start on the trail shortly and I ain I'll let Alchise help you in the job As you say, I have sacrificed everything else in life; I can't afford to let anything spoil this now You can rest for an hour Eat and drink and fill your canteen Take a good pack of meat and tortillas You are welconity, with such tragic sincerity, that Porter gave him a look of surprise and Rhoda felt hot tears in her eyes Kut-le turned to the girl

"You can see that I can't let you talk alone with Porter, but go ahead and say anything you want to inthe white rub Hurry up, now!"

He seated hiarette Porter sat down ainst the uessed correctly as to the circu the caone in the twenty-four hours since he had left them When he stumbled on to Kut-le he had had a sudden hope that the Indian ht take him captive The Indian's quiet reception of hi admiration

Rhoda sat down beside Porter

"How is John?" she asked

"He is pretty good He has lasted better than I thought he would"

"And Katherine and Jack?" Rhoda's voice trembled as she uttered the names It was only with the utmost difficulty that she spoke coherently All her nerves were on the alert for some unexpected action on the part of either Billy or the Indians

"Jack's all right," said Billy "We ain't seen Mrs Jack since the day after you was took, but she's all to the good, of course, except she's been about crazy about you, like the rest of us"

"Oh, you poor, poor people!" moaned Rhoda

Porter essayed a sant, Miss Rhoda You ain't the saot these," she said; "I've worn the"

"It ain't the clothes," said Billy, "and it ain't altogether your fine health It's more--I don't knohat it is! It's like the desert!"