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Rhoda started at DeWitt's words Suddenly her early sense of the appalling nature of her experience returned to her She looked with new eyes at DeWitt's face It was not the same face that she had last seen at the Newh the fire of tragedy She gripped his burned fingers with both her slender hands

"O John!" she cried, "I wasn't worth it! I wasn't worth it! Let's get to the camp quickly, so that you can rest! It would take a lifetime of devotion to make up for that look in your face!"

John's quietfor hiet hirimly "This pace is fearful If you keep it up you will have sunstroke, Rhoda And at that, you're standing it better than I!"

They slowed their pace DeWitt was breathing hard as the burning lava dust bit into his throat

"I haven't minded the physical discomfort," he went on "It's theme We've pushed hot on your trail hour after hour, day in and day out When they made me rest, I could only lie and listen to you sob for help until--O my love! My love!--"

His voice broke and Rhoda laid her cheek against his arm for a moment

"I know! O John dear, I know!" she whispered

They trudged on in silence for a ti for the sound of pursuit Then DeWitt spoke, as if he forced himself to ask for an answer that he dreaded

"Rhoda, did they torture you much?"

"No! There was no torture except that of fearful hardships At first--you knoeak and sick I was, John--at first I just lived in an agony of fear and anger--sort of a nightet strong and as my health came, the wonder of it, the--oh, I can't put it into words; Kut-le was--" Rhoda paused, wondering at the reluctance hich she spoke the young Indian's name "You missed us so narrowly so many times!"

"The Indian had the devil's own luck and ays blundered," said DeWitt "I have had the feeling lately thaton this stretch of Hades before you ever were heard of Rhoda, if I can get you safely to New York again I'll shoot the first ely silent, though she clung to John's hand and now and again lifted it against her cheek The yellow of the desert reeled in heat waves about thelowed silently down on theain! Never to waken with the desert stars above her face or toher vision! Never to know again the wild thrill of the chase! Finally Rhoda gave herself a mental shake and looked up into John's tired face