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Venters stepped before the opening of the other cave and looked in The girl ake, ide eyes and listening look, and she had a hand on Ring's neck

"Mocking-birds!" she said

"Yes," replied Venters, "and I believe they like our company"

"Where are we?"

"Never mind now After a little I'll tell you"

"The birds woke me When I heard them--and saw the shiny trees--and the blue sky--and then a blaze of gold dropping down--I wondered--"

She did not coined he understood herinwith fever He went for water, and was glad to find it al from ice That water was the only medicine he had, and he put faith in it She did not want to drink, but he made her s, and then he bathed her face and head and cooled her wrists

The day began with the heightening of the fever Venters spent the ti her hot cheeks and temples He kept close watch over her, and at the least indication of restlessness, that he knew led to tossing and rolling of the body, he held her tightly, so no violent move could reopen her wounds Hour after hour she babbled and laughed and cried and moaned in delirium; but whatever her secret was she did not reveal it Attended by soht in the cool winds the fever abated and she slept

The second day was a repetition of the first On the third he seemed to see her wither and waste away before his eyes That day he scarcely went from her side for a moment, except to run for fresh, cool water; and he did not eat The fever broke on the fourth day and left her spent and shrunken, a slip of a girl with life only in her eyes They hung upon Venters with a mute observance, and he found hope in that

To rekindle the spark that had nearly flickered out, to nourish the little life and vitality that remained in her, was Venters's problem But he had little resource other than the meat of the rabbits and quail; and from these he made broths and soups as best he could, and fed her with a spoon It came to hie thing and capable of recovering frons of gathering strength There was onehours by her side as she slept, and watched the gentle swell of her breast rise and fall in breathing, and the wind stir the tangled chestnut curls On the next day he knew that she would live