"Any life, sergeant?" he demanded, his voice rendered husky by sympathy.

"He doesn't seem entirely gone, sir," and Carson glanced up into the

officer's face, his own eyes filled with feeling. "I can distinguish

just a wee bit of breathing, but it's so weak the pulse hardly stirs."

"What do you make of it?"

"Starving at the bottom, sir. The only thing I see now is to get them

down to water and food."

The young officer glanced swiftly about him across that dreary picture

of sun-burnt, desolate prairie stretching in every direction, his eyes

pausing slightly as they surveyed the tops of the distant cottonwoods.

"Sling blankets between your horses," he commanded, decisively. "Move

quickly, lads, and we may save one of these lives yet."

He led in the preparation himself, his cheeks flushed, his movements

prompt, decisive. As if by some magic discipline the rude, effective

litters were rapidly made ready, and the two seemingly lifeless bodies

gently lifted from off the ground and deposited carefully within. Down

the long, brown slope they advanced slowly, a soldier grasping the rein

and walking at each horse's head, the supporting blankets, securely

fastened about the saddle pommels, swaying gently to the measured tread

of the trained animals. The lieutenant directed every movement, while

Carson rode ahead, picking out the safest route through the short

grass. Beneath the protecting shadows of the first group of

cottonwoods, almost on the banks of the muddy Bear Water, the little

party let down their senseless burdens, and began once more their

seemingly hopeless efforts at resuscitation. A fire was hastily

kindled from dried and broken branches, and broth was made, which was

forced through teeth that had to be pried open. Water was used

unsparingly, the soldiers working with feverish eagerness, inspired by

the constant admonitions of their officer, as well as their own

curiosity to learn the facts hidden behind this tragedy.

It was the dark eyes of the girl which opened first, instantly closing

again as the glaring light swept into them. Then slowly, and with

wonderment, she gazed up into those strange, rough faces surrounding

her, pausing in her first survey to rest her glance on the sympathetic

countenance of the young lieutenant, who held her half reclining upon

his arm.

"Here," he exclaimed, kindly, interpreting her glance as one of fear,

"you are all right and perfectly safe now, with friends to care for

you. Peters, bring another cup of that broth. Now, miss, just take a

sup or two of this, and your strength will come back in a jiffy. What

was the trouble? Starving?"




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