"Hurt!" he lifted his head slightly and stared about; then dropped it again with a sigh of content. "Oh, yes, now I know. Hughes shot me from behind." He struggled upright, in spite of her efforts at restraint, feeling beside him for the rifle. "Dupont was there, behind that dead pony. What became of Dupont?"
She dropped her face in her hands, her form trembling.
"He--he got away. He thought you were dead; to--to make sure he came over and kicked you. Then he took your rifle, and the only pony left, and rode off."
"And left you?"
"Yes--he--he never thought of me; only--only how he should escape with the money. I never moved, never opened my eyes; perhaps he believed me dead also, and--and I prayed he would. I would rather have died than have him touch me again. And--and I thought you were dead too. O God! It was so horrible!"
The man's voice was soft and low, thrilling with the love that refused control.
"I know, dear; I know it all, now," he said tenderly, clasping her hands. "But that is all over and gone." He put up one hand to his wound. "Heavens, how my head aches! But that pain won't last long. I am a bit groggy yet, but will be on my feet pretty soon. You are a brave little girl. Tell me how you got free?"
She went over the short story slowly, not lifting her eyes to his, and he listened in silence, moving his limbs about, confident of the gradual return of strength.
"But how did it happen?" he asked. "Your capture? Your father's death? It is all a mystery to me after I left you on the hotel balcony."
The tears stood in her eyes suddenly uplifted to his, and impulsively the man encircled her with his arm.
"You know I care, dear," he exclaimed recklessly. "You are not afraid to tell me."
"No, no; you have been so kind, so true. I can tell you everything--only it is so hard to confess the truth about my father."
"You suspect he was implicated?" he asked in astonishment, "that he actually had a part in the plot?"
She looked at him gravely, down into his very soul.
"Yes, and--and that hurts more than all the rest."