Obediently, Rhoda sat erect. Alchise turned slowly to light a
cigarette out of the wind. Rhoda yawned, rose sleepily, looked under
her blanket and shook her, head irritably, then dragged her blankets
toward the neighboring cat's-claw. Again she settled herself to sleep.
Alchise turned back to his view of the desert.

"I'm behind the bush here," whispered the voice. "I'm a prospector.
Saw you make camp. I don't know where any of the search parties are
but if you can crawl round to me I'll guarantee to get you to 'em
somehow. Slip out of your blankets and leave 'em, rounded up as if you
was still under 'em. Quick now and careful!"

Rhoda, her eyes never leaving Alchise's impassive back, drew herself
silently and swiftly from her blankets and with a clever touch or two
rounded them. Then she crept around the cat's-claw, where a man
squatted, his eyes blazing with excitement. He put up a sinewy, hand
to pull her from sight when, without warning, Rhoda sneezed.

Instantly there was the click of a rifle and Alchise shouted:

"Stop!"

"Confound it!" growled the man, rising to full view, "why didn't you
swallow it!"

"I couldn't!" replied Rhoda indignantly. "You don't suppose I wanted
to!"

She turned toward the camp. Alchise was standing stolidly covering
them with his rifle. Kut-le was walking coolly toward them, while the