camp. Then an Indian in a blanket rode up to me and asked me if I was
alone. I _sabed_ him at once. 'But yes, señor,'" I answered, "'except
for the sheep!'"

"But Miss Tuttle! The señorita!" shouted DeWitt.

The Mexican glanced at the tired blue eyes, the strained face,
pityingly.

"She was well," he answered. "Be patient, señor. Then there rode up
another Indian, two squaws and what looked to be a young boy. The
Indian lifted the boy from the saddle so tenderly, señors. And it was
your señorita! She did not look strong, yet I think the Indian is
taking good care of her. They sat by the fire till the storm was over.
The señorita ignored Kut-le as if he had been a dog."

Porter clinched his teeth at this, while Jack murmured with a gleam of
savage satisfaction in his eyes, "Old Rhoda!" But DeWitt only gnawed
his lip, with his blue eyes on the Mexican.

"The Indian said I was to say nothing, but the señorita made him let me
tell about you after I said I had seen you. She--she cried with
happiness. They rode away in a little while but I followed as long as
I dared to leave my sheep. They were going north. I think they were
in the railroad range the night you were with me, then doubled back. I
left my sheep the next day with the salt-boy who came up. I tramped
twenty miles to the rancho and got a burro and left word about the
señorita. Then I started on your trail. Everyone I met I told. I
thought that my news was not worth much except that the señor there
would be glad to know that the Indian is tender to his señorita."