Part 25 (1/2)

”I did think something of the kind; but won't you begin your supper? What shall I hand you?”

”Wait a little. You haven't told me very much yet.” Then her eyes sparkled with amus.e.m.e.nt. ”Mr. Kermode, I'd better say that my brother will be responsible for the expenses of this journey. I suppose you haven't paid for the horse?”

”It's unfortunately true. The trouble was that your brother lives a long way off, and you led me to believe that your money was running out.”

”I have,” she said calmly, ”fifty cents left.”

Kermode began on a sandwich she handed him.

”And I've three or four dollars. You see our difficulty needed a drastic remedy.”

”But you were at work on the railroad. I understand wages are high.”

”That's so; but it's some time since the pay car came along.”

”But you will get what is due you, when you go back?”

”Have another sandwich,” said Kermode. ”You have made them very well.”

Then seeing that she meant to have an answer, he added: ”I'm not going back.”

A little color crept into her face as she looked at him. Kermode had for a time led a dissipated life, but there had been a change during the last few months. He had practised abstinence, and in new surroundings found it easier than he had expected; severe labor had healed and hardened him.

His brown skin was clear, his pale-blue eyes were bright and steady, his figure was spare and finely lined.

”So,” she said, ”you sacrificed your wages to a.s.sist a stranger?”

He made her a whimsical bow.

”I'd like to think we'll be better acquainted before we part.”

”But what will you do now?”

”Oh,” he responded lightly, ”that's hardly worth talking about. I'll strike something. So long as you're pretty active there's generally work to be had, and when it grows monotonous you pull out and go on again.”

Miss Foster mused.

”After all,” she said, ”life must have a good deal to offer a strong man with the ability to make the most of things. He can set off, when he likes, in search of new and interesting experiences.”

”It has its drawbacks now and then,” declared Kermode, smiling. ”Anyway, you needn't imagine you're shut off from everything of the kind. You took a big risk and faced a startling change when you came out here.”

”So I felt. Though I had misgivings, the thought of it drew me.”

”I understand. You have courage, the greatest gift, and you felt circ.u.mscribed at home. No doubt, the love of adventure isn't confined to one s.e.x. It's a longing many of us can't overcome; but it doesn't seem to meet with general sympathy, and it's apt to get one into difficulties.”

”Yes,” Miss Foster a.s.sented with some bitterness; ”particularly a woman.”

After that, she went on with her meal while dusk crept up about the lonely camp. The sky was pale green in the west and the hills stood out against it, black and calm; not a breath of wind was stirring and it was very still, except that out of the distance came the murmur of falling water. When the air grew damper, Kermode brought her a blanket which she wrapped about her shoulders and they talked on for an hour in a casual manner. Then he got up.

”You will be quite safe in the tent,” he said. ”I've found a comfortable berth in the wood. We'll get off as soon as it's light to-morrow.”

He disappeared into the shadows and she noticed that he had left her the two blankets he had brought from the settlement. She hesitated about taking them both, but decided not to call him back. A little later she entered the tent, while Kermode sc.r.a.ped out a hollow in a bank of fallen leaves and went to sleep.