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cliffs rose step by step to a notch in the mountain wall；
over which poured a thin； lacy waterfall。 As Helen gazed in
rapture the sunset gold faded to white and all the western
slope of the amphitheater darkened。
Dale's tall form appeared。
〃Reckon you're late；〃 he said； as with a comprehensive flash
of eye he took in the three。
〃Milt； I got lost；〃 replied Roy。
〃I feared as much。 。 。 。 You girls look like you'd done
better to ride with me；〃 went on Dale； as he offered a hand
to help Bo off。 She took it； tried to get her foot out of
the stirrups； and then she slid from the saddle into Dale's
arms。 He placed her on her feet and； supporting her； said；
solicitously： 〃A hundred…mile ride in three days for a
tenderfoot is somethin' your uncle Al won't believe。 。 。 。
Come； walk if it kills you！〃
Whereupon he led Bo； very much as if he were teaching a
child to walk。 The fact that the voluble Bo had nothing to
say was significant to Helen； who was following； with the
assistance of Roy。
One of the huge rocks resembled a sea…shell in that it
contained a hollow over which the wide…spreading shelf
flared out。 It reached toward branches of great pines。 A
spring burst from a crack in the solid rock。 The campfire
blazed under a pine； and the blue column of smoke rose just
in front of the shelving rock。 Packs were lying on the grass
and some of them were open。 There were no signs here of a
permanent habitation of the hunter。 But farther on were
other huge rocks； leaning； cracked； and forming caverns；
some of which perhaps he utilized。
〃My camp is just back；〃 said Dale； as if he had read Helen's
mind。 〃To…morrow we'll fix up comfortable…like round here
for you girls。〃
Helen and Bo were made as easy as blankets and saddles could
make them； and the men went about their tasks。
〃Nell isn't this a dream？〃 murmured Bo。
〃No； child。 It's real terribly real；〃 replied Helen。 〃Now
that we're here with that awful ride over we can
think。〃
〃It's so pretty here；〃 yawned Bo。 〃I'd just as lief Uncle
Al didn't find us very soon。〃
〃Bo！ He's a sick man。 Think what the worry will be to him。〃
〃I'll bet if he knows Dale he won't be so worried。〃
〃Dale told us Uncle Al disliked him。〃
〃Pooh！ What difference does that make？ 。 。 。 Oh； I don't
know which I am hungrier or tireder！〃
〃I couldn't eat to…night；〃 said Helen； wearily。
When she stretched out she had a vague； delicious sensation
that that was the end of Helen Rayner； and she was glad。
Above her； through the lacy； fernlike pine…needles； she saw
blue sky and a pale star just showing。 Twilight was stealing
down swiftly。 The silence was beautiful； seemingly
undisturbed by the soft； silky； dreamy fall of water。 Helen
closed her eyes； ready for sleep； with the physical
commotion within her body gradually yielding。 In some places
her bones felt as if they had come out through her flesh； in
others throbbed deep…seated aches； her muscles appeared
slowly to subside； to relax； with the quivering twinges
ceasing one by one； through muscle and bone； through all her
body； pulsed a burning current。
Bo's head dropped on Helen's shoulder。 Sense became vague to
Helen。 She lost the low murmur of the waterfall； and then
the sound or feeling of some one at the campfire。 And her
last conscious thought was that she tried to open her eyes
and could not。
When she awoke all was bright。 The sun shone almost directly
overhead。 Helen was astounded。 Bo lay wrapped in deep sleep；
her face flushed； with beads of perspiration on her brow and
the chestnut curls damp。 Helen threw down the blankets； and
then； gathering courage for she felt as if her back was
broken she endeavored to sit up。 In vain！ Her spirit was
willing； but her muscles refused to act。 It must take a
violent spasmodic effort。 She tried it with shut eyes； and；
succeeding； sat there trembling。 The commotion she had made
in the blankets awoke Bo； and she blinked her surprised blue
eyes in the sunlight。
〃Hello Nell！ do I have to get up？〃 she asked；
sleepily。
〃Can you？〃 queried Helen。
〃Can I what？〃 Bo was now thoroughly awake and lay there
staring at her sister。
〃Why get up。〃
〃I'd like to know why not；〃 retorted Bo； as she made the
effort。 She got one arm and shoulder up； only to flop back
like a crippled thing。 And she uttered the most piteous
little moan。 〃I'm dead！ I know I am！〃
〃Well； if you're going to be a Western girl you'd better
have spunk enough to move。〃
〃A…huh！〃 ejaculated Bo。 Then she rolled over； not without
groans； and； once upon her face； she raised herself on her
hands and turned to a sitting posture。 〃Where's everybody？ 。
。 。 Oh； Nell； it's perfectly lovely here。 Paradise！〃
Helen looked around。 A fire was smoldering。 No one was in
sight。 Wonderful distant colors seemed to strike her glance
as she tried to fix it upon near…by objects。 A beautiful
little green tent or shack had been erected out of spruce
boughs。 It had a slanting roof that sloped all the way from
a ridge…pole to the ground； half of the opening in front was
closed； as were the sides。 The spruce boughs appeared all to
be laid in the same direction； giving it a smooth； compact
appearance； actually as if it had grown there。
〃That lean…to wasn't there last night？〃 inquired Bo。
〃I didn't see it。 Lean…to？ Where'd you get that name？〃
〃It's Western； my dear。 I'll bet they put it up for us。 。 。
。 Sure； I see our bags inside。 Let's get up。 It must be
late。〃
The girls had considerable fun as well as pain in getting up
and keeping each other erect until their limbs would hold
them firmly。 They were delighted with the spruce lean…to。 It
faced the open and stood just under the wide…spreading shelf
of rock。 The tiny outlet from the spring flowed beside it
and spilled its clear water over a stone； to fall into a
little pool。 The floor of this woodland habitation consisted
of tips of spruce boughs to about a foot in depth； all laid
one way； smooth and springy； and so sweetly odorous that the
air seemed intoxicating。 Helen and Bo opened their baggage；
and what with use of the cold water； brush and comb； and
clean blouses； they made themselves feel as comfortable as
possible； considering the excruciating aches。 Then they went
out to the campfire。
Helen's eye was attracted by moving objects near at hand。
Then simultaneously with Bo's cry of delight Helen saw a
beautiful doe approaching under the trees。 Dale walked
beside it。
〃You sure had a long sleep；〃 was the hunter's greeting。 〃I
reckon you both look better。〃
〃Good morning。 Or is it afternoon？ We're just able to move
about；〃 said Helen。
〃I could ride；〃 declared Bo； stoutly。 〃Oh； Nell； look at the
deer！ It's coming to me。〃
The doe had hung back a little as Dale reached the
camp…fire。 It was a gray； slender creature； smooth as silk；
with great dark eyes。 It stood a moment； long ears erect；
and then with a graceful little trot came up to Bo and
reached a slim nose for her outstretched hand。 All about it；
except the beautiful soft eyes； seemed wild； and yet it was
as tame as a kitten。 Then；