He held even his thoughts in obedience to a higher power. So while his heart’s wild wish swept over him he stood calmly and handed it back to heaven, as though he knew it were a wandering wish, a testing of his true self.

At the first instant of relief from the storm he took his arm away. He didn’t presume a single second to hold the canvas after the wind subsided. She liked him better for it, and her trust in him grew deeper as he gently shook the raindrops from their temporary shelter.

The rain lasted only a few minutes, and as the clouds cleared, the earth grew lighter for a space. Gently melting into the silver, amethyst, and emerald of the sky, the rainbow faded, and now they hurried on. Brownleigh wanted to reach a certain spot where he hoped to find dry shelter for the night. He saw that the excitement of travel and the storm had spent the girl’s strength and she needed rest, so he urged the horse forward and hurried along by his side.

But suddenly he halted the horse and looked into his companion’s face in the dying light.

“You’re very tired,” he said. “You can hardly sit up any longer.”

She smiled faintly. Her whole body was slumping with weariness, and a strange sick faintness had overcome her.

“We must stop here,” he said and glanced around for a suitable spot. “Well, this will do. It’s dry here under this big rock. The rain came from the other direction, and the ground around here didn’t even get sprinkled. That group of trees will do for a private room for you. We’ll soon have a fire and some supper, and then you’ll feel better.”

With that he stripped off his coat and, spreading it on the dry ground under the rock, lifted the girl from the saddle and laid her gently on the coat.

She closed her eyes and sank back. In truth she was closer to fainting than she’d ever been.

“It’s nothing,” she murmured, opening her eyes and trying to smile. “I was just tired, and my back ached with so much riding.”

“Don’t talk!” he said gently. “I’ll give you something to strengthen you in a minute.”

He quickly gathered sticks and soon had a blazing fire not far from where she lay. Its glow played over her face and her hair, while he prepared a second cup of beef extract. He was glad he’d filled his canteen with water at the spring in the canyon, in case no water was close by. But while he was getting supper, Billy, who was hobbled but could edge about slowly, discovered a waterhole and settled that difficulty. Brownleigh sighed with relief and then smiled when he saw his patient revive under the influence of the hot drink and a few minutes’ rest.

“I can go on a little farther,” she said, sitting up with an effort, “if you think we should tonight. I really don’t feel bad at all anymore.”

“I’m so glad,” he said. “I was afraid I’d made you travel too far. No, we’ll not go farther till daylight, I think. This is as good a place to camp as any, and there’s water nearby. You’ll find your own private room just inside that group of trees, and in half an hour or so the canvas will be dry enough for your bed. I spread it out close to the fire on the other side there. And it wasn’t wet through. The blanket was protected, so it’ll be warm and dry. I think we can make you comfortable.