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ly she showed faint signs of gathering strength。 There was one more waiting day； in which he doubted； and spent long hours by her side as she slept； and watched the gentle swell of her breast rise and fall in breathing； and the wind stir the tangled chestnut curls。 On the next day he knew that she would live。
Upon realizing it he abruptly left the cave and sought his accustomed seat against the trunk of a big spruce； where once more he let his glance stray along the sloping terraces。 She would live； and the somber gloom lifted out of the valley； and he felt relief that was pain。 Then he roused to the call of action； to the many things he needed to do in the way of making camp fixtures and utensils； to the necessity of hunting food； and the desire to explore the valley。
But he decided to wait a few more days before going far from camp； because he fancied that the girl rested easier when she could see him near at hand。 And on the first day her languor appeared to leave her in a renewed grip of life。 She awoke stronger from each short slumber； she ate greedily； and she moved about In her bed of boughs； and always； it seemed to Venters； her eyes followed him。 He knew now that her recovery would be rapid。 She talked about the dogs； about the caves； the valley； about how hungry she was； till Venters silenced her； asking her to put off further talk till another time。 She obeyed； but she sat up in her bed； and her eyes roved to and fro； and always back to him。
Upon the second morning she sat up when he awakened her； and would not permit him to bathe her face and feed her； which actions she performed for herself。 She spoke little； however； and Venters was quick to catch in her the first intimations of thoughtfulness and curiosity and appreciation of her situation。 He left camp and took Whitie out to hunt for rabbits。 Upon his return he was amazed and somewhat anxiously concerned to see his invalid sitting with her back to a corner of the cave and her bare feet swinging out。 Hurriedly he approached； intending to advise her to lie down again； to tell her that perhaps she might overtax her strength。 The sun shone upon her； glinting on the little head with its tangle of bright hair and the small； oval face with its pallor； and dark…blue eyes underlined by dark…blue circles。 She looked at him and he looked at her。 In that exchange of glances he imagined each saw the other in some different guise。 It seemed impossible to Venters that this frail girl could be Oldring's Masked Rider。 It flashed over him that he had made a mistake which presently she would explain。
〃Help me down；〃 she said。
〃Butare you well enough？〃 he protested。 〃Waita little longer。〃
〃I'm weakdizzy。 But I want to get down。〃
He lifted herwhat a light burden now！and stood her upright beside him； and supported her as she essayed to walk with halting steps。 She was like a stripling of a boy； the bright； small head scarcely reached his shoulder。 But now； as she clung to his arm； the rider's costume she wore did not contradict； as it had done at first； his feeling of her femininity。 She might be the famous Masked Rider of the uplands； she might resemble a boy； but her outline； her little hands and feet； her hair； her big eyes and tremulous lips； and especially a something that Venters felt as a subtle essence rather than what he saw； proclaimed her sex。
She soon tired。 He arranged a comfortable seat for her under the spruce that overspread the camp…fire。
〃Now tell meeverything；〃 she said。
He recounted all that had happened from the time of his discovery of the rustlers in the canyon up to the present moment。
〃You shot meand now you've saved my life？〃
〃Yes。 After almost killing you I've pulled you through。〃
〃Are you glad？〃
〃I should say so！〃
Her eyes were unusually expressive； and they regarded him steadily； she was unconscious of that mirroring of her emotions and they shone with gratefulness and interest and wonder and sadness。
〃Tell meabout yourself？〃 she asked。
He made this a briefer story； telling of his coming to Utah； his various occupations till he became a rider； and then how the Mormons had practically driven him out of Cottonwoods； an outcast。
Then； no longer able to withstand his own burning curiosity； he questioned her in turn。
〃Are you Oldring's Masked Rider？〃
〃Yes；〃 she replied； and dropped her eyes。
〃I knew itI recognized your figureand mask； for I saw you once。 Yet I can't believe it！。。。But you never were really that rustler； as we riders knew him？ A thiefa maraudera kidnapper of womena murderer of sleeping riders！〃
〃No！ I never stoleor harmed any onein all my life。 I only rode and rode〃
〃But whywhy？〃 he burst out。 〃Why the name？ I understand Oldring made you ride。 But the black maskthe mysterythe things laid to your handsthe threats in your infamous namethe night…riding credited to youthe evil deeds deliberately blamed on you and acknowledged by rustlerseven Oldring himself！ Why？ Tell me why？〃
〃I never knew that；〃 she answered low。 Her drooping head straightened； and the large eyes； larger now and darker； met Venters's with a clear； steadfast gaze in which he read truth。 It verified his own conviction。
〃Never knew？ That's strange！ Are you a Mormon？〃
〃No。〃
〃Is Oldring a Mormon？〃
〃No。〃
〃Do youcare for him？〃
〃Yes。 I hate his menhis lifesometimes I almost hate him！〃
Venters paused in his rapid…fire questioning； as if to brace him self to ask for a truth that would be abhorrent for him to confirm； but which he seemed driven to hear。
〃What arewhat were you to Oldring？〃
Like some delicate thing suddenly exposed to blasting heat； the girl wilted； her head dropped； and into her white； wasted cheeks crept the red of shame。
Venters would have given anything to recall that question。 It seemed so differenthis thought when spoken。 Yet her shame established in his mind something akin to the respect he had strangely been hungering to feel for her。
〃Dn that question！forget it！〃 he cried； in a passion of pain for her and anger at himself。 〃But once and for alltell meI know it； yet I want to hear you say soyou couldn't help yourself？〃
〃Oh no。〃
〃Well； that makes it all right with me；〃 he went on； honestly。 〃II want you to feel that。。。you seewe've been thrown togetherandand I want to help younot hurt you。 I thought life had been cruel to me； but when I think of yours I feel mean and little for my complaining。 Anyway； I was a lonely outcast。 And now！。。。I don't see very clearly what it all means。 Only we are heretogether。 We've got to stay here； for long； surely till you are well。 But you'll never go back to Oldring。 And I'm sure helping you will help me； for I was sick in mind。 There's something now for me to do。 And if I can win back your strengththen get you away； out of this wild countryhelp you somehow to a happier lifejust think how good that'll be for me！〃
CHAPTER X。 LOVE
During all these waiting days Venters； with the exception of the afternoon when he had built the gate in the gorge； had scarcely gone out of sight of camp and never out of hearing。 His desire to explore Surprise Valley was keen； and on the morning after his long talk with the girl he took his rifle