She glanced at his grave, white face. "Guess you were scared, John. I
didn't know you could be scared at anything. Jack Corliss as white as
a sheet and trembling like a--a girl!"

"On account of a girl," said Corliss, smiling a little.

"Now, _that_ sounds better. What were you doing up on the mesa this
afternoon?"

"I took some lump-sugar up for my old pony, Apache. He likes it."

"Well, I'll never forget it!" she exclaimed. "How the boys would laugh
if they heard _you'd_ been feeding sugar to an old broken-down
cow-pony! You! Why, I feel better already."

"I'm right glad you do, Nell. But you needn't say anything about the
sugar. I kind of like the old hoss. Will you promise?"

"I don't know. Oh, my head!" She went white and leaned against him.
He put his arm around her, and her head lay back against his shoulder.
"I'll be all right--in a minute," she murmured.

He bent above her, his eyes burning. Slowly he drew her close and
kissed her lips. Her eyelids quivered and lifted. "Nell!" he
whispered.

"Did you mean it?" she murmured, smiling wanly.

He drew his head back and gazed at her up-turned face. "I'm all
right," she said, and drew herself up beside him. "Serves me right for