man's life. If people laugh in your face, it's no use explainin'.
I took a roan from Weigall's, and they got after me. 'Bout six miles
up they shot at me an' hurt me."

She saw that one arm hung limp at his side and that his wrist was wound
with a red bandana.

She started forward. "Are you hurt bad? Can I bind it up or wash it for
you? I've got plenty of hot water here, and it's bad letting a wound get
stale."

He shook his head. "I washed the hole clean in the creek below. I
doubled on them. I had to go down past your place here, and then work
back to be rid of them. But there's no telling when they'll drop on to
the game, and come back for me. My only chance was to git to you. Even
if I had a horse, I couldn't make Bindon in time. It's two days round
the gorge by trail. A horse is no use now--I lost too much time since
last night. I can't git to Bindon to-morrow in time, if I ride the
trail."

"The river?" she asked abruptly.

"It's the only way. It cuts off fifty mile. That's why I come to you."

She frowned a little, her face became troubled, and her glance fell on
his arm nervously. "What've I got to do with it?" she asked almost
sharply.

"Even if this was all right,"--he touched the wounded arm--" I couldn't
take the rapids in a canoe. I don't know them, an' it would be sure