again to the earth level, and then he suddenly sat up, half believing
himself in a dream--down the stream, how far away he could not judge,
there gleamed a steady, yellowish light. It was no flicker of a camp fire,
yet remained stationary. Surely no star could be so low and large; nor did
he recall any with that peculiarity of color. If such a miracle was
possible in the heart of that sandy desert he would have sworn it was a
lamp shining through a window. But he had never heard of any settler on
the Salt Fork, and almost laughed at the thought, believing for the
instant his brain played him some elfish trick. Yet that light was no
illusion; he rubbed his eyes, only to see it more clearly, convinced now
of its reality. He strode hastily across, and shook Neb into semi-
consciousness, dragging him bodily up the bank and pointing down stream.

"Do you see that?" he inquired anxiously. "There, straight ahead of you?"

The negro stared, shaking with cold, and scarcely able to stand alone.

"Maybe it am de moon, Massa Jack," he muttered thickly, "or a goblin's
lantern. Lawd, I don't jest like de looks ob dat ting."

"Well, I do," and Keith laughed uneasily at the negro's fears. "All I
wanted to know was if you saw what I saw. That's a lamp shining through a
window, Neb. What in heaven's name it can be doing here I am unable to
guess, but I'm going to find out. It means shelter and food, boy, even if
we have to fight for it. Come on, the horses are safe, and we'll discover
what is behind that light yonder."