He
staggered towards them.
"Jose, you beast!" the girl called out, and fell back, fainting.
There was the sound of a revolver shot and Jose reeled backwards and fell
with a cry across the sanded floor. Jim thrust his smoking gun into his
belt and caught Craig by the arm.
"Say, we'd better get out of this, cookie!" he muttered.
They were hustled out. Apparently Jose was unpopular, for every one seemed
only anxious to have them clear away.
"I'll get you into the camp quietly," Long Jim muttered. "You'll be safer
there for the night. Then you can make that eighty-thirty in the morning."
* * * * *
Lenora, with her bed dragged to the opening of the tent, eagerly greeted
the little party on their return. Quest at once came and sat by her side.
"Where's Laura," he asked, "and the Inspector?"
She smiled and pointed to the rising ground behind them. In the faint
moonlight two forms were just visible.
"The Inspector isn't taking 'no' for an answer," Lenora remarked
cheerfully, "and honestly, if you ask me, I believe that Laura is
weakening a little. She pretended she didn't want to go out for a walk,
and mumbled something about leaving me, but she soon changed her mind when
the Inspector pressed her. They have been up there for an hour or more."
Quest smiled.
"French has got it bad," he declared, "almost as badly as I have, Lenora."
She laughed at him. Her face was a little drawn with pain but her eyes
were very soft.
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