He recognized Buck while still some distance away and the smoulder burst into a blaze. This was the game then? Schatz had emphatically stated it was to be one of freeze-out; when they found it would n’t work then the good old way was good enough. The jauntiness of carriage which had earned him his nickname (he was responsible for the surname only) was gone when he joined the others; the gay insolence of his speech was gone also, and some of his good looks. The successful concealment of his feelings had lost him much but it had gained him more: Margaret thrilled to a sense of power she had not expected in him. Rose’s gesture of finger to lips was superfluous: Murray never felt less like talking. "How’d you get here, Cock?" asked Buck, dully. The strain of the drive was telling even upon his iron frame. "Orders," answered Cock, briefly; and Buck was not sufficiently interested to inquire further. The team was effectually secured and they got Buck from the wagon and into the cabin with but little difficulty; Murray, though he did not look it, was a far stronger man than Whitby; and Buck was laid gently in the bunk, his head brushing the spot where Pickles had muffled his breathing a few hours before. The removal of the bandage brought a gasp to the lips of Margaret, who pressed her hand to her heart and stared with horrified eyes. She touched Rose on the shoulder: "Can you—can you dress the wound without me?" she asked, breathlessly. "But certainly," answered Rose, mildly surprised. "Then I will go—back—and send on the medicine chest. I am sure you will need it." "That is good," commended Rose, looking curiously after Margaret, who swayed as she went out of the room. Murray hurried after her. "It is nothing, Miss McAllister, except for the pain and possible fever. Buck will tell you so himself. Drink this." The cold water made her feel better. "I never realized before—what fighting means," she murmured. "It may be nothing but it looks—terrible." "Nothing dangerous, I assure you, and perfect health will bring him through. Shall you go on out to the ranch?" "Why, I must send the medicines." "Then wait for me to join you at Twin River. I shall not be long." He controlled the restive team until she was ready and watched her start. When he returned to Rose she had bared and was bathing the wound from which but little blood came, now. When a fresh bandage had been put in place she turned to him with expressive gesture: "Remove all," she commanded, indicating Buck’s clothing. She left the room and Murray heard her moving about in the attic while he busied himself in obedience to her orders. "Who was it, Buck?" he asked, sombrely. "Did n’t see him. Dave, I reckon." "Was it Dave you was after?" "That’s him. Did n’t you know?"