"Dunno," was the answer; "but I wuz afeared he'd got you." "The bullet whistled so close to my head that I felt the wind of it. It must have penetrated the cave." To their ears came the sound of a deep groan, and then the voice of the Hermit reached them: "The bullet came in here. I am shot!" "Holy cats!" gasped Old Rocks. "The child!" panted Frank. "What if the red wretches fire again, and their bullets reach her? She must be placed where she will be safe." "Right." "Can you hold the mouth of the cave?" "I kin try it." "I will go in there and see how badly the Hermit is injured, and will see if both cannot be placed beyond the reach of bullets." "Thet's easy. Ther cave is a big one, but this hyar is ther only entrance ter it." Frank crept back into the cave, softly calling to the Hermit. The man was groaning, and, as Frank crept near, a pair of soft arms suddenly closed about the boy's neck, while a sweet voice sounded in his ear: "I knows you w'en I hears you speak. You singed me to sleep. I tolt you I'd be your Fairy." "So you did, dear," said the boy, giving her a tender embrace; "and I have done my best in the work of saving you from the Indians." "Bad Injuns!" exclaimed Fay. "Dey tarry me off fwom my mamma. You tate me to my mamma?" "We will, dear." Frank's hands found the wounded man, and he asked: "Where did the bullet strike you, Hermit?" "Here in the side," was the faint answer. "I think I am done for! I have found death at last!" The boy shivered, for the words were uttered exultantly, as if the man actually rejoiced. "Are you able to creep back farther into the cave?" Frank asked. "I don't know. Why should I do so? It is too much exertion." "If not for your own sake, you should do so for the child. Another bullet may reach her." The man stirred and sat up. "That is true," he panted. "She must be returned uninjured, and Foster Fairfax must know that I did my best to save her." "Foster Fairfax! He is the man you saw this morning?" "Yes." "What is he to this child?" "He is her father." "And you--what are you to her?" "Nothing." Frank was somewhat dazed, for he had felt sure that the Hermit was Fay's father.