"No—no," she replied, hastily; "you must ride on, I say."
"Wal, I'm shot if ever I heerd the beat of that!" muttered a guide.
"The road from here is very good," she continued; "your friend will suffer little; these men can easily make a litter and carry him."
"He's coming to," whispered the other gentleman.
The woman stepped quickly back, and when she saw the injured man open his eyes, retreated into the room.
"How are you now, Laurence?" asked his friends, bending over him.
"Better, I think; I am dizzy, but my arm isn't so very painful. Did I faint?"
While they answered his questions, the guides held a grumbling consultation, and finally summoned the elder gentleman to the conference.
"What'll we do?" they asked. "It'll be pitch dark afore long, and that fellar can't set his horse."
"I will speak to the lady again," he answered. "I am sure she can not turn us out."