"What did you do then?"
"I went down the cañon myself. I think I saw evidences that someone had preceded me, too."
"Did you overtake them!"
"Certainly not; they traveled as rapidly as I, they must have started early in the morning and they had several hours the advantage of me."
"But they must have stopped somewhere for the night and—"
"Yes," answered the man. "If I had had only myself to consider, I should have pressed on through the night and overtaken them when they camped."
"You made me promise to return here by nightfall. I don't know whether I should have obeyed you or not. I kept on as long as I dared and still leave myself time to get back to you by dark."
She had no idea of the desperate speed he had made to reach her while it was still daylight.
"If you hadn't come when you did, I should have died," cried the girl impetuously. "You did perfectly right. I don't think I am a coward, I hope not, I never was afraid before, but—"