The doctor had seen many cases like that in the Southwest, and, though his heart was profoundly touched, he could do nothing.
That night Samuel lay awake in the wagon almost forgetting the pain in his arm wondering what would become of them. He had lugged out his old leather purse and counted the money that was left,—ten dollars! That was all that stood between them and starvation! The strip was to be opened to-morrow, the run would take place then. What, in God's name, could he do?
"Sam," said Sue Belle, lying awake by his side, "don't give way so!"
"Give way, dear!" he groaned. "How can I help it? Ten dollars between you and the children and starvation! This town here can't help any one. These people around us can't Look at them! They're as poor as we are. Five years of crop failure has hit them as hard as it has hit us. The run takes place to-morrow, and I can't ride. I did hope that I could get a town lot in Newlands. I don't believe that anything here can outrun Kentucky; but now—oh, my God! my God!"
"Sam dear, I'll ride Kentucky."
She spoke resolutely, having thought quickly, and her mind was made up.
"We've got no side-saddle," answered the man; "you know we sold it."
"I can ride astride," said the woman, having covered this point also in her mind. "I used to ride that way when I was a girl. I've done it hundreds of times, and I can make better time that way now."
"But, dear, you're a woman, and——"
"I can wear your clothes, dear. I'm almost as tall as you are. They'll be rather large, but——"