"Peter—I'm here."
"Thank God. And—and Shad——? He—he was with me——"
"He's asking for Shad," she repeated to Brierly, unaware that her cousin, like his Biblical namesake, had come scatheless through the fiery furnace. But some one heard the question and replied:
"Shad's here, Miss. He's all right——"
"Oh," gasped Peter. "And there's something else——"
"No, no—we must go. Your wound——"
But he insisted. "I—I'm all—right. Something else,—Beth—some one must get—paper—blue envelope—Hawk Ken——"
His words ended in a gasp and he sank back in her arms.
Beth was frightened at the sudden collapse and the look in his face, but she knew that his injunction was important. And keeping her courage she called Shad Wells to the side of the car and gave quick directions. There was a note of appeal in her voice and Shad listened, his gaze over his shoulder in the direction she indicated.
"If he ain't burned to a crisp by now——"