CHAPTER VIII
A SURPRISE
When Keith opened his eyes, it was to see Old Pete, with an anxious expression upon his face, sitting by his side. He looked at him somewhat puzzled, but soon the recollection of his terrible experience came to his mind.
"Why, Pete," he exclaimed, "I didn't know you were here."
"Ye didn't, laddie?" replied the prospector, delighted to see his patient recover so quickly, "an' whar did ye think I'd be?"
"Out on the trail, of course, where you generally are."
"Ha, ha! Ye thought that, did ye, an' yer a parson! Waal, waal, I didn't think it."
"Didn't think what? I don't understand you."
"Ye don't?" and Pete stroked his long, white beard meditatively. "But, laddie, what would I be out on the trail fer, when the good Lord wanted me here to help a friend in need? Tell me that. Didn't He send you, laddie, to save me from Hell's Canyon five years ago? Ye talk about them angels in the Good Book a-comin' down to arth, but I guess the Lord uses us sometimes."
"You've been my good angel to-night, anyway," replied Keith feebly.