“I’ve been trying to bring him back, and I’ve thought so hard that I just knew he would have to come back,” murmured Nora.
Grace kissed her and patted her cheek.
“The imponderable quality lies deep in us all,” observed Emma more to herself than to her companions.
In the meantime Jim and Sam were prowling about, now and then looking in to inquire how the patient was getting along, but spending a good part of their time at the Overland camp which commanded a fairly good view of the ranch buildings.
Shortly after daybreak, Hippy stirred and began to mutter. A few moments later he opened his eyes, blinked a few times, and smiled up into Nora’s face. The Overland girl burst into tears.
“If you don’t stop that at once out you go!” threatened Miss Briggs. “Hippy must have absolute quiet. Which shall it be?”
“I’ll be quiet,” promised Nora, conquering the sobs that rose to her lips.
There was instant silence in the room, and in a few moments Hippy Wingate sank into a natural sleep, from which he did not awaken until late in the morning. After some nourishment was given him, he asked for explanations.
The girls told him how they had found him, and asked him what had occurred before he was put out by a bullet. Hippy related all that he could remember of the occurrences of the previous night. They then insisted on his going to sleep again, which he was quite willing and ready to do.
No one had been near the stable where the prisoners were held, though Jim-Sam had made occasional tours of inspection about the building throughout the night. The key to the stable was in the pocket of Two-gun Pete, so, though the prisoners must be hungry, it was plain that they would get nothing to eat until the return of the rancher and his party.