Grace smiled in spite of her suffering, as Elfreda assisted her to a cot that had been placed for her. In the meantime Ike and Emma were regaining consciousness.
“Well, I swan!” gasped Ike Fairweather after Hippy had laughingly assisted him to a sitting position, Anne having performed a similar service for Emma. “Never did nothin’ like thet before.”
“I hope you never do it again if you continue to pilot this outfit,” rebuked the lieutenant.
“I won’t,” promised Mr. Fairweather. “Next time I shore’ll look t’other way,” he added, amid laughter.
Grace beckoned to him to come to her.
“Did Mr. Jones return to Globe?” she asked.
“Yes, and the young women gave him a right nice present beside what he asked for helpin’ me to get the ponies out here.”
“I want to thank you for all the trouble you had in looking for Miss Dean and myself. That is what I wished to say to you,” added Grace smilingly. “When do you think we should strike camp and go on?”
“Whenever you feel fit, Miss.”
“I think it will be advisable to wait until morning, even though the bandits attack us here again.”