And then something even more strange occurred, and that quite close to his side. Someone was breathing hard and saying in a broken voice:
"Wake up, dearest, look at me, and say that you are not in danger, my dear one, my love." ... Two soft, warm lips were pressed on his, then shyly withdrawn, only to return in a passionate kiss. It was indeed marvelous!
"I expect I am dreaming," he thought as he opened his eyes.
Elaine's tear-stained, lovely face was very near to his, an expression of unspeakable anxiety and distress in her eyes. He raised himself upon his elbow and put a hand up to his head; it was tightly bandaged.
"Won't you say once more what you said just now?" he murmured, rather incoherently.
She bent her head and blushed.
"It is all over now," she said softly; "Dixon and Corman are prisoners, and Toroni is dead; it was he who fired at you, and oh ... I am so glad that the wound is not dangerous."
Tom fell back against the cushions. He had discovered that he was lying on the couch in the saloon and they were alone.
"I don't know," he said, hesitating. "I fancy it might be most dangerous unless I have a kind and loving nurse."
"I shall try to do my best," she replied in a gentle tone.