"What have you done to yourself?" she asked, astonished at his appearance.
"Souvenirs of the fire," he told her. "They'll wash and wear off. Don't suppose I look exactly pretty."
He had never looked so handsome in her eyes.
CHAPTER XLV
JOYCE MAKES PIES
Juan Otero carried the news back to Malapi. He had been waiting on the crest of the hill to see the issue of the adventure and had come forward when Dave gave him a signal.
Shorty brought Keith in from where he had left the boy in the brush. The youngster flew into his sister's arms. They wept over each other and she petted him with caresses and little kisses.
Afterward she made some supper from the supplies Doble had laid in for his journey south. The men went down to the creek, where they bathed and washed their wounds. Darkness had not yet fallen when they went to sleep, all of them exhausted by the strain through which they had passed.
Not until the cold crystal dawn did they awaken. Joyce was the first up. She had breakfast well under way before she had Keith call the still sleeping men. With the power of quick recuperation which an outdoor life had given them, both Shorty and Dave were fit for any exertion again, though Sanders was still suffering from his burns.
After they had eaten they saddled. Shorty gave them a casual nod of farewell.