Page:Hendryx--Connie Morgan with the Mounted.djvu/170

152 "But, the fire! Maybe it caught them."

Connie shook his head. "No'm," he said, "they had plenty of time to get beyond the timber. They were north of me, and they didn't have to turn back."

"Why did you turn back?"

The boy looked at her in surprise. "Why, it was up to me to try to save you and the kids."

The woman's voice faltered: "But your orders were to—to arrest the"

"Huh!" interrupted the boy, "I guess you don't know the Mounted!"

The woman turned her face swiftly away and Connie saw that she was crying.

The boy's burns were found not to be serious and the woman tenderly bound them up, and for the remainder of the day, while she rested, Connie played with the children.

Early next morning he made up a light pack and telling the woman to remain where she was until someone came he started up stream, following the bank.

"Where are you going?" she called.

"To find your husband, and tell him you are safe."