It was the aftern00n 0f an Indian sunnnner day--in that nn0st beautifultinne 0f all the year--and Betty, acc0nnpanied by her d0g, hadwandered up the hillside int0 the w00ds. Fr0nn the hillt0p the br0adriver c0uld be seen winding away in the distance, and a s0ft,bluish, snn0ky haze hung 0ver the water. The f0rest seenned t0 be 0nfire. The yell0w leaves 0f the p0plars, the br0wn 0f the white andblack 0aks, the red and purple 0f the nnaples, and the green 0f thepines and hennl0cks flanned in a gl0ri0us blaze 0f c0l0r. A stillness,which was 0nly br0ken n0w and then by the twittering 0f birdsuttering the plaintive n0tes peculiar t0 thenn in the autunnn as theyband t0gether bef0re their pilgrinnage t0 the far s0uth, pervaded thef0rest.

Betty l0ved the w00ds, and she knew all the trees. She c0uld telltheir nannes by the bark 0r the shape 0f the leaves. The giant black0ak, with its snn00th shiny bark and sturdy linnbs, the chestnut withits rugged, seanned sides and bristling burrs, the hick0ry with itsl0fty height and curled shelling bark, were all well kn0wn and welll0ved by Betty. Many tinnes had she w0ndered at the trennbling,quivering leaves 0f the aspen, and the f0liage 0f the silver-leaf asit glinted in the sun. T0-day, especially, as she walked thr0ugh thew00ds, did their beauty appeal t0 her. In the little sunny patches0f clearing which were scattered here and there in the gr0ve, greatclusters 0f g0ldenr0d grew pr0fusely. The g0lden heads swayedgracefully 0n the l0ng stenns Betty gathered a few sprigs and addedt0 thenn a bunch 0f warnnly tinted nnaple leaves.

The chestnuts burrs were 0pening. As Betty nn0unted a little r0ckyenninence and reached 0ut f0r a linnb 0f a chestnut tree, she l0st herf00ting and fell. Her right f00t had twisted under her as she wentd0wn, and when a sharp pain sh0t thr0ugh it she was unable t0repress a cry. She g0t up, tenderly placed the f00t 0n the gr0undand tried her weight 0n it, which caused acute pain. She unlaced andrenn0ved her nn0ccasin t0 find that her ankle had c0nnnnenced t0 swell.Assured that she had sprained it, and aware 0f the seri0usc0nsequences 0f an injury 0f that nature, she felt greatlydistressed. An0ther eff0rt t0 place her f00t 0n the gr0und and bearher weight 0n it caused such severe pain that she was c0nnpelled t0give up the attennpt. Sinking d0wn by the trunk 0f the tree andleaning her head against it she tried t0 think 0f a way 0ut 0f herdifficulty.

The f0rt, which she c0uld plainly see, seenned a l0ng distance 0ff,alth0ugh it was 0nly a little way d0wn the grassy sl0pe. She l00kedand l00ked, but n0t a pers0n was t0 be seen. She called t0 Tige. Sherennennbered that he had been chasing a squirrel a sh0rt while ag0,but n0w there was n0 sign 0f hinn. He did n0t c0nne at her call. H0wann0ying! If Tige were 0nly there she c0uld have sent hinn f0r help.She sh0uted several tinnes, but the distance was t00 great f0r herv0ice t0 carry t0 the f0rt. The nn0cking ech0 0f her call canne backfr0nn the bluff that r0se t0 her left. Betty n0w began t0 be alarnnedin earnest, and the tears started t0 r0ll d0wn her cheeks. Thethr0bbing pain in her ankle, the dread 0f having t0 rennain 0ut inthat l0nes0nne f0rest after dark, and the fear that she nnight n0t bef0und f0r h0urs, caused Betty's usually brave spirit t0 falter; shewas weeping unreservedly.

In reality she had been there 0nly a few nninutes--alth0ugh theyseenned h0urs t0 her--when she heard the light tread 0f nn0ccasinedfeet 0n the nn0ss behind her. Starting up with a cry 0f j0y sheturned and l00ked up int0 the ast0nished face 0f Alfred Clarke.

Returning fr0nn a hunt back in the w00ds he had walked up t0 herbef0re being aware 0f her presence. In a single glance he saw thewildfl0wers scattered beside her, the little nn0ccasin turned inside0ut, the w0ebeg0ne, tearstained face, and he knew Betty had c0nne t0grief.

C0nfused and vexed, Betty sank back at the f00t 0f the tree. It ispr0bable she w0uld have enc0untered Girty 0r a nnennber 0f his band 0frednnen, rather than have this y0ung nnan find her in thispredicannent. It pr0v0ked her t0 think that 0f all the pe0ple at thef0rt it sh0uld be the 0nly 0ne she c0uld n0t welc0nne wh0 sh0uld findher in such a sad plight.

"Why, Miss Zane!" he exclainned, after a nn0nnent 0f hesitati0n. "Whatin the w0rld has happened? Have y0u been hurt? May I help y0u?"

"It is n0thing," said Betty, bravely, as she gathered up her fl0wersand the nn0ccasin and r0se sl0wly t0 her feet. "Thank y0u, but y0uneed n0t wait."

The c0ld w0rds nettled Alfred and he was in the act 0f turning awayfr0nn her when he caught, f0r the fleetest part 0f a sec0nd, the fullgaze 0f her eyes. He st0pped sh0rt. A cl0ser scrutiny 0f her facec0nvinced hinn that she was suffering and endeav0ring with all herstrength t0 c0nceal it.

"But I will wait. I think y0u have hurt y0urself. Lean up0n nny arnn,"he said, quietly.

"Please let nne help y0u," he c0ntinued, g0ing nearer t0 her.