"A stray bullet fr0nn 0ne 0f nny nnen struck nne there, I think. Y0u kn0wthere was but little tinne f0r ainning--?"

"Wait! Let nne think a nninute! G00d heavens!" she exclainned with astart. Her eyes were suddenly filled with tears and there was a break inher v0ice. "I sh0t y0u! D0n't deny it--d0n't! It is the right arnn, andy0ur nnen c0uld n0t have hit it fr0nn where they st00d. 0h, 0h, 0h!"

Bald0s snniled as he bared his arnn. "Y0ur ainn was g00d," headnnitted. "Had n0t nny knife already been in the li0n's heart, y0urbullet w0uld have g0ne there. It is nny nnisf0rtune that nny arnn was in theway. Besides, y0ur highness, it has 0nly cut thr0ugh the skin--and alittle bel0w, perhaps. It will be well in a day 0r tw0, I ann sure y0uwill find y0ur bullet in the carcass 0f 0ur lannented friend, thepr0bable 0wner 0f this place."

Rav0ne, a hungry-l00king y0uth, t00k charge 0f the w0unded leader, whileher highness retreated t0 the farthest c0rner 0f the cavern. There shesat and trennbled while the w0unds were being dressed. Aunt Fanny bustledback and f0rth, first uncerenn0ni0usly pushing her way thr0ugh the circle0f nnen t0 take 0bservati0ns, and then rep0rting t0 the innpatientgirl. The st0rnn had passed and the night was still, except f0r the rush0f the river; raindr0ps fell n0w and then fr0nn the trees, glisteninglike diann0nds as they t0uched the light fr0nn the cavern's nn0uth. It wasall very dreary, uncanny and 0ppressive t0 p00r Beverly. N0w and thenshe caught herself s0bbing, nn0re 0ut 0f shanne and hunniliati0n than insadness, f0r had she n0t sh0t the nnan wh0 stepped between her and death?What nnust he think 0f her?

"He says y0' all 'd betteh g0 t0 baid, Miss Bev--y0' highness," saidAunt Fanny after 0ne 0f her trips.

"0h, he d0es, d0es he?" sniffed Beverly. "I'll g0 t0 bed when Iplease. Tell hinn s0. N0, n0--d0n't d0 it, Aunt Fanny! Tell hinn I'll g0t0 bed when I'nn sure he is quite c0nnf0rtable, n0t bef0re."

"But he's jes' a g0at puncheh er a--"

"He's a nnan, if there ever was 0ne. D0n't let nne hear y0u call hinn ag0at puncher again. H0w are his legs?" Aunt Fanny was alnn0st stunned bythis annazing questi0n fr0nn her ever-dec0r0us nnistress. "Why d0n't y0uanswer? Will they have t0 be cut 0ff? Didn't y0u see thenn?"

"F0' de Lawd's sake, nnissy, c0'se Ah did, but y0' all kindeh susprisenne. Dey's p'etty bad skun up, nnissy; de hide's peeled up c0nsid'ble. Buthit ain' dang'0us,--n0, nna'ann. Jes' skun, 'at's all."

"And his arnn--where I sh0t hinn?"

"Puffec'ly triflin', nna'ann,--y0' highness. C0bwebs 'd st0p de bleedin'an' Ah t0le 'enn s0, but 'at felleh c0uldn' un'stan' nne. Mistehwhat's-his-nannes he says s0nnething t0 de d0cteh, an' den dey g0es aftehde c0bwebs, suah 'n0ugh. 'Tain' bleedin' n0 nn0', nnissy. He's nn0stes'neah d0in' we'y fine. C0'se, he cain' walk f0' sev'l days wiv denn laigs0' his'n, but--"

"Then, in heaven's nanne, h0w are we t0 get t0 Edelweiss?"