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Shortly after midnight they struck a small mountain stream up which they

followed until in a natural cul-de-sac they came upon its source and found their

farther progress barred by precipitous cliffs which rose above them, sheer and

unscalable.

They had entered the little amphitheater through a narrow, rocky pass in the

bottom of which the tiny stream flowed, and now, weak and tired, the mucker

was forced to admit that he could go no farther.

Who'd o' t'ought dat I was such a sissy?" he exclaimed disgustedly.

"I think that you are very wonderful, Mr. Byrne," replied the girl. "Few men could

have gone through what you have today and been alive now."

The mucker made a deprecatory gesture.

"I suppose we gotta make de best of it," he said. "Anyhow, dis ought to make a

swell joint to defend."

Weak as he was he searched about for some soft grasses which he threw in a pile

beneath a stunted tree that grew well back in the hollow.

Here's yer downy," he said, with an attempt at jocularity. "Now you'd better hit

de hay, fer youse must be dead fagged."

"Thanks!" replied the girl. "I AM nearly dead."

So tired was she that she was asleep almost as soon as she had found a

comfortable position in the thick mat of grass, so that she gave no thought to the

strange position in which circumstance had placed her.

The sun was well up the following morning before the girl awakened, and it was

several minutes before she could readjust herself to her strange surroundings. At

first she thought that she was alone, but finally she discerned a giant figure

standing at the opening which led from their mountain retreat.

It was the mucker, and at sight of him there swept over the girl the terrible peril

of her position--alone in the savage mountains of a savage island with the

murderer of Billy Mallory--the beast that had kicked the unconscious Theriere in

the face--the mucker who had insulted and threatened to strike her! She

shuddered at the thought. And then she recalled the man's other side, and for the

life of her she could not tell whether to be afraid of him or not--it all depended

upon what mood governed him. It would be best to propitiate him. She called a

pleasant good morning.

Byrne turned. She was shocked at the pallor of his haggard face.

107

The Mucker