Lt "But why?"
d "I want you to know the hull story."
t "But why, again?"
"I rather guess them letters'll tell," t
answered the old man evasively, "an'
I like you, and I don't want to see e
you throwed away." f
"What do you mean?" asked the girl I
curiously, thrilling to the solemnity of I
the moment, the seriousness, the kind
affection of the old frontiersman, the I
weird scene, the fire light, the tents
gleaming ghostlike, the black wall of i
the canon and the tops of the moun
tain range broadening out beneath the
stars in the clear sky where they I
twinkled above her head, the strange
and terrible story, and now the letters
in her hand, which somehow seemed
to be imbued with human feeling.
Kirkby patted her on the shoulder.
"Read the letters," he said; "they'll
tell the story. Good night."
CHAPTER IV.
The Pool and the Water Sprite.
Long after the others in the camp
had, sunk into the profound slumber
of weary bodies and good consciences,
a solitary candle In the small tent oc
cupied by. Enid Maitland alone gave
evidence that she was busy over the
letters which Kirkby had handed to
her.
It was a very thoughtful girl in
deed who confronted the old frontiers
man the next morning. At the first
convenient opportunity when they
were alone together she handed him
the packet of letters.
"Have you read 'em?" he asked.
