he ought to feel bitter toward him, since he saw
in him the cause of'all his own misery. But somehow
he found that he could feel nothing but pity.
In this man with eyes closed and gasping lips
Stephen saw only a brother-mortal in distress,
as he himself was in distress, and he forgave him
for anything he had done.

He looked at Pat, understanding the temptation,
and then turned his eyes pityingly toward
the man -- the stranger, dozing, murmuring
strangely in his sleep. Seeing him at rest, and
realizing the long hours before daybreak, Stephen
finally dropped over upon one elbow, and prepared
to pass the night as best he could. He was
suffering torture from his arm and shoulder, and
burning with the fever shown in his hot skin
and parched lips.

The night passed restlessly. He saw the first
rays of dawn break over the range and creep
farther and farther down the valley, throwing a
pale pink over the landscape and sending gaunt
shadows slinking off into the light. A whinny
from Pat aroused him. He arose painfully,
gazed at the man at his feet, and then turned his
eyes toward the distant horizon. A second whinny
disturbed him and he shifted his gaze. Far above
two great buzzards, circling round and round,
faded into the morning haze. From a neighboring
sand-dune a jack-rabbit appeared, paused a
quivering moment, then scurried from view. The
morning light grew brighter. A third whinny,
and Pat now slowly started toward him. But

[[269]]

p268 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p269w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p270

v?