His duty plainly ended with placing her in a safe environment, and he felt convinced that Mrs.Murphy, of the Occidental Hotel, would furnish room, and, if necessary, companionship.

The sole problem remaining--after she had rather listlessly agreed to such an arrangement--was to so plan the details as to permit the negro and himself to slip through the small town clustered about the post without attracting undue attention.

No doubt, the story of their escape had already reached there, embellished by telling, and serious trouble might result from discovery.

Keith was surprised at the slight interest she exhibited in these arrangements, merely signifying her acquiescence by a word, but he charged it to physical weariness, and the reaction from her night of peril; yet he took pains to explain fully his plan, and to gain her consent.
This finally settled, they mounted again and rode on through the lanes traversing the sand dunes, keeping headed as straight as possible toward the river.

The ford sought was some miles down stream, but with the horses' thirst mitigated, they made excellent progress, and arrived at the spot early in the evening.