The hours of that ride were among the longest
O'Reilly had ever passed.
But Norine Evans gave him new heart. She took complete charge of
the sick man upon his arrival in camp; then in her brisk, matter-
of-fact way she directed O'Reilly to go and get some much-needed
rest. Esteban was ill, very ill, she admitted; there was no
competent doctor near, and her own facilities for nursing were
primitive indeed; nevertheless, she expressed confidence that she
could cure him, and reminded O'Reilly that nature has a blessed
way of building up a resistance to environment. As a result of her
good cheer O'Reilly managed to enjoy a night's sleep.
Leslie Branch was later than the others in arriving, for the baby
proved to be a trial and a handicap. His comrades had refused him
any assistance on the homeward journey. They expressed a deep,
hoarse condemnation of his conduct, and pretended to consider that
he had sacrificed all claims to their friendship and regard.
Branch took this seriously, and he was in a state bordering upon
desperation when he reached camp. In the hope of unloading his
unwelcome burden upon Norine Evans he hurried directly to her
tent. But Norine had heard the story; Lopez had warned her;
therefore she waved him away.
"Don't ask me to mother your stolen child," she said.
"Oh, but you've GOT to," he declared in a panic.
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