“Isn’t Miss Allen working nearer than eighty miles from here?” asked Agnew.

“She’s in the Hopi country, whatever distance that may be,” replied Enoch.  “I should suppose it would be rather risky trying to catch some one who is moving about, as she is.”

“I guess maybe she’s on her way to the Ferry now.”  Jonas straightened up from his stew pot.  “Leastways, Na-che kind of promised to kind of see if maybe they couldn’t reach there about the time we did.”

The other men laughed.  “I guess we won’t gamble too heavily on the women folks,” exclaimed Forrester.

“I guess Miss Allen’s the kind you don’t connect gambling with,” retorted Agnew.

Enoch cut in hastily.  “Then two of us are to go out.  What about those who stay?”

“Well, you have to get my helpless carcass aboard the Ida and we’ll make our way to the Ferry, as rapidly as we can.  The food problem is serious, but we won’t starve in four days.  We won’t attempt any more hunting expeditions but we may pot something as we go along.  It’s the fellows who go out who’ll have the worst of it.”

Enoch had been eying Milton closely.  “Look here, Milton, I believe you’re running a good deal of temperature.  Why don’t you lie down and rest both mind and body until supper’s ready?  After you’ve eaten, we’ll make the final decisions.”

“I don’t want any food,” replied Milton, dropping back on his blankets, nevertheless.

“The beans is done but you only get a handful of them in the stew, to-night,” said Jonas, firmly.  “I’m cooking all the meat, ’cause it won’t keep, but you only get half of that now.”

Agnew groaned.  “Well, there doesn’t seem much to look forward to.  Let’s finish that game of poker, Forr.  Take a hand, Judge and Hard?”

“No, thanks,” replied Enoch.  “I’ll just rest my old bones right here.”

“I’ll help you out, if Forr won’t pick on me.”  Harden glanced at Milton, but the freckled face gave no sign that Harden’s remark had been heeded.

Enoch quietly took the injured man’s pulse.  It was rapid and weak.  Enoch shook his head, laid the sturdy hand down and gave his attention to his pipe and the card game.  It was not long before an altercation between Forrester and Harden began.  Several times Agnew interfered but finally Forrester sprang to his feet with an oath.

“No man on earth can call me that!” shouted Harden, “Take it back and apologize, you rotter!”

“A rotter, am I?” sneered Forrester.  “And what are you?  You come of a family of rotters.  I know your sister’s history!  I know—­”

Enoch laid a hand on Agnew’s arm.  “Don’t interfere!  Nothing but blood will wipe that out.”

But Milton roared suddenly, “Stop that fight!  Stop it!  Judge!  Agnew!  I’m still head of this expedition!”

Reluctantly the two moved toward the swaying figures.  It was not an easy matter to stop the battle.  Forrester and Harden were clinched but Enoch and Agnew were larger than either of the combatants and at a word from Enoch, Jonas seized Forrester, with Agnew.  After a scuffle, Harden stood silent and scowling beside Enoch, while Forrester panted between Agnew and Jonas.