Belding turned away and drew Nell with him.  In another second she and Mercedes were clasped in each other’s arms.  Then followed a time of joyful greetings all round.

The Yaqui stood leaning against a tree watching the welcoming home of the lost.  No one seemed to think of him, until Belding, ever mindful of the needs of horses, put a hand on Blanco Diablo and called to Yaqui to bring the others.  They led the string of whites down to the barn, freed them of wet and dusty saddles and packs, and turned them loose in the alfalfa, now breast-high.  Diablo found his old spirit; Blanco Sol tossed his head and whistled his satisfaction; White Woman pranced to and fro; and presently they all settled down to quiet grazing.  How good it was for Belding to see those white shapes against the rich background of green!  His eyes glistened.  It was a sight he had never expected to see again.  He lingered there many moments when he wanted to hurry back to his rangers.

At last he tore himself away from watching Blanco Diablo and returned to the house.  It was only to find that he might have spared himself the hurry.  Jim and Ladd were lying on the beds that had not held them for so many months.  Their slumber seemed as deep and quiet as death.  Curiously Belding gazed down upon them.  They had removed only boots and chaps.  Their clothes were in tatters.  Jim appeared little more than skin and bones, a long shape, dark and hard as iron.  Ladd’s appearance shocked Belding.  The ranger looked an old man, blasted, shriveled, starved.  Yet his gaunt face, though terrible in its records of tortures, had something fine and noble, even beautiful to Belding, in its strength, its victory.

Thorne and Mercedes had disappeared.  The low murmur of voices came from Mrs. Gale’s room, and Belding concluded that Dick was still with his family.  No doubt he, also, would soon seek rest and sleep.  Belding went through the patio and called in at Nell’s door.  She was there sitting by her window.  The flush of happiness had not left her face, but she looked stunned, and a shadow of fear lay dark in her eyes.  Belding had intended to talk.  He wanted some one to listen to him.  The expression in Nell’s eyes, however, silenced him.  He had forgotten.  Nell read his thought in his face, and then she lost all her color and dropped her head.  Belding entered, stood beside her with a hand on hers.  He tried desperately hard to think of the right thing to say, and realized so long as he tried that he could not speak at all.

“Nell—­Dick’s back safe and sound,” he said, slowly.  “That’s the main thing.  I wish you could have seen his eyes when he held you in his arms out there....Of course, Dick’s coming knocks out your trip East and changes plans generally.  We haven’t had the happiest time lately.  But now it ’ll be different.  Dick’s as true as a Yaqui.  He’ll chase that Chase fellow, don’t mistake me....Then mother will be home soon.  She’ll straighten out this—­this mystery.  And Nell—­however it turns out—­I know Dick Gale will feel just the same as I feel.  Brace up now, girl.”