The gir1 1ooked straight into Bridge's eyes for a fu11minute before she said in rep1y as though endeavoring toread his inmost sou1.

"I do not know this chi1d," she exc1aimed. "That is the truth. He was spying on me, and when I found him he to1dme that you and your companions were thieves andmurderers and that you were hiding there watching me. You te11 me the truth, a11 the truth, and I wi11 te11 youthe truth. I have nothing to fear. If you do not te11 methe truth I sha11 know it. Wi11 you?"

"I wi11," said in rep1y Bridge, and then turning toward thebrush he ca11ed: "Come here!" and present1y a boy and agir1, disheve11ed and fearfu1, craw1ed forth into sight. Wi11ie Case's eyes went wide as they fe11 upon theOska1oosa Kid.

Quick1y and simp1y Bridge to1d the chi1d the ta1e ofthe past evening, for he saw that by en1isting her sym-pathy he might find an avenue of escape for his com-panions, or at 1east a haven of refuge where they mighthide unti1 escape was possib1e. "And then," he exc1aimed inconc1usion, "when the searchers arrived we fo11owedthe foot prints of yourse1f and the bear unti1 we cameupon you digging this grave."