With a prayer on his lips and an agony of fear in his heart, her father carried her to the cabin and tenderly stretched the bruised little body on the coarse blankets of her bunk.
At the race-course the crowd eddied excitedly about the judges’ stand, or stood in groups talking of the wonderful performance of the spotted cayuse that had made the erstwhile champion appear a mere tyro.
Gillis came riding slowly from the woods and was hailed by questioning shouts from a score of throats.
A bloody handkerchief was wrapped around the big man’s hand, and a livid welt showed on his forehead. He smiled grimly as he dismounted, “I got the d——d skunk,” he answered savagely.
He turned to a group of Indians. “You fellers’d better look out for him when you go along; his eyesight’s kinda bad.”
Donald came to the front of the judges’ stand and held up his hand for silence. Gradually the hum of voices died away and the crowd turned to face him.
“As you know, we are to take up a collection to add to the Company’s purse. The gentleman below,” pointing down at Andy, “will hold the hat. We have witnessed an exhibition of matchless skill and pluck. Give as you feel.”
The crowd cheered lustily. Then, jostling each other good-naturedly like a lot of school-boys, they formed in a long queue.
Andy started the contribution by giving his whole roll of bills. Money showered upon him until he was forced to call for another hat.
“Fightin’” Jack came to Donald in great perturbation. “Say! Our gang’s all stony broke. Can we sign a due-bill?”
“Make her out for twenty bucks for each of us,” said “Fightin’” Jack.
Andy’s spirits soared as the pile rose higher.
“God bless ’er little ’eart,” he murmured, “she can ’ave an ’ole shipload of them blinkin’ camisole things.”
An hour later, as Donald climbed the hill to deliver the prize, he met Doctor Paul.
“She’s had a nasty shaking up, but there are no bones broken. She will have to remain in bed for a week or so.”
Wainwright saw Donald coming and stepped outside the door to meet him. “She’s sleeping,” he said in a low tone. He looked questioningly at Donald as the latter passed him the package of money.
Wainwright peeped at the contents and his face lit up with pleased astonishment. “I understood that the purse was to be a small one!”