BOOK III

THE DESERT

I NEVADA 281

II OLD FRIENDS WITH NEW FACES 286

III SMOLDERING EMBERS 304

IV A WOMAN’S “NO” 316

V “HER FEET GO DOWN TO DEATH” 329

VI THE EDGE OF THE PRECIPICE 341

VII THE COLONEL COMES BACK 352

VIII THE AROUSED LION 368

IX HOME 381

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

JUNE _Frontispiece_

SHE SMILED FAINTLY AT HIM 40

“HERE IT IS! DO YOU WONDER NO ONE EVER FOUND IT?” 88

WITH THE TIP OF THE LONG SPEAR OF GRASS, HE TOUCHED HER LIGHTLY ON THE CHEEK 176

MERCEDES 244

ROSAMUND 306

THE PIONEER