B. M. Bower

“ CHAPTER XIV. It is not wise for a party to become separated in the wilderness. Shelton, born to the easy ways of policed streets and cars which may be counted upon to land all wanderers at home in due time, did not know of that unwritten law of the wild which commands a man to keep in touch with his companions. He went calmly about his own business, and felt no compunctions whatever over the separation.
Spider and Vida, however, knew well the law of the wild, and did their best to obey it. ”

“ But then she had her gun safe in its holster at her hip, and the belt sagged with loaded cartridges; and Burney was afraid of a gun. So she put the unwelcome thought of him from her, and went on teasing Spider. Nerves are tricky things, and they take strange whims. But Fate is trickier, and her whims are stranger.
Fate, for instance, sent Shelton C. Sherman straight down a cañon up which Burney was riding slowly, purposefully, saving his big horse deliberately, that he might get from him much in the way of endurance if the need came later. ”

“ To prove that it was of no use whatever, Spider pulled his horse to a stand. "I'll take you back to camp, and then I'll have a free hand to look where I want to look. Come on—I'll want a little time before dark."
"Oh, you needn't get mad," Vida told him quickly, her own eyes burning the anger light. "I'll go through the caves, if that's what you want. But——"
"I don't want you to. I told you all along I didn't. It ain't safe for a girl." Then, just because he was a bit angry, he spoiled his last chance of sending her back. "If it was Burney, you'd be dead safe," he said. ”