第3章

OtherwisedustanddirtandageandlongusestampedthisGrassValleystoreanditsimmediateenvironment。

Jeanthrewhisbridle，and，gettingdown，mountedthelowporchandsteppedintothewideopendoor。Aface，grayagainstthebackgroundofgloominside，passedoutofsightjustasJeanentered。Heknewhehadbeenseen。Infrontofthelong，ratherlow—ceiledstorewerefourmen，allabsorbed，apparently，inagameofcheckers。Twowereplayingandtwowerelookingon。Oneofthese，agaunt—facedmanpastmiddleage，casuallylookedupasJeanentered。ButthemomentofthatcasualglanceaffordedJeantimeenoughtomeeteyesheinstinctivelydistrusted。

Theymaskedtheirpenetration。Theyseemedneithercuriousnorfriendly。

Theysawhimasifhehadbeenmerelythinair。

"Goodevenin’，"saidJean。

AfterwhatappearedtoJeanalapseoftimesufficienttoimpresshimwithapossibledeafnessofthesemen，thegaunt—facedonesaid，"Howdy，Isbel！"

Thetonewasimpersonal，dry，easy，cool，laconic，andyetitcouldnothavebeenmorepregnantwithmeaning。Jean’ssharpsensibilitiesabsorbedmuch。Noneoftheslouch—sombreroed，long—mustachedTexans——forsoJeanatonceclassedthem——hadeverseenJean，buttheyknewhimandknewthathewasexpectedinGrassValley。Allbuttheonewhohadspokenhappenedtohavetheirfacesinshadowunderthewide—brimmedblackhats。Motley—garbed，gun—belted，dusty—booted，theygaveJeanthesameimpressionoflatentforcethathehadencounteredinColter。

"Willsomebodypleasetellmewheretofindmyfather，GastonIsbel？"

inquiredJean，withascivilatongueashecouldcommand。

Nobodypaidtheslightestattention。ItwasthesameasifJeanhadnotspoken。Waiting，halfamused，halfirritated，Jeanshotarapidglancearoundthestore。Theplacehadfeltbare;andJean，peeringbackthroughgloomyspace，sawthatitdidnotcontainmuch。Drygoodsandsackslitteredalongrudecounter;longroughshelvesdividedtheirlengthintostacksofcannedfoodsandemptysections;alowshelfbackofthecounterheldagenerousburdenofcartridgeboxes，andnexttoitstoodarackofrifles。Onthecounterlayopencasesofplugtobacco，theodorofwhichwassecondinstrengthonlytothatofrum。

Jean’sswift—rovingeyerevertedtothemen，threeofwhomwereabsorbedinthegreasycheckerboard。ThefourthmanwastheonewhohadspokenandhenowdeignedtolookatJean。Notmuchfleshwastherestretchedoverhisbony，powerfulphysiognomy。Hestrokedaleanchinwithabigmobilehandthatsuggestedmoreofbridleholdingthanfamiliaritywithabucksawandplowhandle。Itwasalazyhand。Themanlookedlazy。Ifhespokeatallitwouldbewithlazyspeech。yetJeanhadnotencounteredmanymentowhomhewouldhaveaccordedmorepotencytostirinhimtheinstinctofself—preservation。

"Shore，"drawledthisgaunt—facedTexan，"oldGasslivesabootamiledownheah。"Withslowsweepofthebighandheindicatedageneraldirectiontothesouth;then，appearingtoforgethisquestioner，heturnedhisattentiontothegame。

Jeanmutteredhisthanksand，stridingout，hemountedagain，anddrovethepackmuledowntheroad。"ReckonI’veranintothewrongfoldsto—day，"hesaid。"IfIrememberdadrighthewasamantomakean’keepfriends。SomehowI’llbetthere’sgoin’tobehell。"Beyondthestoreweresomeratherprettyandcomfortablehomes，littleranchhousesbackinthecovesofthehills。TheroadturnedwestandJeansawhisfirstsunsetintheTontoBasin。Itwasapageantofpurplecloudswithsilveredges，andbackgroundofdeeprichgold。PresentlyJeanmetaladdrivingacow。"Hello，Johnny！"hesaid，genially，andwithadoublepurpose。"Myname’sJeanIsbel。ByGolly！I’mlostinGrassValley。Willyoutellmewheremydadlives？"

"Yep。Keeprighton，an’y’ucain’tmisshim，"repliedthelad，withabrightsmile。"He’slookin’fery’u。"

"Howdoyouknow，boy？"queriedJean，warmedbythatsmile。

"Aw，Iknow。It’salloverthevalleythety’u’drideinter—day。

ShoreIwustheonethettoleyerdadan’hegivemeadollar。"

"Washegladtohearit？"askedJean，withaqueersensationinhisthroat。

"Wal，heplumbwas。"

"An’whotoldyouIwasgoin’torideinto—day？"

"Iheerditatthestore，"repliedthelad，withanairofconfidence。

"Somesheepmenwastalkin’toGreaves。He’sthestorekeeper。Iwassettin’outside，butIheerd。AMexicancomedownofftheRimter—dayan’hefetchedthenews。"Heretheladlookedfurtivelyaround，thenwhispered。"An’thetgreaserwassentbysomebody。Ineverheerdnomore，butthemsheepmenlookedprettyplumbsour。An’oneofthem，comin’out，givemeakick，darnhim。Itshoreistheluckedestdayferuscowmen。"

"How’sthat，Johnny？"

"Wal，that’sshoreabigfightcomin’toGrassValley。Mydadsayssoan’heridesferyerdad。An’ifitcomesnowy’u’llbeheah。"

"Ahuh！"laughedJean。"An’whatthen，boy？"

Theladturnedbrighteyesupward。"Aw，now，yu’allcain’tcomethetonme。Ain’ty’uanInjun，JeanIsbel？Ain’ty’uahosstrackerthetrustlerscain’tfool？Ain’ty’uaplumbdeadshot？Ain’ty’uwuss’ernagrizzlybearinarough—an’—tumble？……Nowain’ty’u，shore？"

Jeanbadetheflatteringladarathersobergooddayandrodeonhisway。ManifestlyareputationsomewhatdifficulttoliveuptohadprecededhisentryintoGrassValley。

Jean’sfirstsightofhisfuturehomethrilledhimthrough。Itwasabig，low，ramblinglogstructurestandingwelloutfromawoodedknollattheedgeofthevalley。Corralsandbarnsandshedslayoffattheback。Totheforestretchedbroadpastureswherenumberlesscattleandhorsesgrazed。Atsunsetthescenewasoneofrichcolor。

Prosperityandabundanceandpeaceseemedattendantuponthatranch;

lustyvoicesofburrosbrayingandcowsbawlingseemedwelcomingJean。

Ahoundbayed。ThefirstcooltouchofwindfannedJean’scheekandbroughtafragranceofwoodsmokeandfryingham。

HorsesinthePasturerompedtothefenceandwhistledatthesenewcomers。Jeanespiedawhite—facedblackhorsethatgladdenedhissight。"Hello，Whiteface！I’llsurestraddleyou，"calledJean。

Thenupthegentleslopehesawthetallfigureofhisfather——thesameashehadseenhimthousandsoftimes，bareheaded，shirtsleeved，stridingwithlongstep。Jeanwavedandcalledtohim。

"Hi，YouProdigal！"cametheanswer。Yes，thevoiceofhisfather——

andJean’sboyhoodmemoriesflashed。Hehurriedhishorsethoselastfewrods。No——dadwasnotthesame。Hishairshonegray。

"HereIam，dad，"calledJean，andthenhewasdismounting。Adeep，quietemotionsettledoverhim，stillingthehurry，theeagerness，thepanginhisbreast。

"Son，Ishoreamgladtoseeyou，"saidhisfather，andwrunghishand。

"Wal，wal，thesizeofyou！Shoreyou’vegrown，anyhowyoufavoryourmother。"

Jeanfeltintheironclaspofhand，intheupliftingofthehandsomehead，inthestrong，finelightofpiercingeyesthattherewasnodifferenceinthespiritofhisfather。ButtheoldsmilecouldnothidelinesandshadesstrangetoJean。

"Dad，I’masgladasyou，"repliedJean，heartily。"Itseemslongwe’vebeenparted，nowIseeyou。AreYouwell，dad，an’allright？"

"Notcomplainin’，son。Icanridealldaysameasever，"hesaid。

"Come。Nevermindyourhosses。They’llbelookedafter。

Comemeetthefolks……Wal，wal，yougotheahatlast。"

OntheporchofthehouseagroupawaitedJean’scoming，rathersilently，hethought。Wide—eyedchildrenwerethere，veryshyandwatchful。Thedarkfaceofhissistercorrespondedwiththeimageofherinhismemory。Sheappearedtaller，morewomanly，assheembracedhim。"Oh，Jean，Jean，I’mgladyou’vecome！"shecried，andpressedhimclose。Jeanfeltinherawoman’sanxietyforthepresentaswellasaffectionforthepast。HerememberedhisauntMary，thoughhehadnotseenherforyears。Hishalfbrothers，BillandGuy，hadchangedbutlittleexceptperhapstogrowleanandrangy。Billresembledhisfather，thoughhisaspectwasjocularratherthanserious。Guywassmaller，wiry，andhardasrock，withsnappingeyesinabrown，stillface，andhehadthebow—legsofacattleman。BothhadmarriedinArizona。Bill’swife，Kate，wasastout，comelylittlewoman，motherofthreeofthechildren。Theotherwifewasyoung，astrappinggirl，redheadedandfreckled，withwonderfullinesofpainandstrengthinherface。Jeanremembered，ashelookedather，thatsomeonehadwrittenhimaboutthetragedyinherlife。WhenshewasonlyachildtheApacheshadmurderedallherfamily。ThennexttogreetJeanwerethelittlechildren，allshy，yetallmanifestlyimpressedbytheoccasion。AwarmthandintimacyofforgottenhomeemotionsfloodedoverJean。Sweetitwastogethometotheserelativeswholovedhimandwelcomedhimwithquietgladness。Butthereseemedmore。Jeanwasquicktoseetheshadowintheeyesofthewomeninthathouseholdandtosenseastrangereliancewhichhispresencebrought。

"Son，thisheahTontoisalandofmilkan’honey，"saidhisfather，asJeangazedspellboundatthebounteoussupper。

Jeancertainlyperformedgastronomicfeatsonthisoccasion，tothedelightofAuntMaryandthewonderofthechildren。"Oh，he’sstarv—vedtodeath，"whisperedoneofthelittleboystohissister。

Theyhadbeguntowarmtothisstrangeruncle。Jeanhadnochancetotalk，evenhadhebeenableto，forthemeal—timeshowedarelaxationofrestraintandtheyalltriedtotellhimthingsatonce。InthebrightlamplighthisfatherlookedeasierandhappierashebeameduponJean。

Aftersupperthemenwentintoanadjoiningroomthatappearedmostcomfortableandattractive。Itwaslong，andthewidthofthehouse，withahugestonefireplace，lowceilingofhewntimbersandwallsofthesame，smallwindowswithinsideshuttersofwood，andhome—madetableandchairsandrugs。

"Wal，Jean，doyourecollectthemshootin’—irons？"inquiredtherancher，pointingabovethefireplace。Twogunshungonthespreadingdeerantlersthere。OnewasamusketJean’sfatherhadusedinthewaroftherebellionandtheotherwasalong，heavy，muzzle—loadingflintlockKentucky，riflewithwhichJeanhadlearnedtoshoot。

"ReckonIdo，dad，"repliedJean，andwithreverenthandsandarushofmemoryhetooktheoldgundown。

"Jean，youshorehandlethetoldarmsomeclumsy，"saidGuyIsbel，dryly。AndBilladdedaremarktotheeffectthatperhapsJeanhadbeenleadingaluxuriousandtamelifebackthereinOregon，andthenadded，"ButIreckonhe’spackin’thatsix—shooterlikeaTexan。"

"Say，Ifetchedagunortwoalongwithme，"repliedJean，jocularly。

"ReckonInearbrokemypoormule’sbackwiththeloadofshellsan’

guns。Dad，whatwastheideaaskin’metopackoutanarsenal？"

"Son，shoreallshootin’armsan’suchareatapremiumintheTonto，"

repliedhisfather。"An’Iwasgivin’youahunchtocomeloaded。"

Hiscool，drawlingvoiceseemedtoputadamperuponthepleasantries。

RightthereJeansensedthechargedatmosphere。Hisbrotherswereburstingwithutteranceabouttobreakforth，andhisfathersuddenlyworealookthatrecalledtoJeancriticaltimesofdayslongpast。

Buttheentranceofthechildrenandthewomenfolkputanendtoconfidences。Evidentlytheyoungsterswerelaboringundersubduedexcitement。Theyprecededtheirmother，thesmallestboyinthelead。

Forhimthismusthavebeenbothadreadfulandawonderfulexperience，forheseemedtobepushedforwardbyhissisterandbrotherandmother，anddrivenbyyearningsofhisown。"Therenow，Lee。Say，’UncleJean，whatdidyoufetchus？’Theladhesitatedforashy，frightenedlookatJean，andthen，gainingsomethingfromhisscrutinyofhisuncle，hetoddledforwardandbravelydeliveredthequestionoftremendousimportance。

"WhatdidIfetchyou，hey？"criedJean，indelight，ashetooktheladuponhisknee。"Wouldn’tyouliketoknow？Ididn’tforget，Lee。

Irememberedyouall。Oh！thejobIhadpackin’yourbundleofpresents……Now，Lee，makeaguess。"

"Idessyoufetchedadun，"repliedLee。

"Adun！——I’llbetyoumeanagun，"laughedJean。"Well，youfour—year—oldTexasgunman！Makeanotherguess。"

Thatappearedtoomomentousandentrancingfortheothertwoyoungsters，and，addingtheirshrillandjoyousvoicestoLee’s，theybesiegedJean。

"Dad，where’smypack？"criedJean。"TheseyoungApachesareaftermyscalp。"

"Reckontheboysfetcheditontotheporch，"repliedtherancher。

GuyIsbelopenedthedoorandwentout。"Bygolly！heah’sthreepacks，"hecalled。"Whichonedoyouwant，Jean？"

"It’salong，heavybundle，alltiedup，"repliedJean。

Guycamestaggeringinunderaburdenthatbroughtawhoopfromtheyoungstersandbrightgleamstotheeyesofthewomen。Jeanlostnothingofthis。HowgladhewasthathehadtarriedinSanFranciscobecauseofamentalpictureofthisveryreceptioninfar—offwildArizona。

WhenGuydepositedthebundleontheflooritjarredtheroom。

Itgaveforthmetallicandrattlingandcracklingsounds。

"Everybodystandbackan’givemeelbowroom，"orderedJean，majestically。"Mygoodfolks，Iwantyoualltoknowthisissomethin’thatdoesn’thappenoften。ThebundleyouseehereweighedaboutahundredpoundswhenIpackeditonmyshoulderdownMarketStreetinFrisco。Itwasstolenfrommeonshipboard。

IgotitbackinSanDiegoan’lickedthethief。ItrodeonaburrofromSanDiegotoYumaan’onceIthoughttheburrowaslostforkeeps。

ItcameuptheColoradoRiverfromYumatoEhrenbergan’therewentontopofastage。Wegotchasedbybanditsan’oncewhenthehorsesweregallopin’harditnearrolledoff。Thenitwentonthebackofapackhorsean’helpedwearhimout。An’IreckonitwouldbesomewhereelsenowifIhadn’tfalleninwithafreightergoin’northfromPhoenixtotheSantaFeTrail。Thelastlapwhenitsaggedthebackofamulewastheriskiestan’fullofthenarrowestescapes。

Twicemymulebuckedoffhispackan’leftmyoutfitscattered。

Worstofall，mypreciousbundlemadethemuletopheavycomin’downthatplacebackherewherethetrailseemstodropofftheearth。

ThereIwashardputtokeepsightofmypack。Sometimesitwasontopan’othertimesthemule。Butitgothereatlast……

An’nowI’llopenit。"

Afterthislongandimpressiveharangue，whichatleastaugmentedthesuspenseofthewomenandworkedthechildrenintoafrenzy，Jeanleisurelyuntiedthemanyknotsroundthebundleandunrolledit。

Hehadpackedthatbundleforjustsuchtravelasithadsustained。

Threecloth—boundrifleshelaidaside，andwiththemalong，veryheavypackagetiedbetweentwothinwideboards。Fromthiscamethe，metallicclink。"Oo，Iknowwhatdemis！"criedLee，breakingthesilenceofsuspense。ThenJean，tearingopenalongflatparcel，spreadbeforethemute，rapt—eyedyoungsterssuchmagnificentthings，astheyhadneverdreamedof——picturebooks，mouth—harps，dolls，atoygunandatoypistol，awonderfulwhistleandafoxhorn，andlastofallaboxofcandy。Beforethesetreasuresonthefloor，toomagicaltobetouchedatfirst，thetwolittleboysandtheirsistersimplyknelt。Thatwasasweet，fullmomentforJean;yeteventhatwascloudedbythesomethingwhichshadowedtheseinnocentchildrenfatefullyborninawildplaceatawildtime。NextJeangavetohissisterthepresentshehadbroughther——beautifulclothforadress，ribbonsandabitoflace，handkerchiefsandbuttonsandyardsoflinen，asewingcaseandawholeboxofspoolsofthread，acombandbrushandmirror，andlastlyaSpanishbroochinlaidwithgarnets。"There，Ann，"saidJean，"IconfessIaskedagirlfriendinOregontotellmesomethingsmysistermightlike。"Manifestlytherewasnotmuchdifferenceingirls。Annseemedstunnedbythismunificence，andthenawakening，shehuggedJeaninawaythattookhisbreath。Shewasnotachildanymore，thatwascertain。AuntMaryturnedknowingeyesuponJean。"Reckonyoucouldn’thavepleasedAnnmore。She’sengaged，Jean，an’wheregirlsareinthatstatethesethingsmeanaheap……Ann，you’llbemarriedinthat！"AndshepointedtothebeautifulfoldsofmaterialthatAnnhadspreadout。

"What’sthis？"demandedJean。Hissister’sblusheswereenoughtoconvicther，andtheyweremightilybecoming，too。

"Here，AuntMary，"wentonJean，"here’syours，an’here’ssomethin’

foreachofmynewsisters。"Thisdistributionleftthewomenashappyandoccupied，almost，asthechildren。Itleftalsoanotherpackage，thelastoneinthebundle。Jeanlaidholdofitand，liftingit，hewasabouttospeakwhenhesustainedalittleshockofmemory。

Quitedistinctlyhesawtwolittlefeet，withbaretoespeepingoutofworn—outmoccasins，andthenround，bare，symmetricalanklesthathadbeenscratchedbybrush。NexthesawEllenJorth’spassionatefaceasshelookedwhenshehadmadetheviolentactionsodisconcertingtohim。Inthishappymomentthememoryseemedfartheroffthanafewhours。Ithadcrystallized。Itannoyedwhileitdrewhim。Asaresultheslowlylaidthispackageasideanddidnotspeakashehadintendedto。

"Dad，IreckonIdidn’tfetchalotforyouan’theboys，"continuedJean。"Someknives，somepipesan’tobacco。An’suretheguns。"

"Shore，you’rearegularSantaClaus，Jean，"repliedhisfather。

"Wal，wal，lookatthekids。An’lookatMary。An’fortheland’ssakelookatAnn！Wal，wal，I’mgettin’old。I’dforgottentheprettystuffan’gimcracksthatmeansomuchtowomen。We’reoutoftheworldheah。It’sjustaswellyou’velivedapartfromus，Jean，forcomin’backthisway，withallthatstuff，doesusalotofgood。Icain’tsay，son，howobligedIam。Mymindhasbeensetonthehardsideoflife。An’it’sshoregoodtoforget——toseethesmilesofthewomenan’thejoyofthekids。"

Atthisjunctureatallyoungmanenteredtheopendoor。Helookedarider。Allabouthim，evenhisface，excepthiseyes，seemedold，buthiseyeswereyoung，fine，soft，anddark。

"Howdo，y’u—all！"hesaid，evenly。

Annrosefromherknees。ThenJeandidnotneedtobetoldwhothisnewcomerwas。

"Jean，thisismyfriend，AndrewColmor。"

JeanknewwhenhemetColmor’sgripandthekeenflashofhiseyesthathewasgladAnnhadsetherheartupononeoftheirkind。Andhissecondimpressionwassomethingakintotheonegivenhimintheroadbytheadmiringlad。Colmor’sestimateofhimmusthavebeenamonumentbuiltofAnn’seulogies。Jean’sheartsufferedmisgivings。

CouldheliveuptothecharacterthatsomehowhadforestalledhisadventinGrassValley？SurelylifewasmeasureddifferentlyhereintheTontoBasin。

Thechildren，bundlingtheirtreasurestotheirbosoms，weredraggedofftobedinsomeremotepartofthehouse，fromwhichtheirlaughterandvoicescamebackwithhappysignificance。Jeanforthwithhadaninterestedaudience。Howeagerlytheselonelypioneerpeoplelistenedtonewsoftheoutsideworld！Jeantalkeduntilhewashoarse。

IntheirturnhishearerstoldhimmuchthathadneverfoundplaceinthefewandshortlettershehadreceivedsincehehadbeenleftinOregon。Notawordaboutsheepmenoranyhintofrustlers！

Jeanmarkedtheomissionandthoughtallthemoreseriouslyofprobabilitiesbecausenothingwassaid。Altogethertheeveningwasahappyreunionofafamilyofwhichalllivingmembersweretherepresent。Jeangraspedthatthisfactwasoneofsignificantsatisfactiontohisfather。

"Shorewe’reallgoin’tolivetogetherheah，"hedeclared。"Istartedthisrange。Icallmostofthisvalleymine。We’llrunupacabinforAnnsoonasshesaystheword。An’you，Jean，where’syourgirl？

Ishoretoldyoutofetchher。"

"Dad，Ididn’thaveone，"repliedJean。

"Wal，Iwishyouhad，"returnedtherancher。"You’llgocourtin’oneoftheseTontohussiesthatImightobjectto。"

"Why，father，there’snotagirlinthevalleyJeanwouldlooktwiceat，"

interposedAnnIsbel，withspirit。

Jeanlaughedthematteraside，buthehadanuneasymemory。AuntMaryaverred，afterthemannerofrelatives，thatJeanwouldplayhavocamongthewomenofthesettlement。AndJeanretortedthatatleastonememberoftheIsbels;shouldholdoutagainstfollyandfightandloveandmarriage，theagentswhichhadreducedthefamilytothesefewpresent。"I’llbethelastIsbeltogounder，"heconcluded。

"Son，you’retalkin’wisdom，"saidhisfather。"An’shorethatremindsmeoftheuncleyou’renamedafter。JeanIsbel！……Wal，hewasmyyoungestbrotheran’shoreafire—eater。OurmotherwasaFrenchcreolefromLouisiana，an’Jeanmusthaveinheritedsomeofhisfightin’naturefromher。WhenthewaroftherebellionstartedJeanan’Ienlisted。

Iwascrippledbeforeweevergottothefront。ButJeanwentthroughthreeYearsbeforehewaskilled。Hiscompanyhadorderstofighttothelastman。An’Jeanfoughtan’livedlongenoughjusttobethatlastman。"

AtlengthJeanwasleftalonewithhisfather。

"Reckonyou’reusedtobunkin’outdoors？"queriedtherancher，ratherabruptly。

"Mostofthetime，"repliedJean。

"Wal，there’sroominthehouse，butIwantyoutosleepout。

Comegetyourbeddin’an’gun。I’llshowyou。"

Theywentoutsideontheporch，whereJeanshoulderedhisrolloftarpaulinandblankets。Hisrifle，initssaddlesheath，leanedagainstthedoor。Hisfathertookitupand，halfpullingitout，lookedatitbythestarlight。"Forty—four，eh？Wal，wal，there’sshorenobetter，ifamancanholdstraight。"AtthemomentabiggraydogtrotteduptosniffatJean。"An’heah’syourbunkmate，Shepp。He’spartlofer，Jean。Hismotherwasafavoriteshepherddogofmine。Hisfatherwasabigtimberwolfthattookustwoyearstokill。Somebadwolfpacksrunnin’thisBasin。"

Thenightwascoldandstill，darklybrightundermoonandstars;

thesmellofhayseemedtominglewiththatofcedar。Jeanfollowedhisfatherroundthehouseandupagentleslopeofgrasstotheedgeofthecedarline。Hereseveraltreeswithlow—sweepingthickbranchesformedadense，impenetrableshade。

"Son，youruncleJeanwasscoutforLiggett，oneofthegreatestrebelstheSouthhad，"saidtherancher。"An’you’regoin’tobescoutfortheIsbelsofTonto。Reckonyou’llfindit’mostashotasyouruncledid……Spreadyourbedinside。Youcanseeout，butnoonecanseeyou。Reckonthere’sbeensomequeerhappenin’s’roundheahlately。IfSheppcouldtalkhe’dshorehavelotstotellus。Billan’Guyhavebeensleepin’out，trailin’strangehosstracks，an’allthat。Butshorewhoever’sbeenprowlin’aroundheahwastoosharpforthem。Somebad，crafty，light—steppin’woodsmen’roundheah，Jean……Threemawnin’sago，justafterdaylight，Isteppedoutthebackdooran’someoneofthesesneaksI’mtalkin’

aboottookashotatme。Missedmyheadaquarterofaninch！

To—morrowI’llshowyouthebulletholeinthedoorpost。An’someofmygrayhairsthat’restickin’init！"

"Dad！"ejaculatedJean，withahandoutstretched。That’sawful！

Youfrightenme。"

"Notimetobescared，"repliedhisfather，calmly。"They’reshoregoin’tokillme。That’swhyIwantedyouhome……Intherewithyou，now！Gotosleep。YoushorecantrustShepptowakeyouifhegetsscentorsound……An’goodnight，myson。I’msayin’thatI’llresteasyto—night。"

Jeanmumbledagoodnightandstoodwatchinghisfather’sshiningwhiteheadmoveawayunderthestarlight。Thenthetall，darkformvanished，adoorclosed，andallwasstill。ThedogShepplickedJean’shand。Jeanfeltgratefulforthatwarmtouch。Foramomenthesatonhisrollofbedding，histhoughtstilllockedontheshudderingrevelationofhisfather’swords，"They’reshoregoin’

tokillme。"Theshockofinactionpassed。Jeanpushedhispackinthedarkopeningand，crawlinginside，heunrolleditandmadehisbed。

Whenatlengthhewascomfortablysettledforthenighthebreathedalongsighofrelief。Whatblisstorelax！Athrobbingandburningofhismusclesseemedtobeginwithhisrest。Thecoolstarlitnight，thesmellofcedar，themoanofwind，thesilence——anwererealtohissenses。Afterlongweeksoflong，arduoustravelhewashome。Thewarmthofthewelcomestilllingered，butitseemedtohavebeenpiercedbyanicythrust。Whatlaybeforehim？Theshadowintheeyesofhisaunt，intheyounger，freshereyesofhissister——Jeanconnectedthatwiththemeaningofhisfather’stragicwords。Farpastwasthemorningthathadbeensokeen，thebreakingofcampinthesunlitforest，theridingdownthebrownaislesunderthepines，themusicofbleatinglambsthathadcalledhimnottopassby。

ThoughtofEllenJorthrecurred。Hadhemetheronlythatmorning？

Shewasupthereintheforest，asleepunderthestarlitpines。

Whowasshe？Whatwasherstory？Thatsavageflingofherskirt，herbitterspeechandpassionateflamingface——theyhauntedJean。

Theywerecrystallizingintosimplermemories，growingawayfromhisbewilderment，andthereforeatoncesweeterandmoredoubtful。

"MaybeshemeantdifferentlyfromwhatIthought，"Jeansoliloquized。

"Anyway，shewashonest。"Bothshameandthrillpossessedhimattherecallofaninsidiousidea——darehegobackandfindherandgiveherthelastpackageofgiftshehadbroughtfromthecity？Whatmighttheymeantopoor，ragged，untidy，beautifulEllenJorth？TheideagrewonJean。Itcouldnotbedispelled。Heresistedstubbornly。

Itwasboundtogotoitsfruition。Deepintohismindhadsunkanimpressionofherneed——amaterialneedthatbroughtspiritandpridetoabasement。Fromonepicturetoanotherhismemorywandered，fromonespeechandactofherstoanother，choosing，selecting，castingaside，untilclearandsharpasthestarsshonethewords，"Oh，I’vebeenkissedbefore！"Thatstunghimnow。Bywhom？Notbyoneman，butbyseveral，bymany，shehadmeant。Pshaw！hehadonlybeensympatheticanddrawnbyastrangegirlinthewoods。To—morrowhewouldforget。WorktherewasforhiminGrassValley。Andhereverteduneasilytotheremarksofhisfatheruntilatlastsleepclaimedhim。

Acoldnoseagainsthischeek，alowwhine，awakenedJean。ThebigdogSheppwasbesidehim，keen，wary，intense。Thenightappearedfaradvancedtowarddawn。Farawayacockcrowed;thenear—at—handoneansweredinclarionvoice。"Whatisit，Shepp？"whisperedJean，andhesatup。Thedogsmelledorheardsomethingsuspicioustohisnature，butwhethermanoranimalJeancouldnottell。