第8章

Jorthlaughedinscorn。"Fool！MyGod！Ellen，Imusthavedraggedyoulow——thateverydamnedru——er——sheepman——whocomesalongthinkshecanmarryyou。"

Atthebreakinhiswords，theincompletedmeaning，Ellendroppedhereyes。Littlethingsoncenevernotedbyherwerenowcometohaveafascinatingsignificance。

"Nevermind，dad，"shereplied。"Theycain’tmarryme。"

"Daggssaidsomebodyhadbeentalkin’toyou。Howabootthat？"

"OldJohnSpraguehasjustgottenbackfromGrassValley，"saidEllen。

"Istoppedintoseehim。Shorehetoldmeallthevillagegossip。"

"Anythin’tointerestme？"hequeried，darkly。

"Yes，dad，I’mafraidagooddeal，"shesaid，hesitatingly。TheninaccordancewithadecisionEllenhadmadeshetoldhimoftherumoredwarbetweensheepmenandcattlemen;thatoldIsbelhadBlaisdell，Gordon，Fredericks，Blueandotherwell—knownranchersonhisside;

thathissonJeanIsbelhadcomefromOregonwithawonderfulreputationasfighterandscoutandtracker;thatitwasnosecrethowColonelLeeJorthwasattheheadofthesheepmen;thatabloodywarwassuretocome。

"Hah！"exclaimedJorth，withastainofredinhissallowcheek。

"Reckonnoneofthatisnewstome。Iknewallthat。"

EllenwonderedifhehadheardofhermeetingwithJeanIsbel。IfnothewouldhearassoonasSimmBruceandLorenzocameback。Shedecidedtoforestallthem。

"Dad，ImetJeanIsbel。Hecameintomycamp。AskedthewaytotheRim。

Ishowedhim。We——wetalkedalittle。Andshoreweregettin’acquaintedwhen——whenhetoldmewhohewas。ThenIlefthim——hurriedbacktocamp。"

"ColtermetIsbeldowninthewoods，"repliedJorth，ponderingly。

"SaidhelookedlikeanIndian——ahardan’slipperycustomertoreckonwith。"

"ShoreIguessIcanindorsewhatColtersaid，"returnedEllen，dryly。

Shecouldhavelaughedaloudatherdeceit。Stillshehadnotlied。

"How’dthisheahyoungIsbelstrikeyou？"queriedherfather，suddenlyglancingupather。

Ellenfelttheslow，sickening，guiltyriseofbloodinherface。

Shewashelplesstostopit。Butherfatherevidentlyneversawit。

Hewaslookingatherwithoutseeingher。

"He——hestruckmeasdifferentfrommenheah，"shestammered。

"DidSpraguetellyouabootthishalf—IndianIsbel——aboothisreputation？"

"Yes。"

"Didhelooktoyoulikearealwoodsman？"

"Indeedhedid。Heworebuckskin。Hesteppedquickandsoft。Heactedathomeinthewoods。Hehadeyesblackasnightandsharpaslightnin’。

Theyshoresawaboutalltherewastosee。"

Jorthchewedathismustacheandlosthimselfinbroodingthought。

"Dad，tellme，istheregoin’tobeawar？"askedEllen，presently。

Whatared，strange，rollingflashblazedinhiseyes！Hisbodyjerked。

"Shore。Youmightaswellknow。"

"Betweensheepmenandcattlemen？"

"Yes。"

"Withy’u，dad，atthehaidofonefactionandGastonIsbeltheother？"

"Daughter，youhaveitcorrect，sofarasyougo。"

"Oh！……Dad，can’tthisfightbeavoided？"

"Youforgetyou’refromTexas，"hereplied。

"Cain’titbehelped？"sherepeated，stubbornly。

"No！"hedeclared，withdeep，hoarsepassion。

"Whynot？"

"Wal，wesheepmenaregoin’torunsheepanywherewelikeontherange。

An’cattlemenwon’tstandforthat。"

"But，dad，it’ssofoolish，"declaredEllen，earnestly。"Y’usheepmendonothavetorunsheepoverthecattlerange。"

"Ireckonwedo。"

"Dad，thatargumentdoesn’tgowithme。Iknowthecountry。Foryearstocometherewillberoomforbothsheepandcattlewithoutoverrunnin’。

Ifsomeoftherangeisbetterinwaterandgrass，thenwhoevergottherefirstshouldhaveit。Thatshoreisonlyfair。It’scommonsense，too。"

"Ellen，Ireckonsomecattlepeoplehavebeenprejudicin’you，"saidJorth，bitterly。

"Dad！"shecried，hotly。

ThishadgrowntobeanordealforJorth。Heseemedavictimofcontendingtidesoffeeling。Somewillorstrugglebrokewithinhimandthechangewasmanifest。Haggard，shifty—eyed，withwabblingchin，heburstintospeech。

"Seeheah，girl。Youlisten。There’sacliqueofranchersdownintheBasin，allthoseyounamed，withIsbelattheirhaid。Theyhaveresentedsheepmencomin’downintothevalley。Theywantitalltothemselves。That’sthereason。Shorethere’sanother。AlltheIsbelsarecrooked。They’recattlean’horsethieves——havebeenforyears。

GastonIsbelalwayswasamaverickrustler。He’sgettin’oldnowan’

rich，sohewantstocoverhistracks。Heaimstoblamethiscattlerustlin’an’horsestealin’ontoussheepmen，an’runusoutofthecountry。"

GravelyEllenJorthstudiedherfather’sface，andthenewlyfoundtruth—seeingpowerofhereyesdidnotfailher。Inpart，perhapsinall，hewastellinglies。Sheshudderedalittle，loyallybattlingagainsttheinsidiousconvictionsbeingbroughttofruition。Perhapsinhisbroodingoverhisfailuresandtroublesheleanedtowardfalsejudgments。Ellencouldnotattachdishonortoherfather’smotivesorspeeches。Forlong，however，somethingabouthimhadtroubledher，perplexedher。Fearfullyshebelievedshewascomingtosomerevelation，and，despiteherkeendeterminationtoknow，shefoundherselfshrinking。

"Dad，mothertoldmebeforeshediedthattheIsbelshadruinedyou，"

saidEllen，verylow。Ithurthersotoseeherfathercoverhisfacethatshecouldhardlygoon。"Iftheyruinedyoutheyruinedallofus。Iknowwhatwehadonce——whatwelostagainandagain——andIseewhatwearecometonow。MotherhatedtheIsbels。Shetaughtmetohatetheveryname。ButIneverknewhowtheyruinedyou——orwhy——

orwhen。AndIwanttoknownow。"

ThenitwasnotthefaceofaliarthatJorthdisclosed。Thepresentwasforgotten。Helivedinthepast。Heevenseemedyounger’intherevivifyingflashofhatethatmadehisfaceradiant。Thelinesburnedout。Hategavehimbackthespiritofhisyouth。

"GastonIsbelan’IwereboystogetherinWeston，Texas，"beganJorth，inswift，passionatevoice。"Wewenttoschooltogether。Welovedthesamegirl——yourmother。WhenthewarbrokeoutshewasengagedtoIsbel。Hisfamilywasrich。Theyinfluencedherpeople。Butshelovedme。WhenIsbelwenttowarshemarriedme。Hecamebackan’

facedus。God！I’llneverforgetthat。Yourmotherconfessedherunfaithfulness——byHeaven！Shetauntedhimwithit。Isbelaccusedmeofwinnin’herbylies。Butshetookthestingoutofthat。

Isbelneverforgaveheran’hehoundedmetoruin。Hemademeoutacard—sharp，cheatin’mybestfriends。Iwasdisgraced。Laterhetangledmeinthecourts——hebeatmeoutofproperty——an’lastbyconvictin’meofrustlin’cattleherunmeoutofTexas。"

Blackanddistortednow，Jorth’sfacewasaspectacletomakeEllensickwithaterriblepassionofdespairandhate。Thetruthofherfather’sruinandherownwereenough。Whatmatteredallelse？

Jorthbeatthetablewithfluttering，nervelesshandsthatseemedallthemoresignificantfortheirlackofphysicalforce。

"An’sohelpmeGod，it’sgottobewipedoutinblood！"hehissed。

ThatwashisanswertothewaveringandnobilityofEllen。Andsheinherturnhadnoanswertomake。Shecreptawayintothecornerbehindthecurtain，andthereonhercouchinthesemidarknessshelaywithstrainedheart，andaresurging，unconquerabletumultinhermind。Andshelaytherefromthemiddleofthatafternoonuntilthenextmorning。

Whensheawakenedsheexpectedtobeunabletorise——shehopedshecouldnot——butlifeseemedmultipliedinher，andinactionwasimpossible。Somethingyoungandsweetandhopefulthathadbeeninherdidnotgreetthesunthismorning。Intheirplacewasawoman’spassiontolearnforherself，towatchevents，tomeetwhatmustcome，tosurvive。

Afterbreakfast，atwhichshesatalone，shedecidedtoputIsbel’spackageoutoftheway，sothatitwouldnotbesubjectinghertocontinualannoyance。Themomentshepickedituptheoldcuriosityassailedher。

"ShoreI’llseewhatitis，anyway，"shemuttered，andwithswifthandssheopenedthepackage。Theactiondisclosedtwopairsoffine，softshoes，ofastyleshehadneverseen，andfourpairsofstockings，twoofstrong，serviceablewool，andtheothersofafinertexture。

Ellenlookedattheminamaze。Ofallthingsintheworld，thesewouldhavebeenthelastsheexpectedtosee。And，strangely，theywerewhatshewantedandneededmost。Naturally，then，Ellenmadethemistakeoftakingtheminherhandstofeeltheirsoftnessandwarmth。

"Shore！Hesawmybarelegs！Andhebroughtmethesepresentshe’dintendedforhissister……Hewasashamedforme——sorryforme……AndIthoughthelookedatmebold—like，asI’musedtobelookedatheah！Isbelornot，he’sshore……"

ButEllenJorthcouldnotutteraloudtheconvictionherintelligencetriedtoforceuponher。

"It’dbeapitytoburnthem，"shemused。"Icain’tdoit。

SometimeImightsendthemtoAnnIsbel。"

Whereuponshewrappedthemupagainandhidtheminthebottomoftheoldtrunk，andslowly，assheloweredthelid，lookingdarkly，blanklyatthewall，shewhispered:"JeanIsbel！……Ihatehim！"

LaterwhenEllenwentoutdoorsshecarriedherrifle，whichwasunusualforher，unlesssheintendedtogointothewoods。

Themorningwassunnyandwarm。Agroupofshirt—sleevedmenloungedinthehallandbeforetheporchofthedoublecabin。Herfatherwaspacingupanddown，talkingforcibly。Ellenheardhishoarsevoice。

Assheapproachedheceasedtalkingandhislistenersrelaxedtheirattention。Ellen’sglanceranoverthemswiftly——Daggs，withhissuperbhead，likethatofahawk，uncoveredtothesun;Colterwithhislowered，secretivelooks，hissand—grayleanface;JacksonJorth，heruncle，huge，gaunt，hulking，withwhiteinhisblackbeardandhair，andthefireofaghoulinhisholloweyes;TadJorth，anotherbrotherofherfather’s，younger，redofeyeandnose，aweak—chinneddrinkerofrum。Threeotherlimber—leggedTexansloungedthere，partnersofDaggs，andtheyweresun—browned，light—haired，blue—eyedmensingularlyalikeinappearance，fromtheirdustyhigh—heeledbootstotheirbroadblacksombreros。Theyclaimedtobesheepmen。AllEllencouldbesureofwasthatRockWellsspentmostofhistimethere，doingnothingbutlookforachancetowaylayher;Springerwasagambler;andthethird，whoansweredtothestrangenameofQueen，wasasilent，lazy，watchful—eyedmanwhoneverworeagloveonhisrighthandandwhoneverwasseenwithoutagunwithineasyreachofthathand。

"Howdy，Ellen。Shoreyouain’tgoin’tosaygoodmawnin’tothisheahbadlot？"drawledDaggs，withgood—naturedsarcasm。

"Why，shore！Goodmorning，y’uhard—workingindustriousMANANAsheepraisers，"repliedEllen，coolly。

Daggsstared。Theothersappearedtakenbackbyagreetingsoforeignfromanytowhichtheywereaccustomedfromher。JacksonJorthletoutagruffhaw—haw。Someofthemdoffedtheirsombreros，andRockWellsmanagedalazy，politegoodmorning。Ellen’sfatherseemedmostsignificantlystruckbyhergreeting，andtheleastamused。

"Ellen，I’mnotlikin’yourtalk，"hesaid，withafrown。

"Dad，wheny’uplaycardsdon’ty’ucallaspadeaspade？"

"Why，shoreIdo。"

"Well，I’mcallingspadesspades。"

"Ahuh！"gruntedJorth，furtivelydroppinghiseyes。"Whereyougoin’

withyourgun？I’dratheryouhungroundheahnow。"

"ReckonImightaswellgetusedtopackingmygunallthetime，"

repliedEllen。"ReckonI’llbetreatedmorelikeaman。"

ThentheeventEllenhadbeenexpectingallmorningtookplace。

SimmBruceandLorenzorodearoundtheslopeoftheKnollandtrottedtowardthecabin。InterestinEllenwasrelegatedtothebackground。

"Shorethey’rebustin’withnews，"declaredDaggs。

"Theybeenridin’some，youbet，"remarkedanother。

"Huh！"exclaimedJorth。"Bruceshorelooksqueertome。"

"Redliquor，"saidTadJorth，sententiously。"You—allknowthebrandGreaveshandsout。"

"Naw，Simmain’tdrunk，"saidJacksonJorth。"Lookathisbloodyshirt。"

Thecool，indolentinterestofthecrowdvanishedattheredcolorpointedoutbyJacksonJorth。Daggsroseinasinglespringymotiontohisloftyheight。ThefaceBruceturnedtoJorthwasswollenandbruised，withunhealedcuts。Wherehisrighteyeshouldhavebeenshowedapuffeddarkpurplebulge。Hisothereye，however，gleamedwithhardandsullenlight。HestretchedabigshakinghandtowardJorth。

ThetNezPerceIsbelbeatmehalftodeath，"hebellowed。

Jorthstaredhardatthetragic，almostgrotesquefigure，atthebatteredface。Butspeechfailedhim。ItwasDaggswhoansweredBruce。

"Wal，Simm，I’llbedamnedifyoudon’tlookit。"

"Beatyou！Whatwith？"burstoutJorth，explosively。

"Ithoughthewasswingin’anax，butGreavessworeitwashisfists，"

bawledBruce，inmiseryandfury。

"Wherewasyourgun？"queriedJorth，sharply。

"Gun？Hell！"exclaimedBruce，flingingwidehisarms。"AskLorenzo。

Hehadagun。An’hegotabiffinthejawbeforemyturncome。

Askhim？"

AttentionthusdirectedtotheMexicanshowedaheavydiscoloredswellinguponthesideofhisolive—skinnedface。Lorenzolookedonlyserious。

"Hah！Speakup，"shoutedJorth，impatiently。

"SenorIsbelheetmeverquick，"repliedLorenzo，withexpressivegesture。"Iseethousandstars——thenmoochoblack——alllikenight。"

AtthatsomeofDaggs’smenlolledbackwithdrycrisplaughter。

Daggs’shardfacerippledwithasmile。ButtherewasnohumorinanythingforColonelJorth。

"Telluswhatcomeoff。Quick！"heordered。"Wheredidithappen？

Why？Whosawit？Whatdidyoudo？"

Brucelapsedintoasullenimpressiveness。"Wal，IhappenedinGreaves’sstorean’runintoJeanIsbel。Shorewaslookin’ferhim。

Ihadmymindmadeupwhattodo，butIgottoshootin’offmygabinsteadofmygun。IcalledhimNezPerce——an’IthrowedallthettalkinhisfaceaboutoldGassIsbelsendin’ferhim———an’Itoldhimhe’dgitrunoutoftheTonto。ReckonIwasjestwarmin’up……Butthenitallhappened。HesluggedLorenzojestone。An’

Lorenzoslidpeaceful—liketobedbehindthecounter。Ihadn’ttimetothinkofthrowin’agunbeforehewhaledintome。Heknockedouttwoofmyteeth。An’Iswalleredoneofthem。"

Ellenstoodinthebackgroundbehindthreeofthemenandintheshadow。ShedidnotjoininthelaughthatfollowedBruce’sremarks。

Shehadknownthathewouldlie。Uncertainyetofherreactiontothis，butmorebitterandfuriousasherevealedhisutterbaseness，shewaitedformoretobesaid。

"Wal，I’llbedoggoned，"drawledDaggs。

"Whatdoyoumakeofthiskindoffightin’？"queriedJorth，"DarnifIknow，"repliedDaggsinperplexity。"Shorean’sartinit’snotthewayofaTexan。MebbethisyoungIsbelreallyiswhatoldGassswearsheis。ShoreBruceain’tnothin’togiveanedgetoarealgunfighter。LookstomelikeIsbelbluffedGreavesan’hisgangan’lickedyourmenwithoutthrowin’agun。"

"MaybeIsbeldoesn’twantthenameofdrawin’firstblood，"

suggestedJorth。

"That’dbelikeGass，"spokeupRockWells，quietly。IonctrodeferGassinTexas。"

"Say，Bruce，"saidDaggs，"wasthisheahpalaverin’ofyoursan’

JeanIsbel’saboottheoldstockdispute？Aboothisfather’srangean’water？An’partickleraboot，sheep？"

"Wal——I——Iyelledaheap，"declaredBruce，haltingly，"butIdon’trecollectallIsaid——Iwasriled……Shore，thoughitwasthesameoldargymentthet’sbeenfetchin’uscloseran’closertotrouble。"

DaggsremovedhiskeenhawklikegazefromBruce。Wal，Jorth，allI’llsayisthis。IfBruceistellin’thetruthweain’tgotahellofalottofearfromthisyoungIsbel。I’veknownaheapofgunfightersinmyday。An’JeanIsbeldon’trantruetoclass。Shorethereneverwasagunmanwho’driskcripplin’hisrighthandbysluggin’anybody。"

"Wal，"brokeinBruce，sullenly。"You—allcantakeitdaidstraightornot。Idon’tgiveadamn。Butyou’veshoregotmyhunchthetNezPerceIsbelisliabletohandleanyofyoufellarsjestashedidme，an’jestaseasy。What’smore，he’sgotGreavesfiggered。An’you—allknowthetGreavesisasdeepin——"

"Shutupthatkindofgab，"demandedJorth，stridently。"An’answerme。

WastherowinGreaves’sbarroomabootsheep？"

"Aw，hell！Isaidso，didn’tI？"shoutedBruce，withafierceupliftofhisdistortedface。

Ellenstrodeoutfromtheshadowofthetallmenwhohadobscuredher。

"Bruce，y’u’realiar，"shesaid，bitingly。

ThesurpriseofhersuddenappearanceseemedtorootBrucetothespot。

Allbutthediscoloredplacesonhisfaceturnedwhite。Heheldhisbreathamoment，thenexpelledithard。Hisefforttorecoverfromtheshockwaspainfullyobvious。Hestammeredincoherently。

"Shorey’u’remorethanaliar，too，"criedEllen，facinghimwithblazingeyes。Andtherifle，grippedinbothhands，seemedtodeclareherintentofmenace。"Thatrowwasnotaboutsheep……JeanIsbeldidn’tbeaty’uforanythin’aboutsheep……OldJohnSpraguewasinGreaves’sstore。Heheardy’u。HesawJeanIsbelbeaty’uasy’udeserved……An’hetoldME！"

EllensawBruceshrinkinfearofhislife;anddespiteherfuryshewasfilledwithdisgustthathecouldimagineshewouldhavehisbloodonherhands。ThenshedivinedthatBrucesawmoreinthegatheringstorminherfather’seyesthanhehadtofearfromher。

"Girl，whatthehellarey’usayin’？"hoarselycalledJorth，indarkamaze。

"Dad，y’uleavethistome，"sheretorted。

DaggssteppedbesideJorth，significantlyonhisrightside。"LetheraloneLee，"headvised，coolly。"She’sshoregotahunchonBruce。"

"SimmBruce，y’ucastadirtysluronmyname，"criedEllen，passionately。

ItwasthenthatDaggsgraspedJorth’srightarmandheldittight，"JestwhatIthought，"hesaid。"Standstill，Lee。Let’sseethekidmakehimshowdown。"

"That’swhatjeanIsbelbeaty’ufor，"wentonEllen。"Forslanderingagirlwhowasn’tthere……Me！Y’urottenliar！"

"But，Ellen，itwasn’talllies，"saidBruce，huskily。"Iwashalfdrunk——an’horriblejealous……YouknowLorenzoseenIsbelkissin’

you。Icanprovethet。"

Ellenthrewupherheadandascarletwaveofshameandwrathfloodedherface。

"Yes，"shecried，ringingly。"HesawJeanIsbelkissme。Once！……

An’itwastheonlydecentkissI’vehadinyears。Hemeantnoinsult。

Ididn’tknowwhobewas。An’throughhiskissIlearnedadifferencebetweenmen……Y’umadeLorenzolie。An’ifIhadashredofgoodnameleftinGrassValleyyoudishonoredit……Y’umadehimthinkIwasyourgirl！Damny’u！Ioughttokilly’u……Eatyourwordsnow——takethemback——orI’llcrippley’uforlife！"

Ellenloweredthecockedrifletowardhisfeet。

"Shore，Ellen，Itakeback——allIsaid，"gulpedBruce。HegazedatthequiveringriflebarrelandthenintothefaceofEllen’sfather。

Instincttoldhimwherehisrealperillay。

HerethecoolandtactfulDaggsshowedhimselfmasterofthesituation。

"Heah，listen！"hecalled。"Ellen，IreckonBrucewasdrunkan’outofhishaid。He’sshoreatehiswords。Now，wedon’twantanycripplesinthiscamp。Lethimalone。YourdadgotmeheahtoleadtheJorths，an’that’smysaytoyou……Simm，you’reshorealow—downlyin’

rascal。KeepawayfromEllenafterthisorI’llboreyoumyself……

Jorth，itwon’tbeabadideeforyoutoforgetyou’reaTexantillyoucooloff。LetBrucestopsomeIsbellead。ShoretheJorth—Isbelwarisabooton，an’Ireckonwe’dbesmarttobelieveoldGass’stalkaboothisNezPerceson。"

CHAPTERVI

>FromthishourEllenJorthbentallofherlatelyawakenedintelligenceandwilltotheonlyendthatseemedtoholdpossiblesalvationforher。

Inthecrisissuretocomeshedidnotwanttobeblindorweak。

Dreamingandindolence，habitsborninherwhichwereoftenacomforttooneaslonelyasshe，wouldillfitherforthehardtestshedivinedanddreaded。Inthematterofherfather’sfightshemuststandbyhimwhatevertheissueortheoutcome;inwhatpertainedtoherownprinciples，herwomanhood，andhersoulshestoodabsolutelyalone。

Therefore，Ellenputdreamsaside，andindolenceofmindandbodybehindher。Manytasksshefound，andwhentheseweredoneforadayshekeptactiveinotherways，thusearningthepoiseandpeaceoflabor。

Jorthrodeoffeveryday，sometimeswithoneortwoofthemen，oftenwithalargernumber。IfhespokeofsuchtripstoEllenitwastogiveanimpressionofvisitingtheranchesofhisneighborsorthevarioussheepcamps。Oftenhedidnotreturnthedayheleft。Whenhedidgetbackhesmelledofrumandappearedheavyfromneedofsleep。

Hishorseswerealwaysdustandsweatcovered。DuringhisabsencesEllenfellvictimtoanxiousdreaduntilhereturned。Dailyhegrewdarkerandmorehaggardofface，moreobsessedbysomeimpendingfate。

Oftenhestayeduplate，haranguingwiththemeninthedim—litcabin，wheretheydrankandsmoked，butseldomgambledanymore。Whenthemendidnotgamblesomethingimmediateandperturbingwasontheirminds。

Ellenhadnotyetloweredherselftothedeceitandsuspicionofeavesdropping，butsherealizedthattherewasaclimaxapproachinginwhichshewoulddeliberatelydoso。

InthoseclosingMaydaysEllenlearnedthesignificanceofmanythingsthatpreviouslyshehadtakenasamatterofcourse。Herfatherdidnotrunaranch。Therewasabsolutelynoranchingdone，andlittlework。

OftenEllenhadtochopwoodherself。Jorthdidnotpossessaplow。

Ellenwasboundtoconfessthattheevidenceofthislackdumfoundedher。

EvenoldJohnSpragueraisedsomehay，beets，turnips。Jorth’scattleandhorsesfaredillduringthewinter。Ellenrememberedhowtheyusedtocleanupfour—inchoaksaplingsandaspens。Manyofthemdiedinthesnow。Theflocksofsheep，however，weredrivendownintotheBasininthefall，andacrosstheRenoPasstoPhoenixandMaricopa。

Ellencouldnotdiscoverafencepostontheranch。norapieceofsaltforthehorsesandcattle，norawagon，noranysignofasheep—shearingoutfit。Shehadneverseenanysheepsheared。

Ellencouldneverkeeptrackofthemanyanddifferenthorsesrunninglooseandhobbledroundtheranch。Thereweredrovesofhorsesinthewoods，andsomeofthemwildasdeer。Accordingtoherlong—establishedunderstanding，herfatherandheruncleswerekeenonhorsetradingandbuying。