第9章

ThenthemanytrailsleadingawayfromtheJorthranch——thesegrewtohaveafascinationforEllen;andthetimecamewhensherodeoutonthemtoseeforherselfwheretheyled。ThesheepranchofDaggs，supposedtobeonlyafewmilesacrosstheridges，downinBearCanyon，nevermaterializedatallforEllen。ThiscircumstancesointerestedherthatshewentuptoseeherfriendSpragueandgothimtodirecthertoBearCanyon，sothatshewouldbesurenottomissit。Andsherodefromthenarrow，maple—thicketedheadofitneartheRimdownallitslength。Shefoundnoranch，nocabin，notevenacorralinBearCanyon。Spraguesaidtherewasonlyonecanyonbythatname。Daggshadassuredheroftheexactlocationonhisplace，andsohadherfather。Hadtheylied？Weretheymistakeninthecanyon？Thereweremanycanyons，allheadingupneartheRim，allrunningandwideningdownformilesthroughthewoodedmountain，andvastlydifferentfromthedeep，short，yellow—walledgorgesthatcutintotheRimfromtheBasinside。

Elleninvestigatedthecanyonswithinsixoreightmilesofherhome，bothtoeastandtowest。Allshediscoveredwasacoupleofoldlogcabins，longdeserted。Still，shedidnotfollowoutallthetrailstotheirends。Severalofthemledfarintothedeepest，roughest，wildestbrakesofgorgeandthicketthatshehadseen。Nocattleorsheephadeverbeendrivenoverthesetrails。

ThisridingaroundofEllen’satlengthgottoherfather’sears。

Ellenexpectedthatabitterquarrelwouldensue，forshecertainlywouldrefusetobeconfinedtothecamp;butherfatheronlyaskedhertolimitherridingtothemeadowvalley，andstraightwayforgotallaboutit。Infact，hisabstractiononemoment，hisintensenervousnessthenext，hisharderdrinkingandfiercerharangueswiththemen，grewtobedistressingforEllen。Theypresagedhisfurtherdeteriorationandtheever—presentevilofthegrowingfeud。

OnedayJorthrodehomeintheearlymorning，afteranabsenceoftwonights。Ellenheardtheclip—clopof，horseslongbeforeshesawthem。

"Hey，Ellen！Comeoutheah，"calledherfather。

Ellenleftherworkandwentoutside。Astrangerhadriddeninwithherfather，ayounggiantwhosesharp—featuredfaceappearedmarkedbyferret—likeeyesandafine，light，fuzzybeard。Hewaslong，loosejointed，notheavyofbuild，andhehadthelargesthandsandfeetEllenbadeverseen。NextEllenespiedablackhorsetheyhadevidentlybroughtwiththem。Herfatherwasholdingaropehalter。AtoncetheblackhorsestruckEllenasbeingabeautyandathoroughbred。

"Ellen，heah’sahorseforyou，"saidJorth，withsomethingofpride。

"Imadeatrade。ReckonIwantedhimmyself，buthe’stoogentleformean’maybealittlesmallformyweight。"

DelightvisitedEllenforthefirsttimeinmanydays。Seldomhadsheownedagoodhorse，andneveronelikethis。

"Oh，dad！"sheexclaimed，inhergratitude。

"Shorehe’syoursononecondition，"saidherfather。

"What’sthat？"askedEllen，asshelaidcaressinghandsontherestlesshorse。

"You’renottoridehimoutofthecanyon。"

"Agreed……Alldaidblack，isn’the，exceptthatwhiteface？

What’shisname，dad？

"Iforgottoask，"repliedJorth。ashebeganunsaddlinghisownhorse。

"Slater，what’sthisheahblack’sname？"

Thelankygiantgrinned。"IreckonitwasSpades。"

"Spades？"ejaculatedEllen，blankly。"Whataname！……Well，Iguessit’sasgoodasany。He’sshoreblack。"

"Ellen，keephimhobbledwhenyou’renotridin’him，"washerfather’spartingadviceashewalkedoffwiththestranger。

Spadeswaswetanddustyandhissatinyskinquivered。Hehadfine，dark，intelligenteyesthatwatchedEllen’severymove。Sheknewhowherfatherandhisfriendsdraggedandjammedhorsesthroughthewoodsandovertheroughtrails。Itdidnottakeherlongtodiscoverthatthishorsehadbeenapet。Ellencleanedhiscoatandbrushedhimandfedhim。Thenshefittedherbridletosuithisheadandsaddledhim。

Hisevidentresponsetoherkindnessassuredherthathewasgentle，soshemountedandrodehim，todiscoverhehadtheeasiestgaitshehadeverexperienced。Hewalkedandtrottedtosuitherwill，butwhenlefttochoosehisowngaithefellintoagracefullittlepacethatwasveryeasyforher。Heappearedquitereadytobreakintoarunatherslightestbidding，butEllensatisfiedherselfonthisfirstridewithhisslowergaits。

"Spades，y’u’veshorecutoutmyburroJinny，"saidEllen，regretfully。

"Well，Ireckonwomenarefickle。"

NextdaysherodeupthecanyontoshowSpadestoherfriendJohnSprague。Theoldburrobreederwasnotathome。Ashisdoorwasopen，however，andafiresmoldering，Ellenconcludedhewouldsoonreturn。

Soshewaited。Dismounting，sheleftSpadesfreetograzeonthenewgreengrassthatcarpetedtheground。Thecabinandlittlelevelclearingaccentuatedthelonelinessandwildnessoftheforest。

Ellenalwayslikedithereandhadoncebeeninthehabitofvisitingtheoldmanoften。Butoflateshehadstayedaway，forthereasonthatSprague’stalkandhisnewsandhispoorlyhiddenpitydepressedher。

Presentlysheheardhoofbeatsonthehard，packedtrailleadingdownthecanyoninthedirectionfromwhichshehadcome。ScarcelylikelywasitthatSpragueshouldreturnfromthisdirection。Ellenthoughtherfatherhadsentoneoftheherdersforher。Butwhenshecaughtaglimpseoftheapproachinghorseman，downintheaspens，shefailedtorecognizehim。Afterhehadpassedoneoftheopeningssheheardhishorsestop。Probablythemanhadseenher;atleastshecouldnototherwiseaccountforhisstopping。Theglimpseshehadofhimhadgivenhertheimpressionthathewasbendingover，peeringaheadinthetrail，lookingfortracks。Thensheheardtheridercomeonagain，moreslowlythistime。Atlengththehorsetrottedoutintotheopening，tobehauledupshort。Ellenrecognizedthebuckskin—cladfigure，thebroadshoulders，thedarkfaceofJeanIsbel。

Ellenfeltpreytothestrangestquakingsensationshehadeversuffered。

Ittookviolenceofhernew—bornspirittosubduethatfeeling。

Isbelrodeslowlyacrosstheclearingtowardher。ForEllenhisapproachseemedsingularlyswift——soswiftthathersurprise，dismay，conjecture，andangerobstructedherwill。TheoutwardlycalmandcoldEllenJorthwasatravestythatmockedher——thatshefelthewoulddiscern。

ThemomentIsbeldrewcloseenoughforEllentoseehisfacesheexperiencedastrong，shudderingrepetitionofherfirstshockofrecognition。Hewasnotthesame。Thelight，theyouthwasgone。

This，however，didnotcauseheremotion。Wasitnotasuddentransitionofhernaturetothedominanceofhate？Ellenseemedtofeeltheshadowofherunknownselfstandingwithher。

Isbelhaltedhishorse。Ellenhadbeenstandingnearthetrunkofafallenpineandsheinstinctivelybackedagainstit。Howherlegstrembled！Isbeltookoffhiscapandcrusheditnervouslyinhisbare，brownhand。

"Goodmornin’，MissEllen！"hesaid。

Ellendidnotreturnhisgreeting，butqueried，almostbreathlessly，"Didy’ucomebyourranch？"

"No。Icircled，"hereplied。

"JeanIsbel！Whatdoy’uwantheah？"shedemanded。

"Don’tyouknow？"hereturned。Hiseyeswereintenselyblackandpiercing。TheyseemedtosearchEllen’sverysoul。Tomeettheirgazewasanordealthatonlyherrousingfurysustained。

Ellenfeltonherlipsascornfulallusiontohishalf—breedIndiantraitsandthereputationthathadprecededhim。Butshecouldnotutterit。

"No"shereplied。

"It’shardtocallawomanaliar，"hereturned，bitterly。Butyoumustbe——seein’you’reaJorth。

"Liar！Nottoy’u，JeanIsbel，"sheretorted。"I’dnotlietoy’utosavemylife。"

Hestudiedherwithkeen，sober，moodyintent。Thedarkfireofhiseyesthrilledher。

"Ifthat’strue，I’mglad，"hesaid。

"Shoreit’strue。I’venoideawhyy’ucameheah。"

Ellendidhaveadawningideathatshecouldnotforceintooblivion。

Butifsheeveradmittedittoherconsciousness，shemustfailinthecontemptandscornandfearlessnessshechosetothrowinthisman’sface。

"DoesoldSpraguelivehere？"askedIsbel。

"Yes。Iexpecthimbacksoon……Didy’ucometoseehim？"

"No……DidSpraguetellyouanythin’abouttherowhesawmein？"

"He——didnot，"repliedEllen，lyingwithstifflips。Shewhohadswornshecouldnotlie！Shefeltthehotbloodleavingherheart，mountinginawave。Allherconsciouswillseemedimpelledtodeceive。WhathadshetohidefromJeanIsbel？Andastill，smallvoicerepliedthatshehadtohidetheEllenJorthwhohadwaitedforhimthatday，whohadspieduponhim，whohadtreasuredagiftshecouldnotdestroy，whohadhuggedtohermiserableheartthefactthathehadfoughtforhername。

"I’mgladofthat，"Isbelwassaying，thoughtfully。

"Didyoucomeheahtoseeme？"interruptedEllen。Shefeltthatshecouldnotendurethisreiteratedsuggestionoffineness，ofconsiderationinhim。Shewouldbetrayherself——betraywhatshedidnotevenrealizeherself。Shemustforceotherfooting——andthatshouldbetheoneofstrifebetweentheJorthsandIsbels。

"No——honest，Ididn’t，MissEllen，"herejoined，humbly。"I’lltellyou，presently，whyIcame。Butitwasn’ttoseeyou……Idon’tdenyIwanted……butthat’snomatter。Youdidn’tmeetmethatdayontheRim。"

"Meety’u！"sheechoed，coldly。"Shorey’uneverexpectedme？"

"SomehowIdid，"hereplied，withthosepenetratingeyesonher。

"Iputsomethin’inyourtentthatday。Didyoufindit？"

"Yes，"shereplied，withthesamecasualcoldness。

"Whatdidyoudowithit？"

"Ikickeditout，ofcourse，"shereplied。

Shesawhimflinch。

"Andyouneveropenedit？"

"Certainlynot，"sheretorted，asifforced。"Doon’ty’uknowanythin’

about——aboutpeople？……Shoreevenify’uareanIsbely’uneverwereborninTexas。"

"ThankGodIwasn’t！"hereplied。"Iwasborninabeautifulcountryofgreenmeadowsanddeepforestsandwhiterivers，notinabarrendesertwheremenlivedryandhardasthecactus。WhereIcomefrommendon’tliveonhate。Theycanforgive。"

"Forgive！……Couldy’uforgiveaJorth？"

"Yes，Icould。"

"Shorethat’seasytosay——withthewrongsallonyourside，"

shedeclared，bitterly。

"EllenJorth，thefirstwrongwasonyour，side，"retortedJean，hisvoicefall。"Yourfatherstolemyfather’ssweetheart——bylies，byslander，bydishonor，bymakin’terriblelovetoherinhisabsence。"

"It’salie，"criedEllen，passionately。

"Itisnot，"hedeclared，solemnly。

"JeanIsbel，Isayy’ulie！"

"No！Isayyou’vebeenliedto，"hethundered。

ThetremendousforceofhisspiritseemedtoflingtruthatEllen。

Itweakenedher。

"But——motherloveddad——best。"

"Yes，afterward。Nowonder，poorwoman！……Butitwastheactionofyourfatherandyourmotherthatruinedalltheselives。You’vegottoknowthetruth，EllenJorth……Alltheyearsofhatehavebornetheirfruit。GodAlmightycanneversaveusnow。Bloodmustbespilled。TheJorthsandtheIsbelscan’tliveonthesameearth……Andyou’vegottoknowthetruthbecausetheworstofthishellfallsonyouandme。"

Thehatethathespokeofaloneupheldher。

"Never，JeanIsbel！"shecried。"I’llneverknowtruthfromy’u……I’llnevershareanythin’withy’u——notevenhell。"

Isbeldismountedandstoodbeforeher，stillholdinghisbridlereins。

Thebayhorsechampedhisbitandtossedhishead。

"Whydoyouhatemeso？"heasked。"Ijusthappentobemyfather’sson。

Ineverharmedyouoranyofyourpeople。Imetyou……fellinlovewithyouinaflash——thoughIneverknewittillafter……Whydoyouhatemesoterribly？"

Ellenfeltaheavy，stiflingpressurewithinherbreast。"Y’u’reanIsbel……Doon’tspeakoflovetome。"

"Ididn’tintendto。Butyour——yourhateseemsunnatural。Andwe’llprobablynevermeetagain……Ican’thelpit。Iloveyou。Loveatfirstsight！JeanIsbelandEllenJorth！Strange，isn’tit？……

Itwasallsostrange。Mymeetin’yousolonelyandunhappy，myseein’

yousosweetandbeautiful，mythinkin’yousogoodinspiteof——"

"Shoreitwasstrange，"interruptedEllen，withscornfullaugh。

Shehadfoundherdefense。Inhurtinghimshecouldhideherownhurt。

"Thinkingmesogoodinspiteof——Ha—ha！AndIsaidI’dbeenkissedbefore！"

"Yes，inspiteofeverything，"hesaid。

Ellencouldnotlookathimasheloomedoverher。Shefeltawildtumultinherheart。Allthatcrowdedtoherlipsforutterancewasfalse。

"Yes——kissedbeforeImetyou——andsince，"shesaid，mockingly。

"AndIlaughatwhaty’ucalllove，JeanIsbel。"

"Laughifyouwant——butbelieveitwassweet，honorable——thebestinme，"

hereplied，indeepearnestness。

"Bah！"criedEllen，withalltheforceofherpainandshameandhate。

"ByHeaven，youmustbedifferentfromwhatIthought！"exclaimedIsbel，huskily。

"ShoreifIwasn’t，I’dmakemyself……Now，MisterJeanIsbel，getonyourhorsean’go！"

SomethingofcomposurecametoEllenwiththesewordsofdismissal，andsheglancedupathimwithhalf—veiledeyes。Hischangedaspectpreparedherforsomeblow。

"That’saprettyblackhorse。"

"Yes，"repliedEllen，blankly。

"Doyoulikehim？"

"I——Ilovehim。"

"Allright，I’llgivehimtoyouthen。He’llhavelessworkandkindertreatmentthanifIusedhim。I’vegotsomeprettyhardridesaheadofme。"

"Y’u——y’ugive——"whisperedEllen，slowlystiffening。"Yes。He’smine，"

repliedIsbel。Withthatheturnedtowhistle。Spadesthrewuphishead，snorted，andstartedforwardatatrot。Hecamefasterthecloserhegot，andifeverEllensawthejoyofahorseatsightofabelovedmastershesawitthen。Isbellaidahandontheanimal’sneckandcaressedhim，then，turningbacktoEllen，hewentonspeaking:"Ipickedhimfromalotoffinehorsesofmyfather’s。Wegotalongwell。MysisterAnnrodehimagooddeal……Hewasstolenfromourpasturedaybeforeyesterday。Itookhistrailandtrackedhimuphere。NeverlosthistrailtillIgottoyourranch，whereIhadtocircletillIpickeditupagain。"

"Stolen——pasture——trackedhimupheah？"echoedEllen，withoutanyevidenceofemotionwhatever。Indeed，sheseemedtohavebeenturnedtostone。

"Trackin’him。waseasy。Iwishforyoursakeit’dbeenimpossible，"

hesaid，bluntly。

"Formysake？"sheechoed，inpreciselythesametone，ManifestlythattoneirritatedIsbelbeyondcontrol。Hemisunderstoodit。Withahandfarfromgentlehepushedherbentheadbacksohecouldlookintoherface。

"Yes，foryoursake！"hedeclared，harshly。"Haven’tyousenseenoughtoseethat？……Whatkindofagamedoyouthinkyoucanplaywithme？"

"GameI……Gameofwhat？"sheasked。

"Why，a——agameofignorance——innocence——anyoldgametofoolamanwho’stryin’tobedecent。"

ThistimeEllenmutelylookedherdull，blankquestioning。AnditinflamedIsbel。

"Youknowyourfather’sahorsethief！"hethundered。

OutwardlyEllenremainedthesame。Shehadbeenpreparedforanunknownandaterribleblow。Ithadfallen。Andherface，herbody，herhands，lockedwiththesupremefortitudeofprideandsustainedbyhate，gavenobetrayalofthecrashing，thunderingruinwithinhermindandsoul。Motionlesssheleanedthere，meetingthepiercingfireofIsbel’seyes，seeinginthemarighteousandterriblescorn。Inoneflashthenakedtruthseemedblazedather。Thefaithshehadfostereddiedasuddendeath。Athousandperplexingproblemsweresolvedinasecondofwhirling，revealingthought。

"EllenJorth，youknowyourfather’sinwiththisHashKnifeGangofrustlers，"thunderedIsbel。

"Shore，"shereplied，withthecool，easy，carelessdefianceofaTexan。

"Youknowhe’sgotthisDaggstoleadhisfactionagainsttheIsbels？"

"Shore。"

Youknowthistalkofsheepmenbuckin’thecattlemenisallablind？"

"Shore，"reiteratedEllen。

Isbelgazeddarklydownuponher。Withhisangerspentforthemoment，heappearedreadytoendtheinterview。Butheseemedfascinatedbythestrangelookofher，bytheincomprehensiblesomethingsheemanated。

Havocgleamedinhispale，setface。Heshookhisdarkheadandhisbroadhandwenttohisbreast。

"TothinkIfellinlovewithsuchasyou！"heexclaimed，andhisotherhandsweptoutinatragicgestureofhelplesspathosandimpotence。

ThehellIsbelhadhintedatnowpossessedEllen——body，mind，andsoul。

Disgraced，scornedbyanIsbel！Yetlovedbyhim！Inthatdivinationthereflamedupawild，fiercepassiontohurt，torend，toflay，toflingbackuponhimastingingagony。Herthoughtflewuponherlikewhips。PrideoftheJorths！PrideoftheoldTexanblueblood！Itlaydeadatherfeet，killedbythescornfulwordsofthelastofthatfamilytowhomsheowedherdegradation。Daughterofahorsethiefandrustler！Darkandevilandgrimsettheforceswithinher，acceptingherfate，damningherenemies，truetothebloodoftheJorths。Thesinsofthefathermustbevisiteduponthedaughter。

"Shorey’umighthavehadme——thatdayontheRim——ify’uhadn’ttoldyourname，"shesaid，mockingly，andshegazedintohiseyeswithallthemysteryofawoman’snature。

Isbel’spowerfulframeshookaswithanague。"Girl，whatdoyoumean？"

"Shore，I’dhavebeenplumbfondofhavin’y’umakeuptome，"shedrawled。Itpossessedhernowwithirresistiblepower，thisfactofthelovehecouldnothelp。Somefiendishwoman’ssatisfactiondweltinherconsciousnessofherpowertokillthenoble，thefaithful，thegoodinhim。

"EllenJorth，youlie！"heburstout，hoarsely。

"Jean，shoreI’dbeenatoyandaragfortheserustlerslongenough。

Iwastiredofthem……Iwantedanewlover……Andify’uhadn’tgiveyourselfaway——"

Isbelmovedsoswiftlythatshedidnotrealizehisintentionuntilhishardhandsmotehermouth。Instantlyshetastedthehot，saltybloodfromacutlip。

"Shutup，youhussy！"heordered，roughly。"Haveyounoshame？……

MysisterAnnspokewellofyou。Shemadeexcuses——shepitiedyou。"

ThatforEllenseemedtheculminatingblowunderwhichshealmostsank。

Butonemomentlongercouldshemaintainthisunnaturalandterriblepoise。

"JeanIsbel——goalongwithy’u，"shesaid，impatiently。"I’mwaitingheahforSimmBruce！"

Atlastitwasasifshestruckhisheart。Becauseofdoubtofhimselfandastubbornfaithinher，hispassionandjealousywerenotproofagainstthislaststab。InstinctivesubtletyinherentinEllenhadpromptedthespeechthattorturedIsbel。Howtheshocktohimreboundedonher！Shegaspedashelungedforher，tooswiftforhertomoveahand。Onearmcrushedroundherlikeasteelband;theother，hardacrossherbreastandneck，forcedherheadback。Thenshetriedtowrestleaway。Butshewasutterlypowerless。Hisdarkfacebentdowncloserandcloser。SuddenlyEllenceasedtryingtostruggle。Shewaslikeastrickencreatureparalyzedbythepiercing，hypnoticeyesofasnake。Yetinspiteofherterror，ifhemeantdeathbyher，shewelcomedit。

"EllenJorth，I’mthinkin’yet——youlie！"hesaid，lowandtensebetweenhisteeth。

"No！No！"shescreamed，wildly。Hernervebrokethere。Shecouldnolongermeetthoseterribleblackeyes。Herpassionatedenialwasnotonlythelastofhershamefuldeceit;itwasthewomanofher，repudiatingherselfandhim，andallthissickening，miserablesituation。

Isbeltookherliterally。Shehadconvincedhim。AndtheinstantheldblankhorrorforEllen。

"ByGod——thenI’llhavesomethin’——ofyouanyway！"mutteredIsbel，thickly。

Ellensawthebloodbulgeinhispowerfulneck。Shesawhisdark，hardface，strangenow，fearfultobehold，comelowerandlower，tillitblurredandobstructedhergaze。Shefelttheswellandrippleandstretch——thenthebindofhismuscles，likehugecoilsofelasticrope。

Thenwithsavagerudeforcehismouthclosedonhers。AllEllen’ssensesreeled，asifshewereswooning。Shewassuffocating。Thespasmpassed，andaburstingspurtofbloodrevivedhertoacuteandterribleconsciousness。Fortheendlessperiodofonemomentheheldhersothatherbreastseemedcrushed。Hiskissesburnedandbraisedherlips。Andthen，shiftingviolentlytoherneck，theypressedsohardthatshechokedunderthem。Itwasasifahugebathadfasteneduponherthroat。

Suddenlytheremorselessbindingembraces——thehotandsavagekisses——

fellawayfromher。Isbelhadletgo。Shesawhimthrowuphishands，andstaggerbackalittle，allthewhilewithhispiercinggazeonher。

Hisfacehadbeendarkpurple:nowitwaswhite。

"No——EllenJorth，"hepanted，"Idon’t——wantanyofyou——thatway。"

Andsuddenlyhesankonthelogandcoveredhisfacewithhishands。

"WhatIlovedinyou——waswhatIthought——youwere。"

LikeawildcatEllenspranguponhim，beatinghimwithherfists，tearingathishair，scratchinghisface，inablindfury。Isbelmadenomovetostopher，andherviolencespentitselfwithherstrength。Sheswayedbackfromhim，shakingsothatshecouldscarcelystand。

"Y’u——damned——Isbel！"shegasped，withhoarsepassion。"Y’uinsultedme！"

"Insultedyou？……"laughedIsbel，inbitterscorn。"Itcouldn’tbedone。"

"Oh！……I’llKILLy’u！"shehissed。

Isbelstoodupandwipedtheredscratchesonhisface。"Goahead。

There’smygun，"hesaid，pointingtohissaddlesheath。"Somebody’sgottobeginthisJorth—Isbelfeud。It’llbeadirtybusiness。I’msickofitalready……Killme！……FirstbloodforEllenJorth！"

SuddenlythedarkgrimtidethathadseemedtoengulfEllen’sverysoulcooledandreceded，leavingherwithoutitsfalsestrength。Shebegantosag。ShestaredatIsbel’sgun。"Killhim，"whisperedtheretreatingvoicesofherhate。ButshewasaspowerlessasifshewerestillheldinJeanIsbel’sgiantembrace。

"I——Iwantto——killy’u，"shewhispered，"butIcain’t……

Leaveme。"

"You’renoJorth——thesameasI’mnoIsbel。Weoughtn’tbemixedinthisdeal，"hesaid，somberly。"I’msorrierforyouthanIamformyself……You’reagirl……Youoncehadagoodmother——adecenthome。Andthislifeyou’veledhere——meanasit’sbeen——isnothin’towhatyou’llfacenow。Damnthementhatbroughtyoutothis！I’mgoin’

tokillsomeofthem。"