第10章

Withthathemountedandturnedaway。Ellencalledoutforhimtotakehishorse。Hedidnotstopnorlookback。Shecalledagain，buthervoicewasfainter，andIsbelwasnowleavingatatrot。Slowlyshesaggedagainstthetree，lowerandlower。Heheadedintothetrailleadingupthecanyon。HowstrangeareliefEllenfelt！Shewatchedhimrideintotheaspensandstartuptheslope，atlasttodisappearinthepines。Itseemedatthemomentthathetookwithhimsomethingwhichhadbeenhers。Apaininherheaddulledthethoughtsthatwaveredtoandfro。Afterhehadgoneshecouldnotseesowell。

Hereyesweretired。Whathadhappenedtoher？Therewasbloodonherhands。Isbel’sblood！Sheshuddered。Wasitanomen？Lowershesankagainstthetreeandclosedhereyes。

OldJohnSpraguedidnotreturn。Hoursdraggedby——darkhoursforEllenJorthlyingprostratebesidethetree，hidingtheblueskyandgoldensunlightfromhereyes。Atlengththelethargyofdespair，theblackdullmiseryworeaway;andshegraduallyreturnedtoaconditionofcoherentthought。

Whathadshelearned？Sightoftheblackhorsegrazingnearseemedtopromptthetrenchantreplies。SpadesbelongedtoJeanIsbel。Hehadbeenstolenbyherfatherorbyoneofherfather’saccomplices。

Isbel’svauntedcunningasatrackerhadbeennoidleboast。Herfatherwasahorsethief，arustler，asheepmanonlyasablind，aconsortofDaggs，leaderoftheHashKnifeGang。Ellenwellrememberedtheillreputeofthatgang，waybackinTexas，yearsago。

Herfatherhadgotteninwiththisfamousbandofrustlerstoservehisownends——theexterminationoftheIsbels。ItwasallveryplainnowtoEllen。

"Daughterofahorsethiefan’rustler！"shemuttered。

Andherthoughtsspedbacktothedaysofhergirlhood。Onlytheveryearlystageofthattimehadbeenhappy。InthelightofIsbel’srevelationthemanychangesofresidence，thesuddenmovestounsettledpartsofTexas，theperiodsofpovertyandsuddenprosperity，allleadingtothefinaljourneytothisGod—forsakenArizona——thesewerenowseenintheirtruesignificance。Asfarbackasshecouldrememberherfatherhadbeenacrookedman。Andhermotherhadknownit。Hehaddraggedhertoherruin。Thatdegradationhadkilledher。

Ellenrealizedthatwithpoignantsorrow，withasuddenrevoltagainstherfather。HadGastonIsbeltrulyanddishonestlystartedherfatheronhisdownhillroad？Ellenwondered。ShehatedtheIsbelswithunutterableandgrowinghate，yetshehaditinhertothink，toponder，toweighjudgmentsintheirbehalf。Sheowedittosomethinginherselftobefair。ButwhatdiditmatterwhowastoblamefortheJorth—Isbelfeud？SomehowEllenwasforcedtoconfessthatdeepinhersoulitmatteredterribly。Tobetruetoherself——theselfthatshealoneknew——shemusthaverightonherside。IftheJorthswereguilty，andsheclungtothemandtheircreed，thenshewouldbeoneofthem。

"ButI’mnot，"shemused，aloud。"Myname’sJorth，an’IreckonIhavebadblood……Butitnevercameoutinmetillto—day。I’vebeenhonest。I’vebeengood——yes，GOOD，asmymothertaughtmetobe——inspiteofall……Shoremypridemademeafool……An’nowhaveIanychoicetomake？I’maJorth。Imuststicktomyfather。

Allthissummingup，however，didnotwhollyaccountforthepanginherbreast。

Whathadshedonethatday？Andtheanswerbeatinherearslikeagreatthrobbinghammer—stroke。Inanagonyofshame，inthethroesofhate，shehadperjuredherself。Shehadswornawayherhonor。Shehadbaselymadeherselfvile。Shehadstruckruthlesslyatthegreatheartofamanwholovedher。Ah！Thatthrusthadreboundedtoleavethisdreadfulpanginherbreast。Lovedher？Yes，thestrangetruth，theinsupportabletruth！Shehadtocontendnow，notwithherfatherandherdisgrace，notwiththebafflingpresenceofJeanIsbel，butwiththemysteriesofherownsoul。Wonderofallwonderswasitthatsuchlovehadbeenbornforher。Shameworsethanallothershamewasitthatsheshouldkillitbyapoisonedlie。Bywhatmonstrousmotivehadshedonethat？TostingIsbelashehadstungher！Butthathadbeenbase。Nevercouldshehavestoppedsolowexceptinamomentoftremendoustumult。IfshehaddonesoreinjurytoIsbelwhatbadshedonetoherself？Howstrange，howtenacioushadbeenhisfaithinherhonor！Couldsheeverforget？Shemustforgetit。ButshecouldneverforgetthewayhehadscornedthosevilemeninGreaves’sstore——thewayhehadbeatenBrucefordefilinghername——thewayhehadstubbornlydeniedherowninsinuations。Shewasawomannow。Shehadlearnedsomethingofthecomplexityofawoman’sheart。Shecouldnotchangenature。Andallherpassionatebeingthrilledtothemanhoodofherdefender。Butevenwhileshethrilledsheacknowledgedherhate。

Itwasthecontentionbetweenthetwothatcausedthepanginherbreast。"An’nowwhat’sleftforme？"murmuredEllen。Shedidnotanalyzethesignificanceofwhathadpromptedthatquery。Themostincalculableoftheday’sdisclosureswasthewrongshehaddoneherself。"ShoreI’mdonefor，onewayoranother……ImuststicktoDad……orkillmyself？"

EllenrodeSpadesbacktotheranch。Sherodelikethewind。Whensheswungoutofthetrailintotheopenmeadowinplainsightoftheranchherappearancecreatedacommotionamongtheloungersbeforethecabin。

SherodeSpadesatafullrun。

"Who’safteryou？"yelledherfather，asshepulledtheblacktoahalt。

Jorthheldarifle。Daggs，Colter，theotherJorthswerethere，likewisearmed，andallwatchful，strungwithexpectancy。

"Shorenobody’safterme，"repliedEllen。"Cain’tIrunahorseroundheahwithoutbeingchased？"

Jorthappearedbothincensedandrelieved。

"Hah！……Whatyoumean，girl，runnin’likeastreakrightdownonus？You’reactin’queerthesedays，an’youlookqueer。

I’mnotlikin’it。"

"Reckonthesearequeertimes——fortheJorths，"repliedEllen，sarcastically。

"Daggsfoundstrangehorsetrackscrossin’themeadow，"saidherfather。

"An’thatworriedus。Someone’sbeensnoopin’roundtheranch。An’

whenweseenyourunnin’sowildweshorethoughtyouwasbein’chased。"

"No。IwasonlytryingoutSpadestoseehowfasthecouldrun，"

returnedEllen。"Reckonwhenwedogetchasedit’lltakesomerunningtocatchme。"

"Haw！Haw！"roaredDaggs。"Itshorewill，Ellen。"

"Girl，it’snotonlyyourrunnin’an’yourlooksthat’squeer，"

declaredJorth，indarkperplexity。"Youtalkqueer。"

"Shore，dad，y’u’renotusedtohearingspadescalledspades，"

saidEllen，asshedismounted。

"Humph！"ejaculatedherfather，asifconvincedoftheuselessnessoftryingtounderstandawoman。"Say，didyouseeanystrangehorsetracks？""

"IreckonIdid。AndIknowwhomadethem。"

Jorthstiffened。Allthemenbehindhimshowedasuddenintensityofsuspense。

"Who？"demandedJorth。

"ShoreitwasJeanIsbel，"repliedEllen，coolly。"Hecameupheahtrackinghisblackhorse。"

"Jean——Isbel——trackin’——his——blackhorse，"repeatedherfather。

"Yes。He’snotoverratedasatracker，that’sshore。"

Blanksilenceensued。Ellencastaslowglanceoverherfatherandtheothers，thenshebegantoloosenthecinchesofhersaddle。

PresentlyJorthburstthesilencewithacurse，andDaggsfollowedwithoneofhissardoniclaughs。

"Wal，boss，whatdidItellyou？"hedrawled。

JorthstrodetoEllen，and，whirlingheraroundwithastronghand，heheldherfacinghim。

"Didy’useeIsbel？"

"Yes，"repliedEllen，justassharplyasherfatherhadasked。

"Didy’utalktohim？"

"Yes。"

"Whatdidhewantupheah？"

"Itoldy’u。Hewastrackingtheblackhorsey’ustole。"

Jorth’shandandarmdroppedlimply。Hissallowfaceturnedalividhue。

Amazemergedintodiscomfitureandthatgaveplacetorage。HeraisedahandasiftostrikeEllen。AndsuddenlyDaggs’slongarmshotouttoclutchJorth’swrist。Wrestlingtofreehimself，Jorthcursedunderhisbreath。"Letgo，Daggs，"heshouted，stridently。"AmIdrunkthatyougrabme？"

"Wal，y’uain’tdrunk，Ireckon，"repliedtherustler，withsarcasm。

"Buty’u’reshoresomethingsI’llreserveforyourprivateear。"

Jorthgainedasemblanceofcomposure。Butitwasevidentthathelaboredunderashock。

"Ellen，didJeanIsbelseethisblackhorse？"

"Yes。HeaskedmehowIgotSpadesan’Itoldhim。"

"DidhesaySpadesbelongedtohim？"

"ShoreIreckonhe，provedit。Y’ucanalwaystellahorsethatlovesitsmaster。"

"Didy’uoffertogiveSpadesback？"

"Yes。ButIsbelwouldn’ttakehim。"

"Hah！……An’whynot？"

"Hesaidhe’dratherIkepthim。Hewasabouttoengageinadirty，blood—spillingdeal，an’hereckonedhe’dnotbeabletocareforafinehorse……Ididn’twantSpades。ItriedtomakeIsbeltakehim。

Butherodeoff……Andthat’sallthereistothat。"

"Maybeit’snot，"repliedJorth，chewinghismustacheandeyingEllenwithdark，intentgaze。"Y’u’vemetthisIsbeltwice。"

"Itwasn’tanyfaultofmine，"retortedEllen。

"Iheahhe’ssweetony’u。Howabootthat？"

Ellensmartedundertheblazeofbloodthatswepttoneckandcheekandtemple。Butitwasonlymemorywhichfiredthisshame。Whatherfatherandhiscrowdmightthinkweremattersofsupremeindifference。

Yetshemethissuspiciousgazewithtruthfulblazingeyes。

"IheahtalkfromBrucean’Lorenzo，"wentonherfather。"An’Daggsheah——"

"Daggsnothin’！"interruptedthatworthy。"Don’tfetchmein。Isaidnothin’an’Ithinknothin’。"

"Yes，JeanIsbelwassweetonme，dad……buthewillneverbeagain，"

returnedEllen，inlowtones。WiththatshepulledhersaddleoffSpadesand，throwingitoverhershoulder，shewalkedofftohercabin。

Hardlyhadshegottenindoorswhenherfatherentered。

"Ellen，Ididn’tknowthathorsebelongedtoIsbel，"hebegan，intheswift，hoarse，persuasivevoicesofamiliartoEllen。"IswearIdidn’t。

Iboughthim——tradedwithSlaterforhim……HonesttoGod，Ineverhadanyideahewasstolen！……Why，wheny’usaid’thathorsey’ustole，’Ifeltasify’u’dknifedme……"

Ellensatatthetableandlistenedwhileherfatherpacedtoandfroand，byhisrestlessactionandpassionatespeech，workedhimselfintoafrenzy。Hetalkedincessantly，asifhersilencewascondemnatoryandasifeloquencealonecouldconvinceherofhishonesty。ItseemedthatEllensawandheardwithkeenerfacultiesthaneverbefore。

Hehadaterriblethirstforherrespect。Notsomuchforherlove，shedivined，butthatshewouldnotseehowhehadfallen！

Shepitiedhimwithallherheart。Shewasallhehad，ashewasalltheworldtoher。Andso，asshegaveeartohislong，illogicalrigmaroleofargumentanddefense，sheslowlyfoundthatherpityandherloveweremakingvitaldecisionsforher。Asofold，inpoignantmoments，herfatherlapsedatlastintoadenunciationoftheIsbelsandwhattheyhadbroughthimto。Hissufferingswerereal，atleast，inEllen’spresence。Shewastheonlylinkthatboundhimtolong—pasthappiertimes。Shewashermotheroveragain——thewomanwhohadbetrayedanothermanforhimandgonewithhimtoherruinanddeath。

"Dad，don’tgoonso，"saidEllen，breakinginuponherfather’srant。

"Iwillbetruetoy’u——asmymotherwas……IamaJorth。Yourplaceismyplace——yourfightismyfight……Neverspeakofthepasttomeagain。IfGodsparesusthroughthisfeudwewillgoawayandbeginalloveragain，faroffwherenooneeverheardofaJorth……Ifwe’renotsparedwe’llatleasthavehadourwhackatthesedamnedIsbels。"

CHAPTERVII

DuringJuneJeanIsbeldidnotridefarawayfromGrassValley。

AnotherattempthadbeenmadeuponGastonIsbel’slife。Anothercowardlyshothadbeenfiredfromambush，thistimefromapinethicketborderingthetrailthatledtoBlaisdell’sranch。Blaisdellheardthisshot，sonearhishomewasitfired。Notraceofthehiddenfoecouldbefound。The’groundallaroundthatvicinityboreacarpetofpineneedleswhichshowednotraceoffootprints。Thesuppositionwasthatthiscowardlyattempthadbeenperpetrated，orcertainlyinstigated，bytheJorths。Buttherewasnoproof。AndGastonIsbelhadotherenemiesintheTontoBasinbesidesthesheepclan。Theoldmanragedlikealionaboutthissneakingattackonhim。AndhisfriendBlaisdellurgedanimmediategatheringoftheirkinandfriends。"Let’squitranchin’tillthistrouble’ssettled，"hedeclared。"Let’sarman’

ridethetrailsan’meetthesemenhalf—way……Itwon’thelpoursideanytowaittillyou’reshotintheback。"MorethanoneofIsbel’ssupportersofferedthesameadvice。

"No;we’llwaittillweknowforshore，"wasthestubborncattleman’sreplytoallthesepromptings。

"Know！Wal，hell！Didn’tJeanfindtheblackhossupatJorth’sranch？"

demandedBlaisdell。"Whatmoredowewant？"

"Jeancouldn’tswearJorthstoletheblack。"

"Wal，bythunder，Icansweartoit！"growledBlaisdell。"An’we’relosin’cattleallthetime。Who’sstealin’’em？"

"We’vealwayslostcattleeversincewestartedranchin’heah。"

"Gas，IreckonyuwantJorthtostartthisfightintheopen。"

"It’llstartsoonenough，"wasIsbel’sgloomyreply。

Jeanhadnotfailedaltogetherinhistrackingoflostorstolencattle。

Circumstanceshadbeenagainsthim，andtherewassomethingbafflingaboutthisrustling。Thesummerstormssetinearly，andithadbeenhislucktohaveheavyrainswashoutfreshtracksthathemighthavefollowed。Therangewaslargeandcattlewereeverywhere。Sometimesalosswasnotdiscoveredforweeks。GastonIsbel’ssonswerenowtheonlymenlefttoridetherange。Twoofhisridershadquitbecauseofthethreatenedwar，andIsbelhadletanothergo。SothatJeandidnotoftenlearnthatcattlehadbeenstolenuntiltheirtrackswereold。

AddedtothatwasthefactthatthisGrassValleycountrywascoveredwithhorsetracksandcattletracks。Therustlers，whoevertheywere，hadlongbeenatthegame，andnowthattherewasreasonforthemtoshowtheircunningtheydidit。

EarlyinJulythehotweathercame。DownontheredridgesoftheTontoitwashotdesert。Thenightswerecool，theearlymorningswerepleasant，butthedaywassomethingtoendure。Whenthewhitecumuluscloudsrolledupoutofthesouthwest，growinglargerandthickeranddarker，hereandtherecoalescingintoablackthundercloud，Jeanwelcomedthem。Helikedtoseethegraystreamersofrainhangingdownfromacanopyofblack，andtheroarofrainonthetreesasitapproachedlikeatramplingarmywasalwayswelcome。Thegrassyflats，theredridges，therockyslopes，thethicketsofmanzanitaandscruboakandcactusweredusty，glaring，throat—parchingplacesunderthehotsummersun。JeanlongedforthecoolheightsoftheRim，theshadypines，thedarksweetverdureunderthesilverspruces，thetinkleandmurmuroftheclearrills。Heoftenhadanotherlonging，too，whichhebitterlystifled。

Jean’sally，thekeen—nosedshepherdclog，haddisappearedoneday，andhadneverreturned。AmongmenattheranchtherewasadifferenceofopinionastowhathadhappenedtoShepp。Theoldrancherthoughthehadbeenpoisonedorshot;BillandGuyIsbelbelievedhehadbeenstolenbysheepherders，whowerealwaysstealingdogs;andJeaninclinedtotheconvictionthatShepphadgoneoffwiththetimberwolves。ThefactwasthatSheppdidnotreturn，andJeanmissedhim。

OnemorningatdawnJeanheardthecattlebellowingandtramplingoutinthevalley;anduponhurryingtoavantagepointhewasamazedtoseeupwardoffivehundredsteerschasingalonewolf。Jean’sfatherhadseensuchaspectacleasthis，butitwasanewoneforJean。Thewolfwasabiggrayandblackfellow，rangyandpowerful，anduntilhegotthesteersallbehindhimhewasratherhardputtoittokeepoutoftheirway。Probablyhehaddoggedtheherd，tryingtosneakinandpulldownayearling，andfinallythesteershadchargedhim。

Jeankeptalongtheedgeofthevalleyinthehopetheywouldchasehimwithinrangeofarifle。ButthewarywolfsawJeanandsheeredoff，graduallydrawingawayfromhispursuers。

Jeanreturnedtothehouseforhisbreakfast，andthensetoffacrossthevalley。HisfatherownedonesmallflockofsheepthathadnotyetbeendrivenupontheRim，whereallthesheepinthecountrywererunduringthehot，drysummerdownontheTonto。YoungEvartsandaMexicanboynamedBernardinohadchargeofthisflock。TheregularMexicanherder，amanofexperience，hadgivenuphisjob;

andtheseboyswerenotequaltothetaskofriskingthesheepupintheenemies’stronghold。

Thisflockwasknowntobegrazinginasidedraw，wellupfromGrassValley，wherethebrushaffordedsomeprotectionfromthesun，andtherewasgoodwaterandalittlefeed。BeforeJeanreachedhisdestinationheheardashot。Itwasnotarifleshot，whichfactcausedJeanalittleconcern。EvartsandBernardinohadrifles，but，tohisknowledge，nosmallarms。Jeanrodeupononeoftheblack—brushedconicalhillsthatroseonthesouthsideofGrassValley，andfromtherehetookasharpsurveyofthecountry。Atfirsthemadeoutonlycattle，andbaremeadowland，andthelowencirclingridgesandhills。Butpresentlyuptowardtheheadofthevalleyhedescriedabunchofhorsemenridingtowardthevillage。Hecouldnottelltheirnumber。ThatdarkmovingmassseemedtoJeantobeinstinctwithlife，mystery，menace。Whowerethey？Itwastoofarforhimtorecognizehorses，letaloneriders。Theyweremovingfast，too。

Jeanwatchedthemoutofsight，thenturnedhishorsedownhillagain，androdeonhisquest。AnumberofhorsemenlikethatwasaveryunusualsightaroundGrassValleyatanytime。Whatthendiditportendnow？Jeanexperiencedalittleshockofuneasydreadthatwasanewsensationforhim。Broodingoverthisheproceededonhisway，atlengthtoturnintothedrawwherethecampofthesheep—herderswaslocated。Uponcominginsightofitheheardahoarseshout。YoungEvartsappearedrunningfranticallyoutofthebrush。Jeanurgedhishorseintoarunandsooncoveredthedistancebetweenthem。Evartsappearedbesidehimselfwithterror。

"Boy！what’sthematter？"queriedJean，ashedismounted，rifleinhand，peeringquicklyfromEvarts’swhitefacetothecamp，andallaround。

"Ber—nardino！Ber—nardino！"gaspedtheboy，wringinghishandsandpointing。

Jeanranthefewremainingrodstothesheepcamp。Hesawthelittleteepee，aburned—outfire，ahalf—finishedmeal——andthentheMexicanladlyingproneontheground，dead，withabulletholeinhisghastlyface。Nearhimlayanoldsix—shooter。

"Whosegunisthat？"demandedJean，ashepickeditup。

"Ber—nardino’s，"repliedEvarts，huskily。"He——hejestgotit——theotherday。"

"Didheshoothimselfaccidentally？"

"Ohno！No！Hedidn’tdoit——atall。"

"Whodid，then？"

"Themen——theyrodeup——agang—theydidit，"pantedEvarts。

"Didyouknowwhotheywere？"

"No。Icouldn’ttell。Isawthemcomin’an’Iwasskeered。Bernardinohadgoneferwater。Irunan’hidinthebrush。Iwantedtoyell，buttheycometooclose……ThenIheerdthemtalkin’。Bernardinocomeback。They’pearedfriendly—like。Thetmademeraiseup，tolook。

An’Icouldn’tseegood。IheerdoneofthemaskBernardinotolethimseehisgun。An’Bernardinohandeditover。Helookedatthegunan’

haw—hawed，an’flippeditupintheair，an’whenitfellbackinhishandit——itwentoffbang！……An’Bernardinodropped……Ihiddownclose。Iwasskeeredstiff。Iheerdthemtalkmore，butnotwhattheysaid。Thentheyrodeaway……An’IhidtheretillIseeny’ucomin’。"

"Haveyougotahorse？"queriedJean，sharply。

"No。ButIcanrideoneofBernardino’sburros。"

"Getone。HurryovertoBlaisdell。TellhimtosendwordtoBlueandGordonandFrederickstoridelikethedeviltomyfather’sranch。

Hurrynow！"

YoungEvartsranoffwithoutreply。JeanstoodlookingdownatthelimpandpatheticfigureoftheMexicanboy。"ByHeaven！"heexclaimed，grimly"theJorth—Isbelwarison！……Deliberate，cold—bloodedmurder！

I’llgambleDaggsdidthisjob。He’sbeengiventheleadership。He’sstartedit……Bernardino，greaserornot，youwereafaithfullad，andyouwon’tgolongunavenged。"

Jeanhadnotimetospare。Tearingatarpaulinoutoftheteepeehecoveredtheladwithitandthenranfor，hishorse。Mounting，hegallopeddownthedraw，overthelittleredridges，outintothevalley，whereheputhishorsetoarun。

ActionchangedthesickeninghorrorthatsightofBernardinohadengendered。Jeanevenfeltastrange，grimrelief。Thelong，draggingdaysofwaitingwereover。Jorth’sganghadtakentheinitiative。

Bloodhadbeguntoflow。Anditwouldcontinuetoflownowtillthelastmanofonefactionstoodoverthedeadbodyofthelastmanoftheother。WoulditbeaJorthoranIsbel？"Myinstinctwasright，"

hemuttered，aloud。"Thatbunchofhorsesgavemeaqueerfeelin’。"

Jeangazedallaroundthegrassy，cattle—dottedvalleyhewascrossingsoswiftly，andtowardthevillage，buthedidnotseeanysignofthedarkgroupofriders。TheyhadgoneontoGreaves’sstore，there，nodoubt，todrinkandtoaddmoreenemiesoftheIsbelstotheirgang。

SuddenlyacrossJean’smindflashedathoughtofEllenJorth。"What’llbecomeofher？……What’llbecomeofallthewomen？Mysister？……Thelittleones？"

Noonewasinsightaroundtheranch。NeverhaditappearedmorepeacefulandpastoraltoJean。Thegrazingcattleandhorsesintheforeground，thehaystackhalfeatenaway，thecowsinthefencedpasture，thecolumnofbluesmokelazilyascending，thecackleofhens，thesolid，well—builtcabins——alltheseseemedtorepudiateJean’shasteandhisdarknessofmind。Thisplacewas，hisfather’sfarm。Therewasnotacloudintheblue，summersky。

AsJeangallopedupthelanesomeonesawhimfromthedoor，andthenBillandGuyandtheirgray—headedfathercameoutupontheporch。

Jeansawhowhe’wavedthewomenfolkback，andthenstrodeoutintothelane。BillandGuyreachedhissideasJeanpulledhisheavinghorsetoahalt。TheyalllookedatJean，swiftlyandintently，withalittle，hard，fierygleamstrangelyidenticalintheeyesofeach。

Probablybeforeawordwasspokentheyknewwhattoexpect。

"Wal，youshorewasinahurry，"remarkedthefather。

"Whatthehell’sup？"queriedBill，grimly。

GuyIsbelremainedsilentanditwashewhoturnedslightlypale。

Jeanleapedoffhishorse。

"Bernardinohasjustbeenkilled——murderedwithhisowngun。

GastonIsbelseemedtoexhalealong—dammed，burstingbreaththatlethischestsag。Aterribledeadlyglint，paleandcoldassunlightonice，grewslowlytodominatehiscleareyes。

"A—huh！"ejaculatedBillIsbel，hoarsely。

Notoneofthethreemenaskedwhohaddonethekilling。Theyweresilentamoment，motionless，lockedinthesecretseclusionoftheirownminds。ThentheylistenedwithabsorptiontoJean’sbriefstory。

"Wal，thatletsusin，"saidhisfather。"Iwishwehadmoretime。

ReckonI’ddonebettertolistentoyouboysan’havemymencloseathand。Jacobshappenedtorideover。Thatmakesfiveofusbesidesthewomen。"

"Aw，dad，youdon’treckonthey’llroundusupheah？"askedGuyIsbel。

"Boys，Ialwaysfearedtheymight，"repliedtheoldman。"ButIneverreallybelievedthey’dhavethenerve。ShoreIoughttohavefiggeredDaggsbetter。Thisheahsecretbiznessan’shootin’atusfromambushlookedabootJorth’ssizetome。ButIreckonnowwe’llhavetofightwithoutourfriends。"

"Letthemcome，"saidJean。"IsentforBlaisdell，Blue，Gordon，andFredericks。Maybethey’llgethereintime。Butiftheydon’titneedn’tworryusmuch。WecanholdoutherelongerthanJorth’sgangcanhangaround。We’llwantplentyofwater，wood，andmeatinthehouse。"

"Wal，I’llseetothat，"rejoinedhisfather。"Jean，yougooutcloseby，whereyoucanseeallaround，an’keepwatch。"

"Who’sgoin’totellthewomen？"askedGuyIsbel。

Thesilencethatmomentarilyensuedwasaneloquenttestimonytothehardestandsaddestaspectofthisstrifebetweenmen。Theinevitablenessofitinnowisedetractedfromitssheeruselessness。

Menfromtimeimmemorialhadhated，andkilledoneanother，alwaystothemiseryanddegradationoftheirwomen。OldGastonIsbelshowedthistragicrealizationinhislinedface。