第12章

Aboutnineo’clockJeansignifiedhisintentionofgoingouttoreconnoitre。

"Dad，they’vegotthebestofusinthedaytime，"hesaid，"butnotafterdark。"

Jeanbuckledonabeltthatcarriedshells，abowieknife，andrevolver，andwithrifleinhandhewentoutthroughthekitchentotheyard。

Thenightwasdarkerthanusual，assomeofthestarswerehiddenbyclouds。Heleanedagainstthelogcabin，waitingforhiseyestobecomeperfectlyadjustedtothedarkness。LikeanIndian，Jeancouldseewellatnight。Hekneweverypointaroundcabinsandshedsandcorrals，everypost，log，tree，rock，adjacenttotheranch。Afterperhapsaquarterofanhourwatching，duringwhichtimeseveralshotswerefiredfrombehindtheembankmentandoneeachfromtherustlersattheotherlocations，Jeanslippedoutonhisquest。

Hekeptintheshadowofthecabinwalls，thenthelineoforchardtrees，thenarowofcurrantbushes。Here，crouchinglow，hehaltedtolookandlisten。Hewasnowattheedgeoftheopenground，withthegentlyrisingslopebeforehim。Hecouldseethedarkpatchesofcedarandjunipertrees。Onthenorthsideofthecabinastreakoffireflashedintheblackness，andashotrangout。Jeanheardthebulletbitthecabin。Thensilenceenfoldedthelonelyranchandthedarknesslaylikeablackblanket。Alowhumofinsectspervadedtheair。Dullsheetsoflightningilluminedthedarkhorizontothesouth。

OnceJeanheardvoices，butcouldnottellfromwhichdirectiontheycame。Tothewestofhimthenflaredoutanotherrifleshot。ThebulletwhistleddownoverJeantothudintothecabin。

Jeanmadeacarefulstudyoftheobscure，gray—blackopenbeforehimandthenthebackgroundtohisrear。Solongashekeptthedenseshadowsbehindhimhecouldnotbeseen。Heslippedfrombehindhiscovertand，glidingwithabsolutelynoiselessfootsteps，hegainedthefirstclumpofjunipers。Herehewaitedpatientlyandmotionlesslyforanotherroundofshotsfromtherustlers。AfterthesecondshotfromthewestsideJeansheeredofftotheright。Patchesofbrush，clumpsofjuniper，andisolatedcedarscoveredthisslope，affordingJeanaperfectmeansforhispurpose，whichwastomakeadetourandcomeupbehindtherustlerwhowasfiringfromthatside。Jeanclimbedtothetopoftheridge，descendedtheoppositeslope，madehisturntotheleft，andslowlyworked。upbehindthepointnearwhereheexpectedtolocatetherustler。Longhabitintheopen，bydayandnight，renderedhissenseofdirectionalmostasperfectassightitself。Thefirstflashoffirehesawfromthissideprovedthathehadcomestraightuptowardhisman。Jean’sintentionwastocrawluponthisoneoftheJorthgangandsilentlykillhimwithaknife。Iftheplanworkedsuccessfully，Jeanmeanttoworkroundtothenextrustler。Layingasidehisrifle，hecrawledforwardonhandsandknees，makingnomoresoundthanacat。Hisapproachwasslow。Hehadtopickhisway，becarefulnottobreaktwigsnorrattlestones。Hisbuckskingarmentsmadenosoundagainstthebrush。Jeanlocatedtherustlersittingonthetopoftheridgeinthecenterofanopenspace。

Hewasalone。Jeansawthedull—redendofthecigarettehewassmoking。ThegroundontheridgetopwasrockyandnotwelladaptedforJean’spurpose。Hehadtoabandontheideaofcrawlingupontherustler。Whereupon，Jeanturnedback，patientlyandslowly，togethisrifle。

Uponsecuringithebegantoretracehiscourse，thistimemoreslowlythanbefore，ashewashamperedbytherifle。Buthedidnotmaketheslightestsound，andatlengthhereachedtheedgeoftheopenridgetop，oncemoretoespythedarkformoftherustlersilhouettedagainstthesky。Thedistancewasnotmorethanfiftyyards。

AsJeanrosetohiskneeandcarefullyliftedhisrifleroundtoavoidthetwigsofajuniperhesuddenlyexperiencedanotheremotionbesidestheoneofgrim，hardwrathattheJorths。Itwasanemotionthatsickenedhim，madehimweakinternally，acold，shaking，ungovernablesensation。SupposethismanwasEllenJorth’sfather！Jeanloweredtherifle。Hefeltitshakeoverhisknee。Hewastremblingallover。

TheastoundingdiscoverythathedidnotwanttokillEllen’sfather——

thathecouldnotdoit——awakenedJeantothedespairingnatureofhisloveforher。Inthisgrimmomentofindecision，whenheknewhisIndiansubtletyandabilitygavehimagreatadvantageovertheJorths，hefullyrealizedhisstrange，hopeless，andirresistibleloveforthegirl。Hemadenoattempttodenyitanylonger。Likethenightandthelonelywildernessaroundhim，liketheinevitablenessofthisJorth—Isbelfeud，thisloveofhiswasathing，afact，areality。

Hebreathedtohisowninwardear，tohissoul——hecouldnotkillEllenJorth’sfather。Feudornofeud，Isbelornot，hecouldnotdeliberatelydoit。Andwhynot？Therewasnoanswer。Washenotfaithlesstohisfather？HehadnohopeofeverwinningEllenJorth。

Hedidnotwanttheloveofagirlofhercharacter。Buthelovedher。

Andhisstrugglemustbeagainsttheinsidiousandmysteriousgrowthofthatpassion。Itswayedhimalready。Itmadehimacoward。

ThroughhismindandheartsweptthememoryofEllenJorth，herbeautyandcharm，herboldnessandpathos，hershameandherdegradation。

Andthesweetnessofheroutweighedtheboldness。Andthemysteryofherarrayeditselfinunquenchableprotestagainstheracknowledgedshame。Jeanliftedhisfacetotheheavens，tothepitilesswhitestars，totheinfinitedepthsofthedark—bluesky。Hecouldsensethefactofhisbeinganatomintheuniverseofnature。Whatwashe，whatwashisrevengefulfather，whatwerehateandpassionandstrifeincomparisontothenamelesssomething，immenseandeverlasting，thathesensedinthisdarkmoment？

Buttherustlers——Daggs——theJorths——theyhadkilledhisbrotherGuy——

murderedhimbrutallyandruthlessly。GuyhadbeenaplaymateofJean’s——afavoritebrother。Billhadbeensecretiveandselfish。JeanhadneverlovedhimashedidGuy。Guylaydeaddownthereonthemeadow。

Thisfeudhadbeguntorunitsbloodycourse。Jeansteeledhisnerve。

Thehotbloodcreptbackalonghisveins。Thedarkandmasterfultideofrevengewavedoverhim。Thekeenedgeofhismindthencutoutsharpandtrenchantthoughts。Hemustkillwhenandwherehecould。ThismancouldhardlybeEllenJorth’sfather。Jorthwouldbewiththemaincrowd，directinghostilities。Jeancouldshootthisrustlerguardandhisshotwouldbetakenbythegangastheregularonefromtheircomrade。ThenswiftlyJeanleveledhisrifle，coveredthedarkform，grewcoldandset，andpressedthetrigger。Afterthereportheroseandwheeledaway。Hedidnotlooknorlistenfortheresultofhisshot。Aclammysweatwethisface，thehollowofhishands，hisbreast。

Ahorrible，leaden，thicksensationoppressedhisheart。NaturehadendowedhimwithIndiangifts，buttheexerciseofthemtothisendcausedarevoltinhissoul。

Nevertheless，itwastheIsbelbloodthatdominatedhim。Thewindblewcoolonhisface。Theburdenuponhisshouldersseemedtolift。Theclamoringwhispersgrewfainterinhisears。Andbythetimehehadretracedhiscautiousstepsbacktotheorchardallhisphysicalbeingwasstrungtothetaskathand。Somethinghadcomebetweenhisreflectiveselfandthismanofaction。

Crossingthelane，hetooktothewestlineofsheds，andpassedbeyondthemintothemeadow。Inthegrasshecrawledsilentlyawaytotheright，usingthesameprecautionthathadactuatedhimontheslope，onlyherehedidnotpausesooften，normovesoslowly。Jeanaimedtogofarenoughtotherighttopasstheendoftheembankmentbehindwhichtherustlershadfoundsuchefficientcover。Thisditchhadbeenmadetokeepwater，duringspringthawsandsummerstorms，frompouringofftheslopetofloodthecorrals。

Jeanmiscalculatedandfoundhehadcomeupontheembankmentsomewhattotheleftoftheend，whichfact，however，causedhimnouneasiness。

Helaythereawhiletolisten。Againheheardvoices。Afteratimeashotpealedout。Hedidnotseetheflash，buthecalculatedthatithadcomefromthenorthsideofthecabins。

ThenextquarterofanhourdiscoveredtoJeanthatthenearestguardwasfiringfromthetopoftheembankment，perhapsahundredyardsdistant，andasecondonewasperformingthesameofficefromapointapparentlyonlyafewyardsfartheron。Tworustlersclosetogether！

Jeanhadnotcalculateduponthat。Foralittlewhileheponderedonwhatwasbesttodo，andatlengthdecidedtocrawlroundbehindthem，andascloseasthesituationmadeadvisable。

Hefoundtheditchbehindtheembankmentafavorablepathbywhichtostalktheseenemies。Itwasdryandsandy，withbordersofhighweeds。

Theonlydrawbackwasthatitwasalmostimpossibleforhimtokeepfrombrushingagainstthedry，invisiblebranchesoftheweeds。Tooffsetthishewormedhiswaylikeasnail，inchbyinch，takingalongtimebeforehecaughtsightofthesittingfigureofaman，blackagainstthedark—bluesky。ThisrustlerhadfiredhisriflethreetimesduringJean’sslowapproach。Jeanwatchedandlistenedafewmoments，thenwormedhimselfcloserandcloser，untilthemanwaswithintwentystepsofhim。

Jeansmelledtobaccosmoke，butcouldseenolightofpipeorcigarette，becausethefellow’sbackwasturned。

"Say，Ben，"saidthismantohiscompanionsittinghunchedupafewyardsdistant，"shoreitstrikesmequeerthetSomersain’tshootin’

anyoverthar。"

Jeanrecognizedthedry，drawlingvoiceofGreaves，andtheshockofitseemedtocontractthemusclesofhiswholethrillingbody，likethatofapantherabouttospring。

CHAPTERVIII

Wasshorethinkin’thetsame，"saidtheotherman。"An’，say，didn’tthetlastshotsoundtoosharpferSomers’sforty—five？"

"Cometothinkofit，Ireckonitdid，"repliedGreaves。

"Wal，I’llgoaroundovertharan’see。"

Thedarkformoftherustlerslippedoutofsightovertheembankment。

"Bettergoslowan’careful，"warnedGreaves。"An’onlygocloseenoughtocallSomers……Mebbethetdamnhalf—breedIsbeliscomin’someInjunonus。"

Jeanheardthesoftswishoffootstepsthroughwetgrass。Thenallwasstill。Helayflat，withhischeekonthesand，andhehadtolookaheadandupwardtomakeoutthedarkfigureofGreavesonthebank。OnewayoranotherhemeanttokillGreaves，andhehadthewillpowertoresistthestrongestgustofpassionthathadeverstormedhisbreast。Ifhearoseandshottherustler，thatactwoulddefeathisplanofslippingonaroundupontheotheroutpostswhowerefiringatthecabins。JeanwantedtocallsoftlytoGreaves，"You’rerightaboutthehalf—breed！"andthen，ashewheeledaghast，tokillhimashemoved。ButitsuitedJeantoriskleapingupontheman。Jeandidnotwastetimeintryingtounderstandthestrange，deadlyinstinctthatgrippedhimatthemoment。ButherealizedthenhehadchosenthemostperilousplantogetridofGreaves。

Jeandrewalong，deepbreathandheldit。Heletgoofhisrifle。

Herose，silentlyasaliftingshadow。Hedrewthebowieknife。

Thenwithlight，swiftboundsheglidedupthebank。Greavesmusthaveheardarustling——asoft，quickpadofmoccasin，forheturnedwithastart。AndthatinstantJean’sleftarmdartedlikeastrikingsnakeroundGreaves’sneckandclosedtightandhard。Withhisrighthandfree，holdingtheknife，Jeanmighthaveendedthedeadlybusinessinjustonemove。Butwhenhisbaredarmfeltthehot，bulgingnecksomethingterribleburstoutofthedepthsofhim。Tokillthisenemyofhisfather’swasnotenough！PhysicalcontacthadunleashedthesavagesouloftheIndian。Yettherewasmore，andasJeangavethestrainingbodyatremendousjerkbackward，hefeltthesamestrangethrill，thedarkjoythathehadknownwhenhisfisthadsmashedthefaceofSimmBruce。Greaveshadleered——hehadcorroboratedBruce’svileinsinuationaboutEllenJorth。SoitwasmorethanhatethatactuatedJeanIsbel。

Greaveswasheavyandpowerful。Hewhirledhimself，feetfirst，overbackward，inalungelikethatofalassoedsteer。ButJean’sholdheld。Theyrolleddownthebankintothesandyditch，andJeanlandeduppermost，withhisbodyatrightangleswiththatofhisadversary。

"Greaves，yourhunchwasright，"hissedJean。"It’sthehalf—breed……An’I’mgoin’tocutyou——firstforEllenJorth——an’thenforGastonIsbel！"

Jeangazeddownintothegleamingeyes。Thenhisrightarmwhippedthebigblade。Itflashed。Itfell。Lowdown，asfarasJeancouldreach，itenteredGreaves’sbody。

Alltheheavy，muscularframeofGreavesseemedtocontractandburst。

Hisspringwasthatofananimalinterrorandagony。ItwassotremendousthatitbrokeJean’shold。Greavesletoutastrangledyellthatcleared，swellingwildly，withahideousmortalnote。Hewrestledfree。Thebigknifecameout。Suppleandswift，hegottohis，knees。HehadhisgunoutwhenJeanreachedhimagain。LikeabearJeanenvelopedhim。Greavesshot，buthecouldnotraisethegun，nortwistitfarenough。ThenJean，lettinggowithhisrightarm，swungthebowie。Greaves’sstrengthwentoutinanawful，hoarsecry。

Hisgunboomedagain，thendroppedfromhishand。Heswayed。Jeanletgo。AndthatenemyoftheIsbelssanklimplyintheditch。

Jean’seyesrovedforhisrifleandcaughtthestarlitgleamofit。

Snatchingitup，heleapedovertheembankmentandranstraightforthecabins。FromallaroundyellsoftheJorthfactionattestedtotheirexcitementandfury。

Afenceloomedupgrayintheobscurity。Jeanvaultedit，dartedacrossthelaneintotheshadowofthecorral，andsoongainedthefirstcabin。Hereheleanedtoregainhisbreath。Hisheartpoundedhighandseemedtoolargeforhisbreast。Thehotbloodbeatandsurgedalloverhisbody。Sweatpouredoffhim。Histeethwereclenchedtightasavise，andittookeffortonhisparttoopenhismouthsohecouldbreathemorefreelyanddeeply。Butthesephysicalsensationswereasnothingcomparedtothetumultofhismind。

Thentheinstinct，thespell，letgoitsgripandhecouldthink。

HehadavengedGuy，hebaddepletedtheranksoftheJorths，hehadmadegoodthebragofhisfather，allofwhichaffordedhimsatisfaction。

Butthesethoughtswerenotaccountableforallthatbefelt，especiallyforthebittersweetstingofthefactthatdeathtothedefilerofEllenJorthcouldnoteffacethedoubt，theregretwhichseemedtogrowwiththehours。

Gropinghiswayintothewoodshed，heenteredthekitchenand，callinglow，hewentonintothemaincabin。

"Jean！Jean！"camehisfather’sshakingvoice。

"Yes，I’mback，"repliedJean。

"Are——you——allright？"

"Yes。IthinkI’vegotabulletcreaseonmyleg。Ididn’tknowI

hadittillnow……It’sbleedin’alittle。Butit’snothin’。"

Jeanheardsoftstepsandsomeonereachedshakinghandsforhim。

TheybelongedtohissisterAnn。Sheembracedhim。Jeanfelttheheaveandthrobofherbreast。

"Why，Ann，I’mnothurt，"hesaid，andheldherclose。"Nowyouliedownan’trytosleep。"

IntheblackdarknessofthecabinJeanledherbacktothecornerandhisheartwasfull。Speechwasdifficult，becausetheverytouchofAnn’shandshadmadehimdivinethatthesuccessofhisventureinnowisechangedtheplightofthewomen。

"Wal，whathappenedoutthere？"demandedBlaisdell。

"Igottwoofthem，"repliedJean。"Thatfellowwhowasshootin’

fromtheridgewest。An’theotherwasGreaves。"

"Hah！"exclaimedhisfather。

"ShorethenitwasGreavesyellin’，"declaredBlaisdell。"ByGod，Ineverheardsuchyells！Whad’dyoudo，Jean？"

"Iknifedhim。Yousee，I’dplannedtoslipupononeafteranother。

An’Ididn’twanttomakenoise。ButIdidn’tgetanyfartherthanGreaves。"

"Wal，Ireckonthat’llendtheirshootin’inthedark，"mutteredGastonIsbel。"We’vegottobeonthelookoutforsomethin’else——

fire，mostlikely。"

Theoldrancher’ssurmiseprovedtobepartiallycorrect。Jorth’sfactionceasedtheshooting。Nothingfurtherwasseenorheardfromthem。Butthissilenceandapparentbreakinthesiegewerehardertobearthandeliberatehostility。Thelong，darkhoursdraggedby。

Thementookturnswatchingandresting，butnoneofthemslept。

Atlasttheblacknesspaledandgraydawnstoleoutoftheeast。

Theskyturnedroseoverthedistantrangeanddaylightcame。

Thechildrenawokehungryandnoisy，havingsleptawaytheirfears。

Thewomentookadvantageofthequietmorninghourtogetahotbreakfast。

"Maybethey’vegoneaway，"suggestedGuyIsbel’swife，peeringoutofthewindow。Shehaddonethatseveraltimessincedaybreak。Jeansawhersombergazesearchthepastureuntilitresteduponthedark，proneshapeofherdeadhusband，lyingfacedowninthegrass。HerlookworriedJean。

"No，Esther，they’venotgoneyet，"repliedJean。"I’veseensomeofthemoutthereattheedgeofthebrush。"

Blaisdellwasoptimistic。HesaidJean’snightworkwouldhaveitseffectandthattheJorthcontingentwouldnotrenewthesiegeverydeterminedly。Itturnedout，however，thatBlaisdellwaswrong。

Directlyaftersunrisetheybegantopourvolleysfromfoursidesandfromcloserrange。DuringthenightJorth’sganghadthrownearthbanksandconstructedlogbreastworks，frombehindwhichtheywerenowfiring。Jeanandhiscomradescouldseetheflashesoffireandstreaksofsmoketosuchgoodadvantagethattheybegantoreturnthevolleys。

InhalfanhourthecabinwassofullofsmokethatJeancouldnotseethewomenfolkintheircorner。Thefierceattackthenabatedsomewhat，andthefiringbecamemoreintermittent，andthereforemorecarefullyaimed。AglancingbulletcutafurrowinBlaisdell’shoaryhead，makingapainful，thoughnotseriouswound。ItwasEstherIsbelwhostoppedtheflowofbloodandboundBlaisdell’shead，ataskwhichsheperformedskillfullyandwithoutatremor。TheoldTexancouldnotsitstillduringthisoperation。Sightofthebloodonhishands，whichhetriedtoruboff，appearedtoinflamehimtoagreatdegree。

"Isbel，wegottogooutthar，"hekeptrepeating，"an’killthemall。"

"No，we’regoin’tostayheah，"repliedGastonIsbel。"ShoreI’mlookin’forBluean’Fredericksan’Gordontoopenupoutthere。

Theyoughttobeheah，an’iftheyarey’ushorecanbetthey’vegotthefightsizedup。"

Isbel’shopesdidnotmaterialize。Theshootingcontinuedwithoutanylulluntilaboutmidday。ThentheJorthfactionstopped。

"Wal，nowwhat’sup？"queriedIsbel。"Boys，holdyourfirean’

let’swait。"

Graduallythesmokewaftedoutofthewindowsanddoors，untiltheroomwasoncemoreclear。AndatthisjunctureEstherIsbelcameovertotakeanothergazeoutuponthemeadows。Jeansawhersuddenlystartviolently，thenstiffen，withatremblinghandoutstretched。

"Look！"shecried。

"Esther，getback，"orderedtheoldrancher。"Keepawayfromthatwindow。"

"Whatthehell！"mutteredBlaisdell。"Sheseessomethin’，orshe’sgonedotty。"

Estherseemedturnedtostone。"Look！Thehogshavebrokenintothepasture！……They’lleatGuy’sbody！"

EveryonewasfrozenwithhorroratEsther’sstatement。Jeantookaswiftsurveyofthepasture。AbunchofbigblackhogshadindeedappearedonthesceneandwererootingaroundinthegrassnotfarfromwherelaythebodiesofGuyIsbelandJacobs。Thisherdofhogsbelongedtotherancherandwasallowedtorunwild。

"Jane，thosehogs——"stammeredEstherIsbel，tothewifeofJacobs。

"Come！Look！……Doy’uknowanythin’abouthogs？"

Thewomanrantothewindowandlookedout。ShestiffenedashadEsther。

"Dad，willthosehogs——eathumanflesh？"queriedJean，breathlessly。

Theoldmanstaredoutofthewindow。Surpriseseemedtoholdhim。

Acompletelyunexpectedsituationhadstaggeredhim。

"Jean——canyou——canyoushootthatfar？"heasked，huskily。

"Tothosehogs？No，it’soutofrange。"

Then，byGod，we’vegottostaytrappedinheahan’watchanawfulsight，"ejaculatedtheoldman，completelyunnerved。"Seethatbreakinthefence！……Jorth’sdonethat……Toletinthehogs！"

"Aw，Isbel，it’snotsobadasallthat，"remonstratedBlaisdell，wagginghisbloodyhead。"Jorthwouldn’tdosuchahell—benttrick。"

"It’sshoredone。"

"Wal，mebbethehogswon’tfindGuyan’Jacobs，"returnedBlaisdell，weakly。Plainitwasthatheonlyhopedforsuchacontingencyandcertainlydoubtedit。

"Look！"criedEstherIsbel，piercingly。They’reworkin’straightupthepasture！"

Indeed，toJeanitappearedtobethefataltruth。Helookedblankly，feelingalittlesick。AnnIsbelcametopeeroutofthewindowandsheutteredacry。Jacobs’swifestoodmute，asifdazed。

Blaisdellsworeamightyoath。 "——————！Isbel，wecain’tstandheahan’watchthemhogseatourpeople！"

"Wal，we’llhaveto。Whatelseonearthcanwedo？"

Estherturnedtothemen。Shewaswhiteandcold，excepthereyes，whichresembledgrayflames。

"Somebodycanrunouttherean’buryourdeadmen，"shesaid。

"Why，child，it’dbeshoredeath。Y’usawwhathappenedtoGuyan’

Jacobs……We’vejestgottobearit。Shorenobodyneedn’tlookout——an’see。"

Jeanwonderedifitwouldbepossibletokeepfromwatching。Thethinghadahorriblefascination。Thebighogswererootingandtearinginthegrass，someofthemlazy，othersnimble，andallweregraduallyworkingcloserandclosertothebodies。Theleader，ahuge，gauntboar，thathadfaredillallhislifeinthisbarrencountry，wasscarcelyfiftyfeetawayfromwhereGuyIsbellay。

"Ann，getmesomeofyourclothes，an’asunbonnet——quick，"saidJean，forcedoutofhislethargy。"I’llrunouttheredisguised。MaybeI

cangothroughwithit。"

"No！"orderedhisfather，positively，andwithdarkfaceflaming。

"Guyan’Jacobsaredead。Wecain’thelpthemnow。"

"But，dad——"pleadedJean。HehadbeenwroughttoapitchbyEsther’sblazeofpassion，bytheagonyinthefaceoftheotherwoman。

"Itelly’uno！"thunderedGastonIsbel，flinginghisarmswide。

"IWILLGO！"criedEsther，hervoiceringing。

"Youwon’tgoalone！"instantlyansweredthewifeofJacobs，repeatingunconsciouslythewordsherhusbandhadspoken。

"Youstayrightheah，"shoutedGastonIsbel，hoarsely。

"I’mgoin’，"repliedEsther。"You’venoholdoverme。Myhusbandisdead。Noonecanstopme。I’mgoin’outtheretodrivethosehogsawayan’buryhim。"

"Esther，forHeaven’ssake，listen，"repliedIsbel。"Ify’ushowyourselfoutside，Jorthan’hisgangwillkiny’u。"

"Theymaybemean，butnowhitemencouldbesolowasthat。"

Thentheypleadedwithhertogiveupherpurpose。Butinvain！

ShepushedthembackandranoutthroughthekitchenwithJacobs’swifefollowingher。Jeanturnedtothewindowintimetoseebothwomenrunoutintothelane。Jeanlookedfearfully，andlistenedforshots。Butonlyaloud，"Haw！Haw！"camefromthewatchersoutside。ThatcoarselaughrelievedthetensioninJean’sbreast。

PossiblytheJorthswerenotasblackashisfatherpaintedthem。

Thetwowomenenteredanopenshedandcameforthwithashovelandspade。

"Shorethey’vegottohurry，"burstoutGastonIsbel。

Shiftinghisgaze，Jeanunderstoodtheimportofhisfather’sspeech。

Theleaderofthehogshadnodoubtscentedthebodies。Suddenlyheespiedthemandbrokeintoatrot。

"Run，Esther，run！"yelledJean，withallhismight。

Thaturgedthewomentoflight。Jeanbegantoshoot。ThehogreachedthebodyofGuy。Jean’sshotsdidnotreachnorfrightenthebeast。

Allthehogsnowhadcaughtascentandwentamblingtowardtheirleader。Estherandhercompanionpassedswiftlyoutofsightbehindacorral。Loudandpiercingly，withsomeawfulnote，rangouttheirscreams。Thehogsappearedfrightened。Theleaderliftedhislongsnout，looked，andturnedaway。Theothershadhalted。Thenthey，too，wheeledandranoff。

AllwassilenttheninthecabinandalsooutsidewherevertheJorthfactionlayconcealed。Alleyesmanifestlywerefixeduponthebravewives。TheyspadedupthesodanddugagraveforGuyIsbel。ForashroudEstherwrappedhiminhershawl。Thentheyburiedhim。NexttheyhurriedtothesideofJacobs，wholaysomeyardsaway。Theydugagraveforhim。Mrs。Jacobstookoffherouterskirttowraproundhim。Thenthetwowomenlaboredhardtolifthimandlowerhim。

Jacobswasaheavyman。Whenhehadbeencoveredhiswidowkneltbesidehisgrave。Estherwentbacktotheother。Butsheremainedstandinganddidnotlookasifsheprayed。Heraspectwastragic——

thatofawomanwhohadlostfather，mother，sisters，brother，andnowherhusband，inthisbloodyArizonaland。

ThedeedandthedemeanorofthesewivesofthemurderedmensurelymusthaveshamedJorthandhisfollowers。Theydidnotfireashotduringtheordealnorgiveanysignoftheirpresence。

Insidethecabinallweresilent，too。Jean’seyesblurredsothathecontinuallyhadtowipethem。OldIsbelmadenoefforttohidehistears。Blaisdellnoddedhisshaggyheadandswallowedhard。Thewomensatstaringintospace。Thechildren，inround—eyeddismay，gazedfromonetotheotheroftheirelders。

"Wal，they’recomin’back，"declaredIsbel，inimmenserelief。