第15章

Heglidedonabouttenshort，swiftstepsbeforehehalted。Thatwasasfarashispiercingeyescouldpenetrate。IftherehadbeenaguardstationedoutsidethestoreJeanwouldhaveseenhimbeforebeingseen。

Hesawthefence，reachedit，enteredtheyard，glidedinthedenseshadowofthebarnuntiltheblacksquarebegantoloomgray——thecolorofstoneatnight。Jeanpeeredthroughtheobscurity。Nodarkfigureofamanshowedagainstthatgraywall——onlyablackpatch，whichmustbetheholeinthefoundationmentioned。Arayoflightnowstreakedoutfromthelittleblackwindow。Totherightshowedthewide，blackdoor。

FartheronJeanglidedsilently。Thenhehalted。Therewasnoguardoutside。Jeanheardtheclinkofacap，thelazydrawlofaTexan，andthenastrong，harshvoice——Jorth’s。ItstrungJean’swholebeingtightandvibrating。Insidehewasonfirewhilecoldthrillsrippledoverhisskin。Ittooktremendouseffortofwilltoholdhimselfbackanotherinstanttolisten，tolook，tofeel，tomakesure。Andthatinstantchargedhimwithamightycurrentofhotblood，straining，throbbing，damming。

WhenJeanleapedthiscurrentburst。Inafewswiftboundshegainedhispointhalfwaybetweendoorandwindow。Heleanedhisrifleagainstthestonewall。Thenheswungtheax。Crash！Thewindowshuttersplitandrattledtothefloorinside。Thesilencethenbrokewithahoarse，"What’sthet？"

WithallhismightJeanswungtheheavyaxonthedoor。Smash！Thelowerhalfcavedinandbangedtothefloor。Brightlightflaredoutthehole。

"Lookout！"yelledaman，inloudalarm。"They’rebatterin’thebackdoor！"

Jeanswungagain，highonthesplintereddoor。Crash！Piecesflewinside。

"They’vegotaxes，"hoarselyshoutedanothervoice。"Shovethecounterag’in’thedoor。"

"No！"thunderedavoiceofauthoritythatdenotedterroraswell。

"Letthemcomein。Pullyourgunsan’taketocover！"

"Theyain’tcomin’in，"wasthehoarsereply。"They’llshootinonusfromthedark。"

"Putoutthelamp！"yelledanother。

Jean’sthirdheavyswingcavedinpartoftheupperhalfofthedoor。

Shoutsandcursesintermingledwiththeslidingofbenchesacrossthefloorandthehardshuffleofboots。Thisconfusionseemedtobesplitandsilencedbyapiercingyell，ofdifferentcaliber，ofterriblemeaning。ItstayedJean’sswing——causedhimtodroptheaxandsnatchuphisrifle。

"DON’TANYBODYMOVE！"

Likeasteelwhipthisvoicecutthesilence。ItbelongedtoBlue。

Jeanswiftlybenttoputhiseyetoacrackinthedoor。Mostofthosevisibleseemedtohavebeenfrozenintounnaturalpositions。Jorthstoodratherinfrontofhismen，hatlessandcoatless，onearmoutstretched，andhisdarkprofilesettowardalittlemanjustinsidethedoor。ThismanwasBlue。JeanneededonlyoneflashinglookatBlue’sface，athisleveled，quiveringguns，tounderstandwhyhehadchosenthistrick。

"Who’re———you？"demandedJorth，inhuskypants。

"ReckonI’mIsbel’sright—handman，"camethebitingreply。

"OncetolerablewellknowninTexas……KINGFISHER！"

Thenamemusthavebeenaguaranteeofdeath。Jorthrecognizedthisoutlawandrealizedhisownfate。Inthelamplighthisfaceturnedapalegreenishwhite。Hisoutstretchedhandbegantoquiverdown。

Blue’sleftgunseemedtoleapupandflashredandexplode。Severalheavyreportsmergedalmostasone。Jorth’sarmjerkedlimply，flinginghisgun。Andhisbodysaggedinthemiddle。Hishandsflutteredlikecrippledwingsandfoundtheirwaytohisabdomen。Hisdeath—palefaceneverchangeditssetlooknorpositiontowardBlue。Buthisgaspingutterancewasoneofhorriblemortalfuryandterror。Thenhebegantosway，stillwiththatstrange，rigidsetofhisfacetowardhisslayer，untilhefell。

Hisfallbrokethespell。EvenBlue，likethegunmanhewas，hadpausedtowatchJorthinhislastmortalaction。Jorth’sfollowersbegantodrawandshoot。JeansawBlue’sreturnfirebringdownahugeman，whofellacrossJorth’sbody。ThenJean，quickasthethoughtthatactuatedhim，raisedhisrifleandshotatthebiglamp。Itburstinaflare。Itcrashedtothefloor。Darknessfollowed——ablank，thick，envelopingmantle。Thenredflashesofgunsemphasizedtheblackness。

Insidethestoretherebrokelooseapandemoniumofshots，yells，curses，andthuddingboots。Jeanshovedhisriflebarrelinsidethedoorand，holdingitlowdown，hemovedittoandfrowhileheworkedleverandtriggeruntilthemagazinewasempty。Then，drawinghissix—shooter，heemptiedthat。AroarofriflesfromthefrontofthestoretoldJeanthathiscomradeshadenteredthefray。Bulletszippedthroughthedoorhehadbroken。Jeanranswiftlyroundthecorner，takingcaretosheeroffalittletotheleft，andwhenhegotclearofthebuildinghesawalineofflashesinthemiddleoftheroad。Blaisdellandtheotherswerefiringintothedoorofthestore。WithnimblefingersJeanreloadedhisrifle。Thenswiftlyheranacrosstheroadanddowntogetbehindhiscomrades。Theirshootinghadslackened。Jeansawdarkformscominghisway。

"Hello，Blaisdell！"hecalled，warningly。

"Thaty’u，Jean？"returnedtherancher，loomingup。"Wal，wewasn’tworriedabooty’u。"

"Blue？"queriedJean，sharply。

Alittle，darkfigureshuffledpastJean。"Howdy，Jean！"saidBlue，dryly。"Y’ushoredidyourpart。ReckonI’llneedtobetiedup，butIain’thurtmuch。"

"Colmor’shit，"calledthevoiceofGordon，afewyardsdistant。

"Helpme，somebody！"

JeanrantohelpGordonupholdtheswayingColmor。"Areyouhurt—bad？"

askedJean，anxiously。Theyoungman’sheadrolledandhung。Hewasbreathinghardanddidnotreply。Theyhadalmosttocarryhim。

"Comeon，men！"calledBlaisdell，turningbacktowardtheotherswhowerestillfiring。"We’llletwellenoughalone……Fredericks，y’uan’Billhelpmefindthebodyoftheoldman。It’sheahsomewhere。"

FartherondowntheroadthesearchersstumbledoverGastonIsbel。

TheypickedhimupandfollowedJeanandGordon，whoweresupportingthewoundedColmor。JeanlookedbacktoseeBluedragginghimselfalongintherear。Itwastoodarktoseedistinctly;nevertheless，JeangottheimpressionthatBluewasmoreseverelywoundedthanhehadclaimedtobe。ThedistancetoMeeker’scabinwasnotfar，butittookwhatJeanfelttobealongandanxioustimetogetthere。

Colmorapparentlyralliedsomewhat。WhenthisprocessionenteredMeeker’syard，Bluewaslaggingbehind。

"Blue，howairy’u？"calledBlaisdell，withconcern。

"Wal，Igot——myboots——on——anyhow，"repliedBlue，huskily。

Helurchedintotheyardandsliddownonthegrassandstretchedout。

"Man！Y’u’rehurtbad！"exclaimedBlaisdell。Theothershaltedintheirslowmarchand，asifbytacit，unspokenword，loweredthebodyofIsbeltotheground。ThenBlaisdellkneltbesideBlue。JeanleftColmortoGordonandhurriedtopeerdownintoBlue’sdimface。

"No，Iain’t——hurt，"saidBlue，inamuchweakervoice。I’m——jestkilled！……ItwasQueen！……Y’uallheerdme——Queenwas——onlybadmaninthatlot。Iknowedit……Icould——hevkilledhim……

ButIwas——afterLeeJorthan’hisbrothers……"

Blue’svoicefailedthere。

"Wal！"ejaculatedBlaisdell。

"Shorewasfunny——Jorth’sface——whenIsaid——KingFisher，"whisperedBlue。"Funnier——whenIbored——himthrough……Butit——was——Queen——"

Hiswhisperdiedaway。

"Blue！"calledBlaisdell，sharply。Receivingnoanswer，hebentlowerinthestarlightandplacedahandupontheman’sbreast。

"Wal，he’sgone……IwonderifhereallywastheoldTexasKingFisher。Noonewouldeverbelieveit……ButifhekilledtheJorths，I’llshorebelievehim。

CHAPTERX

TwoweeksoflonelysolitudeintheforesthadworkedincalculablechangeinEllenJorth。

LateinJuneherfatherandhertwouncleshadpackedandriddenoffwithDaggs，Colter，andsixothermen，allheavilyarmed，somesomberwithdrink，othershardandgrimwithaforetasteoffight。Ellenhadnotbeengivenanyorders。Herfatherhadforgottentobidhergood—byorhadavoidedit。Theirdarkmissionwasstampedontheirfaces。

Theyhadgoneand，keenashadbeenEllen’spang，nevertheless，theirdeparturewasarelief。ShehadheardthemblusterandbragsooftenthatshehadherdoubtsofanygreatJorth—Isbelwar。Barkingdogsdidnotbite。Somebody，perhapsoneachside，wouldbebadlywounded，possiblykilled，andthenthefeudwouldgoonasbefore，mostlytalk。

Manyofherformerimpressionshadfaded。Developmenthadbeensorapidandcontinuousinherthatshecouldlookbacktoaday—by—daytransformation。Atnightshehadhatedthesightofherselfandwhenthedawncameshewouldrise，singing。

JorthhadleftEllenathomewiththeMexicanwomanandAntonio。

Ellensawthemonlyatmealtimes，andoftennotthen，forshefrequentlyvisitedoldJohnSpragueorcamehomelatetodoherowncooking。

ItwasbutashortdistanceuptoSprague’scabin，andsinceshehadstoppedridingtheblackhorse，Spades，shewalked。Spadeswasaccustomedtohavinggrain，andinthemorningshewouldcomedowntotheranchandwhistle。EllenhadvowedshewouldneverfeedthehorseandbadeAntoniodoit。ButonemorningAntoniowasabsent。

ShefedSpadesherself。Whenshelaidahandonhimandwhenherubbedhisnoseagainsthershouldershewasnotquitesosureshehatedhim。

"WhyshouldI？"shequeried。"Ahorsecain’thelpitifhebelongsto——to——"Ellenwasnotsureofanythingexceptthatmoreandmoreitgrewgoodtobealone。

Awholedayinthelonelyforestpassedswiftly，yetitleftafeelingoflongtime。Shelivedbyherthoughts。Alwaysthemorningwasbright，sunny，sweetandfragrantandcolorful，andhermoodwaspensive，wistful，dreamy。Andalways，justassurelyasthehourspassed，thoughtintrudeduponherhappiness，andthoughtbroughtmemory，andmemorybroughtshame，andshamebroughtfight。Sunsetaftersunsetshehaddraggedherselfbacktotheranch，sullenandsickandbeaten。Yetsheneverceasedtostruggle。

TheJulystormscame，andtheforestfloorthathadbeensosearandbrownanddryanddustychangedasifbymagic。Thegreengrassshotup，theflowersbloomed，andalongthecanyonbedsoflacyfernsswayedinthewindandbenttheirgracefultipsovertheamber—coloredwater。

Ellenhauntedthesecooldells，thesepine—shaded，mossy—rockedravineswherethebrookstinkledandthedeercamedowntodrink。Shewanderedalone。Buttheregrewtobecompanyintheaspensandthemusicofthelittlewaterfalls。Ifshecouldhavelivedinthatsolitudealways，neverreturningtotheranchhomethatremindedherofhername，shecouldhaveforgottenandhavebeenhappy。

Shelovedthestorms。Itwasadrycountryandshehadlearnedthroughyearstowelcomethecreamycloudsthatrolledfromthesouthwest。Theycamesailingandclusteringanddarkeningatlasttoformagreat，purple，angrymassthatappearedtolodgeagainstthemountainrimandburstintodazzlingstreaksoflightningandgraypallsofrain。Lightningseldomstruckneartheranch，butupontheRimtherewasneverastormthatdidnotsplinterandcrashsomeofthenoblepines。Duringthestormseasonsheepherdersandwoodsmengenerallydidnotcampunderthepines。

Fearoflightningwasinborninthenatives，butforEllenthedazzlingwhitestreaksorthetremendoussplitting，cracklingshock，orthethunderousboomandrumblealongthebattlementsoftheRimhadnoterrors。Astormeasedherbreast。Deepinherheartwasahiddengatheringstorm。Andsomehow，tobeoutwhentheelementswerewarring，whentheearthtrembledandtheheavensseemedtoburstasunder，affordedherstrangerelief。

Thesummerdaysbecameweeks，andfartherandfarthertheycarriedEllenonthewingsofsolitudeandlonelinessuntilsheseemedtolookbackyearsattheselfshehadhated。Andalways，whenthedarkmemoryimpingeduponpeace，shefoughtandfoughtuntilsheseemedtobefightinghatreditself。Scornofscornandhateofhate！Yetevenherbattlesgrewtobedreams。ForwhentheinevitableretrospectbroughtbackJeanIsbelandhisloveandhercowardlyfalsehoodshewouldshudderalittleandputanunconscioushandtoherbreastandutterlyfailinherfightanddriftoffdowntovagueandwistfuldreams。

Thecleanandhealingforest，withitswhisperingwindandimperioussolitude，hadcomebetweenEllenandthemeaningofthesqualidsheepranch，withitstravestyofhome，itstragicowner。Anditwascomingbetweenhertwoselves，theonethatshehadbeenforcedtobeandtheotherthatshedidnotknow——thethinker，thedreamer，theromancer，theonewholivedinfancythelifesheloved。

ThesummermorningdawnedthatbroughtEllenstrangetidings。Theymusthavebeencreatedinhersleep，andnowwererealizedinthegloriousburstofgoldensun，inthesweepofcreamycloudsacrosstheblue，inthesolemnmusicofthewindinthepines，inthewildscreechofthebluejaysandthenoblebugleofastag。Theseheraldedthedayasnoordinaryday。Somethingwasgoingtohappentoher。

Shedivinedit。Shefeltit。Andshetrembled。Nothingbeautiful，hopeful，wonderfulcouldeverhappentoEllenJorth。Shehadbeenborntodisaster，tosuffer，tobeforgotten，anddiealone。Yetallnatureaboutherseemedamagnificentrebuketohermorbidness。Thesamespiritthatcameouttherewiththethick，amberlightwasinher。Shelived，andsomethinginherwasstrongerthanmind。

Ellenwenttothedoorofhercabin，wheresheflungoutherarms，driventoembracethisnamelesspurportofthemorning。Andawell—knownvoicebrokeinuponherrapture。

"Wal，lass，Iliketoseeyouhappyan’Ihatemyselffercomin’。

BecauseI’vebeentoGrassValleyfertwodaysan’I’vegotnews。"

OldJohnSpraguestoodthere，withasmilethatdidnothideatroubledlook。

"Oh！UncleJohn！Youstartledme，"exclaimedEllen，shockedbacktoreality。Andslowlysheadded:"GrassValley！News？"

Sheputoutanappealinghand，whichSpraguequicklytookinhisown，asiftoreassureher。

"Yes，an’notbadsofarasyouJorthsareconcerned，"hereplied。

"ThefirstJorth—Isbelfighthascomeoff……Reckonyouremembermakin’mepromisetotellyouifIheerdanythin’。Wal，Ididn’twaitferyoutocomeup。"

"SoEllenheardhervoicecalmlysaying。Whatwasthislyingcalmwhenthereseemedtobeastonehammeratherheart？Thefirstfight——notsobadfortheJorths！ThenithadbeenbadfortheIsbels。

Asudden，coldstillnessfelluponhersenses。

"Let’ssitdown——outdoors，"Spraguewassaying。"Nicean’sunnythis——mornin’。Ideclare——I’moutofbreath。Notusedtowalkin’。An’

besides，IleftGrassValley，inthenight——an’I’mtired。Butexcoosemefromhangin’roundthetvillagelastnight！Therewasshore——"

"Who——whowaskilled？"interruptedEllen，hervoicebreakinglowanddeep。

"GuyIsbelan’BillJacobsontheIsbelside，an’Daggs，Craig，an’

Greavesonyourfather’sside，"statedSprague，withsomethingofawedhaste。

"Ah！"breathedEllen，andsherelaxedtosinkbackagainstthecabinwall。

Spragueseatedhimselfonthelogbesideher，turningtofaceher，andheseemedburdenedwithgraveandimportantmatters。

"Iheerdagoodmanyconflictin’stories，"hesaid，earnestly。"Thevillagefolksisallskeeredan’there’snobelievin’theirgossip。

ButIgotwhathappenedstraightfromJakeEvarts。Thefightcomeoffdaybeforeyestiddy。Yourfather’sgangrodedowntoIsbel’sranch。

Daggswasseentobewantin’someoftheIsbelhosses，soEvartssays。

An’GuyIsbelan’Jacobsranoutinthepasture。Daggsan’someothersshotthemdown"Killedthem——thatway？"putinEllen，sharply。

"SoEvartssays。Hewasontheridgean’swearsheseenitall。TheykilledGuyan’Jacobsincoldblood。Nochancefertheirlives——noteventofight！……Wall，hentheysurroundedtheIsbelcabin。Thefightlastallthetdayan’allnightan’thenextday。EvartssaysGuyan’Jacobslaidouttharallthistime。An’aherdofhogsbrokeinthepasturean’waseatin’thedeadbodies……"

"MyGod！"burstoutEllen。"UncleJohn，y’ushorecain’tmeanmyfatherwouldn’tstopfightin’longenoughtodrivethehogsoffan’

burythosedaidmen？"

"Evartssaystheystoppedfightin’，allright，butitwastowatchthehogs，"declaredSprague。"An’then，whatd’yethink？Thewimminfolkscomeout——thered—headedone，Guy’swife，an’Jacobs’swife——theydrovethehogsawayan’buriedtheirhusbandsrightthereinthepasture。Evartssaysheseenthegraves。"

"ItisthewomenwhocanteachthesebloodyTexansalesson，"

declaredEllen，forcibly。

"Wal，Daggswasdrunk，an’hegotupfrombehindwherethegangwashidin’，an’daredtheIsbelstocomeout。Theyshothimtopieces。

An’thetnightsomeoneoftheIsbelsshotCraig，whowasaloneonguard……An’last——thishere’swhatIcometotellyou——JeanIsbelslippedupinthedarkonGreavesan’knifedhim。"

"Whydidy’uwanttotellmethatparticularly？"askedEllen，slowly。

"BecauseIreckonthefactsinthecasearequeer——an’because，Ellen，yournamewasmentioned，"announcedSprague，positively。

"Myname——mentioned？"echoedEllen。Herhorroranddisgustgavewaytoaquickeningprocessofthought，amountingastonishment。"Bywhom？"

"JeanIsbel，"repliedSprague，asifthenameandthefactweremomentous。

Ellensatstillasastone，herhandsbetweenherknees。Slowlyshefeltthebloodrecedefromherface，pricklingherkindownbelowherneck。Thatnamelockedherthought。

"Ellen，it’samightyqueerstory——tooqueertobealie，"wentonSprague。"Nowyoulisten！EvartsgotthisfromTedMeeker。An’TedMeekerheerditfromGreaves，whodidn’tdietillthenextdayafterJeanIsbelknifedhim。An’yourdadshotTedfertellin’whatheheerd……No，Greaveswasn’tkilledoutright。Hewascutsomethin’turrible——intwoplaces。Theywrappedhimallupan’nextdaypackedhiminawagonbacktoGrassValley。EvartssaysTedMeekerwasfriendlywithGreavesan’wenttoseehimashewaslayin’inhisroomnexttothestore。Wal，accordin’toMeeker’sstory，Greavescametoan’talked。

Hesaidhewassittin’thereinthedark，shootin’occasionallyatIsbel’scabin，whenheheerdarustlebehindhiminthegrass。Heknowedsomeonewascrawlin’onhim。Butbeforehecouldgethisgunaroundhewasjumpedbywhathethoughtwasagrizzlybear。Butitwasaman。HeshutoffGreaves’swindan’draggedhimbackintheditch。

An’hesaid:’Greaves，it’sthehalf—breed。An’he’sgoin’tocutyou——FIRSTFORELLENJORTH！an’thenforGastonIsbel！’……GreavessaidJeanrippedhimwithabowieknife……An’thetwasallGreavesremembered。Hediedsoonaftertellin’thisstory。Hemusthevfoughtawfulhard。ThetsecondcutIsbelgavehimwentclearthroughhim……

SomeofthegangwastharwhenGreavestalked，an’naturallytheywonderedwhyJeanIsbelhadsaid’firstforEllenJorth。’……SomebodyrememberedthetGreaveshadcastasluronyourgoodname，Ellen。An’

thentheyhadJeanIsbel’sreasonfersayin’thettoGreaves。Itcausedalotoftalk。An’whenSimmBrucebustedinsomeoftheganghaw—hawedhiman’saidashowhe’dgetthethirdcutfromJeanIsbel’sbowie。

Brucewashalfdrunkan’hebegantocussan’raveaboutJeanIsbelbein’inlovewithhisgirl……Asbadluckwouldhaveit，acoupleofmorefellarscomeinan’askedMeekerquestions。Hejestgottothetpart，’Greaves，it’sthehalf—breed，an’he’sgoin’tocutyou——

FIRSTFORELLENJORTH，’wheninwalkedyourfather！……Thenitallhadtocomeout——whatJeanIsbelhadsaidan’done——an’why。

HowGreaveshadbackedSimmBruceinslurrin’you！"

SpraguepausedtolookhardatEllen。

"Oh！Then——whatdiddaddo？"whisperedEllen。

"Hesaid，’ByGod！half—breedornot，there’soneIsbelwho’saman！’

An’hekilledBruceonthespotan’gaveMeekeranastywound。

SomebodygrabbedhimbeforehecouldshootMeekeragain。TheythrewMeekeroutan’hecrawledtoaneighbor’shouse，wherehewaswhenEvartsseenhim。"

EllenfeltSprague’sroughbutkindlyhandshakingher。"An’nowwhatdoyouthinkofJeanIsbel？"hequeried。

Agreat，unsurmountablewallseemedtoobstructEllen’sthought。

Itseemedgrayincolor。Itmovedtowardher。Itwasinsideherbrain。

"Itellyou，EllenJorth，"declaredtheoldman，"thetJeanIsbellovesyou—lovesyouturribly——an’hebelievesyou’regood。"

"Ohno——hedoesn’t！"falteredEllen。

"Wal，hejestdoes。"

"Oh，UncleJohn，hecain’tbelievethat！"shecried。

"Ofcoursehecan。Hedoes。Youaregood——goodasgold，Ellen，an’

heknowsit……Whataqueerdealitallis！Poordevil！Toloveyouthetturriblyan’hevtofightyourpeople！Ellen，yourdadhaditcorrect。Isbelornot，he’saman……An’Isaywhatashameyoutwoaredividedbyhate。Hatethetyouhednothin’todowith。"

Spraguepattedherheadandrosetogo。"Mebbethetfightwillendthetrouble。Ireckonitwill。Don’tcrossbridgestillyoucometothem，Ellen。，……Imusthurrybacknow。Ididn’ttaketimetounpackmyburros。Comeupsoon……An’，say，Ellen，don’tthinkhardanymoreofthetJeanIsbel。"

Spraguestrodeaway，andEllenneitherheardnorsawhimgo。Shesatperfectlymotionless，yethadastrangesensationofbeingliftedbyinvisibleandmightypower。Itwaslikemovementfeltinadream。

Shewasbeingimpelledupwardwhenherbodyseemedimmovableasstone。

Whenherbloodbeatdownthisdeadlockofanherphysicalbeingandrushedonandonthroughherveinsitgaveheranirresistibleimpulsetofly，tosailthroughspace，toranandrunandran。

Andonthemomenttheblackhorse，Spades，comingfromthemeadow，whinniedatsightofher。Ellenleapedupandranswiftly，butherfeetseemedtobestumbling。Shehuggedthehorseandburiedherhotfaceinhismaneandclungtohim。Thenjustasviolentlysherushedforhersaddleandbridleandcarriedtheheavyweightaseasilyasifithadbeenanemptysack。Throwingthemuponhim，shebuckledandstrappedwithstrong，eagerhands。Itneveroccurredtoherthatshewasnotdressedtoride。Upsheflungherself。Andthehorse，sensingherspirit，plungedintostrong，freegaitdownthecanyontrail。

Theride，theaction，thethrill，thesensationsofviolencewerenotallsheneeded。Solitude，theemptyaislesoftheforest，thefarmilesoflonelywilderness——werethesetheaddedall？Spadestookaswinging，rhythmiclopeupthewindingtrail。Thewindfannedherhotface。Thestingofwhippingaspenbrancheswaspleasant。Adeeprumbleofthundershookthesultryair。Upbeyondthegreenslopeofthecanyonmassedthecreamyclouds，shadingdarkeranddarker。Spadeslopedonthelevels，leapedthewashes，trottedovertherockyground，andtooktoawalkupthelongslope。Ellendroppedthereinsoverthepommel。

Herhandscouldnotstaysetonanything。Theypressedherbreastandflewouttocaressthewhiteaspensandtotearatthemapleleaves，andgatherthelavenderjuniperberries，andcamebackagaintoherheart。

Herheartthatwasgoingtoburstorbreak！Asithadswelled，sonowitlabored。Itcouldnotkeeppacewithherneeds。Allthatwasphysical，allthatwaslivinginherhadtobeunleashed。

Spadesgainedthelevelforest。Howthegreat，brown—greenpinesseemedtobendtheirloftybranchesoverher，protectively，understandingly。

Patchesofazure—blueskyflashedbetweenthetrees。Thegreatwhitecloudssailedalongwithher，andshaftsofgoldensunlight，fleckedwithgleamsoffallingpineneedles，shonedownthroughthecanopyoverhead。Awayinfrontofher，uptheslowheaveofforestland，boomedtheheavythunderboltsalongthebattlementsoftheRim。

Wassheridingtoescapefromherself？FornogaitsuitedheruntilSpadeswasrunninghardandfastthroughtheglades。Thenthepressureofdrywind，thethickodorofpine，theflashesofbrownandgreenandgoldandblue，thesoft，rhythmicthudsofhoofs，thefeelofthepowerfulhorseunderher，thewhipofsprucebranchesonhermusclescontractingandexpandinginhardaction——allthesesensationsseemedtoquellforthetimethemountingcataclysminherheart。

Theoakswales，themaplethickets，theaspengroves，thepine—shadedaisles，andthemilesofsilverspruceallspedbyher，asifshehadriddenthewind;andthroughtheforestaheadshonethevastopenoftheBasin，gloomedbypurpleandsilvercloud，shadowedbygraystorm，andinthewestbrightenedbygoldensky。

StraighttotheRimshehadridden，andtothepointwhereshehadwatchedJeanIsbelthatunforgetableday。Sherodetothepromontorybehindthepinethicketandbeheldascenewhichstayedherrestlesshandsuponherheavingbreast。

Theworldofskyandcloudandearthlyabyssseemedoneofstorm—sunderedgrandeur。Theairwassultryandstill，andsmelledofthepeculiarburnt—woododorcausedbylightningstrikingtrees。Afewheavydropsofrainwerepatteringdownfromthethin，grayedgeofcloudsoverhead。

Totheeasthungthestorm——ablackcloudlodgedagainsttheRim，fromwhichlong，mistyveilsofrainstreameddownintothegulf。Theroarofrainsoundedlikethesteadyroaroftherapidsofariver。Thenablue—white，piercinglybright，raggedstreakoflightningshotdownoutoftheblackcloud。ItstruckwithasplittingreportthatshockedtheverywallofrockunderEllen。Thentheheavensseemedtoburstopenwiththunderingcrashandclosewithmightythunderingboom。Longroarandlongerrumblerolledawaytotheeastward。Therainpoureddowninroaringcataracts。

Thesouthheldapanoramaofpurple—shroudedrangeandcanyon，canyonandrange，onacrosstherollingleaguestothedim，loftypeaks，allcanopiedoverwithangry，dusky，low—driftingclouds，horizon—wide，smoky，andsulphurous。AndasEllenwatched，handspressedtoherbreast，feelingincalculablereliefinsightofthistempestandgulfthatresembledhersoul，thesunburstoutfrombehindthelongbankofpurplecloudinthewestandfloodedtheworldtherewithgoldenlightning。

"Itisforme！"criedEllen。"Mymind——myheart——myverysoul……

Oh，Iknow！Iknownow！……Ilovehim——lovehim——lovehim！"

Shecrieditouttotheelements。"Oh，IloveJeanIsbel——an’myheartwillburstorbreak！"

Themightofherpassionwasliketheblazeofthesun。Beforeitallelseretreated，diminished。Thesuddennessofthetruthdimmedhersight。

Butshesawclearlyenoughtocrawlintothepinethicket，throughtheclutching，drytwigs，overthematsoffragrantneedlestothecovertwhereshehadoncespieduponJeanIsbel。Andhereshelayfacedownforawhile，handsclutchingtheneedles，breastpressedhardupontheground，strickenandspent。Butvitalitywasexceedingstronginher。

Itpassed，thatweaknessofrealization，andsheawakenedtotheconsciousnessoflove。