第17章

Colterandthemenwaitedonhersolicitously，andinsilence，nowandthenstealingfurtiveglancesatherfromundertheshadowoftheirblacksombreros。Thedarknightsettleddownlikeablanket。Therewerenostars。Thewindmoanedfitfullyamongthepines，andallaboutthatlonely，hiddenrecesswasinharmonywithEllen’sthoughts。

"Girl，y’u’reshoregame，"saidColter，admiringly。"An’Ireckony’unevergotitfromtheJorths。"

"Tadinthere——he’sgame，"saidQueen，inmildprotest。

"Nottomynotion，"repliedColter。"Anymancanbegamewhenhe’scroakin’，withsomebodyaround……ButLeeJorthan’Jackson——theyalwayswasyellowcleartotheirgizzards。TheywasborninLouisiana——notTexas……Shorethey’renomoreTexansthanIam。Ellenheah，shemusthavegotanotherstraininherblood。

ToEllentheirwordshadnomeaning。Sheroseandasked，"WherecanIsleep？"

"I’llfetchalightpresentlyan’y’ucanmakeyourbedintherebyTad，"repliedColter。

"Yes，I’dlikethat。"

"Wal，ify’ureckony’ucancoaxhimtotalkyou’reshorewrong，"declaredColter，withthatcoldtimbreofvoicethatstrucklikesteelonEllen’snerves。"Icussedhimgoodan’toldhimhe’dkeephismouthshut。Talkin’makeshimcoughan’thatfetchesuptheblood……Besides，IreckonI’mtheonetotelly’uhowyourdadan’unclegotkilled。Taddidn’tseeitdone，an’hewasbadhurtwhenithappened。Shoreallthefellarslefthavetheirideeabootit。

ButI’vegotitstraight。"

"Colter——tellmenow，"criedEllen。

"Wal，allright。Comeoverheah，"hereplied，anddrewherawayfromthecampfire，outintheshadowofgloom。"Poorkid！Ishorefeelbadabootit。"Heputalongarmaroundherwaistanddrewheragainsthim。Ellenfeltit，yetdidnotofferanyresistance。Allherfacultiesseemedabsorbedinamorbidandsadanticipation。

"Ellen，y’ushoreknowIalwayslovedy’u——nowdon’ty’u？"heasked，withsuppressedbreath。

"No，Colter。It’snewstome——an’notwhatIwanttoheah。"

"Wal，y’umayaswellheahitrightnow，"hesaid。"It’strue。

An’what’smore——yourdadgavey’utomebeforehedied。"

"What！Colter，y’umustbealiar。"

"Ellen，IswearI’mnotlyin’，"hereturned，ineagerpassion。"Iwaswithyourdadlastan’heardhimlast。HeshoreknewI’dlovedy’uforyears。An’hesaidhe’drathery’ubeleftinmycarethananybody’s。"

"Myfathergavemetoy’uinmarriage！"ejaculatedEllen，inbewilderment。

Colter’sreadyassurancedidnotcarryhimoverthispoint。Itwasevidentthatherwordssomewhatsurprisedanddisconcertedhimforthemoment。

"Toletmemarryarustler——oneoftheHashKnifeGang！"exclaimedEllen，withwearyincredulity。

"Wal，yourdadbelongedtoDaggs’sgang，sameasIdo，"repliedColter，recoveringhiscoolardor。

"No！"criedEllen。

"Yes，heshoredid，foryears，"declaredColter，positively。

"BackinTexas。An’itwasyourdadthatgotDaggstocometoArizona。"

Ellentriedtoflingherselfaway。Butherstrengthandherspiritwereebbing，andColterincreasedthepressureofhisarm。Allatonceshesanklimp。Couldsheescapeherfate？Nothingseemedlefttofightwithorfor。

"Allright——don’tholdme——sotight，"shepanted。"Nowtellmehowdadwaskilled……an’who——who——"

Colterbentoversohecouldpeerintoherface。InthedarknessEllenjustcaughtthegleamofhiseyes。Shefeltthevirileforceofthemaninthestrainofhisbodyashepressedherclose。Itallseemedunreal——ahideousdream——thegloom，themoanofthewind，theweirdsolitude，andthisrustlerwithhandandwilllikecoldsteel。

"We’dcomebacktoGreaves’sstore，"Colterbegan。"An’asGreaveswasdaidweallgotfreewithhisliquor。Shoresomeofusgotdrunk。

Brucewasdrunk，an’Tadinthere——hewasdrunk。Yourdadputawaymore’nIeverseenhim。Butshorehewasn’texactlydrunk。Hegotoneofthemweakan’shakyspells。Hecriedan’hewantedsomeofustogettheIsbelstocalloffthefightin’……Heshorewasreadytocallitquits。Ireckonthekillin’ofDaggs——an’thentheawfulwayGreaveswascutupbyJeanIsbel——tookallthefightoutofyourdad。Hesaidtome，’Colter，we’lltakeEllenan’leavethisheahcountry——an’beginlifealloveragain——wherenooneknowsus。’"

"Oh，didhereallysaythat？……Didhe——reallymeanit？"murmuredEllen，withasob。

"I’llswearitbythememoryofmydaidmother，"protestedColter。

"Wal，whennightcometheIsbelsrodedownonusinthedarkan’begantoshoot。Theysmashedinthedoor——triedtoburnusout——an’holleredaroundforawhile。Thentheyleftan’wereckonedthere’dbenomoretroublethatnight。Allthesamewekeptwatch。Iwasthesoberestonean’Ibossedthegang。Wehadsomequarrelsabootthedrinkin’。Yourdadsaidifwekeptitupit’dbetheendoftheJorths。An’heplannedtosendwordtotheIsbelsnextmawnin’thathewasreadyforatruce。

An’IwastogofixitupwithGastonIsbel。Wal，yourdadwenttobedinGreaves’sroom，an’alittlewhilelateryouruncleJacksonwentinthere，too。Someofthemenlaiddowninthestorean’wenttosleep。

Ikeptguardtillabootthreeinthemawnin’。An’IgotsosleepyI

couldn’tholdmyeyesopen。SoIwakedupWellsan’Slateran’setthemonguard，oneateachendofthestore。ThenIlaiddownonthecountertotakeanap。"

Colter’slowvoice，thestrainandbreathlessnessofhim，theagitationwithwhichheappearedtobelaboring，andespeciallythesimple，matter—of—factdetailofhisstory，carriedabsoluteconvictiontoEllenJorth。Hervaguedoubtofhimhadbeencreatedbyhisattitudetowardher。Emotiondominatedherintelligence。Theimages，thescenescalledupbyColter’swords，wereastrueasthegloomofthewildgulchandthelonelinessofthenightsolitude——astrueasthestrangefactthatshelaypassiveinthearmofarustler。

"Wall，afterawhileIwokeup，"wentonColter，clearinghisthroat。

"Itwasgraydawn。Allwasasstillasdeath……An’somethin’shorewaswrong。Wellsan’Slaterhadgottodrinkin’againan’nowlaiddaiddrunkorasleep。Anyways，whenIkickedthemtheynevermoved。ThenI

heardamoan。Itcamefromtheroomwhereyourdadan’unclewas。I

wentin。Itwasjustlightenoughtosee。YouruncleJacksonwaslayin’

onthefloor——cuthalfintwo——daidasadoornail……Yourdadlayonthebed。Hewasalive，breathin’hislast……Hesays，’Thathalf—breedIsbel——knifedus——whileweslept！’……Thewindershutterwasopen。IseenwhereJeanIsbelhadcomeinan’goneout。Iseenhismoccasintracksinthedirtoutsidean’Iseenwherehe’dsteppedinJackson’sbloodan’trackedittothewinder。Y’ushorecanseethembloodytracksyourself，ify’ugobacktoGreaves’sstore……

Yourdadwasgoin’fast……Hesaid，’Colter——takecareofEllen，’

an’Ireckonhemeantalotbythat。Hekeptsayin’，’MyGod！ifI’donlyseenGastonIsbelbeforeitwastoolate！’an’thenheravedalittle，whisperin’outofhishaid……An’afterthathedied……

Iwokeupthemen，an’abootsunupwecarriedyourdadan’uncleoutoftownan’buriedthem……An’themIsbelsshotatuswhilewewereburyin’ourdaid！That’swhereTadgothishurt……ThenwehitthetrailforJorth’sranch……Annow，Ellen，that’sallmystory。

Yourdadwasreadytoburythehatchetwithhisoldenemy。An’thatNezPerceJeanIsbel，likethesneakin’savageheis，murderedyourunclean’yourdad……Cuthimhorrible——madehimsuffertorturesofhell——allforIsbelrevenge！"

WhenColter’shuskyvoiceceasedEllenwhisperedthroughlipsascoldandstillasice，"Letmego……leaveme——heah——alone！"

"Why，shore！IreckonIunderstand，"repliedColter。"Ihatedtotelly’u。Buty’uhadtoheahthetruthabootthathalf—breed……

I’llcarryyourpackinthecabinan’unrollyourblankets。"

Releasingher，Colterstrodeoffinthegloom。Likeadeadweight，Ellenbegantoslideuntilsheslippeddownfulllengthbesidethelog。

Andthenshelayinthecool，dampshadow，inertandlifelesssofarasoutwardphysicalmovementwasconcerned。Shesawnothingandfeltnothingofthenight，thewind，thecold，thefallingdew。Forthemomentorhourshewascrushedbydespair，andseemedtoseeherselfsinkingdownanddownintoablack，bottomlesspit，intoanabysswheremurkytidesofbloodandfuriousgustsofpassioncontendedbetweenherbodyandhersoul。Intothestormyblastofhell！Inherdespairshelonged，sheachedfordeath。Bornofinfidelity，cursedbyataintofevilblood，furthercursedbyhigherinstinctforgoodandhappylife，draggedfromonelonelyandwildandsordidspottoanother，neverknowingloveorpeaceorjoyorhome，lefttothecompanionshipofviolentandvilemen，drivenbyastrangefatetolovewithunquenchableandinsupportablelovea’half—breed，asavage，anIsbel，thehereditaryenemyofherpeople，andatlastthe。ruthlessmurdererofherfather——

whatinthenameofGodhadshelefttolivefor？Revenge！Aneyeforaneye！Alifeforalife！ButshecouldnotkillJeanIsbel。

Woman’slovecouldturntohate，butnottheloveofEllenJorth。

Hecoulddragherbythehairinthedust，beather，andmakeherathingtoloathe，andcuthermortallyinhissavageandimplacablethirstforrevenge——butwithherlastgaspshewouldwhispershelovedhimandthatshehadliedtohimtokillhisfaith。Itwasthat——hisstrangefaithinherpurity——whichhadwonherlove。Ofallmen，thatheshouldbetheonetorecognizethetruthofher，thewomanhoodyetunsullied——howstrange，howterrible，howoverpowering！False，indeed，wasshetotheJorths！FalseashermotherhadbeentoanIsbel！

ThisagonyanddestructionofhersoulwasthebitterDeadSeafruit——thesinsofherparentsvisiteduponher。

"I’llenditall，"shewhisperedtothenightshadowsthathoveredoverher。Nocowardwasshe——nofearofpainormangledfleshordeathorthemysterioushereaftercouldeverstayher。Itwouldbeeasy，itwouldbealastthrill，atransportofself—abasementandsupremeself—proofofherloveforJeanIsbeltokisstheRimrockwherehisfeethadtrodandthenflingherselfdownintothedepths。ShewasthelastJorth。SothewrongedIsbelswouldbeavenged。

"Buthewouldneverknow——neverknow——Iliedtohim！"shewailedtothenightwind。

Shewaslost——lostonearthandtohopeofheaven。Shehadrightneithertolivenortodie。Shewasnothingbutalittleweedalongthetrailoflife，trampledupon，buriedinthemud。Shewasnothingbutasinglerottenthreadinatangledwebofloveandhateandrevenge。

Andshehadbroken。

Lowerandlowersheseemedtosink。Wastherenoendtothisgulfofdespair？IfColterhadreturnedhewouldhavefoundheraragandatoy——acreaturedegraded，fitforhisvileembrace。Tobethrustdeeperintothemire——tobepunishedfittinglyforherbetrayalofaman’snobleloveandherownwomanhood——tobemadeanendof，body，mind，andsoul。

ButColterdidnotreturn。

Thewindmourned，theowlshooted，theleavesrustled，theinsectswhisperedtheirmelancholynightsong，thecamp—fireflickeredandfaded。

ThenthewildforestlandseemedtocloseimponderablyoverEllen。Allthatshewailedinherdeapair，allthatsheconfessedinherabasement，wastrue，andhardaslifecouldbe——butshebelongedtonature。Ifnaturehadnotfailedher，hadGodfailedher？Itwasthere——thelonelylandoftreeandfernandflowerandbrook，fullofwildbirdsandbeasts，wherethemossyrockscouldspeakandthesolitudehadears，whereshehadalwaysfeltherselfunutterablyapartofcreation。Thusawaveringsparkofhopequiveredthroughtheblacknessofhersoulandgatheredlight。

Thegloomofthesky，theshiftingcloudsofdullshade，splitasundertoshowaglimpseofaradiantstar，piercinglywhite，cold，pure，asteadfasteyeoftheuniverse，beyondallunderstandingandillimitablewithitsmeaningofthepastandthepresentandthefuture。Ellenwatchedituntilthedriftingcloudsoncemorehiditfromherstrainedsight。

Whathadthatstartodowithhell？Shemightbecrushedanddestroyedbylife，butwastherenotsomethingbeyond？Justtobeborn，justtosuffer，justtodie——couldthatbeall？DespairdidnotlooseitsholdonEllen，thestrifeandpangofherbreastdidnotsubside。Butwiththelonghoursandthestrangeclosinginoftheforestaroundherandthefleetingglimpseofthatwonderfulstar，withasubtledivinationofthemeaningofherbeatingheartandthrobbingmind，and，lastly，withavoicethunderingatherconsciencethataman’sfaithinawomanmustnotbegreater，nobler，thanherfaithinGodandeternity——withtheseshecheckedthedarkflightofhersoultowarddestruction。

CHAPTERXII

Achill，gray，somberdawnwasbreakingwhenEllendraggedherselfintothecabinandcreptunderherblankets，theretosleepthesleepofexhaustion。

Whensheawokethehourappearedtobelateafternoon。Sunandskyshonethroughthesunkenanddecayedroofoftheoldcabin。Heruncle，TadJorth，layuponablanketbedupheldbyacrudecouchofboughs。

Thelightfelluponhisface，pale，lined，castinastillmoldofsuffering。Hewasnotdead，forsheheardhisrespiration。

ThefloorunderneathEllen’sblanketswasbareclay。SheandJorthwerealoneinthiscabin。Itcontainednothingbesidestheirbedsandarankgrowthofweedsalongthedecayedlowerlogs。Halfofthecabinhadarudeceilingofrough—hewnboardswhichformedakindofloft。

Thisatticextendedthroughtotheadjoiningcabin，formingtheceilingoftheporch—likespacebetweenthetwostructures。Therewasnopartition。Aladderoftwoaspensaplings，peggedtothelogs，andwithbracesbetweenforsteps，leduptotheattic。

Ellensmelledwoodsmokeandtheodoroffryingmeat，andsheheardthevoicesofmen。ShelookedouttoseethatSlaterandSomershadjoinedtheirparty——anadditionthatmighthavestrengtheneditfordefense，butdidnotlendherownsituationanythingfavorable。Somershadalwaysappearedtheonebesttoavoid。

Colterespiedherandcalledherto"Comean’feedyourpaleface。"

Hiscomradeslaughed，notloudly，butguardedly，asifnoisewassomethingtoavoid。Nevertheless，theyawokeTadJorth，whobegantotossandmoanonthebed。

Ellenhurriedtohissideandatonceascertainedthathehadahighfeverandwasinacriticalcondition。Everytimehetossedheopenedawoundinhisrightbreast，ratherhighup。Forallshecouldsee，nothinghadbeendoneforhimexceptthebindingofascarfroundhisneckandunderhisarm。Thisscantbandagehadworkedloose。Goingtothedoor，shecalledout:

"Fetchmesomewater。"WhenColterbroughtit，Ellenwasrummaginginherpackforsomeclothingortowelthatshecoulduseforbandages。

"Weren’tanyofy’udecentenoughtolookaftermyuncle？"shequeried。

"Huh！Wal，whatthehell！"rejoinedColter。"Weshoredidallwecould。

Ireckony’uthinkitwasn’tatoughjobtopackhimuptheRim。Hewasdoneforthenan’Isaidso。"

"I’lldoallIcanforhim，"saidEllen。

"Shore。Goahaid。WhenIgetpluggedorknifedbythathalf—breedIshorehopey’u’llberoundtonurseme。"

"Y’useemtobeprettyshoreofyourfate，Colter。"

"Shoreashell！"hebitout，darkly。"SomerssawIsbelan’hisgangtrailin’ustotheJorthranch。"

"Arey’ugoin’tostayheah——an’waitforthem？"

"ShoreI’vebeenquarrelin’withthefellarsoutthereoverthatveryquestion。I’mforleavin’thecountry。ButQueen，thedamngunfighter，isdaidsettokillthatcowman，Blue，whosworehewasKingFisher，theoldTexasoutlaw。NonebutQueenarespoilin’foranotherfight。

Allthesametheywon’tleaveTadJorthheahalone。"

ThenColterleanedinatthedoorandwhispered:"Ellen，Icain’tbossthisoutfit。Solet’sy’uan’meshake’em。I’vegotyourdad’sgold。

Let’srideoffto—nightan’shakethiscountry。"

Colter，mutteringunderhisbreath，leftthedoorandreturnedtohiscomrades。Ellenhadreceivedherfirstintimationofhiscowardice;

andhismentionofherfather’sgoldstartedatrainofthoughtthatpersistedinspiteofhereffortstoputallhermindtoattendingheruncle。Hegrewconsciousenoughtorecognizeherworkingoverhim，andthankedherwithalookthattouchedEllendeeply。Itchangedthedirectionofhermind。Hissufferingandimminentdeath，whichshewasabletoalleviateandretardsomewhat，workeduponherpityandcompassionsothatsheforgotherownplight。Halfthenightshewastendinghim，coolinghisfever，holdinghimquiet。Wellsherealizedthatbutforherministrationshewouldhavedied。Atlengthhewenttosleep。

AndEllen，sittingbesidehiminthelonely，silentdarknessofthatlatehour，receivedagaintheintimationofnature，thosevagueandnamelessstirringsofherinnermostbeing，thosewhisperingsoutofthenightandtheforestandthesky。Somethinggreatwouldnotletgoofhersoul。Shepondered。

AttentiontothewoundedmanoccupiedEllen;andsoonsheredoubledheractivitiesinthisregard，findinginthemsomethingofprotectionagainstColter。

Hehadwaylaidherasshewenttoaspringforwater，andwithalungelikethatofabearhehadtriedtoembraceher。ButEllenhadbeentooquick。

"Wal，arey’ugoin’awaywithme？"hedemanded。

"No。I’llstickbymyuncle，"shereplied。

Thatmotiveofhersseemedtoobstructhiswill。EllenwaskeentoseethatColterandhiscomradeswereatalaststandanddisintegratingunderaseverestrain。Nerveandcourageoftheopenandthewildtheypossessed，butonlyinalimiteddegree。Colterseemedobsessedbyhispassionforher，andthoughElleninherstubbornpridedidnotyetfearhim，sherealizedsheoughtto。Afterthatincidentshewatchedclosely，neverleavingheruncle’sbedsideexceptwhenColterwasabsent。Oneormoreofthemenkeptconstantlookoutsomewheredownthecanyon。

Dayafterdaypassedonthewingsofsuspense，ofwatching，ofministeringtoheruncle，ofwaitingforsomehourthatseemedfixed。

Colterwaslikeahounduponhertrail。Ateveryturnhewastheretoimportunehertorunoffwithhim，tofrightenherwiththemenaceoftheIsbels，tobeghertogiveherselftohim。Itcametopassthattheonlyreliefshehadwaswhensheatewiththemenorbarredthecabindooratnight。Notmuchrelief，however，wasthereintheshutandbarreddoor。WithonethrustofhispowerfularmColtercouldhavecaveditin。HeknewthisaswellasEllen。Stillshedidnothavethefearsheshouldhavehad。Therewasherriflebesideher，andthoughshedidnotallowhermindtorundarklyonitspossibleuse，stillthefactofitsbeingthereathandsomehowstrengthenedher。

Colterwasacatplayingwithamouse，butnotyetsureofhisquarry。

Ellencametoknowhourswhenshewasweak——weakphysically，mentally，spiritually，morally——whenunderthesheerweightofthisfrightfulandgrowingburdenofsuspenseshewasnotcapableoffightinghermisery，herabasement，herlowebbofvitality，andatthesametimewhollywithstandingColter’sadvances。

Hewouldcomeintothecabinand，utterlyindifferenttoTadJorth，hewouldtrytomakeboldandunrestrainedlovetoEllen。Whenhecaughtherinoneofherunresistingmomentsandwasabletoholdherinhisarmsandkissherheseemedtobebesidehimselfwiththewonderofher。Atsuchmoments，ifhehadanysoftnessorgentlenessinhim，theyexpressedthemselvesinhissoonerorlaterlettinghergo，whenapparentlyshewasabouttofaint。SoitmusthavebecomefascinatinglyfixedinColter’smindthatattimesEllenrepulsedhimwithscornandatotherscouldnotresisthim。

Ellenhadescapedtwocrisesinherrelationwiththisman，andasamorbiddoubt，likeapoisonousfungus，begantostranglehermind，sheinstinctivelydivinedthattherewasanapproachingandfinalcrisis。Noupliftofherspiritcamethistime——nointimations——nowhisperings。Howhorribleitallwas！Tolongtobegoodandnoble——torealizethatshewasneither——tosinklowerdaybyday！Mustshedecaytherelikeoneoftheserottinglogs？Worstofall，then，wastheinsinuatingandever—growinghopelessness。Whatwastheuse？

Whatdiditmatter？WhowouldeverthinkofEllenJorth？"OGod！"

shewhisperedinherdistraction，"istherenothingleft——nothingatall？"

AperiodofseveraldaysoflesstormenttoEllenfollowed。HeruncleapparentlytookaturnforthebetterandColterletheralone。ThislastcircumstancenonplusedEllen。ShewasatalosstounderstanditunlesstheIsbelmenacenowencroacheduponColtersoformidablythathehadforgottenherforthepresent。

ThenonebrightAugustmorning，whenshehadjustbeguntorelaxhereternalvigilanceandbreathewithoutoppression，Colterencounteredherand，darklysilentandfierce，hegraspedheranddrewheroffherfeet。Ellenstruggledviolently，butthetotalsurprisehaddeprivedherofstrength。Andthatparalyzingweaknessassailedherasneverbefore。WithoutapparenteffortColtercarriedher，stridingrapidlyawayfromthecabinsintotheborderofsprucetreesatthefootofthecanyonwall。

"Colter——where——oh，whereareY’utakin’me？"shefoundvoicetocryout。

"ByGod！Idon’tknow，"hereplied，withstrong，vibrantpassion。

"Iwasafoolnottocarryy’uofflongago。ButIwaited。Iwashopin’y’u’dloveme！……An’nowthatIsbelganghascorralledus。

Somersseenthehalf—breedupontherocks。An’Springerseentherestofthemsneakin’around。Irunbackaftermyhorsean’y’u。"

"ButUncleTad！……Wemustn’tleavehimalone，"criedEllen。

"We’vegotto，"repliedColter，grimly。"Tadshorewon’tworryy’unomore——soonasJeanIsbelgetstohim。"

"Oh，letmestay，"imploredEllen。"Iwillsavehim。"

Colterlaughedattheutterabsurdityofherappealandclaim。

Suddenlyhesetherdownuponherfeet。"Standstill，"heordered。

Ellensawhisbigbayhorse，saddled，withpackandblanket，tiedthereintheshadeofaspruce。WithswifthandsColteruntiedhimandmountedhim，scarcelymovinghispiercinggazefromEllen。Hereachedtograspher。"Upwithy’u！……Putyourfootinthestirrup！"Hiswill，likehispowerfularm，wasirresistibleforEllenatthatmoment。Shefoundherselfswungupbehindhim。Thenthehorseplungedaway。WhatwiththehardmotionandColter’sirongrasponherEllenwasinapainfulposition。Herkneesandfeetcameintoviolentcontactwithbranchesandsnags。Hegallopedthehorse，tearingthroughthedensethicketofwillowsthatservedtohidetheentrancetothesidecanyon，andwhenoutinthelargerandmoreopencanyonheurgedhimtoarun。PresentlywhenColterputthehorsetoaslowriseofground，therebybringinghimtoawalk，itwasjustintimetosaveEllenaseriousbruising。Againthesunlightappearedtoshadeover。

Theywereinthepines。SuddenlywithbackwardlungeColterhaltedthehorse。Ellenheardayell。SherecognizedQueen’svoice。

"Turnback，Colter！Turnback！"

WithanoathColterwheeledhismount。"IfIdidn’trunplumpintothem，"heejaculated，harshly。Andscarcelyhadthegoadedhorsegottenastartwhenashotrangout。Ellenfeltaviolentshock，asifhermomentumhadsuddenlymetwithacheck，andthenshefeltherselfwrenchedfromColter，fromthesaddle，andpropelledintotheair。

Shealightedonsoftgroundandthickgrass，andwasunhurtsavefortheviolentwrenchandshakingthathadrenderedherbreathless。BeforeshecouldriseColterwaspullingather，liftinghertoherfeet。Shesawthehorselyingwithbloodyhead。Tallpinesloomedallaround。

Anotherriflecracked。"Run！"hissedColter，andheboundedoff，draggingherbythehand。Anotheryellpealedout。"Hereweare，Colter！"。AgainitwasQueen’sshrillvoice。Ellenranwithallhermight，herheartinherthroat，hersightfailingtorecordmorethanablurofpassingpinesandablankgreenwallofspruce。Thenshelostherbalance，wasfalling，yetcouldnotfallbecauseofthatsteelgriponherhand，andwasdragged，andfinallycarried，intoadenseshade。Shewasblinded。Thetreeswhirledandfaded。Voicesandshotssoundedfaraway。Thensomethingblackseemedtobewipedacrossherfeeling。

Itturnedtogray，tomovingblankness，todim，hazyobjects，spectralandtall，likeblanketedtrees，andwhenEllenfullyrecoveredconsciousnessshewasbeingcarriedthroughtheforest。

"Wal，littleone，thatwasacloseshavefory’u，"saidColter’shardvoice，growingclearer。"Reckonyourkeelin’overwasnaturalenough。"

Heheldherlightlyinbotharms，herheadrestingabovehisleftelbow。

Ellensawhisfaceasagrayblur，thentakingsharperoutline，untilitstoodoutdistinctly，paleandclammy，witheyescoldandwonderfulintheirintenseflare。AsshegazedupwardColterturnedhisheadtolookbackthroughthewoods，andhismotionbetrayedakeen，wildvigilance。Theveinsofhislean，brownneckstoodoutlikewhipcords。

Twocomradeswerestalkingbesidehim。Ellenheardtheirstealthysteps，andshefeltColtersheerfromonesideortheother。Theywereproceedingcautiously，fearfuloftherear，butnotwhollytrustingtothefore。

"Reckonwe’dbettergoslowan’lookbeforeweleap，"saidonewhosevoiceEllenrecognizedasSpringer’s。

"Shore。Thatopenslopeain’ttomylikin’，withourNezPercefriendprowlin’round，"drawledColter，ashesetEllendownonherfeet。

Anotheroftherustlerslaughed。"Say，can’thetwinklethroughtheforest？Ihadfourshotsathim。Hardertohitthanaturkeyrunnin’

crossways。"

Thisfacetiousspeakerwastheevil—visaged，sardonicSomers。

Hecarriedtworiflesandworetwobeltsofcartridges。

"Ellen，shorey’uain’tsodaidwhiteasy’uwas，"observedColter，andhechuckedherunderthechinwithfamiliarhand。"Setdownheah。

Idon’twanty’ustoppin’anybullets。An’there’snotellin’。"

Ellenwasgladtocomplywithhiswish。Shehadbeguntorecoverwitsandstrength，yetshestillfeltshaky。Sheobservedthattheirpositionthenwasontheedgeofawell—woodedslopefromwhichshecouldseethegrassycanyonfloorbelow。Theywereonalevelbench，projectingoutfromthemaincanyonwallthatloomedgrayandruggedandpinefringed。

SomersandCotterandSpringergavecarefulattentiontoallpointsofthecompass，especiallyinthedirectionfromwhichtheyhadcome。

Theyevidentlyanticipatedbeingtrailedorcircledorheadedoff，butdidnotmanifestmuchconcern。Somerslitacigarette;Springerwipedhisfacewithagrimyhandandcountedtheshellsinhisbelt，whichappearedtobehalfempty。Colterstretchedhislongnecklikeavultureandpeereddowntheslopeandthroughtheaislesoftheforestuptowardthecanyonrim。

"Listen！"hesaid，tersely，andbenthisheadalittletooneside，eartotheslightbreeze。