第18章

Theyalllistened。Ellenheardthebeatingofherheart，therustleofleaves，thetappingofawoodpecker，andfaint，remotesoundsthatshecouldnotname。

"Deer，Ireckon，"spokeupSomers。

"Ahuh！Wal，Ireckontheyain’ttrailin’usyet，"repliedColter。

"Wegavethemashadebetter’ntheysentus。"

"Shortan’sweet！"ejaculatedSpringer，andheremovedhisblacksombrerotopokeadirtyforefingerthroughabuffetholeinthecrown。

"Thet’showcloseIcometocashin’。Iwaslyin’behindalog，listenin’an’watchin’，an’whenIstuckmyheadupalittle——zam！

Somebodymademybonnetleak。"

"Where’sQueen？"askedColter。

"Hewaswithmefustoff，"repliedSomers。"An’thenwhentheshootin’

slacked——afterI’dpluggedthetbig，red—faced，white—hairedpalofIsbel’s——"

"ReckonthetwasBlaisdell，"interruptedSpringer。

"Queen——hegottiredlayin’low，"wentonSomers。"Hewantedaction。

Iheerdhimchewin’tohimself，an’whenIaskedhimwhatwaseatin’

himheupan’growledhewasgoin’toquitthisInjunfightin’。

An’heslippedoffinthewoods。"

"Wal，that’sthegunfighterofit，"declaredColter，wagginghishead，"Eversincethatcowman，Blue，bracedusan’saidhewasKingFisher，whyQueenhasbeensulkieran’sulkier。Hecain’thelpit。He’lldothesametrickasBluetried。An’shorehe’llgethiseverlastin’。

Buthe’stheTexasbreedallright。"

"Say，doyoureckonBluereallyisKingFisher？"queriedSomers。

"Naw！"ejaculatedColter，withdownwardsweepofhishand。"Manyawould—begunslingerhasborrowedFisher’sname。ButFisherisdaidthesemanyyears。"

"Ahuh！Wal，mebbe，butdon’tyoufergitit——thetBluewasnowould—be，"

declaredSomers。"Hewasthegenuinearticle。"

"Ishouldsmile！"affirmedSpringer。

ThesubjectirritatedColter，andhedismisseditwithanotherforciblegestureandacounterquestion。

"HowmanyleftinthatIsbeloutfit？"

"Notellin’。Thereshorewasenoughofthem，"repliedSomers。"Anyhow，thewoodswasfullofflyin’bullets……Springer，didyouaccountforanyofthem？"

"Nope——notthetInoticed，"respondedSpringer，dryly。"Ihadmychanceatthehalf—breed……ReckonIwasnervous。"

"WasSlaternearyouwhenheyelledout？"

"No。Hewaslyin’besideSomers。"

"Wasn’tthetaqueerwayferamantoact？"brokeinSomers。"AbullethitSlater，cuthimdownthebackashewaslyin’flat。Reckonitwasn’tbad。Butithurthimsothethejumpedrightupan’staggeredaround。

Hemadeatargetbigasatree。An’mebbethemIsbelsdidn’triddlehim！"

"ThatwaswhenIgotmycrackatBillIsbel，"declaredColter，withgrimsatisfaction。"WhentheyshotmyhorseoutfromundermeIhadEllentothinkofan’couldn’tgetmyrifle。Shorehadtorun，asyuseen。Wal，asIonlyhadmysix—shooter，therewasnothin’formetodobutlaylowan’listentothespingoflead。Wellswasstandin’upbehindatreeaboutthirtyyardsoff。Hegotplugged，an’fallin’overhebegantocrawlmyway，stillholdin’tohisrifle。Icrawledalongthelogtomeethim。Buthedroppedaboothalf—way。Iwentonan’tookhisriflean’belt。WhenIpeepedoutfrombehindasprucebushthenIseenBillIsbel。Hewasshootin’fast，an’allofthemwasshootin’fast。Thatwar，whentheyhadtheopenshotatSlater……Wal，IboredBillIsbelrightthroughhismiddle。Hedroppedhisriflean’，allbentdouble，hefooledaroundinacircletillhefloppedovertheRim。Ireckonhe’slayin’rightuptheresomewherebelowthatdaidspruce。I’dshoreliketoseehim。"

"IWal，you’dbeascrazyasOueenifyoutriedthet，declaredSomers。

"We’renotoutofthewoodsyet。"

"Ireckonnot，"repliedColter。"An’I’velostmyhorse。Where’dy’uleaveyours？"

"They’redownthecanyon，belowthetwillowbrake。An’saddledan’

noneofthemtied。Reckonwe’llhavetolookthemupbeforedark。"

"Colter，what’rewegoin’todo？"demandedSpringer。

"Waitheahawhile——thencrossthecanyonan’workroundupunderthebluff，backtothecabin。"

"An’thenwhat？"queriedSomers，doubtfullyeyingColter。

"We’vegottoeat——we’vegottohaveblankets，"rejoinedColter，testily。"An’Ireckonwecanhidetherean’standabettershowinafightthanrunnin’foritinthewoods。"

"Wal，I’mgivin’youahunchthetitlookedlikeyouwasrunnin’

ferit，"retortedSomers。

"Yes，an’packin’thegirl，"addedSpringer。"Looksfunnytome。"

BothrustlerseyedColterwithdarkanddistrustfulglances。Whathemighthaverepliednevertranspired，forthereasonthathisgaze，alwaysshiftingaround，hadsuddenlyfixedonsomething。

"Isthatawolf？"heasked，pointingtotheRim。

Bothhiscomradesmovedtogetinlinewithhisfinger。Ellencouldnotseefromherposition。

"Shorethet’sabiglofer，"declaredSomers。"Reckonhescentedus。"

"TherehegoesalongtheRim，"observedColter。"Hedoesn’tactleary。

Lookslikeagoodsigntome。MebbetheIsbelshavegonetheotherway。"

"Looksbadtome，"rejoinedSpringer，gloomily。

"An’why？"demandedColter。

"Iseenthetanimal。FusttimeIreckoneditwasalofer。SecondtimeitwasrightnearthemIsbels。An’I’mdamnednowifIdon’tbelieveit’sthethalf—lofersheepdogofGassIsbel’s。"

"Wal，whatifitis？"

"Ha！……Shoreweneedn’tworryabouthidin’out，"repliedSpringer，sententiously。"WiththetdogJeanIsbelcouldtrailagrasshopper。"

"Thehelly’usay！"mutteredColter。Manifestlysuchapossibilityputadifferentlightuponthepresentsituation。Themengrewsilentandwatchful，occupiedbybroodingthoughtsandvigilantsurveillanceofallpoints。Somersslippedoffintothebrush，soontoreturn，withintentlookofimportance。

"Iheerdsomethin’，"hewhispered，jerkinghisthumbbackward。

"Rollin’gravel——crackin’oftwigs。Nodeer！……Reckonit’dbeagoodideeforustosliproundacrostthisbench。"

"Wal，y’ufellarsgo，an’I’llwatchheah，"returnedColter。

"Notmuch，"saidSomers，whileSpringerleeredknowingly。

Colterbecameincensed，buthedidnotgivewaytoit。Ponderingamoment，hefinallyturnedtoEllen。"Y’uwaitheahtillIcomeback。

An’ifIdon’tcomeinreasonabletimey’uslipacrossthecanyonan’

throughthewillowstothecabins。Waittillabootdark。"Withthathepossessedhimselfofoneoftheextrariflesandbeltsandsilentlyjoinedhiscomrades。Togethertheynoiselesslystoleintothebrush。

EllenhadnootherthoughtthantocomplywithColter’swishes。

Therewasherwoundedunclewhohadbeenleftunattended，andshewasanxioustogetbacktohim。Besides，ifshehadwantedtorunofffromColter，wherecouldshego？Aloneinthewoods，shewouldgetlostanddieofstarvation。HerlotmustbecastwiththeJorthfactionuntiltheend。Thatdidnotseemfaraway。

Herstrainedattentionandsuspensemadethemomentsfly。Byandbyseveralshotspealedoutfaracrossthesidecanyononherright，andtheywereansweredbyreportssoundingclosertoher。Thefightwasonagain。Buttheseshotswerenotrepeated。Thefliesbuzzed，thehotsunbeatdownandslopedtothewest，thesoft，warmbreezestirredtheaspens，theravenscroaked，theredsquirrelsandbluejayschattered。

Suddenlyaquick，short，yelpelectrifiedEllen，broughtheruprightwithsharp，listeningrigidity。Surelyitwasnotawolfandhardlycoulditbeacoyote。Againsheheardit。Theyelpofasheepdog！

Shehadheardthat’oftenenoughtoknow。Andsherosetochangeherpositionsoshecouldcommandaviewoftherockybluffabove。Presentlysheespiedwhatreallyappearedtobeabigtimberwolf。Butanotheryelpsatisfiedherthatitreallywasadog。Shewatchedhim。Soonitbecameevidentthathewantedtogetdownoverthebluff。Herantoandfro，andthenoutofsight。Inafewmomentshisyelpsoundedfromlowerdown，atthebaseofthebluff，anditwasnowthecryofanintelligentdogthatwastryingtocallsomeonetohisaid。EllengrewconvincedthatthedogwasnearwhereColterhadsaidBillIsbelhadplungedoverthedeclivity。Wouldthedogyelpthatwayifthemanwasdead？Ellenthoughtnot。

Noonecame，andthecontinuousyelpingofthedoggotonEllen’snerves。

Itwasacallforhelp。Andfinallyshesurrenderedtoit。SincehernaturalterrorwhenColter’shorsewasshotfromunderherandshehadbeendraggedaway，shehadnotrecoveredfromfearoftheIsbels。ButcalmconsiderationnowconvincedherthatshecouldhardlybeinaworseplightintheirhandsthanifsheremainedinColter’s。Soshestartedouttofindthedog。

Thewoodedbenchwaslevelforafewhundredyards，andthenitbegantoheaveinrugged，rockybulgesuptowardtheRim。Itdidnotappearfartowherethedogwasbarking，butthelatterpartofthedistanceprovedtobeahardclimboverjumbledrocksandthroughthickbrush。

Pantingandhot，sheatlengthreachedthebaseofthebluff，tofindthatitwasnotveryhigh。

Thedogespiedherbeforeshesawhim，forhewascomingtowardherwhenshediscoveredhim。Big，shaggy，grayishwhiteandblack，withwild，keenfaceandeyesheassuredlylookedthereputationSpringerhadaccordedhim。Butsagacious，guardedaswashisapproach，heappearedfriendly。

"Hello——doggie！"pantedEllen。"What’s——wrong——upheah？"

Heyelped，hisearslosttheirstiffness，hisbodysankalittle，andhisbushytailwaggedtoandfro。Whatagray，clear，intelligentlookhegaveher！Thenhetrottedback。

Ellenfollowedhimaroundacornerofblufftoseethebodyofamanlyingonhisback。Freshearthandgravellayabouthim，attestingtohisfallfromabove。Hehadonneithercoatnorhat，andthepositionofhisbodyandlimbssuggestedbrokenbones。AsEllenhurriedtohissideshesawthatthefrontofhisshirt，lowdown，wasabloodyblotch。

Buthecouldlifthishead;hiseyeswereopen;hewasperfectlyconscious。Ellendidnotrecognizethedusty，skinnedface，yetthemoldoffeatures，thelookoftheeyes，seemedstrangelyfamiliar。

"You’re——Jorth’s——girl，"hesaid，infaintvoiceofsurprise。

"Yes，I’mEllenJorth，"shereplied。"An’arey’uBillIsbel？"

"Allthet’sleftofme。ButI’mthankin’Godsomebodycome——evenaJorth。"

Ellenkneltbesidehimandexaminedthewoundinhisabdomen。

Aheavybullethadindeed，asColterhadavowed，tornclearthroughhismiddle。Evenifhehadnotsustainedotherseriousinjuryfromthefalloverthecliff，thatterriblebulletwoundmeantdeathveryshortly。Ellenshuddered。Howinexplicableweremen！Howcruel，bloody，mindless！

"Isbel，I’msorry——there’snohope，"shesaid，lowvoiced。"Y’u’venotlongtolive。Icain’thelpy’u。GodknowsI’ddosoifIcould。"

"Allover！"hesighed，withhiseyeslookingbeyondher。"Ireckon——I’mglad……Buty’ucan——dosomethin’fororme。Willy’u？"

"Indeed，Yes。Tellme，"shereplied，liftinghisdustyheadonherknee。

Herhandstrembledasshebrushedhiswethairbackfromhisclammybrow。

"I’vesomethin’——onmyconscience，"hewhispered。

Thewoman，thesensitiveinEllen，understoodandpitiedhimthen。

"Yes，"sheencouragedhim。

"Istolecattle——mydad’san’Blaisdell’s——an’madedeals——withDaggs……Allthecrookedness——wasn’ton——Jorth’sside……Iwant——mybrotherJean——toknow。"

"I’lltry——totellhim，"whisperedEllen，outofhergreatamaze。

"Wewereall——abadlot——exceptJean，"wentonIsbel。"Dadwasn’tfair……God！howhehatedJorth！Jorth，yes，whowas——yourfather……

Wal，they’reevennow。"

"How——so？"falteredEllen。

"Yourfatherkilleddad……Atthelast——dadwantedto——saveus。

Hesentword——he’dmeethim——facetoface——an’letthetendthefeud。

Theymetoutintheroad……Butsomeoneshotdaddown——witharifle——an’thenyourfatherfinishedhim。"

"An’then，Isbel，"addedEllen，withunconsciousmockingbitterness，"Yourbrothermurderedmydad！"

"What！"whisperedBillIsbel。"Shorey’u’vegot——itwrong。IreckonJean——couldhavekilled——yourfather……Buthedidn’t。Queer，weallthought。"

"Ah！……Whodidkillmyfather？"burstoutEllen，andhervoiceranglikegreathammersatherears。

"ItwasBlue。Hewentinthestore——alone——facedthewholegangalone。

Bluffedthem——tauntedthem——toldthemhewasKingFisher……Thenhekilled——yourdad——an’JacksonJorth……Jeanwasout——backofthestore。Wewereout——front。Therewasshootin’。Colmorwashit。

ThenBlueranout——badhurt……Bothofthem——diedinMeeker’syard。"

"An’soJeanIsbelhasnotkilledaJorth！"saidEllen，instrange，deepvoice。

"No，"repliedIsbel，earnestly。"Ireckonthisfeud——washardestonJean。Heneverlivedheah……An’mysisterAnnsaid——hegotsweetony’u……Nowdidhe？"

Slow，stingingtearsfilledEllen’seyes，andherheadsanklowandlower。

"Yes——hedid，"shemurmured，tremulously。

"Ahuh！Wal，thetaccounts，"repliedIsbel，wonderingly。"Toobad！……

Itmighthavebeen……Amanalwayssees——differentwhen——he’sdyin’……IfIhad——mylife——toliveoveragain！……Mypoorkids——desertedintheirbabyhood——ruinedforlife！Allfornothin’……

MayGodforgive——"

Thenhechokedandwhisperedforwater。

Ellenlaidhisheadbackand，rising，shetookhissombreroandstartedhurriedlydowntheslope，makingdustflyandrocksroll。Hermindwasaseethingferment。Leaping，bounding，slidingdowntheweatheredslope，shegainedthebench，torunacrossthat，andsoondownintotheopencanyontothewillow—borderedbrook。Hereshefilledthesombrerowithwaterandstartedback，forcednowtowalkslowlyandcarefully。Itwasthen，withtheviolenceandfuryofintensemuscularactivitydeniedher，thatthetremendousimportofBillIsbel’srevelationburstuponherveryfleshandbloodandtransfiguringtheveryworldofgoldenlightandazureskyandspeakingforestlandthatencompassedher。

Notadropofthepreciouswaterdidshespill。Notamisstepdidshemake。Yetsogreatwasthespelluponherthatshewasnotawareshehadclimbedthesteepslopeuntilthedogyelpedhiswelcome。Thenwithallthefloodofheremotionsurgingandresurgingsheknelttoallaytheparchingthirstofthisdyingenemywhosewordshadchangedfrailtytostrength，hatetolove，and，thegloomyhellofdespairtosomethingunutterable。Butshehadreturnedtoolate。BillIsbelwasdead。

CHAPTERXIII

JeanIsbel，holdingthewolf—dogSheppinleash，wasonthetrailofthemostdangerousofJorth’sgang，thegunmanQueen。Darkdropsofbloodonthestonesandplaintracksofarider’ssharp—heeledbootsbehindcovertsindicatedthetrailofawounded，slow—travelingfugitive。Therefore，JeanIsbelheldinthedogandproceededwiththewaryeyeandwatchfulcautionofanIndian。

Queen，truetohisclass，andemulatingBluewiththesamemagnificenteffronteryandwiththesameparalyzingsuddennessofsurprise，hadappearedasifbymagicatthelastnightcampoftheIsbelfaction。

Jeanhadseenhimfirst，intimetoleaplikeapantherintotheshadow。

ButhecarriedinhisshoulderQueen’sfirstbulletofthatterribleencounter。UponGordonandFredericksfellthebruntofQueen’sfusillade。Andthey，shottopieces，staggeringandfalling，heldpassionategriponlifelongenoughtodrawandstillQueen’sgunsandsendhimreelingoffintothedarknessoftheforest。

Unarmed，andhinderedbyapainfulwound，Jeanhadkeptavigilnearcampallthatsilentandmenacingnight。MorningdisclosedGordonandFredericksstarkandghastlybesidetheburned—outcamp—fire，theirgunsclutchedimmovablyinstiffenedhands。Jeanburiedthemasbesthecould，andwhentheywereundergroundwithflatstonesontheirgravesheknewhimselftobeindeedthelastoftheIsbelclan。Andallthatwaswildandsavageinhisbloodanddesperateinhisspiritrosetomakehimmorethanmanandlessthanhuman。Thenforthethirdtimeduringthesetragiclastdaysthewolf—dogSheppcametohim。

JeanwashedthewoundQueenhadgivenhimandboundittightly。

Thekeenpangandburnoftheleadwasaconstantandall—powerfulreminderofthegrimworkleftforhimtodo。ThewholeworldwasnolongerlargeenoughforhimandwhoeverwasleftoftheJorths。Theheritageofbloodhisfatherhadbequeathedhim，theunshakableloveforaworthlessgirlwhohadsodwarfedandobstructedhiswillandsobitterlydefeatedandreviledhispoor，romantic，boyishfaith，thekillingofhostilemen，sostrangeinitsaftereffects，thepursuitsandfights，andlossofonebyoneofhisconfederates——thesehadfinallyengenderedinJeanIsbelawild，unslakablethirst，thesehadbeenthecauseofhisretrogression，thesehadunalterablyandruthlesslyfixedinhisdarkenedmindonefiercepassion——toliveanddiethelastmanofthatJorth—Isbelfeud。

AtsunriseJeanleftthiscamp，takingwithhimonlyasmallknapsackofmeatandbread，andwiththeeager，wildSheppinleashhesetoutonQueen’sbloodytrail。

BlackdropsofbloodonthestonesandanirregulartrailoffootprintsprovedtoJeanthatthegunmanwashardhit。Herehehadfallen，orknelt，orsatdown，evidentlytobindhiswounds。Jeanfoundstripsofscarf，redanddiscarded。Andtheblooddropsfailedtoshowonmorerocks。Inadeepforestofspruce，undersilver—tippedspreadingbranches，Queenhadrested，perhapsslept。Thenlaboringwithdraggingsteps，notimprobablywithalameleg，hehadgoneon，upoutofthedark—greenravinetotheopen，dry，pine—tippedridge。Herehehadrested，perhapswaitedtoseeifhewerepursued。FromthatpointhistrailspokeaneasylanguageforJean’skeeneye。Thegunmanknewhewaspursued。Hehadseenhisenemy。ThereforeJeanproceededwithaslowcaution，nevergettingwithinrevolverrangeofambush，usingallhiswoodcrafttotrailthismanandyetsavehimself。Queentraveledslowly，eitherbecausehewaswoundedorelsebecausehetriedtoambushhispursuer，andJeanaccommodatedhispacetothatofQueen。Fromnoonofthatdaytheywereneverfarapart，neveroutofhearingofarifleshot。

ThecontrastofthebeautyandpeaceandlonelinessofthesurroundingstothenatureofQueen’sflightoftenobtrudeditsstrangetruthintothesomberturbulenceofJean’smind，intothatfixedcolumnarideaaroundwhichfleetingthoughtshoveredandgatheredlikeshadows。

Earlyfrosthadtouchedtheheightswithitsmagicwand。Andtheforestseemedatempleinwhichmanmightworshipnatureandliferatherthanstealthroughthedellsandunderthearchedaisleslikeabeastofprey。

Thegreen—and—goldleavesofaspensquiveredintheglades;maplesintheravinesflutteredtheirred—and—purpleleaves。Theneedle—mattedcarpetunderthepinesviedwiththelonglanesofsilverygrass，alikeenticingtotheeyeofmanandbeast。Sunnyraysoflight，fleckedwithdustandflyinginsects，slanteddownfromtheoverhangingbrown—limbed，green—massedfoliage。Roarofwindinthedistantforestalternatedwithsoftbreezecloseathand。Smalldove—graysquirrelsranalloverthewoodland，verycuriousaboutJeanandhisdog，rustlingthetwigs，scratchingthebarkoftrees，chatteringandbarking，frisky，saucy，andbright—eyed。Aplaintivetwitterofwildcanariescamefromtheregionabovethetreetops——firstvoicesofbirdsintheirpilgrimagetowardthesouth。Pineconesdroppedwithsoftthuds。Thebluejaysfollowedtheseintrudersintheforest，screechingtheirdispleasure。

Likerainpatteredthedroppingseedsfromthespruces。Awoody，earthy，leafyfragrance，dampwiththecurrentoflife，mingledwithacool，dry，sweetsmellofwitheredgrassandrottingpines。

Solitudeandlonesomeness，peaceandrest，wildlifeandnature，reignedthere。Itwasagolden—greenregion，enchantingtothegazeofman。AnIndianwouldhavewalkedtherewithhisspirits。

AndevenasJeanfeltallthiselevatingbeautyandinscrutablespirithiskeeneyeoncemorefastenedupontheblood—reddropsQueenhadagainleftonthegraymossandrock。Hiswoundhadreopened。

Jeanfeltthethrillofthescentingpanther。

Thesunset，twilightgathered，nightfell。Jeancrawledunderadense，low—spreadingspruce，atesomebreadandmeat，fedthedog，andlaydowntorestandsleep。Histhoughtsburdenedhim，heavyandblackasthemantleofnight。Awolfmournedahungrycryforamate。SheppquiveredunderJean’shand。Thatwasthecallwhichhadluredhimfromtheranch。

Thewolfbloodinhimyearnedforthewild。Jeantiedthecowhideleashtohiswrist。WhenthisdarkbusinesswasatanendSheppcouldbefreetojointhelonelymatemourningoutthereintheforest。ThenJeanslept。

Dawnbrokecold，clear，frosty，withsilveredgrasssparkling，withasoft，faintrustlingoffallingaspenleaves。WhenthesunroseredJeanwasagainonthetrailofQueen。Byafrosty—fernedbrook，wherewatertinkledandranclearasairandcoldasice，Jeanquenchedhisthirst，leaningonastonethatshoweddropsofblood。Queen，too，hadtoquenchhisthirst。Whatgood，whathelp，Jeanwondered，couldthecold，sweet，granitewater，sodeartowoodsmenandwildcreatures，dothiswounded，huntedrustler？Whydidhenotwaitintheopentofightandfacethedeathhehadmeted？Wherewasthatsplendidandterribledaringofthegunman？Queen’sloveoflifedraggedhimonandon，hourbyhour，throughthepinegrovesandsprucewoods，throughtheoakswalesandaspenglades，upanddowntherockygorges，aroundthewindfallsandovertherottinglogs。

ThetimecamewhenQueentriednomoreambush。Hegaveuptryingtotraphispursuerbylyinginwait。Hegaveuptryingtoconcealhistracks。Hegrewstrongeror，indesperation，increasedhisenergy，sothatheredoubledhisprogressthroughthewilderness。That，atbest，wouldcountonlyafewmilesaday。Andhebegantocircletothenorthwest，backtowardthedeepcanyonwhereBlaisdellandBillIsbelhadreachedtheendoftheirtrails。Queenhadevidentlylefthiscomrades，hadlone—handeditinhislastfight，butwasnowtryingtogetbacktothem。Somewhereinthesewild，deepforestbrakestherestoftheJorthfactionhadfoundahidingplace。JeanletQueenleadhimthere。

EllenJorthwouldbewiththem。Jeanhadseenher。IthadbeenhisshotthatkilledColter’shorse。AndhehadwithheldfurtherfirebecauseColterhaddraggedthegirlbehindhim，protectinghisbodywithhers。SoonerorlaterJeanwouldcomeupontheircamp。Shewouldbethere。Thethoughtofherdarkbeauty，wastedinwantonnessupontheserustlers，addedadeadlyragetothebloodlustandrighteouswrathofhisvengeance。Letheragainflauntherdegradationinhisfaceand，bytheGodshehadforsaken，hewouldkillher，andsoendtheraceofJorths！

Anothernightfell，darkandcold，withoutstarlight。Thewindmoanedintheforest。Sheppwasrestless。Hesniffedtheair。Therewasasteponhistrail。Againamournful，eager，wild，andhungrywolfcrybrokethesilence。Itwasdeepandlow，likethatofabayinghound，butinfinitelywilder。Sheppstrainedtogetaway。Duringthenight，whileJeanslept，hemanagedtochewthecowhideleashapartandrunoff。

NextdaynodogwasneededtotrailQueen。Fogandlow—driftingcloudsintheforestandamistyrainhadputtherustleroffhisbearings。

Hewaslost，andshowedthatherealizedit。Strangehowamaturedman，fighterofahundredbattles，steepedinbloodshed，andonhislaststand，shouldgrowpanic—strickenuponbeinglost！SoJeanIsbelreadthesignsofthetrail。

Queencircledandwanderedthroughthefoggy，drippingforestuntilheheadeddownintoacanyon。ItwasonethatnotchedtheRimandleddownanddown，mileaftermileintotheBasin。NotsoonhadQueendiscoveredhismistake。Whenhediddoso，nightovertookhim。

Theweatherclearedbeforemorning。Redandbrightthesunburstoutoftheeasttofloodthatlowbasinlandwithlight。JeanfoundthatQueenhadtraveledonandon，hoping，nodoubt，toregainwhathehadlost。Butinthedarknesshehadclimbedtothemanzanitaslopesinsteadofbackupthecanyon。AndherehehadfoughttheholdofthatstrangebrushofSpanishnameuntilhefellexhausted。

SurelyQueenwouldmakehisstandandwaitsomewhereinthisdevilishthicketforJeantocatchupwithhim。ManyandmanyaplaceJeanwouldhavechosenhadhebeeninQueen’splace。ManyarockanddensethicketJeancircledorapproachedwithextremecare。Manzanitagrewinpatchesthatwereimpenetrableexceptforasmallanimal。Thebrushwasafewfeethigh，seldomsohighthatJeancouldnotlookoverit，andofabeautifulappearance，havingglossy，smallleaves，agoldenberry，andbranchesofdark—redcolor。Thesebranchesweretoughandunbendable。