第19章

Everybush，almost，hadlowbranchesthatweredead，hardassteel，sharpasthorns，asclutchingascactus。Progresswaspossibleonlybyendlessdetourstofindthehalf—closedaislesbetweenpatches，orelsebycrashingthroughwithmainstrengthorwalkingrightoverthetops。Jeanpreferredthislastmethod，notbecauseitwastheeasiest，butforthereasonthathecouldseeaheadsomuchfarther。

Soheliterallywalkedacrossthetipsofthemanzanitabrush。Oftenhefellthroughandhadtostepupagain;manyabranchbrokewithhim，lettinghimdown;butforthemostparthesteppedfromforktofork，onbranchafterbranch，withbalanceofanIndianandthepatienceofamanwhosepurposewassustainingandimmutable。

OnthatsouthslopeundertheRimthesunbeatdownhot。Therewasnobreezetotemperthedryair。AndbeforemiddayJeanwaslaboring，wetwithsweat，parchingwiththirst，dustyandhotandtiring。

Itamazedhim，thedoggednessandtenacityoflifeshownbythiswoundedrustler。Thetimecamewhenundertheburningraysofthesunhewascompelledtoabandonthewalkacrossthetipsofthemanzanitabushesandtaketothewinding，openthreadsthatranbetween。ItwouldhavebeenpoorsightindeedthatcouldnothavefollowedQueen’slabyrinthineandbrokenpassagethroughthebrush。ThenthetimecamewhenJeanespiedQueen，faraheadandabove，crawlinglikeablackbugalongthebright—greenslope。SightthenacteduponJeanasuponahoundinthechase。Buthegovernedhisactionsifhecouldnotgovernhisinstincts。Slowlybutsurelyhefollowedthedusty，hottrail，andneverapatchofbloodfailedtosendathrillalonghisveins。

Queen，headeduptowardtheRim，finallyvanishedfromsight。Hadhefallen？Washehiding？Butthehourdisclosedthathewascrawling。

Jean’skeeneyecaughttheslowmovingofthebrushandenabledhimtokeepjustsoclosetotherustler，outofrangeofthesix—shootershecarried。Andsoalltheinterminablehoursofthehotafternoonthatsnail—paceflightandpursuitkepton。

HalfwayuptheRimthegrowthofmanzanitagaveplacetoopen，yellow，rockyslopedottedwithcedars。Queentooktoaslow—ascendingridgeandlefthisbloodytracksallthewaytothetop，whereinthegatheringdarknessthewearypursuerlostthem。

Anothernightpassed。Daylightwasrelentlesstotherustler。Hecouldnothidehistrail。ButsomehowinadesperatelastrallyofstrengthhereachedapointontheheavilytimberedridgethatJeanrecognizedasbeingnearthesceneofthefightinthecanyon。Queenwasnearingtherendezvousoftherustlers。Jeancrossedtracksofhorses，andthenmoretracksthathewascertainhadbeenmadedayspastbyhisownparty。

TotheleftofthisridgemustbethedeepcanyonthathadfrustratedhiseffortstocatchupwiththerustlersonthedayBlaisdelllosthislife，andprobablyBillIsbel，too。SomethingwarnedJeanthathewasnearingtheendofthetrail，andanunaccountablesenseofimminentcatastropheseemedforeshadowedbyvaguedreadsanddoubtsinhisgloomymind。Jeanfelttheneedofrest，offood，ofeasefromthestrainofthelastweeks。Buthisspiritdrovehimimplacably。

Queen’srallyofstrengthendedattheedgeofanopen，baldridgethatwasbareofbrushorgrassandwassurroundedbyalineofforestonthreesides，andonthefourthbyalowbluffwhichraiseditsgrayheadabovethepines。AcrossthisdustyopenQueenhadcrawled，leavingunmistakablesignsofhiscondition。Jeantooklongsurveyofthecircleoftreesandofthelow，rockyeminence，neitherofwhichheliked。Itmightbewisertokeeptocover，Jeanthought，andworkaroundtowhereQueen’strailenteredtheforestagain。Buthewastired，gloomy，andhiseternalvigilancewasfailing。Nevertheless，hestilledforthethousandthtimethatboldpromptingofhisvengeanceand，takingtotheedgeoftheforest，hewenttoconsiderablepainstocircletheopenground。AndsuddenlysightofamansittingbackagainstatreehaltedJean。

Hestaredtomakesurehiseyesdidnotdeceivehim。Manytimesstumpsandsnagsandrockshadtakenonstrangeresemblancetoastandingorcrouchingman。Thiswasonlyanothersuggestiveblunderofthemindbehindhiseyes——whathewantedtoseeheimaginedhesaw。Jeanglidedonfromtreetotreeuntilhemadesurethatthissittingimageindeedwasthatofaman。Hesatboltupright，facingbackacrosstheopen，handsrestingonhisknees——andcloserscrutinyshowedJeanthatheheldagunineachhand。

Queen！Atthelasthisnervehadrevived。Hecouldnotcrawlanyfarther，hecouldneverescape，sowiththecourageoffatalityhechosetheopen，tofacehisfoeanddie。Jeanhadathrillofadmirationfortherustler。Thenhestalkedoutfromunderthepinesandstrodeforwardwithhisrifleready。

AwatchingmancouldnothavefailedtoespyJean。ButQueennevermadetheslightestmove。Moreover，hisstiff，unnaturalpositionstruckJeansosingularlythathehaltedwithamutteredexclamation。

HewasnowaboutfiftypacesfromQueen，withinrangeofthosesmallguns。Jeancalled，sharply，"QUEEN！"Stillthefigureneverrelaxedintheslightest。

Jeanadvancedafewmorepaces，rifleup，readytofiretheinstantQueenliftedagun。Theman’simmobilitybroughtthecoldsweattoJean’sbrow。Hestoppedtobendthefullintensepowerofhisgazeuponthisinertfigure。SuddenlyoverJeanflasheditsmeaning。

Queenwasdead。Hehadbackedupagainstthepine，readytofacehisfoe，andhehaddiedthere。NotashadowofadoubtenteredJean’smindashestartedforwardagain。Heknew。Afterall，Queen’sbloodwouldnotbeonhishands。GordonandFredericksintheirdeaththroeshadgiventherustlermortalwounds。Jeankepton，marvelingthewhile。

Howghastlythinandhard！ThosefourdaysofflighthadbeenhellforQueen。

Jeanreachedhim——lookeddownwithstaringeyes。Thegunsweretiedtohishands。Jeanstartedviolentlyasthewholedirectionofhismindshifted。AlightningglanceshowedthatQueenhadbeenproppedagainstthetree——anothershowedboottracksinthedust。

"ByHeaven，they’vefooledme！"hissedJean，andquicklyasheleapedbehindthepinehewasnotquickenoughtoescapethecunningrustlerswhohadwaylaidhimthus。Hefelttheshock，thebiteandburnofleadbeforeheheardariflecrack。Abullethadrippedthroughhisleftforearm。Frombehindthetreehesawapuffofwhitesmokealongthefaceofthebluff——theveryspothiskeenandgloomyvigilancehaddescriedasoneofmenace。Thenseveralpuffsofwhitesmokeandringingreportsbetrayedtheambushofthetricksters。Bulletsbarkedthepineandwhistledby。Jeansawamandartfrombehindarockand，leaningover，runforanother。Jean’sswiftshotstoppedhimmidway。

Hefell，gotup，andflounderedbehindabushscarcelylargeenoughtoconcealhim。IntothatbushJeanshotagainandagain。Hehadnopaininhiswoundedarm，butthesenseoftheshockclunginhisconsciousness，andthis，withthetremendoussurpriseofthedeceit，andsuddenreleaseoflong—dammedovermasteringpassion，causedhimtoemptythemagazineofhisWinchesterinaterriblehastetokillthemanhehadhit。

Thesewerealltheloadshehadforhisrifle。Bloodpassionhadmadehimblunder。Jeancursedhimself，andhishandmovedtohisbelt。Hissix—shooterwasgone。Thesheathhadbeenloose。Hehadtiedthegunfast。Butthestringshadbeentornapart。Therustlerswereshootingagain。Bulletsthuddedintothepineandwhistledby。Bendingcarefully，JeanreachedoneofQueen’sgunsandjerkeditfromhishand。

Theweaponwasempty。Bothofhisgunswereempty。Jeanpeepedoutagaintogetthelineinwhichthebulletswerecomingand，markingacoursefromhispositiontothecoveroftheforest，heranwithallhismight。Hegainedtheshelter。Shrillyellsbehindwarnedhimthathehadbeenseen，thathisreasonforflighthadbeenguessed。Lookingback，hesawtwoorthreemenscramblingdownthebluff。Thentheloudneighofafrightenedhorsepealedout。

Jeandiscardedhisuselessrifle，andheadeddowntheridgeslope，keepingtothethickestlineofpinesandsheeringaroundtheclumpsofspruce。Asheran，hismindwhirledwithgrimthoughtsofescape，ofhisnecessitytofindthecampwhereGordonandFrederickswereburied，theretoprocureanotherrifleandammunition。Hefeltthewetblooddrippingdownhisarm，yetnopain。Theforestwastooopenforgoodcover。Hedarednotrunuphill。Hisonlycoursewasahead，andthatsoonendedinanabruptdeclivitytooprecipitoustodescend。

Asbehalted，pantingforbreath，heheardtheringofhoofsonstone，thenthethuddingbeatofrunninghorsesonsoftground。Therustlershadsightedthedirectionhehadtaken。Jeandidnotwastetimetolook。Indeed，therewasnoneed，forasheboundedalongtheclifftotherightariflecrackedandabulletwhizzedoverhishead。Itlentwingstohisfeet。Likeadeerhespedalong，leapingcracksandlogsandrocks，hisearsfilledbytherushofwind，untilhisquickeyecaughtsightofthick—growingsprucefoliageclosetotheprecipice。

Hesprangdownintothegreenmass。Hisweightprecipitatedhimthroughtheupperbranches。Butlowerdownhisspreadarmsbrokehisfall，thenretardedituntilhecaught。Along，swayinglimblethimdownanddown，wherehegraspedanotherandastifferonethatheldhisweight。

Handoverhandheworkedtowardthetrunkofthisspruceand，gainingit，hefoundotherbranchesclosetogetherdownwhichhehastened，holdbyholdandstepbystep，untilallabovehimwasblack，densefoliage，andbeneathhimthebrown，shadyslope。Sureofbeingunseenfromabove，heglidednoiselesslydownunderthetrees，slowlyregainingfreedomfromthatconstrictionofhisbreast。

Passingontoagray—lichenedcliff，overhangingandgloomy，hepausedtheretorestandtolisten。Afaintcrackofhoofonstonecametohimfromabove，apparentlyfartherontotheright。Eventuallyhispursuerswoulddiscoverthathehadtakentothecanyon。Butforthemomenthefeltsafe。Thewoundinhisforearmdrewhisattention。

Thebullethadgoneclearthroughwithoutbreakingeitherbone。

Hisshirtsleevewassoakedwithblood。Jeanrolleditbackandtightlywrappedhisscarfaroundthewound，yetstillthedark—redbloodoozedoutanddrippeddownintohishand。Hebecameawareofadull，throbbingpain。

NotmuchtimedidJeanwasteinarrivingatwhatwasbesttodo。

Forthetimebeinghehadescaped，andwhateverhadbeenhisperil，itwaspast。Indense，ruggedcountrylikethishecouldnotbecaughtbyrustlers。Buthehadonlyaknifeleftforaweapon，andtherewasverylittlemeatinthepocketofhiscoat。Saltandmatcheshepossessed。Thereforetheimperativeneedwasforhimtofindthelastcamp，wherehecouldgetrifleandammunition，bakebread，andrestupbeforetakingagainthetrailoftherustlers。HehadreasontobelievethatthiscanyonwastheonewherethefightontheRim，andlater，onabenchofwoodlandbelow，hadtakenplace。

Thereuponhearoseandglideddownunderthesprucestowardthelevel，grassyopenhecouldseebetweenthetrees。Andasheproceeded，withtheslowstepandwaryeyeofanIndian，hismindwasbusy。

Queenhadinhisflightunerringlyworkedinthedirectionofthiscanyonuntilhebecamelostinthefog;anduponregaininghisbearingshehadmadeawonderfulandheroicefforttosurmountthemanzanitaslopeandtheRimandfindtherendezvousofhiscomrades。Buthehadfailedupthereontheridge。InthinkingitoverJeanarrivedataconclusionthatQueen，findingbecouldgonofarther，hadwaited，gunsinhands，forhispursuer。Andhehaddiedinthisposition。

Thenbystrangecoincidencehiscomradeshadhappenedtocomeacrosshimand，recognizingthesituation，theyhadtakentheshellsfromhisgunsandproppedhimupwiththeideaofluringJeanon。Theyhadarrangedacunningtrickandambush，whichhadallbutsnuffedoutthelastoftheIsbels。Colterprobablyhadbeenatthebottomofthiscraftyplan。SincethefightattheIsbelranch，nowseeminglyfarbackinthepast，thismanColterhadloomedupmoreandmoreasastrongerandmoredangerousantagonisttheneitherJorthorDaggs。

BeforethathehadbeenlittleknowntoanyoftheIsbelfaction。

AnditwasColternowwhocontrolledtheremnantofthegangandwhohadEllenJorthinhispossession。

ThecanyonwallaboveJean，ontheright，grewmoreruggedandloftier，andtheoneontheleftbegantoshowwoodedslopesandbrakes，andatlastawideexpansewithawinding，willowborderonthewestandalong，low，pine—dottedbenchontheeast。IttookseveralmomentsofstudyforJeantorecognizetheruggedbluffabovethisbench。OnupthatcanyonseveralmileswasthesitewhereQueenhadsurprisedJeanandhiscomradesattheircampfire。Somewhereinthisvicinitywasthehidingplaceoftherustlers。

ThereuponJeanproceededwiththeutmoststealth，absolutelycertainthathewouldmissnosound，movement，sign，oranythingunnaturaltothewildpeaceofthecanyon。Andhisfirstsensetoregistersomethingwashiskeensmell。Sheep！Hewasamazedtosmellsheep。Theremustbeaflocknotfaraway。Thenfromwhereheglidedalongunderthetreeshesawdowntoopenplacesinthewillowbrakeandnoticedsheeptracksinthedark，muddybankofthebrook。Nextheheardfainttinkleofbells，andatlength，whenhecouldseefartherintotheopenenlargementofthecanyon，hissurprisedgazefelluponanimmensegray，woollypatchthatblottedoutacresandacresofgrass。Thousandsofsheepweregrazingthere。JeanknewtherewereseveralflocksofJorth’ssheeponthemountaininthecareofherders，buthehadneverthoughtofthembeingsofarwest，morethantwentymilesfromChevelonCanyon。Hisrovingeyescouldnotdescryanyherdersordogs。

Butheknewtheremustbedogsclosetothatimmenseflock。And，whateverhiscunning，hecouldnothopetoeludethescentandsightofshepherddogs。Itwouldbebesttogobackthewayhebadcome，waitfordarkness，thencrossthecanyonandclimbout，andworkaroundtohisobjectivepoint。Turningatonce，hestartedtoglideback。

Butalmostimmediatelyhewasbroughtstock—stillandthrillingbythesoundofhoofs。

Horseswerecominginthedirectionhewishedtotake。Theywereclose。

HisswiftconclusionwasthatthemenwhohadpursuedhimupontheRimhadworkeddownintothecanyon。Onecirclingglanceshowedhimthathehadnosurecovertnearathand。Itwouldnotdotorisktheirpassinghimthere。Theborderofwoodlandwasnarrowandnotdenseenoughforcloseinspection。Hewasforcedtoturnbackupthecanyon，inthehopeofsoonfindingahidingplaceorabreakinthewallwherebecouldclimbup。

Huggingthebaseofthewall，heslippedon，passingthepointwherehehadespiedthesheep，andglidingonuntilhewasstoppedbyabendinthedenselineofwillows。Itsheeredtothewestthereandranclosetothehighwall。Jeankeptonuntilhewasstoopingunderacurlingborderofwillowthicket，withbranchesslimandyellowandmassesofgreenfoliagethatbrushedagainstthewall。Suddenlyheencounteredanabruptcornerofrock。Heroundedit，todiscoverthatitranatrightangleswiththeonehehadjustpassed。Peeringupthroughthewillows，heascertainedthattherewasanarrowcrackinthemainwallofthecanyon。Ithadbeenconcealedbywillowslowdownandleaningsprucesabove。Awild，hiddenretreat！Alongthebaseofthewallthereweretracksofsmallanimals。Theplacewasodorous，likealldensethickets，butitwasnotdry。Waterranthroughtheresomewhere。Jeandreweasierbreath。Allsoundsexcepttherustlingofbirdsormiceinthewillowshadceased。Thebrakewaspervadedbyadreamyemptiness。Jeandecidedtostealonalittlefarther，thenwaittillhefelthemightsafelydaregoback。

Thegolden—greengloomsuddenlybrightened。Lightshowedahead，andpartingthewillows，helookedoutintoanarrow，windingcanyon，withanopen，grassy，willow—streakedlaneinthecenterandoneachsideathinstripofwoodland。

Hissurprisewasshortlived。Acrashingofhorsesbackofhiminthewillowsgavehimashock。Heranoutalongthebaseofthewall，backofthetrees。Likethestripofwoodlandinthemaincanyon，thisonewasscantandhadbutlittleunderbrush。Therewereyoungsprucesgrowingwiththickbranchescleartothegrass，andunderthesehecouldhaveconcealedhimself。But，withacertaintyofsheepdogsinthevicinity，hewouldnotthinkofhidingexceptasalastresource。

Thesehorsemen，whoevertheywere，wereaslikelytobesheepherdersasnot。Jeanslackenedhispacetolookback。Hecouldnotseeanymovingobjects，buthestillheardhorses，thoughnotsoclosenow。

Aheadofhimthisnarrowgorgeopenedoutliketheneckofabottle。

Hewouldrunontotheheadofitandfindaplacetoclimbtothetop。

HurriedandanxiousasJeanwas，heyetreceivedanimpressionofsingular，wildnatureofthissidegorge。Itwasahidden，pine—fringedcrackintherock—ribbedandcanyon—cuttableland。Abovehimtheskyseemedawindingstreamofblue。Thewallswereredandbulgedoutinspruce—greenedshelves。Fromwalltowallwasscarcelyadistanceofahundredfeet。Jumblesofrockobstructedhiscloseholdingtothewall。

Hehadtowalkattheedgeofthetimber。Asheprogressed，thegorgewidenedintowilder，ruggederaspect。Throughthetreesaheadhesawwherethewallcircledtomeetthecliffontheleft，forminganovaldepression，thenatureofwhichhecouldnotascertain。Butitappearedtobeasmallopeningsurroundedbydensethicketsandtheoverhangingwalls。Anxietyaugmentedtoalarm。Hemightnotbeabletofindaplacetoscalethoseroughcliffs。Breathinghard，Jeanhaltedagain。

Thesituationwasgrowingcriticalagain。Hisphysicalconditionwasworse。Lossofsleepandrest，lackoffood，thelongpursuitofQueen，thewoundinhisarm，andthedesperaterunforhislife——thesehadweakenedhimtotheextentthatifheundertookanystrenuousefforthewouldfail。Hiscunningweighedallchances。

Theshadeofwallandfoliageabove，andanotherjumbleofruinedcliff，hinderedhissurveyofthegroundahead，andhealmoststumbleduponacabin，hiddenonthreesides，withasmall，bareclearinginfront。

Itwasanold，ramshacklestructurelikeothershehadrunacrossinthecanons。Cautiouslyheapproachedandpeepedaroundthecorner。

Atfirstswiftglanceithadalltheappearanceoflongdisuse。ButJeanhadnotimeforanotherlook。Aclip—clopoftrottinghorsesonhardgroundbroughtthesamepell—mellrushofsensationsthathaddrivenhimtowildflightscarcelyanhourpast。Hisbodyjerkedwithitsinstinctiveimpulse，thenquiveredwithhisrestraint。Toturnbackwouldberisky，torunaheadwouldbefatal，tohidewashisonehope。Nocovertbehind！Andtheclip—clopofhoofssoundedcloser。

OnemomentlongerJeanheldmasteryoverhisinstinctsofself—preservation。Tokeepfromrunningwasalmostimpossible。

Itwasthesheerprimitiveanimalsensetoescape。Hedroveitbackandglidedalongthefrontofthecabin。

Herehesawthatthecabinadjoinedanother。Reachingthedoor，hewasabouttopeepinwhenthethudofhoofsandvoicescloseathandtransfixedhimwithagrimcertaintythathehadnotaninstanttolose。

Throughthethin，black—streakedlineoftreeshesawmovingredobjects。

Horses！Hemustrun。Passingthedoor，hiskeennosecaughtamusty，woodyodorandthetailofhiseyesawbaredirtfloor。Thiscabinwasunused。Hehalted—gaveaquicklookback。Andthefirstthinghiseyefelluponwasaladder，rightinsidethedoor，againstthewall。

Helookedup。Itledtoaloftthat，darkandgloomy，stretchedhalfwayacrossthecabin。AnirresistibleimpulsedroveJean。Slippinginside，heclimbeduptheladdertotheloft。Itwaslikenightupthere。Buthecrawledontherough—hewnraftersand，turningwithhisheadtowardtheopening，hestretchedoutandlaystill。

Whatseemedaninterminablemomentendedwithatrampleofhoofsoutsidethecabin。Itceased。Jean’svibratingearscaughtthejingleofspursandathudofbootsstrikingtheground。

"Wal，sweetheart，heahwearehomeagain，"drawledaslow，cool，mockingTexasvoice。

"Home！Iwonder，Colter——didy’ueverhaveahome——amother——asister——muchlessasweetheart？"wasthereply，bitterandcaustic。

Jean’spalpitating，hot bodysuddenlystretchedstillandcoldwithintensityofshock。Hisverybonesseemedtoquiverandstiffenintoice。

Duringtheinstantofrealizationhisheartstopped。Andaslow，contractingpressureenvelopedhisbreastandmoveduptoconstricthisthroat。Thatwoman’svoicebelongedtoEllenJorth。Thesoundofithadlingeredinhisdreams。HehadstumbledupontherendezvousoftheJorthfaction。HardindeedhadbeenthefatesmetedouttothoseoftheIsbelsandJorthswhohadpassedtotheirdeaths。But，noordeal，notevenQueen’s，couldcomparewiththisdesperateoneJeanmustendure。

HehadlovedEllenJorth，strangely，wonderfully，andhehadscornedreputetobelievehergood。Hehadsparedherfatherandheruncle。

HehadweakenedorlostthecauseoftheIsbels。Helovedhernow，desperately，deathlessly，knowingfromherownlipsthatshewasworthless——lovedherthemorebecausehehadfeltherterribleshame。

Andtohim——thelastoftheIsbels——hadcomethecruelestofdooms——tobecaughtlikeacrippledratinatrap;tobecompelledtoliehelpless，wounded，withoutagun;tolisten，andperhapstoseeEllenJorthenacttheverytruthofhermockinginsinuation。Hiswill，hispromise，hiscreed，hisbloodmustholdhimtothestemdecreethatheshouldbethelastmanoftheJorth—Isbelwar。Butcouldhelietheretohear——tosee——whenhehadaknifeandanarm？

CHAPTERXIV

Thenfollowedtheleatheryflopofsaddlestothesoftturfandthestamp，ofloosenedhorses。

Jeanheardanoiseatthecabindoor，arustle，andthenaknockofsomethinghardagainstwood。Silentlyhemovedhisheadtolookdownthroughacrackbetweentherafters。Hesawtheglintofarifleleaningagainstthesill。Thenthedoorstepwasdarkened。EllenJorthsatdownwithalong，tiredsigh。Shetookoffhersombreroandthelightshoneontherippling，dark—brownhair，hanginginatangledbraid。

Thecurvednapeofherneckshowedawarmtintofgoldentan。Sheworeagrayblouse，soiledandtorn，thatclungtoherlissomeshoulders。

"Colter，whatarey’ugoin’todo？"sheasked，suddenly。HervoicecarriedsomethingJeandidnotremember。Itthrilledintotheicyfixityofhissenses。

"We’llstayheah，"wastheresponse，anditwasfollowedbyaclinkingstepofspurredboot。

"ShoreIwon’tstayheah，"declaredEllen。"ItmakesmesickwhenI

thinkofhowUncleTaddiedintherealone——helpless——sufferin’。

Theplaceseemshaunted。"

"Wal，I’llagreethatit’stoughony’u。ButwhatthehellCANwedo？"

AlongsilenceensuedwhichEllendidnotbreak。

"Somethin’hascomeoffroundheahsinceearlymawnin’，"declaredColter。

"Somersan’Springerhaven’tgotback。An’Antonio’sgone……

Now，honest，Ellen，didn’ty’uheahrifleshotsoffsomewhere？"

"IreckonIdid，"sheresponded，gloomily。

"An’whichway？"

"Soundedtomeuponthebluff，backprettyfar。"

"Wal，shorethat’smyidee。An’itmakesmethinkhard。Y’uknowSomerscomeacrossthelastcampoftheIsbels。An’hedugintoagravetofindthebodiesofJimGordonan’anothermanhedidn’tknow。

Queenkeptgoodhisbrag。HebracedthatIsbelgangan’killedthosefellars。ButeitherhimorJeanIsbelwentoffleavin’bloodytracks。

IfitwasQueen’sy’ucanbetIsbelwasafterhim。An’ifitwasIsbel’stracks，whyshoreQueenwouldsticktothem。Somersan’

Springercouldn’tfollowthetrail。They’reshorenotmuchgoodattrackin’。Butfordaysthey’vebeenridin’thewoods，hopin’torunacrossQueen……Walnow，mebbetheyrunacrossIsbelinstead。An’

iftheydidan’gotawayfromhimthey’llbeheahsoonerorlater。IfIsbelwastoomanyforthemhe’dhuntformytrail。I’mgamblin’thateitherQueenorJeanIsbelisdaid。I’mhopin’it’sIsbel。Becauseifheain’tdaidhe’sthelastoftheIsbels，an’mebbeI’mthelastofJorth’sgang……ShoreI’mnothankerin’tomeetthehalf—breed。

That’swhyIsaywe’llstayheah。Thisisasgoodahidin’placeasthereisinthecountry。We’vegrub。There’swateran’grass。"

"Me——stayheahwithy’u——alone！"

Thetoneseemedacontradictiontotheapparentlyacceptedsenseofherwords。Jeanheldhisbreath。Buthecouldnotstilltheslowlymountingandacceleratingfacultieswithinthatwereinvoluntarilyrisingtomeetsomestrange，namelessimport。Hefeltit。HeimagineditwouldbethecatastropheofEllenJorth’scalmacceptanceofColter’sproposition。ButdowninJean’smiserableheartlivedsomethingthatwouldnotdie。Nomerewordscouldkillit。Howpoignantthatmomentofhersilence！Howterriblyherealizedthatifhisintelligenceandhisemotionhadbelievedherbetrayingwords，hissoulhadnot！

ButEllenJorthdidnotspeak。Herbrownheadhungthoughtfully。

Hersuppleshoulderssaggedalittle。

"Ellen，what’shappenedtoy’u？"wentonColter。

"Allthemiserypossibletoawoman，"shereplied，dejectedly。

"ShoreIdon’tmeanthatway，"hecontinued，persuasively。"Iain’tgainsayin’thehardfactsofyourlife。It’sbeenbad。Yourdadwasnogood……ButImeanIcan’tfiggerthechangeiny’u。"

"No，Ireckony’ucain’t，"shesaid。"Whoeverwasresponsibleforyourmake—upleftoutamind——nottosayfeeling。"

Colterdrawledalowlaugh。

"Wal，havethatyourownway。Buthowmuchlongerareyugoin’tobelikethisheah？"

"Likewhat？"sherejoined，sharply。

"Wal，thisstand—offishnessofyours？"

"Colter，Itoldy’utoletmealone，"shesaid，sullenly。

"Shore。An’y’udidthatbefore。Butthistimey’u’redifferent……An’wal，I’mgettin’tiredofit。"

Herethecool，slowvoiceoftheTexansoundedaninflexibilitybeforeabsent，atimberthathintedofillimitablepower。

EllenJorthshruggedherlitheshouldersand，slowlyrising，shepickedupthelittlerifleandturnedtostepintothecabin。

"Colter，"shesaid，"fetchmypackan’myblanketsinheah。"

"Shore，"hereturned，withgoodnature。

JeansawEllenJorthlaytheriflelengthwiseinachinkbetweentwologsandthenslowlyturn，backtothewall。Jeanknewherthen，yetdidnotknowher。Thebrownflashofherfaceseemedthatofanolder，graverwoman。Hisstrainedgaze，likehiswaitingmind，hadexpectedsomething，heknewnotwhat——ahardenedface，aghostofbeauty，arecklessness，adistorted，bitter，lostexpressioninkeepingwithherfortunes。Buthehadreckonedfalsely。Shedidnotlooklikethat。

Therewasincalculablechange，butthebeautyremained，somehowdifferent。Herredlipswereparted。Herbroodingeyes，lookingoutstraightfromunderthelevel，darkbrows，seemedsloeblackandwonderfulwiththeirsteady，passionatelight。

Jean，inhiseager，hungrydevouringofthebelovedface，didnotonthefirstinstantgraspthesignificanceofitsexpression。Hewasseeingthefeaturesthathadhauntedhim。Butquicklyheinterpretedherexpressionasthesomber，huntedlookofawomanwhowouldbearnomore。Underthetornblouseherfullbreastheaved。Sheheldherhandsclenchedathersides。Shewas’listening，waitingforthatjangling，slowstep。Itcame，andwiththesoundshesubtlychanged。Shewasawomanhidinghertruefeelings。Sherelaxed，andthatstrong，darklookoffuryseemedtofadebackintohereyes。

Colterappearedatthedoor，carryingarollofblanketsandapack。

"Throwthemheah，"shesaid。"Ireckony’uneedn’tbothercomingin。"

Thatangeredtheman。Withonelongstridehesteppedoverthedoorsill，downintothecabin，andflungtheblanketsatherfeetandthenthepackafterit。Whereuponhedeliberatelysatdowninthedoor，facingher。

Withonehandheslidoffhissombrero，whichfelloutside，andwiththeotherhereachedinhisuppervestpocketforthelittlebagoftobaccothatshowedthere。Allthetimehelookedather。BythelightnowunobstructedJeandescriedColter’sface;andsightofitthensoundedtherollanddrumofhispassions。

"Wal，Ellen，Ireckonwe’llhaveitoutrightnowan’heah，"hesaid，andwithtobaccoinonehand，paperintheotherhebegantheoperationsofmakingacigarette。However，hescarcelyremovedhisglancefromher。

"Yes？"queriedEllenJorth。

"I’mgoin’tohavethingsthewaytheywerebefore——an’more，"hedeclared。Thecigarettepapershookinhisfingers。

"Whatdoy’umean？"shedemanded。

"Y’uknowwhatImean，"heretorted。Voiceandactionweresubtlyunhingingthisman’scontroloverhimself。

"MaybeIdon’t。Ireckony’u’dbettertalkplain。"

Therustlerhadcleargray—yelloweyes，flawless，like，crystal，andsuddenlytheydancedwithlittlefieryflecks。

"ThelasttimeIlaidmyhandony’uIgothitformypains。

An’shorethat’sbeenranklin’。"

"Colter，y’u’llgethitagainify’u。putyourhandsonme，"shesaid，dark，straightglanceonhim。Afrownwrinkledthelevelbrows。

"Y’umeanthat？"heasked，thickly。

"Ishore，do。"

Manifestlyheacceptedherassertion。Somethingofincredulityandbewilderment，thathadviedwithhisresentment，utterlydisappearedfromhisface。

"HeahI’vebeenwaitin’fory’utoloveme，"hedeclared，withagesturenotwithoutdignifiedemotion。"Yourgivin’inwithoutthatwasn’tsomuchtome。"

Andatthesewordsoftherustler’sJeanIsbelfeltanicy，sickeningshuddercreepintohissoul。Heshuthiseyes。Theendofhisdreamhadbeenlongincoming，butatlastithadarrived。Amockingvoice，likeahollowwind，echoedthroughthatregion——thatlonelyandghost—likehallofhisheartwhichhadharboredfaith。

Sheburstintospeech，louderandsharper，thefirstwordsofwhichJean’sstrangelythrobbingearsdidnotdistinguish。