"Youhound！Allthetimeyouwerefoolingme！Youmadelovetome！Youletmebelieve——yousworeyoulovedme！NowIseewhatwasqueeraboutyou。Allforthatgirl！Butyoucan’thaveher。
You’llneverleaveherealive。Givemethatgirl！Letme——getather！She’llneverwinanymoremeninthiscamp。"
Shewasapowerfulwoman，andittookallDuane’sstrengthtowardoffheronslaughts。SheclawedatJennieoverhisupheldarm。Everysecondherfuryincreased。
"HELP！HELP！HELP！"sheshrieked，inavoicethatmusthavepenetratedtotheremotestcabininthevalley。
"Letgo！Letgo！"criedDuane，lowandsharp。Hestillheldhisguninhisrighthand，anditbegantobehardforhimtowardthewomanoff。Hiscoolnesshadgonewithhershriekforhelp。
"Letgo！"herepeated，andheshovedherfiercely。
Suddenlyshesnatchedarifleoffthewallandbackedaway，herstronghandsfumblingatthelever。Asshejerkeditdown，throwingashellintothechamberandcockingtheweapon，Duaneleapeduponher。Hestruckuptherifleasitwentoff，thepowderburninghisface。
"Jennie，runout！Getonahorse！"hesaid。
Jennieflashedoutofthedoor。
WithanirongraspDuaneheldtotherifle—barrel。Hehadgraspeditwithhislefthand，andhegavesuchapullthatheswungthecrazedwomanoffthefloor。Buthecouldnotloosehergrip。Shewasasstrongashe。
"Kate！Letgo！"
Hetriedtointimidateher。Shedidnotseehisgunthrustinherface，orreasonhadgivenwaytosuchanextenttopassionthatshedidnotcare。Shecursed。Herhusbandhadusedthesamecurses，andfromherlipstheyseemedstrange，unsexed，moredeadly。Likeatigressshefoughthim;herfacenolongerresembledawoman’s。Theevilofthatoutlawlife，thewildnessandrage，themeaningtokill，waseveninsuchamomentterriblyimpresseduponDuane。
Heheardacryfromoutside——aman’scry，hoarseandalarming。
Itmadehimthinkoflossoftime。Thisdemonofawomanmightyetblockhisplan。
"Letgo！"hewhispered，andfelthislipsstiff。Inthegrimnessofthatinstantherelaxedhisholdontherifle—barrel。
Withsudden，redoubled，irresistiblestrengthshewrenchedtherifledownanddischargedit。Duanefeltablow——ashock——aburningagonytearingthroughhisbreast。Theninafrenzyhejerkedsopowerfullyupontheriflethathethrewthewomanagainstthewall。Shefellandseemedstunned。
Duaneleapedback，whirled，flewoutofthedoortotheporch。
Thesharpcrackingofagunhaltedhim。HesawJennieholdingtothebridleofhisbayhorse。Euchrewasastridetheother，andhehadaColtleveled，andhewasfiringdownthelane。
Thencameasingleshot，heavier，andEuchre’sceased。Hefellfromthehorse。
AswiftglancebackshowedtoDuaneamancomingdownthelane。
ChessAlloway！Hisgunwassmoking。Hebrokeintoarun。TheninaninstanthesawDuane，andtriedtocheckhispaceasheswunguphisarm。Butthatslightpausewasfatal。Duaneshot，andAllowaywasfallingwhenhisgunwentoff。HisbulletwhistledclosetoDuaneandthuddedintothecabin。
Duaneboundeddowntothehorses。Jenniewastryingtoholdtheplungingbay。Euchrelayflatonhisback，dead，abullet—holeinhisshirt，hisfacesethard，andhishandstwistedroundgunandbridle。
"Jennie，you’venerve，allright！"criedDuane，ashedraggeddownthehorseshewasholding。"Upwithyounow！There！Nevermind——longstirrups！Hangonsomehow！"
HecaughthisbridleoutofEuchre’sclutchinggripandleapedastride。Thefrightenedhorsesjumpedintoarunandthundereddownthelaneintotheroad。Duanesawmenrunningfromcabins。
Heheardshouts。Buttherewerenoshotsfired。Jennieseemedabletostayonherhorse，butwithoutstirrupsshewasthrownaboutsomuchthatDuanerodecloserandreachedouttograspherarm。
Thustheyrodethroughthevalleytothetrailthatledupover，thesteepandbrokenRimRock。AstheybegantoclimbDuanelookedback。Nopursuerswereinsight。
"Jennie，we’regoingtogetaway！"hecried，exultationforherinhisvoice。
Shewasgazinghorror—strickenathisbreast，asinturningtolookbackhefacedher。
"Oh，Duane，yourshirt’sallbloody！"shefaltered，pointingwithtremblingfingers。
WithherwordsDuanebecameawareoftwothings——thehandheinstinctivelyplacedtohisbreaststillheldhisgun，andhehadsustainedaterriblewound。
Duanehadbeenshotthroughthebreastfarenoughdowntogivehimgraveapprehensionofhislife。Theclean—cutholemadebythebulletbledfreelybothatitsentranceandwhereithadcomeout，butwithnosignsofhemorrhage。Hedidnotbleedatthemouth;however，hebegantocoughupareddish—tingedfoam。
Astheyrodeon，Jennie，withpalefaceandmutelips，lookedathim。
"I’mbadlyhurt，Jennie，"hesaid，"butIguessI’llstickitout。"
"Thewoman——didsheshootyou？"
"Yes。Shewasadevil。Euchretoldmetolookoutforher。I
wasn’tquickenough。"
"Youdidn’thaveto——to——"shiveredthegirl。
"No！no！"hereplied。
TheydidnotstopclimbingwhileDuanetoreascarfandmadecompresses，whichheboundtightlyoverhiswounds。Thefreshhorsesmadefasttimeuptheroughtrail。FromopenplacesDuanelookeddown。WhentheysurmountedthesteepascentandstoodontopoftheRimRock，withnosignsofpursuitdowninthevalley，andwiththewild，brokenfastnessesbeforethem，Duaneturnedtothegirlandassuredherthattheynowhadeverychanceofescape。
"But——your——wound！"shefaltered，withdark，troubledeyes。"I
see——theblood——drippingfromyourback！"
"Jennie，I’lltakealotofkilling，"hesaid。
Thenhebecamesilentandattendedtotheuneventrail。HewasawarepresentlythathehadnotcomeintoBland’scampbythisroute。Butthatdidnotmatter;anytrailleadingoutbeyondtheRimRockwassafeenough。Whathewantedwastogetfarawayintosomewildretreatwherehecouldhidetillherecoveredfromhiswound。Heseemedtofeelafireinsidehisbreast，andhisthroatburnedsothatitwasnecessaryforhimtotakeaswallowofwatereverylittlewhile。Hebegantosufferconsiderablepain，whichincreasedasthehourswentbyandthengavewaytoanumbness。Fromthattimeonhehadneedofhisgreatstrengthandendurance。Graduallyhelosthissteadinessandhiskeensight;andherealizedthatifheweretomeetfoes，orifpursuingoutlawsshouldcomeupwithhim，hecouldmakeonlyapoorstand。Soheturnedoffonatrailthatappearedseldomtraveled。
Soonafterthismovehebecameconsciousofafurtherthickeningofhissenses。Hefeltabletoholdontohissaddleforawhilelonger，buthewasfailing。ThenhethoughtheoughttoadviseJennie，soincaseshewasleftaloneshewouldhavesomeideaofwhattodo。
"Jennie，I’llgiveoutsoon，"hesaid。"No—Idon’tmean——whatyouthink。ButI’lldropsoon。Mystrength’sgoing。IfI
die——youridebacktothemaintrail。Hideandrestbyday。
Rideatnight。Thattrailgoestowater。IbelieveyoucouldgetacrosstheNueces，wheresomerancherwilltakeyouin。"
Duanecouldnotgetthemeaningofherincoherentreply。Herodeon，andsoonhecouldnotseethetrailorhearhishorse。
Hedidnotknowwhethertheytraveledamileormanytimesthatfar。Buthewasconsciouswhenthehorsestopped，andhadavaguesenseoffallingandfeelingJennie’sarmsbeforeallbecamedarktohim。
Whenconsciousnessreturnedhefoundhimselflyinginalittlehutofmesquitebranches。Itwaswellbuiltandevidentlysomeyearsold。Thereweretwodoorsoropenings，oneinfrontandtheotherattheback。Duaneimaginedithadbeenbuiltbyafugitive——onewhomeanttokeepaneyebothwaysandnottobesurprised。Duanefeltweakandhadnodesiretomove。Wherewashe，anyway？Astrange，intangiblesenseoftime，distance，ofsomethingfarbehindweigheduponhim。SightofthetwopacksEuchrehadmadebroughthisthoughttoJennie。Whathadbecomeofher？Therewasevidenceofherworkinasmolderingfireandalittleblackenedcoffee—pot。Probablyshewasoutsidelookingafterthehorsesorgettingwater。Hethoughtheheardastepandlistened，buthefelttired，andpresentlyhiseyesclosedandhefellintoadoze。
Awakeningfromthis，hesawJenniesittingbesidehim。Insomewaysheseemedtohavechanged。Whenhespokeshegaveastartandturnedeagerlytohim。
"Duane！"shecried。
"Hello。How’reyou，Jennie，andhowamI？"hesaid，findingitalittledifficulttotalk。
"Oh，I’mallright，"shereplied。"Andyou’vecometo——yourwound’shealed;butyou’vebeensick。Fever，Iguess。IdidallIcould。"
Duanesawnowthatthedifferenceinherwasawhitenessandtightnessofskin，ahollownessofeye，alookofstrain。
"Fever？Howlonghavewebeenhere？"heasked。
Shetooksomepebblesfromthecrownofhissombreroandcountedthem。
"Nine。Ninedays，"sheanswered。
"Ninedays！"heexclaimed，incredulously。Butanotherlookatherassuredhimthatshemeantwhatshesaid。"I’vebeensickallthetime？Younursedme？"
"Yes。"
"Bland’smendidn’tcomealonghere？"
"No。"
"Wherearethehorses？"
"Ikeepthemgrazingdowninagorgebackofhere。There’sgoodgrassandwater。"
"Haveyousleptany？"
"Alittle。LatelyIcouldn’tkeepawake。"
"GoodLord！Ishouldthinknot。You’vehadatimeofitsittingheredayandnightnursingme，watchingfortheoutlaws。Come，tellmeallaboutit。"
"There’snothingmuchtotell。"
"Iwanttoknow，anyway，justwhatyoudid——howyoufelt。"
"Ican’trememberverywell，"shereplied，simply。"Wemusthaveriddenfortymilesthatdaywegotaway。Youbledallthetime。Towardeveningyoulayonyourhorse’sneck。Whenwecametothisplaceyoufelloutofthesaddle。Idraggedyouinhereandstoppedyourbleeding。Ithoughtyou’ddiethatnight。ButinthemorningIhadalittlehope。Ihadforgottenthehorses。
Butluckilytheydidn’tstrayfar。Icaughtthemandkeptthemdowninthegorge。WhenyourwoundsclosedandyoubegantobreathestrongerIthoughtyou’dgetwellquick。Itwasfeverthatputyouback。Youravedalot，andthatworriedme，becauseIcouldn’tstopyou。Anybodytrailinguscouldhaveheardyouagoodways。Idon’tknowwhetherIwasscaredmostthenorwhenyouwerequiet，anditwassodarkandlonelyandstillallaround。EverydayIputastoneinyourhat。"
"Jennie，yousavedmylife，"saidDuane。
"Idon’tknow。Maybe。IdidallIknewhowtodo，"shereplied。
"Yousavedmine——morethanmylife。"
Theireyesmetinalonggaze，andthentheirhandsinacloseclasp。
"Jennie，we’regoingtogetaway，"hesaid，withgladness。
"I’llbewellinafewdays。Youdon’tknowhowstrongIam。
We’llhidebydayandtravelbynight。Icangetyouacrosstheriver。"
"Andthen？"sheasked。
"We’llfindsomehonestrancher。"
"Andthen？"shepersisted。
"Why，"hebegan，slowly，"that’sasfarasmythoughtsevergot。Itwasprettyhard，Itellyou，toassuremyselfofsomuch。Itmeansyoursafety。You’lltellyourstory。You’llbesenttosomevillageortownandtakencareofuntilarelativeorfriendisnotified。"
"Andyou？"sheinquired，inastrangevoice。
Duanekeptsilence。
"Whatwillyoudo？"shewenton。
"Jennie，I’llgobacktothebrakes。Idaren’tshowmyfaceamongrespectablepeople。I’manoutlaw。"
"You’renocriminal！"shedeclared，withdeeppassion。
"Jennie，onthisborderthelittledifferencebetweenanoutlawandacriminaldoesn’tcountformuch。"
"Youwon’tgobackamongthoseterriblemen？You，withyourgentlenessandsweetness——allthat’sgoodaboutyou？Oh，Duane，don’t——don’tgo！"
"Ican’tgobacktotheoutlaws，atleastnotBland’sband。No，I’llgoalone。I’lllone—wolfit，astheysayontheborder。
WhatelsecanIdo，Jennie？"
"Oh，Idon’tknow。Couldn’tyouhide？Couldn’tyouslip，outofTexas——gofaraway？"
"IcouldnevergetoutofTexaswithoutbeingarrested。Icouldhide，butamanmustlive。Nevermindaboutme，Jennie。"
InthreedaysDuanewasablewithgreatdifficultytomounthishorse。Duringdaylight，byshortrelays，heandJennierodebacktothemaintrail，wheretheyhidagaintillhehadrested。TheninthedarktheyrodeoutofthecanonsandgulliesoftheRimRock，andearlyinthemorninghaltedatthefirstwatertocamp。
Fromthatpointtheytraveledafternightfallandwentintohidingduringtheday。OnceacrosstheNuecesRiver，Duanewasassuredofsafetyforherandgreatdangerforhimself。Theyhadcrossedintoacountryhedidnotknow。Somewhereeastoftherivertherewerescatteredranches。Buthewasasliabletofindtherancherintouchwiththeoutlawsashewaslikelytofindhimhonest。DuanehopedhisgoodfortunewouldnotdeserthiminthislastservicetoJennie。Nexttotheworryofthatwasrealizationofhiscondition。Hehadgottenuptoosoon;hehadriddentoofarandhard，andnowhefeltthatanymomenthemightfallfromhissaddle。Atlast，faraheadoverabarrenmesquite—dottedstretchofdustyground，heespiedapatchofgreenandalittleflat，redranch—house。HeheadedhishorseforitandturnedafacehetriedtomakecheerfulforJennie’ssake。Sheseemedbothhappyandsorry。
Whennearathandhesawthattherancherwasathriftyfarmer。
Andthriftspokeforhonesty。Therewerefieldsofalfalfa，fruit—trees，corrals，windmillpumps，irrigation—ditches，allsurroundinganeatlittleadobehouse。Somechildrenwereplayingintheyard。ThewaytheyranatsightofDuanehintedofboththelonelinessandthefearoftheirisolatedlives。
Duanesawawomancometothedoor，thenaman。Thelatterlookedkeenly，thensteppedoutside。Hewasasandy—haired，freckledTexan。
"Howdy，stranger，"hecalled，asDuanehalted。"Getdown，youan’yourwoman。Say，now，airyousickorshotorwhat？Letme——"
Duane，reelinginhissaddle，bentsearchingeyesupontherancher。Hethoughthesawgoodwill，kindness，honesty。Heriskedallonthatonesharpglance。Thenhealmostplungedfromthesaddle。
Theranchercaughthim，helpedhimtoabench。
"Martha，comeouthere！"hecalled。"Thisman’ssick。No;he’sshot，orIdon’tknowblood—stains。"
JenniehadslippedoffherhorseandtoDuane’sside。Duaneappearedabouttofaint。
"Airyouhiswife？"askedtherancher。
"No。I’monlyagirlhesavedfromoutlaws。Oh，he’ssopalerDuane，Duane！"
"BuckDuane！"exclaimedtherancher，excitedly。"ThemanwhokilledBlandan’Alloway？Say，Iowehimagoodturn，an’I’llpayit，youngwoman。"
Therancher’swifecameout，andwithamanneratoncekindandpracticalessayedtomakeDuanedrinkfromaflask。Hewasnotsofargonethathecouldnotrecognizeitscontents，whichherefused，andweaklyaskedforwater。Whenthatwasgivenhimhefoundhisvoice。
"Yes，I’mDuane。I’veonlyoverdonemyself——justallin。ThewoundsIgotatBland’sarehealing。Willyoutakethisgirlin——hideherawhiletilltheexcitement’soveramongtheoutlaws？"
"Ishorewill，"repliedtheTexan。
"Thanks。I’llrememberyou——I’llsquareit。"
"What’reyougoin’todo？"
"I’llrestabit——thengobacktothebrakes。"
"Youngman，youain’tinanyshapetotravel。Seehere——anyrustlersonyourtrail？"
"IthinkwegaveBland’sgangtheslip。"
"Good。I’lltellyouwhat。I’lltakeyouinalongwiththegirl，an’hidebothofyoutillyougetwell。It’llbesafe。Mynearestneighborisfivemilesoff。Wedon’thavemuchcompany。"
"Youriskagreatdeal。Bothoutlawsandrangersarehuntingme，"saidDuane。
"Neverseenarangeryetintheseparts。An’havealwaysgotalongwithoutlaws，mebbeexceptin’Bland。ItellyouIoweyouagoodturn。"
"Myhorsesmightbetrayyou，"addedDuane。
"I’llhidetheminaplacewherethere’swateran’grass。
Nobodygoestoit。Comenow，letmehelpyouindoors。"
Duane’slastfadingsensationsofthatharddaywerethestrangefeelofabed，areliefattheremovalofhisheavyboots，andofJennie’ssoft，coolhandsonhishotface。
Helayillforthreeweeksbeforehebegantomend，anditwasanotherweekthenbeforehecouldwalkoutalittleintheduskoftheevenings。Afterthathisstrengthreturnedrapidly。Anditwasonlyattheendofthislongsiegethatherecoveredhisspirits。Duringmostofhisillnesshehadbeensilent，moody。
"Jennie，I’llberidingoffsoon，"hesaid，oneevening。"I
can’timposeonthisgoodmanAndrewsmuchlonger。I’llneverforgethiskindness。Hiswife，too——she’sbeensogoodtous。
Yes，Jennie，youandIwillhavetosaygood—byverysoon。"
"Don’thurryaway，"shereplied。
LatelyJenniehadappearedstrangetohim。ShehadchangedfromthegirlheusedtoseeatMrs。Bland’shouse。Hetookherreluctancetosaygood—byasanotherindicationofherregretthathemustgobacktothebrakes。Yetsomehowitmadehimobservehermoreclosely。Sheworeaplain，whitedressmadefrommaterialMrs。Andrewshadgivenher。Sleepandgoodfoodhadimprovedher。Ifshehadbeenprettyoutthereintheoutlawdennowshewasmorethanthat。Butshehadthesamepaleness，thesamestrainedlook，thesamedarkeyesfullofhauntingshadows。AfterDuane’srealizationofthechangeinherhewatchedhermore，withagrowingcertaintythathewouldbesorrynottoseeheragain。
"It’slikelywewon’teverseeeachotheragain，"hesaid。
"That’sstrangetothinkof。We’vebeenthroughsomeharddays，andIseemtohaveknownyoualongtime。"
Jennieappearedshy，almostsad，soDuanechangedthesubjecttosomethinglesspersonal。
Andrewsreturnedoneeveningfromaseveraldays’triptoHuntsville。
"Duane，everybody’stalkie’abouthowyoucleaneduptheBlandoutfit，"hesaid，importantandfullofnews。"It’ssomeexaggerated，accordin’towhatyoutoldme;butyou’veshoremadefriendsonthissideoftheNueces。Ireckonthereain’tatownwhereyouwouldn’tfindpeopletowelcomeyou。Huntsville，youknow，issomedividedinitsideas。Halfthepeoplearecrooked。Likelyenough，allthemwhowassoloudinpraiseofyouarethecrookedest。Forinstance，ImetKingFisher，thebossoutlawoftheseparts。Well，Kingthinkshe’sadecentcitizen。Hewastellin’mewhatagrandjobyourswasfortheborderan’honestcattlemen。NowthatBlandandAllowayaredonefor，KingFisherwillfindrustlin’easier。There’stalkofHardinmovie’hiscampovertoBland’s。ButIdon’tknowhowtrueitis。Ireckonthereain’tmuchtoit。Inthepastwhenabigoutlawchiefwentunder，hisbandalmostalwaysbrokeupan’scattered。There’snooneleftwhocouldrunthetoutfit。"
"Didyouhearofanyoutlawshuntingme？"askedDuane。
"NobodyfromBland’soutfitishuntin’you，thet’sshore，"
repliedAndrews。"Fishersaidthereneverwasahossstraddledtogoonyourtrail。NobodyhadanyuseforBland。Anyhow，hismenwouldbeafraidtotrailyou。An’youcouldgorightintoHuntsville，whereyou’dbesomepopular。Reckonyou’dbesafe，too，exceptwhensomeofthemfoolsaloonloafersorbadcowpuncherswouldtrytoshootyouforthegloryinit。Themkindofmenwillbobupeverywhereyougo，Duane。"
"I’llbeabletorideandtakecareofmyselfinadayortwo，"
wentonDuane。"ThenI’llgo——I’dliketotalktoyouaboutJennie。"
"She’swelcometoahomeherewithus。"
"Thankyou，Andrews。You’reakindman。ButIwantJennietogetfartherawayfromtheRioGrande。She’dneverbesafehere。
Besides，shemaybeabletofindrelatives。Shehassome，thoughshedoesn’tknowwheretheyare。"
"Allright，Duane。Whateveryouthinkbest。Ireckonnowyou’dbettertakehertosometown。Gonorthan’strikeforShelbyvilleorCrockett。Them’sbothgoodtowns。I’lltellJenniethenamesofmenwho’llhelpher。Youneedn’trideintotownatall。"
"Whichplaceisnearer，andhowfarisit？"
"Shelbyville。Ireckonabouttwodays’ride。Poorstockcountry，soyouain’tliabletomeetrustlers。Allthesame，betterhitthetrailatnightan’gocareful。"
AtsunsettwodayslaterDuaneandJenniemountedtheirhorsesandsaidgood—bytotherancherandhiswife。AndrewswouldnotlistentoDuane’sthanks。
"ItellyouI’mbeholdentoyouyet，"hedeclared。
"Well，whatcanIdoforyou？"askedDuane。"Imaycomealonghereagainsomeday。"
"Getdownan’comein，then，oryou’renofriendofmine。I
reckonthereain’tnothin’Icanthinkof——Ijusthappentoremember——"HereheledDuaneoutofearshotofthewomenandwentoninawhisper。"Buck，Iusedtobewell—to—do。GotskinnedbyamannamedBrown——RodneyBrown。HelivesinHuntsville，an’he’smyenemy。Ineverwasmuchonfightin’，orI’dfixedhim。Brownruinedme——stoleallIhad。He’sahossan’cattlethief，an’hehaspullenoughathometoprotecthim。IreckonIneedn’tsayanymore。"
"IsthisBrownamanwhoshotanoutlawnamedStevens？"queriedDuane，curiously。
"Shore，he’sthesame。Iheardthetstory。BrownswearshepluggedStevensthroughthemiddle。Buttheoutlawrodeoff，an’nobodyeverknewforshore。"
"LukeStevensdiedofthatshot。Iburiedhim，"saidDuane。
Andrewsmadenofurthercomment，andthetwomenreturnedtothewomen。
"Themainroadforaboutthreemiles，thenwhereitforkstaketheleft—handroadandkeeponstraight。Thatwhatyousaid，Andrews？"
"Shore。An’goodlucktoyouboth！"
DuaneandJennietrottedawayintothegatheringtwilight。AtthemomentaninsistentthoughtbotheredDuane。BothLukeStevensandtherancherAndrewshadhintedtoDuanetokillamannamedBrown。Duanewishedwithallhisheartthattheyhadnotmentionedit，letalonetakenforgrantedtheexecutionofthedeed。WhatabloodyplaceTexaswas！Menwhorobbedandmenwhowererobbedbothwantedmurder。Itwasinthespiritofthecountry。DuanecertainlymeanttoavoidevermeetingthisRodneyBrown。AndthatverydeterminationshowedDuanehowdangeroushereallywas——tomenandtohimself。Sometimeshehadafeelingofhowlittlestoodbetweenhissaneandbetterselfandaselfutterlywildandterrible。Hereasonedthatonlyintelligencecouldsavehim——onlyathoughtfulunderstandingofhisdangerandaholduponsomeideal。
ThenhefellintolowconversationwithJennie，holdingouthopefulviewsofherfuture，andpresentlydarknesssetin。Theskywasovercastwithheavyclouds;therewasnoairmoving;
theheatandoppressionthreatenedstorm。ByandbyDuanecouldnotseearodinfrontofhim，thoughhishorsehadnodifficultyinkeepingtotheroad。Duanewasbotheredbytheblacknessofthenight。Travelingfastwasimpossible，andanymomenthemightmisstheroadthatledofftotheleft。Sohewascompelledtogiveallhisattentiontopeeringintothethickshadowsahead。Asgoodluckwouldhaveit，hecametohighergroundwheretherewaslessmesquite，andthereforenotsuchimpenetrabledarkness;andatthispointhecametowheretheroadsplit。
Onceheadedintherightdirection，hefelteasierinmind。Tohisannoyance，however，afine，mistyrainsetin。Jenniewasnotwelldressedforwetweather;and，forthatmatter，neitherwashe。Hiscoat，whichinthatdrywarmclimateheseldomneeded，wastiedbehindhissaddle，andheputitonJennie。
Theytraveledon。Therainfellsteadily;ifanything，growingthicker。Duanegrewuncomfortablywetandchilly。Jennie，however，faredsomewhatbetterbyreasonoftheheavycoat。Thenightpassedquicklydespitethediscomfort，andsoonagray，dismal，rainydawngreetedthetravelers。
Jennieinsistedthathefindsomeshelterwhereafirecouldbebuilttodryhisclothes。Hewasnotinafitconditiontoriskcatchingcold。Infact，Duane’steethwerechattering。Tofindashelterinthatbarrenwasteseemedafutiletask。Quiteunexpectedly，however，theyhappeneduponadesertedadobecabinsituatedalittleofftheroad。Notonlydiditprovetohaveadryinterior，butalsotherewasfirewood。Waterwasavailableinpoolseverywhere;however，therewasnograssforthehorses。
Agoodfireandhotfoodanddrinkchangedtheaspectoftheirconditionasfarascomfortwent。AndJennielaydowntosleep。
ForDuane，however，theremustbevigilance。Thiscabinwasnohiding—place。Therainfellharderallthetime，andthewindchangedtothenorth。"It’sanorther，allright，"mutteredDuane。"Twoorthreedays。"Andhefeltthathisextraordinaryluckhadnotheldout。Stillonepointfavoredhim，anditwasthattravelerswerenotlikelytocomealongduringthestorm。
JenniesleptwhileDuanewatched。Thesavingofthisgirlmeantmoretohimthananytaskhehadeverassumed。Firstithadbeenpartlyfromahumanfeelingtosuccoranunfortunatewoman，andpartlyamotivetoestablishclearlytohimselfthathewasnooutlaw。Lately，however，hadcomeadifferentsense，astrangeone，withsomethingpersonalandwarmandprotectiveinit。
Ashelookeddownuponher，aslight，slendergirlwithbedraggleddressanddisheveledhair，herface，paleandquiet，alittlesterninsleep，andherlong，darklasheslyingonhercheek，heseemedtoseeherfragility，herprettiness，herfemininityasneverbefore。Butforhimshemightatthatverymomenthavebeenabroken，ruinedgirllyingbackinthatcabinoftheBlands’。Thefactgavehimafeelingofhisimportanceinthisshiftingofherdestiny。Shewasunharmed，stillyoung;