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。