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。