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，hotbodysuddenlystretchedstillandcoldwithintensityofshock。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。