OtherwisedustanddirtandageandlongusestampedthisGrassValleystoreanditsimmediateenvironment。
　　Jeanthrewhisbridle，and，gettingdown，mountedthelowporchandsteppedintothewideopendoor。Aface，grayagainstthebackgroundofgloominside，passedoutofsightjustasJeanentered。Heknewhehadbeenseen。Infrontofthelong，ratherlow—ceiledstorewerefourmen，allabsorbed，apparently，inagameofcheckers。Twowereplayingandtwowerelookingon。Oneofthese，agaunt—facedmanpastmiddleage，casuallylookedupasJeanentered。ButthemomentofthatcasualglanceaffordedJeantimeenoughtomeeteyesheinstinctivelydistrusted。
　　Theymaskedtheirpenetration。Theyseemedneithercuriousnorfriendly。
　　Theysawhimasifhehadbeenmerelythinair。
　　"Goodevenin’，"saidJean。
　　AfterwhatappearedtoJeanalapseoftimesufficienttoimpresshimwithapossibledeafnessofthesemen，thegaunt—facedonesaid，"Howdy，Isbel！"
　　Thetonewasimpersonal，dry，easy，cool，laconic，andyetitcouldnothavebeenmorepregnantwithmeaning。Jean’ssharpsensibilitiesabsorbedmuch。Noneoftheslouch—sombreroed，long—mustachedTexans——forsoJeanatonceclassedthem——hadeverseenJean，buttheyknewhimandknewthathewasexpectedinGrassValley。Allbuttheonewhohadspokenhappenedtohavetheirfacesinshadowunderthewide—brimmedblackhats。Motley—garbed，gun—belted，dusty—booted，theygaveJeanthesameimpressionoflatentforcethathehadencounteredinColter。
　　"Willsomebodypleasetellmewheretofindmyfather，GastonIsbel？"
　　inquiredJean，withascivilatongueashecouldcommand。
　　Nobodypaidtheslightestattention。ItwasthesameasifJeanhadnotspoken。Waiting，halfamused，halfirritated，Jeanshotarapidglancearoundthestore。Theplacehadfeltbare;andJean，peeringbackthroughgloomyspace，sawthatitdidnotcontainmuch。Drygoodsandsackslitteredalongrudecounter;longroughshelvesdividedtheirlengthintostacksofcannedfoodsandemptysections;alowshelfbackofthecounterheldagenerousburdenofcartridgeboxes，andnexttoitstoodarackofrifles。Onthecounterlayopencasesofplugtobacco，theodorofwhichwassecondinstrengthonlytothatofrum。
　　Jean’sswift—rovingeyerevertedtothemen，threeofwhomwereabsorbedinthegreasycheckerboard。ThefourthmanwastheonewhohadspokenandhenowdeignedtolookatJean。Notmuchfleshwastherestretchedoverhisbony，powerfulphysiognomy。Hestrokedaleanchinwithabigmobilehandthatsuggestedmoreofbridleholdingthanfamiliaritywithabucksawandplowhandle。Itwasalazyhand。Themanlookedlazy。Ifhespokeatallitwouldbewithlazyspeech。yetJeanhadnotencounteredmanymentowhomhewouldhaveaccordedmorepotencytostirinhimtheinstinctofself—preservation。
　　"Shore，"drawledthisgaunt—facedTexan，"oldGasslivesabootamiledownheah。"Withslowsweepofthebighandheindicatedageneraldirectiontothesouth;then，appearingtoforgethisquestioner，heturnedhisattentiontothegame。
　　Jeanmutteredhisthanksand，stridingout，hemountedagain，anddrovethepackmuledowntheroad。"ReckonI’veranintothewrongfoldsto—day，"hesaid。"IfIrememberdadrighthewasamantomakean’keepfriends。SomehowI’llbetthere’sgoin’tobehell。"Beyondthestoreweresomeratherprettyandcomfortablehomes，littleranchhousesbackinthecovesofthehills。TheroadturnedwestandJeansawhisfirstsunsetintheTontoBasin。Itwasapageantofpurplecloudswithsilveredges，andbackgroundofdeeprichgold。PresentlyJeanmetaladdrivingacow。"Hello，Johnny！"hesaid，genially，andwithadoublepurpose。"Myname’sJeanIsbel。ByGolly！I’mlostinGrassValley。Willyoutellmewheremydadlives？"
　　"Yep。Keeprighton，an’y’ucain’tmisshim，"repliedthelad，withabrightsmile。"He’slookin’fery’u。"
　　"Howdoyouknow，boy？"queriedJean，warmedbythatsmile。
　　"Aw，Iknow。It’salloverthevalleythety’u’drideinter—day。
　　ShoreIwustheonethettoleyerdadan’hegivemeadollar。"
　　"Washegladtohearit？"askedJean，withaqueersensationinhisthroat。
　　"Wal，heplumbwas。"
　　"An’whotoldyouIwasgoin’torideinto—day？"
　　"Iheerditatthestore，"repliedthelad，withanairofconfidence。
　　"Somesheepmenwastalkin’toGreaves。He’sthestorekeeper。Iwassettin’outside，butIheerd。AMexicancomedownofftheRimter—dayan’hefetchedthenews。"Heretheladlookedfurtivelyaround，thenwhispered。"An’thetgreaserwassentbysomebody。Ineverheerdnomore，butthemsheepmenlookedprettyplumbsour。An’oneofthem，comin’out，givemeakick，darnhim。Itshoreistheluckedestdayferuscowmen。"
　　"How’sthat，Johnny？"
　　"Wal，that’sshoreabigfightcomin’toGrassValley。Mydadsayssoan’heridesferyerdad。An’ifitcomesnowy’u’llbeheah。"
　　"Ahuh！"laughedJean。"An’whatthen，boy？"
　　Theladturnedbrighteyesupward。"Aw，now，yu’allcain’tcomethetonme。Ain’ty’uanInjun，JeanIsbel？Ain’ty’uahosstrackerthetrustlerscain’tfool？Ain’ty’uaplumbdeadshot？Ain’ty’uwuss’ernagrizzlybearinarough—an’—tumble？……Nowain’ty’u，shore？"
　　Jeanbadetheflatteringladarathersobergooddayandrodeonhisway。ManifestlyareputationsomewhatdifficulttoliveuptohadprecededhisentryintoGrassValley。
　　Jean’sfirstsightofhisfuturehomethrilledhimthrough。Itwasabig，low，ramblinglogstructurestandingwelloutfromawoodedknollattheedgeofthevalley。Corralsandbarnsandshedslayoffattheback。Totheforestretchedbroadpastureswherenumberlesscattleandhorsesgrazed。Atsunsetthescenewasoneofrichcolor。
　　Prosperityandabundanceandpeaceseemedattendantuponthatranch;
　　lustyvoicesofburrosbrayingandcowsbawlingseemedwelcomingJean。
　　Ahoundbayed。ThefirstcooltouchofwindfannedJean’scheekandbroughtafragranceofwoodsmokeandfryingham。
　　HorsesinthePasturerompedtothefenceandwhistledatthesenewcomers。Jeanespiedawhite—facedblackhorsethatgladdenedhissight。"Hello，Whiteface！I’llsurestraddleyou，"calledJean。
　　Thenupthegentleslopehesawthetallfigureofhisfather——thesameashehadseenhimthousandsoftimes，bareheaded，shirtsleeved，stridingwithlongstep。Jeanwavedandcalledtohim。
　　"Hi，YouProdigal！"cametheanswer。Yes，thevoiceofhisfather——
　　andJean’sboyhoodmemoriesflashed。Hehurriedhishorsethoselastfewrods。No——dadwasnotthesame。Hishairshonegray。
　　"HereIam，dad，"calledJean，andthenhewasdismounting。Adeep，quietemotionsettledoverhim，stillingthehurry，theeagerness，thepanginhisbreast。
　　"Son，Ishoreamgladtoseeyou，"saidhisfather，andwrunghishand。
　　"Wal，wal，thesizeofyou！Shoreyou’vegrown，anyhowyoufavoryourmother。"
　　Jeanfeltintheironclaspofhand，intheupliftingofthehandsomehead，inthestrong，finelightofpiercingeyesthattherewasnodifferenceinthespiritofhisfather。ButtheoldsmilecouldnothidelinesandshadesstrangetoJean。
　　"Dad，I’masgladasyou，"repliedJean，heartily。"Itseemslongwe’vebeenparted，nowIseeyou。AreYouwell，dad，an’allright？"
　　"Notcomplainin’，son。Icanridealldaysameasever，"hesaid。
　　"Come。Nevermindyourhosses。They’llbelookedafter。
　　Comemeetthefolks……Wal，wal，yougotheahatlast。"
　　OntheporchofthehouseagroupawaitedJean’scoming，rathersilently，hethought。Wide—eyedchildrenwerethere，veryshyandwatchful。Thedarkfaceofhissistercorrespondedwiththeimageofherinhismemory。Sheappearedtaller，morewomanly，assheembracedhim。"Oh，Jean，Jean，I’mgladyou’vecome！"shecried，andpressedhimclose。Jeanfeltinherawoman’sanxietyforthepresentaswellasaffectionforthepast。HerememberedhisauntMary，thoughhehadnotseenherforyears。Hishalfbrothers，BillandGuy，hadchangedbutlittleexceptperhapstogrowleanandrangy。Billresembledhisfather，thoughhisaspectwasjocularratherthanserious。Guywassmaller，wiry，andhardasrock，withsnappingeyesinabrown，stillface，andhehadthebow—legsofacattleman。BothhadmarriedinArizona。Bill’swife，Kate，wasastout，comelylittlewoman，motherofthreeofthechildren。Theotherwifewasyoung，astrappinggirl，redheadedandfreckled，withwonderfullinesofpainandstrengthinherface。Jeanremembered，ashelookedather，thatsomeonehadwrittenhimaboutthetragedyinherlife。WhenshewasonlyachildtheApacheshadmurderedallherfamily。ThennexttogreetJeanwerethelittlechildren，allshy，yetallmanifestlyimpressedbytheoccasion。AwarmthandintimacyofforgottenhomeemotionsfloodedoverJean。Sweetitwastogethometotheserelativeswholovedhimandwelcomedhimwithquietgladness。Butthereseemedmore。Jeanwasquicktoseetheshadowintheeyesofthewomeninthathouseholdandtosenseastrangereliancewhichhispresencebrought。
　　"Son，thisheahTontoisalandofmilkan’honey，"saidhisfather，asJeangazedspellboundatthebounteoussupper。
　　Jeancertainlyperformedgastronomicfeatsonthisoccasion，tothedelightofAuntMaryandthewonderofthechildren。"Oh，he’sstarv—vedtodeath，"whisperedoneofthelittleboystohissister。
　　Theyhadbeguntowarmtothisstrangeruncle。Jeanhadnochancetotalk，evenhadhebeenableto，forthemeal—timeshowedarelaxationofrestraintandtheyalltriedtotellhimthingsatonce。InthebrightlamplighthisfatherlookedeasierandhappierashebeameduponJean。
　　Aftersupperthemenwentintoanadjoiningroomthatappearedmostcomfortableandattractive。Itwaslong，andthewidthofthehouse，withahugestonefireplace，lowceilingofhewntimbersandwallsofthesame，smallwindowswithinsideshuttersofwood，andhome—madetableandchairsandrugs。
　　"Wal，Jean，doyourecollectthemshootin’—irons？"inquiredtherancher，pointingabovethefireplace。Twogunshungonthespreadingdeerantlersthere。OnewasamusketJean’sfatherhadusedinthewaroftherebellionandtheotherwasalong，heavy，muzzle—loadingflintlockKentucky，riflewithwhichJeanhadlearnedtoshoot。
　　"ReckonIdo，dad，"repliedJean，andwithreverenthandsandarushofmemoryhetooktheoldgundown。
　　"Jean，youshorehandlethetoldarmsomeclumsy，"saidGuyIsbel，dryly。AndBilladdedaremarktotheeffectthatperhapsJeanhadbeenleadingaluxuriousandtamelifebackthereinOregon，andthenadded，"ButIreckonhe’spackin’thatsix—shooterlikeaTexan。"
　　"Say，Ifetchedagunortwoalongwithme，"repliedJean，jocularly。
　　"ReckonInearbrokemypoormule’sbackwiththeloadofshellsan’
　　guns。Dad，whatwastheideaaskin’metopackoutanarsenal？"
　　"Son，shoreallshootin’armsan’suchareatapremiumintheTonto，"
　　repliedhisfather。"An’Iwasgivin’youahunchtocomeloaded。"
　　Hiscool，drawlingvoiceseemedtoputadamperuponthepleasantries。
　　RightthereJeansensedthechargedatmosphere。Hisbrotherswereburstingwithutteranceabouttobreakforth，andhisfathersuddenlyworealookthatrecalledtoJeancriticaltimesofdayslongpast。
　　Buttheentranceofthechildrenandthewomenfolkputanendtoconfidences。Evidentlytheyoungsterswerelaboringundersubduedexcitement。Theyprecededtheirmother，thesmallestboyinthelead。
　　Forhimthismusthavebeenbothadreadfulandawonderfulexperience，forheseemedtobepushedforwardbyhissisterandbrotherandmother，anddrivenbyyearningsofhisown。"Therenow，Lee。Say，’UncleJean，whatdidyoufetchus？’Theladhesitatedforashy，frightenedlookatJean，andthen，gainingsomethingfromhisscrutinyofhisuncle，hetoddledforwardandbravelydeliveredthequestionoftremendousimportance。
　　"WhatdidIfetchyou，hey？"criedJean，indelight，ashetooktheladuponhisknee。"Wouldn’tyouliketoknow？Ididn’tforget，Lee。
　　Irememberedyouall。Oh！thejobIhadpackin’yourbundleofpresents……Now，Lee，makeaguess。"
　　"Idessyoufetchedadun，"repliedLee。
　　"Adun！——I’llbetyoumeanagun，"laughedJean。"Well，youfour—year—oldTexasgunman！Makeanotherguess。"
　　Thatappearedtoomomentousandentrancingfortheothertwoyoungsters，and，addingtheirshrillandjoyousvoicestoLee’s，theybesiegedJean。
　　"Dad，where’smypack？"criedJean。"TheseyoungApachesareaftermyscalp。"
　　"Reckontheboysfetcheditontotheporch，"repliedtherancher。
　　GuyIsbelopenedthedoorandwentout。"Bygolly！heah’sthreepacks，"hecalled。"Whichonedoyouwant，Jean？"
　　"It’salong，heavybundle，alltiedup，"repliedJean。
　　Guycamestaggeringinunderaburdenthatbroughtawhoopfromtheyoungstersandbrightgleamstotheeyesofthewomen。Jeanlostnothingofthis。HowgladhewasthathehadtarriedinSanFranciscobecauseofamentalpictureofthisveryreceptioninfar—offwildArizona。
　　WhenGuydepositedthebundleontheflooritjarredtheroom。
　　Itgaveforthmetallicandrattlingandcracklingsounds。
　　"Everybodystandbackan’givemeelbowroom，"orderedJean，majestically。"Mygoodfolks，Iwantyoualltoknowthisissomethin’thatdoesn’thappenoften。ThebundleyouseehereweighedaboutahundredpoundswhenIpackeditonmyshoulderdownMarketStreetinFrisco。Itwasstolenfrommeonshipboard。
　　IgotitbackinSanDiegoan’lickedthethief。ItrodeonaburrofromSanDiegotoYumaan’onceIthoughttheburrowaslostforkeeps。
　　ItcameuptheColoradoRiverfromYumatoEhrenbergan’therewentontopofastage。Wegotchasedbybanditsan’oncewhenthehorsesweregallopin’harditnearrolledoff。Thenitwentonthebackofapackhorsean’helpedwearhimout。An’IreckonitwouldbesomewhereelsenowifIhadn’tfalleninwithafreightergoin’northfromPhoenixtotheSantaFeTrail。Thelastlapwhenitsaggedthebackofamulewastheriskiestan’fullofthenarrowestescapes。
　　Twicemymulebuckedoffhispackan’leftmyoutfitscattered。
　　Worstofall，mypreciousbundlemadethemuletopheavycomin’downthatplacebackherewherethetrailseemstodropofftheearth。
　　ThereIwashardputtokeepsightofmypack。Sometimesitwasontopan’othertimesthemule。Butitgothereatlast……
　　An’nowI’llopenit。"
　　Afterthislongandimpressiveharangue，whichatleastaugmentedthesuspenseofthewomenandworkedthechildrenintoafrenzy，Jeanleisurelyuntiedthemanyknotsroundthebundleandunrolledit。
　　Hehadpackedthatbundleforjustsuchtravelasithadsustained。
　　Threecloth—boundrifleshelaidaside，andwiththemalong，veryheavypackagetiedbetweentwothinwideboards。Fromthiscamethe，metallicclink。"Oo，Iknowwhatdemis！"criedLee，breakingthesilenceofsuspense。ThenJean，tearingopenalongflatparcel，spreadbeforethemute，rapt—eyedyoungsterssuchmagnificentthings，astheyhadneverdreamedof——picturebooks，mouth—harps，dolls，atoygunandatoypistol，awonderfulwhistleandafoxhorn，andlastofallaboxofcandy。Beforethesetreasuresonthefloor，toomagicaltobetouchedatfirst，thetwolittleboysandtheirsistersimplyknelt。Thatwasasweet，fullmomentforJean;yeteventhatwascloudedbythesomethingwhichshadowedtheseinnocentchildrenfatefullyborninawildplaceatawildtime。NextJeangavetohissisterthepresentshehadbroughther——beautifulclothforadress，ribbonsandabitoflace，handkerchiefsandbuttonsandyardsoflinen，asewingcaseandawholeboxofspoolsofthread，acombandbrushandmirror，andlastlyaSpanishbroochinlaidwithgarnets。"There，Ann，"saidJean，"IconfessIaskedagirlfriendinOregontotellmesomethingsmysistermightlike。"Manifestlytherewasnotmuchdifferenceingirls。Annseemedstunnedbythismunificence，andthenawakening，shehuggedJeaninawaythattookhisbreath。Shewasnotachildanymore，thatwascertain。AuntMaryturnedknowingeyesuponJean。"Reckonyoucouldn’thavepleasedAnnmore。She’sengaged，Jean，an’wheregirlsareinthatstatethesethingsmeanaheap……Ann，you’llbemarriedinthat！"AndshepointedtothebeautifulfoldsofmaterialthatAnnhadspreadout。
　　"What’sthis？"demandedJean。Hissister’sblusheswereenoughtoconvicther，andtheyweremightilybecoming，too。
　　"Here，AuntMary，"wentonJean，"here’syours，an’here’ssomethin’
　　foreachofmynewsisters。"Thisdistributionleftthewomenashappyandoccupied，almost，asthechildren。Itleftalsoanotherpackage，thelastoneinthebundle。Jeanlaidholdofitand，liftingit，hewasabouttospeakwhenhesustainedalittleshockofmemory。
　　Quitedistinctlyhesawtwolittlefeet，withbaretoespeepingoutofworn—outmoccasins，andthenround，bare，symmetricalanklesthathadbeenscratchedbybrush。NexthesawEllenJorth’spassionatefaceasshelookedwhenshehadmadetheviolentactionsodisconcertingtohim。Inthishappymomentthememoryseemedfartheroffthanafewhours。Ithadcrystallized。Itannoyedwhileitdrewhim。Asaresultheslowlylaidthispackageasideanddidnotspeakashehadintendedto。
　　"Dad，IreckonIdidn’tfetchalotforyouan’theboys，"continuedJean。"Someknives，somepipesan’tobacco。An’suretheguns。"
　　"Shore，you’rearegularSantaClaus，Jean，"repliedhisfather。
　　"Wal，wal，lookatthekids。An’lookatMary。An’fortheland’ssakelookatAnn！Wal，wal，I’mgettin’old。I’dforgottentheprettystuffan’gimcracksthatmeansomuchtowomen。We’reoutoftheworldheah。It’sjustaswellyou’velivedapartfromus，Jean，forcomin’backthisway，withallthatstuff，doesusalotofgood。Icain’tsay，son，howobligedIam。Mymindhasbeensetonthehardsideoflife。An’it’sshoregoodtoforget——toseethesmilesofthewomenan’thejoyofthekids。"
　　Atthisjunctureatallyoungmanenteredtheopendoor。Helookedarider。Allabouthim，evenhisface，excepthiseyes，seemedold，buthiseyeswereyoung，fine，soft，anddark。
　　"Howdo，y’u—all！"hesaid，evenly。
　　Annrosefromherknees。ThenJeandidnotneedtobetoldwhothisnewcomerwas。
　　"Jean，thisismyfriend，AndrewColmor。"
　　JeanknewwhenhemetColmor’sgripandthekeenflashofhiseyesthathewasgladAnnhadsetherheartupononeoftheirkind。Andhissecondimpressionwassomethingakintotheonegivenhimintheroadbytheadmiringlad。Colmor’sestimateofhimmusthavebeenamonumentbuiltofAnn’seulogies。Jean’sheartsufferedmisgivings。
　　CouldheliveuptothecharacterthatsomehowhadforestalledhisadventinGrassValley？SurelylifewasmeasureddifferentlyhereintheTontoBasin。
　　Thechildren，bundlingtheirtreasurestotheirbosoms，weredraggedofftobedinsomeremotepartofthehouse，fromwhichtheirlaughterandvoicescamebackwithhappysignificance。Jeanforthwithhadaninterestedaudience。Howeagerlytheselonelypioneerpeoplelistenedtonewsoftheoutsideworld！Jeantalkeduntilhewashoarse。
　　IntheirturnhishearerstoldhimmuchthathadneverfoundplaceinthefewandshortlettershehadreceivedsincehehadbeenleftinOregon。Notawordaboutsheepmenoranyhintofrustlers！
　　Jeanmarkedtheomissionandthoughtallthemoreseriouslyofprobabilitiesbecausenothingwassaid。Altogethertheeveningwasahappyreunionofafamilyofwhichalllivingmembersweretherepresent。Jeangraspedthatthisfactwasoneofsignificantsatisfactiontohisfather。
　　"Shorewe’reallgoin’tolivetogetherheah，"hedeclared。"Istartedthisrange。Icallmostofthisvalleymine。We’llrunupacabinforAnnsoonasshesaystheword。An’you，Jean，where’syourgirl？
　　Ishoretoldyoutofetchher。"
　　"Dad，Ididn’thaveone，"repliedJean。
　　"Wal，Iwishyouhad，"returnedtherancher。"You’llgocourtin’oneoftheseTontohussiesthatImightobjectto。"
　　"Why，father，there’snotagirlinthevalleyJeanwouldlooktwiceat，"
　　interposedAnnIsbel，withspirit。
　　Jeanlaughedthematteraside，buthehadanuneasymemory。AuntMaryaverred，afterthemannerofrelatives，thatJeanwouldplayhavocamongthewomenofthesettlement。AndJeanretortedthatatleastonememberoftheIsbels;shouldholdoutagainstfollyandfightandloveandmarriage，theagentswhichhadreducedthefamilytothesefewpresent。"I’llbethelastIsbeltogounder，"heconcluded。
　　"Son，you’retalkin’wisdom，"saidhisfather。"An’shorethatremindsmeoftheuncleyou’renamedafter。JeanIsbel！……Wal，hewasmyyoungestbrotheran’shoreafire—eater。OurmotherwasaFrenchcreolefromLouisiana，an’Jeanmusthaveinheritedsomeofhisfightin’naturefromher。WhenthewaroftherebellionstartedJeanan’Ienlisted。
　　Iwascrippledbeforeweevergottothefront。ButJeanwentthroughthreeYearsbeforehewaskilled。Hiscompanyhadorderstofighttothelastman。An’Jeanfoughtan’livedlongenoughjusttobethatlastman。"
　　AtlengthJeanwasleftalonewithhisfather。
　　"Reckonyou’reusedtobunkin’outdoors？"queriedtherancher，ratherabruptly。
　　"Mostofthetime，"repliedJean。
　　"Wal，there’sroominthehouse，butIwantyoutosleepout。
　　Comegetyourbeddin’an’gun。I’llshowyou。"
　　Theywentoutsideontheporch，whereJeanshoulderedhisrolloftarpaulinandblankets。Hisrifle，initssaddlesheath，leanedagainstthedoor。Hisfathertookitupand，halfpullingitout，lookedatitbythestarlight。"Forty—four，eh？Wal，wal，there’sshorenobetter，ifamancanholdstraight。"AtthemomentabiggraydogtrotteduptosniffatJean。"An’heah’syourbunkmate，Shepp。He’spartlofer，Jean。Hismotherwasafavoriteshepherddogofmine。Hisfatherwasabigtimberwolfthattookustwoyearstokill。Somebadwolfpacksrunnin’thisBasin。"
　　Thenightwascoldandstill，darklybrightundermoonandstars;
　　thesmellofhayseemedtominglewiththatofcedar。Jeanfollowedhisfatherroundthehouseandupagentleslopeofgrasstotheedgeofthecedarline。Hereseveraltreeswithlow—sweepingthickbranchesformedadense，impenetrableshade。
　　"Son，youruncleJeanwasscoutforLiggett，oneofthegreatestrebelstheSouthhad，"saidtherancher。"An’you’regoin’tobescoutfortheIsbelsofTonto。Reckonyou’llfindit’mostashotasyouruncledid……Spreadyourbedinside。Youcanseeout，butnoonecanseeyou。Reckonthere’sbeensomequeerhappenin’s’roundheahlately。IfSheppcouldtalkhe’dshorehavelotstotellus。Billan’Guyhavebeensleepin’out，trailin’strangehosstracks，an’allthat。Butshorewhoever’sbeenprowlin’aroundheahwastoosharpforthem。Somebad，crafty，light—steppin’woodsmen’roundheah，Jean……Threemawnin’sago，justafterdaylight，Isteppedoutthebackdooran’someoneofthesesneaksI’mtalkin’
　　aboottookashotatme。Missedmyheadaquarterofaninch！
　　To—morrowI’llshowyouthebulletholeinthedoorpost。An’someofmygrayhairsthat’restickin’init！"
　　"Dad！"ejaculatedJean，withahandoutstretched。That’sawful！
　　Youfrightenme。"
　　"Notimetobescared，"repliedhisfather，calmly。"They’reshoregoin’tokillme。That’swhyIwantedyouhome……Intherewithyou，now！Gotosleep。YoushorecantrustShepptowakeyouifhegetsscentorsound……An’goodnight，myson。I’msayin’thatI’llresteasyto—night。"
　　Jeanmumbledagoodnightandstoodwatchinghisfather’sshiningwhiteheadmoveawayunderthestarlight。Thenthetall，darkformvanished，adoorclosed，andallwasstill。ThedogShepplickedJean’shand。Jeanfeltgratefulforthatwarmtouch。Foramomenthesatonhisrollofbedding，histhoughtstilllockedontheshudderingrevelationofhisfather’swords，"They’reshoregoin’
　　tokillme。"Theshockofinactionpassed。Jeanpushedhispackinthedarkopeningand，crawlinginside，heunrolleditandmadehisbed。
　　Whenatlengthhewascomfortablysettledforthenighthebreathedalongsighofrelief。Whatblisstorelax！Athrobbingandburningofhismusclesseemedtobeginwithhisrest。Thecoolstarlitnight，thesmellofcedar，themoanofwind，thesilence——anwererealtohissenses。Afterlongweeksoflong，arduoustravelhewashome。Thewarmthofthewelcomestilllingered，butitseemedtohavebeenpiercedbyanicythrust。Whatlaybeforehim？Theshadowintheeyesofhisaunt，intheyounger，freshereyesofhissister——Jeanconnectedthatwiththemeaningofhisfather’stragicwords。Farpastwasthemorningthathadbeensokeen，thebreakingofcampinthesunlitforest，theridingdownthebrownaislesunderthepines，themusicofbleatinglambsthathadcalledhimnottopassby。
　　ThoughtofEllenJorthrecurred。Hadhemetheronlythatmorning？
　　Shewasupthereintheforest，asleepunderthestarlitpines。
　　Whowasshe？Whatwasherstory？Thatsavageflingofherskirt，herbitterspeechandpassionateflamingface——theyhauntedJean。
　　Theywerecrystallizingintosimplermemories，growingawayfromhisbewilderment，andthereforeatoncesweeterandmoredoubtful。
　　"MaybeshemeantdifferentlyfromwhatIthought，"Jeansoliloquized。
　　"Anyway，shewashonest。"Bothshameandthrillpossessedhimattherecallofaninsidiousidea——darehegobackandfindherandgiveherthelastpackageofgiftshehadbroughtfromthecity？Whatmighttheymeantopoor，ragged，untidy，beautifulEllenJorth？TheideagrewonJean。Itcouldnotbedispelled。Heresistedstubbornly。
　　Itwasboundtogotoitsfruition。Deepintohismindhadsunkanimpressionofherneed——amaterialneedthatbroughtspiritandpridetoabasement。Fromonepicturetoanotherhismemorywandered，fromonespeechandactofherstoanother，choosing，selecting，castingaside，untilclearandsharpasthestarsshonethewords，"Oh，I’vebeenkissedbefore！"Thatstunghimnow。Bywhom？Notbyoneman，butbyseveral，bymany，shehadmeant。Pshaw！hehadonlybeensympatheticanddrawnbyastrangegirlinthewoods。To—morrowhewouldforget。WorktherewasforhiminGrassValley。Andhereverteduneasilytotheremarksofhisfatheruntilatlastsleepclaimedhim。
　　Acoldnoseagainsthischeek，alowwhine，awakenedJean。ThebigdogSheppwasbesidehim，keen，wary，intense。Thenightappearedfaradvancedtowarddawn。Farawayacockcrowed;thenear—at—handoneansweredinclarionvoice。"Whatisit，Shepp？"whisperedJean，andhesatup。Thedogsmelledorheardsomethingsuspicioustohisnature，butwhethermanoranimalJeancouldnottell。