\"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;