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。