Jorthlaughedinscorn。"Fool！MyGod！Ellen，Imusthavedraggedyoulow——thateverydamnedru——er——sheepman——whocomesalongthinkshecanmarryyou。"
　　Atthebreakinhiswords，theincompletedmeaning，Ellendroppedhereyes。Littlethingsoncenevernotedbyherwerenowcometohaveafascinatingsignificance。
　　"Nevermind，dad，"shereplied。"Theycain’tmarryme。"
　　"Daggssaidsomebodyhadbeentalkin’toyou。Howabootthat？"
　　"OldJohnSpraguehasjustgottenbackfromGrassValley，"saidEllen。
　　"Istoppedintoseehim。Shorehetoldmeallthevillagegossip。"
　　"Anythin’tointerestme？"hequeried，darkly。
　　"Yes，dad，I’mafraidagooddeal，"shesaid，hesitatingly。TheninaccordancewithadecisionEllenhadmadeshetoldhimoftherumoredwarbetweensheepmenandcattlemen;thatoldIsbelhadBlaisdell，Gordon，Fredericks，Blueandotherwell—knownranchersonhisside;
　　thathissonJeanIsbelhadcomefromOregonwithawonderfulreputationasfighterandscoutandtracker;thatitwasnosecrethowColonelLeeJorthwasattheheadofthesheepmen;thatabloodywarwassuretocome。
　　"Hah！"exclaimedJorth，withastainofredinhissallowcheek。
　　"Reckonnoneofthatisnewstome。Iknewallthat。"
　　EllenwonderedifhehadheardofhermeetingwithJeanIsbel。IfnothewouldhearassoonasSimmBruceandLorenzocameback。Shedecidedtoforestallthem。
　　"Dad，ImetJeanIsbel。Hecameintomycamp。AskedthewaytotheRim。
　　Ishowedhim。We——wetalkedalittle。Andshoreweregettin’acquaintedwhen——whenhetoldmewhohewas。ThenIlefthim——hurriedbacktocamp。"
　　"ColtermetIsbeldowninthewoods，"repliedJorth，ponderingly。
　　"SaidhelookedlikeanIndian——ahardan’slipperycustomertoreckonwith。"
　　"ShoreIguessIcanindorsewhatColtersaid，"returnedEllen，dryly。
　　Shecouldhavelaughedaloudatherdeceit。Stillshehadnotlied。
　　"How’dthisheahyoungIsbelstrikeyou？"queriedherfather，suddenlyglancingupather。
　　Ellenfelttheslow，sickening，guiltyriseofbloodinherface。
　　Shewashelplesstostopit。Butherfatherevidentlyneversawit。
　　Hewaslookingatherwithoutseeingher。
　　"He——hestruckmeasdifferentfrommenheah，"shestammered。
　　"DidSpraguetellyouabootthishalf—IndianIsbel——aboothisreputation？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Didhelooktoyoulikearealwoodsman？"
　　"Indeedhedid。Heworebuckskin。Hesteppedquickandsoft。Heactedathomeinthewoods。Hehadeyesblackasnightandsharpaslightnin’。
　　Theyshoresawaboutalltherewastosee。"
　　Jorthchewedathismustacheandlosthimselfinbroodingthought。
　　"Dad，tellme，istheregoin’tobeawar？"askedEllen，presently。
　　Whatared，strange，rollingflashblazedinhiseyes！Hisbodyjerked。
　　"Shore。Youmightaswellknow。"
　　"Betweensheepmenandcattlemen？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Withy’u，dad，atthehaidofonefactionandGastonIsbeltheother？"
　　"Daughter，youhaveitcorrect，sofarasyougo。"
　　"Oh！……Dad，can’tthisfightbeavoided？"
　　"Youforgetyou’refromTexas，"hereplied。
　　"Cain’titbehelped？"sherepeated，stubbornly。
　　"No！"hedeclared，withdeep，hoarsepassion。
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Wal，wesheepmenaregoin’torunsheepanywherewelikeontherange。
　　An’cattlemenwon’tstandforthat。"
　　"But，dad，it’ssofoolish，"declaredEllen，earnestly。"Y’usheepmendonothavetorunsheepoverthecattlerange。"
　　"Ireckonwedo。"
　　"Dad，thatargumentdoesn’tgowithme。Iknowthecountry。Foryearstocometherewillberoomforbothsheepandcattlewithoutoverrunnin’。
　　Ifsomeoftherangeisbetterinwaterandgrass，thenwhoevergottherefirstshouldhaveit。Thatshoreisonlyfair。It’scommonsense，too。"
　　"Ellen，Ireckonsomecattlepeoplehavebeenprejudicin’you，"saidJorth，bitterly。
　　"Dad！"shecried，hotly。
　　ThishadgrowntobeanordealforJorth。Heseemedavictimofcontendingtidesoffeeling。Somewillorstrugglebrokewithinhimandthechangewasmanifest。Haggard，shifty—eyed，withwabblingchin，heburstintospeech。
　　"Seeheah，girl。Youlisten。There’sacliqueofranchersdownintheBasin，allthoseyounamed，withIsbelattheirhaid。Theyhaveresentedsheepmencomin’downintothevalley。Theywantitalltothemselves。That’sthereason。Shorethere’sanother。AlltheIsbelsarecrooked。They’recattlean’horsethieves——havebeenforyears。
　　GastonIsbelalwayswasamaverickrustler。He’sgettin’oldnowan’
　　rich，sohewantstocoverhistracks。Heaimstoblamethiscattlerustlin’an’horsestealin’ontoussheepmen，an’runusoutofthecountry。"
　　GravelyEllenJorthstudiedherfather’sface，andthenewlyfoundtruth—seeingpowerofhereyesdidnotfailher。Inpart，perhapsinall，hewastellinglies。Sheshudderedalittle，loyallybattlingagainsttheinsidiousconvictionsbeingbroughttofruition。Perhapsinhisbroodingoverhisfailuresandtroublesheleanedtowardfalsejudgments。Ellencouldnotattachdishonortoherfather’smotivesorspeeches。Forlong，however，somethingabouthimhadtroubledher，perplexedher。Fearfullyshebelievedshewascomingtosomerevelation，and，despiteherkeendeterminationtoknow，shefoundherselfshrinking。
　　"Dad，mothertoldmebeforeshediedthattheIsbelshadruinedyou，"
　　saidEllen，verylow。Ithurthersotoseeherfathercoverhisfacethatshecouldhardlygoon。"Iftheyruinedyoutheyruinedallofus。Iknowwhatwehadonce——whatwelostagainandagain——andIseewhatwearecometonow。MotherhatedtheIsbels。Shetaughtmetohatetheveryname。ButIneverknewhowtheyruinedyou——orwhy——
　　orwhen。AndIwanttoknownow。"
　　ThenitwasnotthefaceofaliarthatJorthdisclosed。Thepresentwasforgotten。Helivedinthepast。Heevenseemedyounger’intherevivifyingflashofhatethatmadehisfaceradiant。Thelinesburnedout。Hategavehimbackthespiritofhisyouth。
　　"GastonIsbelan’IwereboystogetherinWeston，Texas，"beganJorth，inswift，passionatevoice。"Wewenttoschooltogether。Welovedthesamegirl——yourmother。WhenthewarbrokeoutshewasengagedtoIsbel。Hisfamilywasrich。Theyinfluencedherpeople。Butshelovedme。WhenIsbelwenttowarshemarriedme。Hecamebackan’
　　facedus。God！I’llneverforgetthat。Yourmotherconfessedherunfaithfulness——byHeaven！Shetauntedhimwithit。Isbelaccusedmeofwinnin’herbylies。Butshetookthestingoutofthat。
　　Isbelneverforgaveheran’hehoundedmetoruin。Hemademeoutacard—sharp，cheatin’mybestfriends。Iwasdisgraced。Laterhetangledmeinthecourts——hebeatmeoutofproperty——an’lastbyconvictin’meofrustlin’cattleherunmeoutofTexas。"
　　Blackanddistortednow，Jorth’sfacewasaspectacletomakeEllensickwithaterriblepassionofdespairandhate。Thetruthofherfather’sruinandherownwereenough。Whatmatteredallelse？
　　Jorthbeatthetablewithfluttering，nervelesshandsthatseemedallthemoresignificantfortheirlackofphysicalforce。
　　"An’sohelpmeGod，it’sgottobewipedoutinblood！"hehissed。
　　ThatwashisanswertothewaveringandnobilityofEllen。Andsheinherturnhadnoanswertomake。Shecreptawayintothecornerbehindthecurtain，andthereonhercouchinthesemidarknessshelaywithstrainedheart，andaresurging，unconquerabletumultinhermind。Andshelaytherefromthemiddleofthatafternoonuntilthenextmorning。
　　Whensheawakenedsheexpectedtobeunabletorise——shehopedshecouldnot——butlifeseemedmultipliedinher，andinactionwasimpossible。Somethingyoungandsweetandhopefulthathadbeeninherdidnotgreetthesunthismorning。Intheirplacewasawoman’spassiontolearnforherself，towatchevents，tomeetwhatmustcome，tosurvive。
　　Afterbreakfast，atwhichshesatalone，shedecidedtoputIsbel’spackageoutoftheway，sothatitwouldnotbesubjectinghertocontinualannoyance。Themomentshepickedituptheoldcuriosityassailedher。
　　"ShoreI’llseewhatitis，anyway，"shemuttered，andwithswifthandssheopenedthepackage。Theactiondisclosedtwopairsoffine，softshoes，ofastyleshehadneverseen，andfourpairsofstockings，twoofstrong，serviceablewool，andtheothersofafinertexture。
　　Ellenlookedattheminamaze。Ofallthingsintheworld，thesewouldhavebeenthelastsheexpectedtosee。And，strangely，theywerewhatshewantedandneededmost。Naturally，then，Ellenmadethemistakeoftakingtheminherhandstofeeltheirsoftnessandwarmth。
　　"Shore！Hesawmybarelegs！Andhebroughtmethesepresentshe’dintendedforhissister……Hewasashamedforme——sorryforme……AndIthoughthelookedatmebold—like，asI’musedtobelookedatheah！Isbelornot，he’sshore……"
　　ButEllenJorthcouldnotutteraloudtheconvictionherintelligencetriedtoforceuponher。
　　"It’dbeapitytoburnthem，"shemused。"Icain’tdoit。
　　SometimeImightsendthemtoAnnIsbel。"
　　Whereuponshewrappedthemupagainandhidtheminthebottomoftheoldtrunk，andslowly，assheloweredthelid，lookingdarkly，blanklyatthewall，shewhispered:"JeanIsbel！……Ihatehim！"
　　LaterwhenEllenwentoutdoorsshecarriedherrifle，whichwasunusualforher，unlesssheintendedtogointothewoods。
　　Themorningwassunnyandwarm。Agroupofshirt—sleevedmenloungedinthehallandbeforetheporchofthedoublecabin。Herfatherwaspacingupanddown，talkingforcibly。Ellenheardhishoarsevoice。
　　Assheapproachedheceasedtalkingandhislistenersrelaxedtheirattention。Ellen’sglanceranoverthemswiftly——Daggs，withhissuperbhead，likethatofahawk，uncoveredtothesun;Colterwithhislowered，secretivelooks，hissand—grayleanface;JacksonJorth，heruncle，huge，gaunt，hulking，withwhiteinhisblackbeardandhair，andthefireofaghoulinhisholloweyes;TadJorth，anotherbrotherofherfather’s，younger，redofeyeandnose，aweak—chinneddrinkerofrum。Threeotherlimber—leggedTexansloungedthere，partnersofDaggs，andtheyweresun—browned，light—haired，blue—eyedmensingularlyalikeinappearance，fromtheirdustyhigh—heeledbootstotheirbroadblacksombreros。Theyclaimedtobesheepmen。AllEllencouldbesureofwasthatRockWellsspentmostofhistimethere，doingnothingbutlookforachancetowaylayher;Springerwasagambler;andthethird，whoansweredtothestrangenameofQueen，wasasilent，lazy，watchful—eyedmanwhoneverworeagloveonhisrighthandandwhoneverwasseenwithoutagunwithineasyreachofthathand。
　　"Howdy，Ellen。Shoreyouain’tgoin’tosaygoodmawnin’tothisheahbadlot？"drawledDaggs，withgood—naturedsarcasm。
　　"Why，shore！Goodmorning，y’uhard—workingindustriousMANANAsheepraisers，"repliedEllen，coolly。
　　Daggsstared。Theothersappearedtakenbackbyagreetingsoforeignfromanytowhichtheywereaccustomedfromher。JacksonJorthletoutagruffhaw—haw。Someofthemdoffedtheirsombreros，andRockWellsmanagedalazy，politegoodmorning。Ellen’sfatherseemedmostsignificantlystruckbyhergreeting，andtheleastamused。
　　"Ellen，I’mnotlikin’yourtalk，"hesaid，withafrown。
　　"Dad，wheny’uplaycardsdon’ty’ucallaspadeaspade？"
　　"Why，shoreIdo。"
　　"Well，I’mcallingspadesspades。"
　　"Ahuh！"gruntedJorth，furtivelydroppinghiseyes。"Whereyougoin’
　　withyourgun？I’dratheryouhungroundheahnow。"
　　"ReckonImightaswellgetusedtopackingmygunallthetime，"
　　repliedEllen。"ReckonI’llbetreatedmorelikeaman。"
　　ThentheeventEllenhadbeenexpectingallmorningtookplace。
　　SimmBruceandLorenzorodearoundtheslopeoftheKnollandtrottedtowardthecabin。InterestinEllenwasrelegatedtothebackground。
　　"Shorethey’rebustin’withnews，"declaredDaggs。
　　"Theybeenridin’some，youbet，"remarkedanother。
　　"Huh！"exclaimedJorth。"Bruceshorelooksqueertome。"
　　"Redliquor，"saidTadJorth，sententiously。"You—allknowthebrandGreaveshandsout。"
　　"Naw，Simmain’tdrunk，"saidJacksonJorth。"Lookathisbloodyshirt。"
　　Thecool，indolentinterestofthecrowdvanishedattheredcolorpointedoutbyJacksonJorth。Daggsroseinasinglespringymotiontohisloftyheight。ThefaceBruceturnedtoJorthwasswollenandbruised，withunhealedcuts。Wherehisrighteyeshouldhavebeenshowedapuffeddarkpurplebulge。Hisothereye，however，gleamedwithhardandsullenlight。HestretchedabigshakinghandtowardJorth。
　　ThetNezPerceIsbelbeatmehalftodeath，"hebellowed。
　　Jorthstaredhardatthetragic，almostgrotesquefigure，atthebatteredface。Butspeechfailedhim。ItwasDaggswhoansweredBruce。
　　"Wal，Simm，I’llbedamnedifyoudon’tlookit。"
　　"Beatyou！Whatwith？"burstoutJorth，explosively。
　　"Ithoughthewasswingin’anax，butGreavessworeitwashisfists，"
　　bawledBruce，inmiseryandfury。
　　"Wherewasyourgun？"queriedJorth，sharply。
　　"Gun？Hell！"exclaimedBruce，flingingwidehisarms。"AskLorenzo。
　　Hehadagun。An’hegotabiffinthejawbeforemyturncome。
　　Askhim？"
　　AttentionthusdirectedtotheMexicanshowedaheavydiscoloredswellinguponthesideofhisolive—skinnedface。Lorenzolookedonlyserious。
　　"Hah！Speakup，"shoutedJorth，impatiently。
　　"SenorIsbelheetmeverquick，"repliedLorenzo，withexpressivegesture。"Iseethousandstars——thenmoochoblack——alllikenight。"
　　AtthatsomeofDaggs’smenlolledbackwithdrycrisplaughter。
　　Daggs’shardfacerippledwithasmile。ButtherewasnohumorinanythingforColonelJorth。
　　"Telluswhatcomeoff。Quick！"heordered。"Wheredidithappen？
　　Why？Whosawit？Whatdidyoudo？"
　　Brucelapsedintoasullenimpressiveness。"Wal，IhappenedinGreaves’sstorean’runintoJeanIsbel。Shorewaslookin’ferhim。
　　Ihadmymindmadeupwhattodo，butIgottoshootin’offmygabinsteadofmygun。IcalledhimNezPerce——an’IthrowedallthettalkinhisfaceaboutoldGassIsbelsendin’ferhim———an’Itoldhimhe’dgitrunoutoftheTonto。ReckonIwasjestwarmin’up……Butthenitallhappened。HesluggedLorenzojestone。An’
　　Lorenzoslidpeaceful—liketobedbehindthecounter。Ihadn’ttimetothinkofthrowin’agunbeforehewhaledintome。Heknockedouttwoofmyteeth。An’Iswalleredoneofthem。"
　　Ellenstoodinthebackgroundbehindthreeofthemenandintheshadow。ShedidnotjoininthelaughthatfollowedBruce’sremarks。
　　Shehadknownthathewouldlie。Uncertainyetofherreactiontothis，butmorebitterandfuriousasherevealedhisutterbaseness，shewaitedformoretobesaid。
　　"Wal，I’llbedoggoned，"drawledDaggs。
　　"Whatdoyoumakeofthiskindoffightin’？"queriedJorth，"DarnifIknow，"repliedDaggsinperplexity。"Shorean’sartinit’snotthewayofaTexan。MebbethisyoungIsbelreallyiswhatoldGassswearsheis。ShoreBruceain’tnothin’togiveanedgetoarealgunfighter。LookstomelikeIsbelbluffedGreavesan’hisgangan’lickedyourmenwithoutthrowin’agun。"
　　"MaybeIsbeldoesn’twantthenameofdrawin’firstblood，"
　　suggestedJorth。
　　"That’dbelikeGass，"spokeupRockWells，quietly。IonctrodeferGassinTexas。"
　　"Say，Bruce，"saidDaggs，"wasthisheahpalaverin’ofyoursan’
　　JeanIsbel’saboottheoldstockdispute？Aboothisfather’srangean’water？An’partickleraboot，sheep？"
　　"Wal——I——Iyelledaheap，"declaredBruce，haltingly，"butIdon’trecollectallIsaid——Iwasriled……Shore，thoughitwasthesameoldargymentthet’sbeenfetchin’uscloseran’closertotrouble。"
　　DaggsremovedhiskeenhawklikegazefromBruce。Wal，Jorth，allI’llsayisthis。IfBruceistellin’thetruthweain’tgotahellofalottofearfromthisyoungIsbel。I’veknownaheapofgunfightersinmyday。An’JeanIsbeldon’trantruetoclass。Shorethereneverwasagunmanwho’driskcripplin’hisrighthandbysluggin’anybody。"
　　"Wal，"brokeinBruce，sullenly。"You—allcantakeitdaidstraightornot。Idon’tgiveadamn。Butyou’veshoregotmyhunchthetNezPerceIsbelisliabletohandleanyofyoufellarsjestashedidme，an’jestaseasy。What’smore，he’sgotGreavesfiggered。An’you—allknowthetGreavesisasdeepin——"
　　"Shutupthatkindofgab，"demandedJorth，stridently。"An’answerme。
　　WastherowinGreaves’sbarroomabootsheep？"
　　"Aw，hell！Isaidso，didn’tI？"shoutedBruce，withafierceupliftofhisdistortedface。
　　Ellenstrodeoutfromtheshadowofthetallmenwhohadobscuredher。
　　"Bruce，y’u’realiar，"shesaid，bitingly。
　　ThesurpriseofhersuddenappearanceseemedtorootBrucetothespot。
　　Allbutthediscoloredplacesonhisfaceturnedwhite。Heheldhisbreathamoment，thenexpelledithard。Hisefforttorecoverfromtheshockwaspainfullyobvious。Hestammeredincoherently。
　　"Shorey’u’remorethanaliar，too，"criedEllen，facinghimwithblazingeyes。Andtherifle，grippedinbothhands，seemedtodeclareherintentofmenace。"Thatrowwasnotaboutsheep……JeanIsbeldidn’tbeaty’uforanythin’aboutsheep……OldJohnSpraguewasinGreaves’sstore。Heheardy’u。HesawJeanIsbelbeaty’uasy’udeserved……An’hetoldME！"
　　EllensawBruceshrinkinfearofhislife;anddespiteherfuryshewasfilledwithdisgustthathecouldimagineshewouldhavehisbloodonherhands。ThenshedivinedthatBrucesawmoreinthegatheringstorminherfather’seyesthanhehadtofearfromher。
　　"Girl，whatthehellarey’usayin’？"hoarselycalledJorth，indarkamaze。
　　"Dad，y’uleavethistome，"sheretorted。
　　DaggssteppedbesideJorth，significantlyonhisrightside。"LetheraloneLee，"headvised，coolly。"She’sshoregotahunchonBruce。"
　　"SimmBruce，y’ucastadirtysluronmyname，"criedEllen，passionately。
　　ItwasthenthatDaggsgraspedJorth’srightarmandheldittight，"JestwhatIthought，"hesaid。"Standstill，Lee。Let’sseethekidmakehimshowdown。"
　　"That’swhatjeanIsbelbeaty’ufor，"wentonEllen。"Forslanderingagirlwhowasn’tthere……Me！Y’urottenliar！"
　　"But，Ellen，itwasn’talllies，"saidBruce，huskily。"Iwashalfdrunk——an’horriblejealous……YouknowLorenzoseenIsbelkissin’
　　you。Icanprovethet。"
　　Ellenthrewupherheadandascarletwaveofshameandwrathfloodedherface。
　　"Yes，"shecried，ringingly。"HesawJeanIsbelkissme。Once！……
　　An’itwastheonlydecentkissI’vehadinyears。Hemeantnoinsult。
　　Ididn’tknowwhobewas。An’throughhiskissIlearnedadifferencebetweenmen……Y’umadeLorenzolie。An’ifIhadashredofgoodnameleftinGrassValleyyoudishonoredit……Y’umadehimthinkIwasyourgirl！Damny’u！Ioughttokilly’u……Eatyourwordsnow——takethemback——orI’llcrippley’uforlife！"
　　Ellenloweredthecockedrifletowardhisfeet。
　　"Shore，Ellen，Itakeback——allIsaid，"gulpedBruce。HegazedatthequiveringriflebarrelandthenintothefaceofEllen’sfather。
　　Instincttoldhimwherehisrealperillay。
　　HerethecoolandtactfulDaggsshowedhimselfmasterofthesituation。
　　"Heah，listen！"hecalled。"Ellen，IreckonBrucewasdrunkan’outofhishaid。He’sshoreatehiswords。Now，wedon’twantanycripplesinthiscamp。Lethimalone。YourdadgotmeheahtoleadtheJorths，an’that’smysaytoyou……Simm，you’reshorealow—downlyin’
　　rascal。KeepawayfromEllenafterthisorI’llboreyoumyself……
　　Jorth，itwon’tbeabadideeforyoutoforgetyou’reaTexantillyoucooloff。LetBrucestopsomeIsbellead。ShoretheJorth—Isbelwarisabooton，an’Ireckonwe’dbesmarttobelieveoldGass’stalkaboothisNezPerceson。"
　　CHAPTERVI
　　>FromthishourEllenJorthbentallofherlatelyawakenedintelligenceandwilltotheonlyendthatseemedtoholdpossiblesalvationforher。
　　Inthecrisissuretocomeshedidnotwanttobeblindorweak。
　　Dreamingandindolence，habitsborninherwhichwereoftenacomforttooneaslonelyasshe，wouldillfitherforthehardtestshedivinedanddreaded。Inthematterofherfather’sfightshemuststandbyhimwhatevertheissueortheoutcome;inwhatpertainedtoherownprinciples，herwomanhood，andhersoulshestoodabsolutelyalone。
　　Therefore，Ellenputdreamsaside，andindolenceofmindandbodybehindher。Manytasksshefound，andwhentheseweredoneforadayshekeptactiveinotherways，thusearningthepoiseandpeaceoflabor。
　　Jorthrodeoffeveryday，sometimeswithoneortwoofthemen，oftenwithalargernumber。IfhespokeofsuchtripstoEllenitwastogiveanimpressionofvisitingtheranchesofhisneighborsorthevarioussheepcamps。Oftenhedidnotreturnthedayheleft。Whenhedidgetbackhesmelledofrumandappearedheavyfromneedofsleep。
　　Hishorseswerealwaysdustandsweatcovered。DuringhisabsencesEllenfellvictimtoanxiousdreaduntilhereturned。Dailyhegrewdarkerandmorehaggardofface，moreobsessedbysomeimpendingfate。
　　Oftenhestayeduplate，haranguingwiththemeninthedim—litcabin，wheretheydrankandsmoked，butseldomgambledanymore。Whenthemendidnotgamblesomethingimmediateandperturbingwasontheirminds。
　　Ellenhadnotyetloweredherselftothedeceitandsuspicionofeavesdropping，butsherealizedthattherewasaclimaxapproachinginwhichshewoulddeliberatelydoso。
　　InthoseclosingMaydaysEllenlearnedthesignificanceofmanythingsthatpreviouslyshehadtakenasamatterofcourse。Herfatherdidnotrunaranch。Therewasabsolutelynoranchingdone，andlittlework。
　　OftenEllenhadtochopwoodherself。Jorthdidnotpossessaplow。
　　Ellenwasboundtoconfessthattheevidenceofthislackdumfoundedher。
　　EvenoldJohnSpragueraisedsomehay，beets，turnips。Jorth’scattleandhorsesfaredillduringthewinter。Ellenrememberedhowtheyusedtocleanupfour—inchoaksaplingsandaspens。Manyofthemdiedinthesnow。Theflocksofsheep，however，weredrivendownintotheBasininthefall，andacrosstheRenoPasstoPhoenixandMaricopa。
　　Ellencouldnotdiscoverafencepostontheranch。norapieceofsaltforthehorsesandcattle，norawagon，noranysignofasheep—shearingoutfit。Shehadneverseenanysheepsheared。
　　Ellencouldneverkeeptrackofthemanyanddifferenthorsesrunninglooseandhobbledroundtheranch。Thereweredrovesofhorsesinthewoods，andsomeofthemwildasdeer。Accordingtoherlong—establishedunderstanding，herfatherandheruncleswerekeenonhorsetradingandbuying。