Withthathemountedandturnedaway。Ellencalledoutforhimtotakehishorse。Hedidnotstopnorlookback。Shecalledagain，buthervoicewasfainter，andIsbelwasnowleavingatatrot。Slowlyshesaggedagainstthetree，lowerandlower。Heheadedintothetrailleadingupthecanyon。HowstrangeareliefEllenfelt！Shewatchedhimrideintotheaspensandstartuptheslope，atlasttodisappearinthepines。Itseemedatthemomentthathetookwithhimsomethingwhichhadbeenhers。Apaininherheaddulledthethoughtsthatwaveredtoandfro。Afterhehadgoneshecouldnotseesowell。
　　Hereyesweretired。Whathadhappenedtoher？Therewasbloodonherhands。Isbel’sblood！Sheshuddered。Wasitanomen？Lowershesankagainstthetreeandclosedhereyes。
　　OldJohnSpraguedidnotreturn。Hoursdraggedby——darkhoursforEllenJorthlyingprostratebesidethetree，hidingtheblueskyandgoldensunlightfromhereyes。Atlengththelethargyofdespair，theblackdullmiseryworeaway;andshegraduallyreturnedtoaconditionofcoherentthought。
　　Whathadshelearned？Sightoftheblackhorsegrazingnearseemedtopromptthetrenchantreplies。SpadesbelongedtoJeanIsbel。Hehadbeenstolenbyherfatherorbyoneofherfather’saccomplices。
　　Isbel’svauntedcunningasatrackerhadbeennoidleboast。Herfatherwasahorsethief，arustler，asheepmanonlyasablind，aconsortofDaggs，leaderoftheHashKnifeGang。Ellenwellrememberedtheillreputeofthatgang，waybackinTexas，yearsago。
　　Herfatherhadgotteninwiththisfamousbandofrustlerstoservehisownends——theexterminationoftheIsbels。ItwasallveryplainnowtoEllen。
　　"Daughterofahorsethiefan’rustler！"shemuttered。
　　Andherthoughtsspedbacktothedaysofhergirlhood。Onlytheveryearlystageofthattimehadbeenhappy。InthelightofIsbel’srevelationthemanychangesofresidence，thesuddenmovestounsettledpartsofTexas，theperiodsofpovertyandsuddenprosperity，allleadingtothefinaljourneytothisGod—forsakenArizona——thesewerenowseenintheirtruesignificance。Asfarbackasshecouldrememberherfatherhadbeenacrookedman。Andhermotherhadknownit。Hehaddraggedhertoherruin。Thatdegradationhadkilledher。
　　Ellenrealizedthatwithpoignantsorrow，withasuddenrevoltagainstherfather。HadGastonIsbeltrulyanddishonestlystartedherfatheronhisdownhillroad？Ellenwondered。ShehatedtheIsbelswithunutterableandgrowinghate，yetshehaditinhertothink，toponder，toweighjudgmentsintheirbehalf。Sheowedittosomethinginherselftobefair。ButwhatdiditmatterwhowastoblamefortheJorth—Isbelfeud？SomehowEllenwasforcedtoconfessthatdeepinhersoulitmatteredterribly。Tobetruetoherself——theselfthatshealoneknew——shemusthaverightonherside。IftheJorthswereguilty，andsheclungtothemandtheircreed，thenshewouldbeoneofthem。
　　"ButI’mnot，"shemused，aloud。"Myname’sJorth，an’IreckonIhavebadblood……Butitnevercameoutinmetillto—day。I’vebeenhonest。I’vebeengood——yes，GOOD，asmymothertaughtmetobe——inspiteofall……Shoremypridemademeafool……An’nowhaveIanychoicetomake？I’maJorth。Imuststicktomyfather。
　　Allthissummingup，however，didnotwhollyaccountforthepanginherbreast。
　　Whathadshedonethatday？Andtheanswerbeatinherearslikeagreatthrobbinghammer—stroke。Inanagonyofshame，inthethroesofhate，shehadperjuredherself。Shehadswornawayherhonor。Shehadbaselymadeherselfvile。Shehadstruckruthlesslyatthegreatheartofamanwholovedher。Ah！Thatthrusthadreboundedtoleavethisdreadfulpanginherbreast。Lovedher？Yes，thestrangetruth，theinsupportabletruth！Shehadtocontendnow，notwithherfatherandherdisgrace，notwiththebafflingpresenceofJeanIsbel，butwiththemysteriesofherownsoul。Wonderofallwonderswasitthatsuchlovehadbeenbornforher。Shameworsethanallothershamewasitthatsheshouldkillitbyapoisonedlie。Bywhatmonstrousmotivehadshedonethat？TostingIsbelashehadstungher！Butthathadbeenbase。Nevercouldshehavestoppedsolowexceptinamomentoftremendoustumult。IfshehaddonesoreinjurytoIsbelwhatbadshedonetoherself？Howstrange，howtenacioushadbeenhisfaithinherhonor！Couldsheeverforget？Shemustforgetit。ButshecouldneverforgetthewayhehadscornedthosevilemeninGreaves’sstore——thewayhehadbeatenBrucefordefilinghername——thewayhehadstubbornlydeniedherowninsinuations。Shewasawomannow。Shehadlearnedsomethingofthecomplexityofawoman’sheart。Shecouldnotchangenature。Andallherpassionatebeingthrilledtothemanhoodofherdefender。Butevenwhileshethrilledsheacknowledgedherhate。
　　Itwasthecontentionbetweenthetwothatcausedthepanginherbreast。"An’nowwhat’sleftforme？"murmuredEllen。Shedidnotanalyzethesignificanceofwhathadpromptedthatquery。Themostincalculableoftheday’sdisclosureswasthewrongshehaddoneherself。"ShoreI’mdonefor，onewayoranother……ImuststicktoDad……orkillmyself？"
　　EllenrodeSpadesbacktotheranch。Sherodelikethewind。Whensheswungoutofthetrailintotheopenmeadowinplainsightoftheranchherappearancecreatedacommotionamongtheloungersbeforethecabin。
　　SherodeSpadesatafullrun。
　　"Who’safteryou？"yelledherfather，asshepulledtheblacktoahalt。
　　Jorthheldarifle。Daggs，Colter，theotherJorthswerethere，likewisearmed，andallwatchful，strungwithexpectancy。
　　"Shorenobody’safterme，"repliedEllen。"Cain’tIrunahorseroundheahwithoutbeingchased？"
　　Jorthappearedbothincensedandrelieved。
　　"Hah！……Whatyoumean，girl，runnin’likeastreakrightdownonus？You’reactin’queerthesedays，an’youlookqueer。
　　I’mnotlikin’it。"
　　"Reckonthesearequeertimes——fortheJorths，"repliedEllen，sarcastically。
　　"Daggsfoundstrangehorsetrackscrossin’themeadow，"saidherfather。
　　"An’thatworriedus。Someone’sbeensnoopin’roundtheranch。An’
　　whenweseenyourunnin’sowildweshorethoughtyouwasbein’chased。"
　　"No。IwasonlytryingoutSpadestoseehowfasthecouldrun，"
　　returnedEllen。"Reckonwhenwedogetchasedit’lltakesomerunningtocatchme。"
　　"Haw！Haw！"roaredDaggs。"Itshorewill，Ellen。"
　　"Girl，it’snotonlyyourrunnin’an’yourlooksthat’squeer，"
　　declaredJorth，indarkperplexity。"Youtalkqueer。"
　　"Shore，dad，y’u’renotusedtohearingspadescalledspades，"
　　saidEllen，asshedismounted。
　　"Humph！"ejaculatedherfather，asifconvincedoftheuselessnessoftryingtounderstandawoman。"Say，didyouseeanystrangehorsetracks？""
　　"IreckonIdid。AndIknowwhomadethem。"
　　Jorthstiffened。Allthemenbehindhimshowedasuddenintensityofsuspense。
　　"Who？"demandedJorth。
　　"ShoreitwasJeanIsbel，"repliedEllen，coolly。"Hecameupheahtrackinghisblackhorse。"
　　"Jean——Isbel——trackin’——his——blackhorse，"repeatedherfather。
　　"Yes。He’snotoverratedasatracker，that’sshore。"
　　Blanksilenceensued。Ellencastaslowglanceoverherfatherandtheothers，thenshebegantoloosenthecinchesofhersaddle。
　　PresentlyJorthburstthesilencewithacurse，andDaggsfollowedwithoneofhissardoniclaughs。
　　"Wal，boss，whatdidItellyou？"hedrawled。
　　JorthstrodetoEllen，and，whirlingheraroundwithastronghand，heheldherfacinghim。
　　"Didy’useeIsbel？"
　　"Yes，"repliedEllen，justassharplyasherfatherhadasked。
　　"Didy’utalktohim？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Whatdidhewantupheah？"
　　"Itoldy’u。Hewastrackingtheblackhorsey’ustole。"
　　Jorth’shandandarmdroppedlimply。Hissallowfaceturnedalividhue。
　　Amazemergedintodiscomfitureandthatgaveplacetorage。HeraisedahandasiftostrikeEllen。AndsuddenlyDaggs’slongarmshotouttoclutchJorth’swrist。Wrestlingtofreehimself，Jorthcursedunderhisbreath。"Letgo，Daggs，"heshouted，stridently。"AmIdrunkthatyougrabme？"
　　"Wal，y’uain’tdrunk，Ireckon，"repliedtherustler，withsarcasm。
　　"Buty’u’reshoresomethingsI’llreserveforyourprivateear。"
　　Jorthgainedasemblanceofcomposure。Butitwasevidentthathelaboredunderashock。
　　"Ellen，didJeanIsbelseethisblackhorse？"
　　"Yes。HeaskedmehowIgotSpadesan’Itoldhim。"
　　"DidhesaySpadesbelongedtohim？"
　　"ShoreIreckonhe，provedit。Y’ucanalwaystellahorsethatlovesitsmaster。"
　　"Didy’uoffertogiveSpadesback？"
　　"Yes。ButIsbelwouldn’ttakehim。"
　　"Hah！……An’whynot？"
　　"Hesaidhe’dratherIkepthim。Hewasabouttoengageinadirty，blood—spillingdeal，an’hereckonedhe’dnotbeabletocareforafinehorse……Ididn’twantSpades。ItriedtomakeIsbeltakehim。
　　Butherodeoff……Andthat’sallthereistothat。"
　　"Maybeit’snot，"repliedJorth，chewinghismustacheandeyingEllenwithdark，intentgaze。"Y’u’vemetthisIsbeltwice。"
　　"Itwasn’tanyfaultofmine，"retortedEllen。
　　"Iheahhe’ssweetony’u。Howabootthat？"
　　Ellensmartedundertheblazeofbloodthatswepttoneckandcheekandtemple。Butitwasonlymemorywhichfiredthisshame。Whatherfatherandhiscrowdmightthinkweremattersofsupremeindifference。
　　Yetshemethissuspiciousgazewithtruthfulblazingeyes。
　　"IheahtalkfromBrucean’Lorenzo，"wentonherfather。"An’Daggsheah——"
　　"Daggsnothin’！"interruptedthatworthy。"Don’tfetchmein。Isaidnothin’an’Ithinknothin’。"
　　"Yes，JeanIsbelwassweetonme，dad……buthewillneverbeagain，"
　　returnedEllen，inlowtones。WiththatshepulledhersaddleoffSpadesand，throwingitoverhershoulder，shewalkedofftohercabin。
　　Hardlyhadshegottenindoorswhenherfatherentered。
　　"Ellen，Ididn’tknowthathorsebelongedtoIsbel，"hebegan，intheswift，hoarse，persuasivevoicesofamiliartoEllen。"IswearIdidn’t。
　　Iboughthim——tradedwithSlaterforhim……HonesttoGod，Ineverhadanyideahewasstolen！……Why，wheny’usaid’thathorsey’ustole，’Ifeltasify’u’dknifedme……"
　　Ellensatatthetableandlistenedwhileherfatherpacedtoandfroand，byhisrestlessactionandpassionatespeech，workedhimselfintoafrenzy。Hetalkedincessantly，asifhersilencewascondemnatoryandasifeloquencealonecouldconvinceherofhishonesty。ItseemedthatEllensawandheardwithkeenerfacultiesthaneverbefore。
　　Hehadaterriblethirstforherrespect。Notsomuchforherlove，shedivined，butthatshewouldnotseehowhehadfallen！
　　Shepitiedhimwithallherheart。Shewasallhehad，ashewasalltheworldtoher。Andso，asshegaveeartohislong，illogicalrigmaroleofargumentanddefense，sheslowlyfoundthatherpityandherloveweremakingvitaldecisionsforher。Asofold，inpoignantmoments，herfatherlapsedatlastintoadenunciationoftheIsbelsandwhattheyhadbroughthimto。Hissufferingswerereal，atleast，inEllen’spresence。Shewastheonlylinkthatboundhimtolong—pasthappiertimes。Shewashermotheroveragain——thewomanwhohadbetrayedanothermanforhimandgonewithhimtoherruinanddeath。
　　"Dad，don’tgoonso，"saidEllen，breakinginuponherfather’srant。
　　"Iwillbetruetoy’u——asmymotherwas……IamaJorth。Yourplaceismyplace——yourfightismyfight……Neverspeakofthepasttomeagain。IfGodsparesusthroughthisfeudwewillgoawayandbeginalloveragain，faroffwherenooneeverheardofaJorth……Ifwe’renotsparedwe’llatleasthavehadourwhackatthesedamnedIsbels。"
　　CHAPTERVII
　　DuringJuneJeanIsbeldidnotridefarawayfromGrassValley。
　　AnotherattempthadbeenmadeuponGastonIsbel’slife。Anothercowardlyshothadbeenfiredfromambush，thistimefromapinethicketborderingthetrailthatledtoBlaisdell’sranch。Blaisdellheardthisshot，sonearhishomewasitfired。Notraceofthehiddenfoecouldbefound。The’groundallaroundthatvicinityboreacarpetofpineneedleswhichshowednotraceoffootprints。Thesuppositionwasthatthiscowardlyattempthadbeenperpetrated，orcertainlyinstigated，bytheJorths。Buttherewasnoproof。AndGastonIsbelhadotherenemiesintheTontoBasinbesidesthesheepclan。Theoldmanragedlikealionaboutthissneakingattackonhim。AndhisfriendBlaisdellurgedanimmediategatheringoftheirkinandfriends。"Let’squitranchin’tillthistrouble’ssettled，"hedeclared。"Let’sarman’
　　ridethetrailsan’meetthesemenhalf—way……Itwon’thelpoursideanytowaittillyou’reshotintheback。"MorethanoneofIsbel’ssupportersofferedthesameadvice。
　　"No;we’llwaittillweknowforshore，"wasthestubborncattleman’sreplytoallthesepromptings。
　　"Know！Wal，hell！Didn’tJeanfindtheblackhossupatJorth’sranch？"
　　demandedBlaisdell。"Whatmoredowewant？"
　　"Jeancouldn’tswearJorthstoletheblack。"
　　"Wal，bythunder，Icansweartoit！"growledBlaisdell。"An’we’relosin’cattleallthetime。Who’sstealin’’em？"
　　"We’vealwayslostcattleeversincewestartedranchin’heah。"
　　"Gas，IreckonyuwantJorthtostartthisfightintheopen。"
　　"It’llstartsoonenough，"wasIsbel’sgloomyreply。
　　Jeanhadnotfailedaltogetherinhistrackingoflostorstolencattle。
　　Circumstanceshadbeenagainsthim，andtherewassomethingbafflingaboutthisrustling。Thesummerstormssetinearly，andithadbeenhislucktohaveheavyrainswashoutfreshtracksthathemighthavefollowed。Therangewaslargeandcattlewereeverywhere。Sometimesalosswasnotdiscoveredforweeks。GastonIsbel’ssonswerenowtheonlymenlefttoridetherange。Twoofhisridershadquitbecauseofthethreatenedwar，andIsbelhadletanothergo。SothatJeandidnotoftenlearnthatcattlehadbeenstolenuntiltheirtrackswereold。
　　AddedtothatwasthefactthatthisGrassValleycountrywascoveredwithhorsetracksandcattletracks。Therustlers，whoevertheywere，hadlongbeenatthegame，andnowthattherewasreasonforthemtoshowtheircunningtheydidit。
　　EarlyinJulythehotweathercame。DownontheredridgesoftheTontoitwashotdesert。Thenightswerecool，theearlymorningswerepleasant，butthedaywassomethingtoendure。Whenthewhitecumuluscloudsrolledupoutofthesouthwest，growinglargerandthickeranddarker，hereandtherecoalescingintoablackthundercloud，Jeanwelcomedthem。Helikedtoseethegraystreamersofrainhangingdownfromacanopyofblack，andtheroarofrainonthetreesasitapproachedlikeatramplingarmywasalwayswelcome。Thegrassyflats，theredridges，therockyslopes，thethicketsofmanzanitaandscruboakandcactusweredusty，glaring，throat—parchingplacesunderthehotsummersun。JeanlongedforthecoolheightsoftheRim，theshadypines，thedarksweetverdureunderthesilverspruces，thetinkleandmurmuroftheclearrills。Heoftenhadanotherlonging，too，whichhebitterlystifled。
　　Jean’sally，thekeen—nosedshepherdclog，haddisappearedoneday，andhadneverreturned。AmongmenattheranchtherewasadifferenceofopinionastowhathadhappenedtoShepp。Theoldrancherthoughthehadbeenpoisonedorshot;BillandGuyIsbelbelievedhehadbeenstolenbysheepherders，whowerealwaysstealingdogs;andJeaninclinedtotheconvictionthatShepphadgoneoffwiththetimberwolves。ThefactwasthatSheppdidnotreturn，andJeanmissedhim。
　　OnemorningatdawnJeanheardthecattlebellowingandtramplingoutinthevalley;anduponhurryingtoavantagepointhewasamazedtoseeupwardoffivehundredsteerschasingalonewolf。Jean’sfatherhadseensuchaspectacleasthis，butitwasanewoneforJean。Thewolfwasabiggrayandblackfellow，rangyandpowerful，anduntilhegotthesteersallbehindhimhewasratherhardputtoittokeepoutoftheirway。Probablyhehaddoggedtheherd，tryingtosneakinandpulldownayearling，andfinallythesteershadchargedhim。
　　Jeankeptalongtheedgeofthevalleyinthehopetheywouldchasehimwithinrangeofarifle。ButthewarywolfsawJeanandsheeredoff，graduallydrawingawayfromhispursuers。
　　Jeanreturnedtothehouseforhisbreakfast，andthensetoffacrossthevalley。HisfatherownedonesmallflockofsheepthathadnotyetbeendrivenupontheRim，whereallthesheepinthecountrywererunduringthehot，drysummerdownontheTonto。YoungEvartsandaMexicanboynamedBernardinohadchargeofthisflock。TheregularMexicanherder，amanofexperience，hadgivenuphisjob;
　　andtheseboyswerenotequaltothetaskofriskingthesheepupintheenemies’stronghold。
　　Thisflockwasknowntobegrazinginasidedraw，wellupfromGrassValley，wherethebrushaffordedsomeprotectionfromthesun，andtherewasgoodwaterandalittlefeed。BeforeJeanreachedhisdestinationheheardashot。Itwasnotarifleshot，whichfactcausedJeanalittleconcern。EvartsandBernardinohadrifles，but，tohisknowledge，nosmallarms。Jeanrodeupononeoftheblack—brushedconicalhillsthatroseonthesouthsideofGrassValley，andfromtherehetookasharpsurveyofthecountry。Atfirsthemadeoutonlycattle，andbaremeadowland，andthelowencirclingridgesandhills。Butpresentlyuptowardtheheadofthevalleyhedescriedabunchofhorsemenridingtowardthevillage。Hecouldnottelltheirnumber。ThatdarkmovingmassseemedtoJeantobeinstinctwithlife，mystery，menace。Whowerethey？Itwastoofarforhimtorecognizehorses，letaloneriders。Theyweremovingfast，too。
　　Jeanwatchedthemoutofsight，thenturnedhishorsedownhillagain，androdeonhisquest。AnumberofhorsemenlikethatwasaveryunusualsightaroundGrassValleyatanytime。Whatthendiditportendnow？Jeanexperiencedalittleshockofuneasydreadthatwasanewsensationforhim。Broodingoverthisheproceededonhisway，atlengthtoturnintothedrawwherethecampofthesheep—herderswaslocated。Uponcominginsightofitheheardahoarseshout。YoungEvartsappearedrunningfranticallyoutofthebrush。Jeanurgedhishorseintoarunandsooncoveredthedistancebetweenthem。Evartsappearedbesidehimselfwithterror。
　　"Boy！what’sthematter？"queriedJean，ashedismounted，rifleinhand，peeringquicklyfromEvarts’swhitefacetothecamp，andallaround。
　　"Ber—nardino！Ber—nardino！"gaspedtheboy，wringinghishandsandpointing。
　　Jeanranthefewremainingrodstothesheepcamp。Hesawthelittleteepee，aburned—outfire，ahalf—finishedmeal——andthentheMexicanladlyingproneontheground，dead，withabulletholeinhisghastlyface。Nearhimlayanoldsix—shooter。
　　"Whosegunisthat？"demandedJean，ashepickeditup。
　　"Ber—nardino’s，"repliedEvarts，huskily。"He——hejestgotit——theotherday。"
　　"Didheshoothimselfaccidentally？"
　　"Ohno！No！Hedidn’tdoit——atall。"
　　"Whodid，then？"
　　"Themen——theyrodeup——agang—theydidit，"pantedEvarts。
　　"Didyouknowwhotheywere？"
　　"No。Icouldn’ttell。Isawthemcomin’an’Iwasskeered。Bernardinohadgoneferwater。Irunan’hidinthebrush。Iwantedtoyell，buttheycometooclose……ThenIheerdthemtalkin’。Bernardinocomeback。They’pearedfriendly—like。Thetmademeraiseup，tolook。
　　An’Icouldn’tseegood。IheerdoneofthemaskBernardinotolethimseehisgun。An’Bernardinohandeditover。Helookedatthegunan’
　　haw—hawed，an’flippeditupintheair，an’whenitfellbackinhishandit——itwentoffbang！……An’Bernardinodropped……Ihiddownclose。Iwasskeeredstiff。Iheerdthemtalkmore，butnotwhattheysaid。Thentheyrodeaway……An’IhidtheretillIseeny’ucomin’。"
　　"Haveyougotahorse？"queriedJean，sharply。
　　"No。ButIcanrideoneofBernardino’sburros。"
　　"Getone。HurryovertoBlaisdell。TellhimtosendwordtoBlueandGordonandFrederickstoridelikethedeviltomyfather’sranch。
　　Hurrynow！"
　　YoungEvartsranoffwithoutreply。JeanstoodlookingdownatthelimpandpatheticfigureoftheMexicanboy。"ByHeaven！"heexclaimed，grimly"theJorth—Isbelwarison！……Deliberate，cold—bloodedmurder！
　　I’llgambleDaggsdidthisjob。He’sbeengiventheleadership。He’sstartedit……Bernardino，greaserornot，youwereafaithfullad，andyouwon’tgolongunavenged。"
　　Jeanhadnotimetospare。Tearingatarpaulinoutoftheteepeehecoveredtheladwithitandthenranfor，hishorse。Mounting，hegallopeddownthedraw，overthelittleredridges，outintothevalley，whereheputhishorsetoarun。
　　ActionchangedthesickeninghorrorthatsightofBernardinohadengendered。Jeanevenfeltastrange，grimrelief。Thelong，draggingdaysofwaitingwereover。Jorth’sganghadtakentheinitiative。
　　Bloodhadbeguntoflow。Anditwouldcontinuetoflownowtillthelastmanofonefactionstoodoverthedeadbodyofthelastmanoftheother。WoulditbeaJorthoranIsbel？"Myinstinctwasright，"
　　hemuttered，aloud。"Thatbunchofhorsesgavemeaqueerfeelin’。"
　　Jeangazedallaroundthegrassy，cattle—dottedvalleyhewascrossingsoswiftly，andtowardthevillage，buthedidnotseeanysignofthedarkgroupofriders。TheyhadgoneontoGreaves’sstore，there，nodoubt，todrinkandtoaddmoreenemiesoftheIsbelstotheirgang。
　　SuddenlyacrossJean’smindflashedathoughtofEllenJorth。"What’llbecomeofher？……What’llbecomeofallthewomen？Mysister？……Thelittleones？"
　　Noonewasinsightaroundtheranch。NeverhaditappearedmorepeacefulandpastoraltoJean。Thegrazingcattleandhorsesintheforeground，thehaystackhalfeatenaway，thecowsinthefencedpasture，thecolumnofbluesmokelazilyascending，thecackleofhens，thesolid，well—builtcabins——alltheseseemedtorepudiateJean’shasteandhisdarknessofmind。Thisplacewas，hisfather’sfarm。Therewasnotacloudintheblue，summersky。
　　AsJeangallopedupthelanesomeonesawhimfromthedoor，andthenBillandGuyandtheirgray—headedfathercameoutupontheporch。
　　Jeansawhowhe’wavedthewomenfolkback，andthenstrodeoutintothelane。BillandGuyreachedhissideasJeanpulledhisheavinghorsetoahalt。TheyalllookedatJean，swiftlyandintently，withalittle，hard，fierygleamstrangelyidenticalintheeyesofeach。
　　Probablybeforeawordwasspokentheyknewwhattoexpect。
　　"Wal，youshorewasinahurry，"remarkedthefather。
　　"Whatthehell’sup？"queriedBill，grimly。
　　GuyIsbelremainedsilentanditwashewhoturnedslightlypale。
　　Jeanleapedoffhishorse。
　　"Bernardinohasjustbeenkilled——murderedwithhisowngun。
　　GastonIsbelseemedtoexhalealong—dammed，burstingbreaththatlethischestsag。Aterribledeadlyglint，paleandcoldassunlightonice，grewslowlytodominatehiscleareyes。
　　"A—huh！"ejaculatedBillIsbel，hoarsely。
　　Notoneofthethreemenaskedwhohaddonethekilling。Theyweresilentamoment，motionless，lockedinthesecretseclusionoftheirownminds。ThentheylistenedwithabsorptiontoJean’sbriefstory。
　　"Wal，thatletsusin，"saidhisfather。"Iwishwehadmoretime。
　　ReckonI’ddonebettertolistentoyouboysan’havemymencloseathand。Jacobshappenedtorideover。Thatmakesfiveofusbesidesthewomen。"
　　"Aw，dad，youdon’treckonthey’llroundusupheah？"askedGuyIsbel。
　　"Boys，Ialwaysfearedtheymight，"repliedtheoldman。"ButIneverreallybelievedthey’dhavethenerve。ShoreIoughttohavefiggeredDaggsbetter。Thisheahsecretbiznessan’shootin’atusfromambushlookedabootJorth’ssizetome。ButIreckonnowwe’llhavetofightwithoutourfriends。"
　　"Letthemcome，"saidJean。"IsentforBlaisdell，Blue，Gordon，andFredericks。Maybethey’llgethereintime。Butiftheydon’titneedn’tworryusmuch。WecanholdoutherelongerthanJorth’sgangcanhangaround。We’llwantplentyofwater，wood，andmeatinthehouse。"
　　"Wal，I’llseetothat，"rejoinedhisfather。"Jean，yougooutcloseby，whereyoucanseeallaround，an’keepwatch。"
　　"Who’sgoin’totellthewomen？"askedGuyIsbel。
　　Thesilencethatmomentarilyensuedwasaneloquenttestimonytothehardestandsaddestaspectofthisstrifebetweenmen。Theinevitablenessofitinnowisedetractedfromitssheeruselessness。
　　Menfromtimeimmemorialhadhated，andkilledoneanother，alwaystothemiseryanddegradationoftheirwomen。OldGastonIsbelshowedthistragicrealizationinhislinedface。