Aboutnineo’clockJeansignifiedhisintentionofgoingouttoreconnoitre。
\"Dad，they’vegotthebestofusinthedaytime，\"hesaid，\"butnotafterdark。\"
Jeanbuckledonabeltthatcarriedshells，abowieknife，andrevolver，andwithrifleinhandhewentoutthroughthekitchentotheyard。
Thenightwasdarkerthanusual，assomeofthestarswerehiddenbyclouds。Heleanedagainstthelogcabin，waitingforhiseyestobecomeperfectlyadjustedtothedarkness。LikeanIndian，Jeancouldseewellatnight。Hekneweverypointaroundcabinsandshedsandcorrals，everypost，log，tree，rock，adjacenttotheranch。Afterperhapsaquarterofanhourwatching，duringwhichtimeseveralshotswerefiredfrombehindtheembankmentandoneeachfromtherustlersattheotherlocations，Jeanslippedoutonhisquest。
Hekeptintheshadowofthecabinwalls，thenthelineoforchardtrees，thenarowofcurrantbushes。Here，crouchinglow，hehaltedtolookandlisten。Hewasnowattheedgeoftheopenground，withthegentlyrisingslopebeforehim。Hecouldseethedarkpatchesofcedarandjunipertrees。Onthenorthsideofthecabinastreakoffireflashedintheblackness，andashotrangout。Jeanheardthebulletbitthecabin。Thensilenceenfoldedthelonelyranchandthedarknesslaylikeablackblanket。Alowhumofinsectspervadedtheair。Dullsheetsoflightningilluminedthedarkhorizontothesouth。
OnceJeanheardvoices，butcouldnottellfromwhichdirectiontheycame。Tothewestofhimthenflaredoutanotherrifleshot。ThebulletwhistleddownoverJeantothudintothecabin。
Jeanmadeacarefulstudyoftheobscure，gray—blackopenbeforehimandthenthebackgroundtohisrear。Solongashekeptthedenseshadowsbehindhimhecouldnotbeseen。Heslippedfrombehindhiscovertand，glidingwithabsolutelynoiselessfootsteps，hegainedthefirstclumpofjunipers。Herehewaitedpatientlyandmotionlesslyforanotherroundofshotsfromtherustlers。AfterthesecondshotfromthewestsideJeansheeredofftotheright。Patchesofbrush，clumpsofjuniper，andisolatedcedarscoveredthisslope，affordingJeanaperfectmeansforhispurpose，whichwastomakeadetourandcomeupbehindtherustlerwhowasfiringfromthatside。Jeanclimbedtothetopoftheridge，descendedtheoppositeslope，madehisturntotheleft，andslowlyworked。upbehindthepointnearwhereheexpectedtolocatetherustler。Longhabitintheopen，bydayandnight，renderedhissenseofdirectionalmostasperfectassightitself。Thefirstflashoffirehesawfromthissideprovedthathehadcomestraightuptowardhisman。Jean’sintentionwastocrawluponthisoneoftheJorthgangandsilentlykillhimwithaknife。Iftheplanworkedsuccessfully，Jeanmeanttoworkroundtothenextrustler。Layingasidehisrifle，hecrawledforwardonhandsandknees，makingnomoresoundthanacat。Hisapproachwasslow。Hehadtopickhisway，becarefulnottobreaktwigsnorrattlestones。Hisbuckskingarmentsmadenosoundagainstthebrush。Jeanlocatedtherustlersittingonthetopoftheridgeinthecenterofanopenspace。
Hewasalone。Jeansawthedull—redendofthecigarettehewassmoking。ThegroundontheridgetopwasrockyandnotwelladaptedforJean’spurpose。Hehadtoabandontheideaofcrawlingupontherustler。Whereupon，Jeanturnedback，patientlyandslowly，togethisrifle。
Uponsecuringithebegantoretracehiscourse，thistimemoreslowlythanbefore，ashewashamperedbytherifle。Buthedidnotmaketheslightestsound，andatlengthhereachedtheedgeoftheopenridgetop，oncemoretoespythedarkformoftherustlersilhouettedagainstthesky。Thedistancewasnotmorethanfiftyyards。
AsJeanrosetohiskneeandcarefullyliftedhisrifleroundtoavoidthetwigsofajuniperhesuddenlyexperiencedanotheremotionbesidestheoneofgrim，hardwrathattheJorths。Itwasanemotionthatsickenedhim，madehimweakinternally，acold，shaking，ungovernablesensation。SupposethismanwasEllenJorth’sfather！Jeanloweredtherifle。Hefeltitshakeoverhisknee。Hewastremblingallover。
TheastoundingdiscoverythathedidnotwanttokillEllen’sfather——
thathecouldnotdoit——awakenedJeantothedespairingnatureofhisloveforher。Inthisgrimmomentofindecision，whenheknewhisIndiansubtletyandabilitygavehimagreatadvantageovertheJorths，hefullyrealizedhisstrange，hopeless，andirresistibleloveforthegirl。Hemadenoattempttodenyitanylonger。Likethenightandthelonelywildernessaroundhim，liketheinevitablenessofthisJorth—Isbelfeud，thisloveofhiswasathing，afact，areality。
Hebreathedtohisowninwardear，tohissoul——hecouldnotkillEllenJorth’sfather。Feudornofeud，Isbelornot，hecouldnotdeliberatelydoit。Andwhynot？Therewasnoanswer。Washenotfaithlesstohisfather？HehadnohopeofeverwinningEllenJorth。
Hedidnotwanttheloveofagirlofhercharacter。Buthelovedher。
Andhisstrugglemustbeagainsttheinsidiousandmysteriousgrowthofthatpassion。Itswayedhimalready。Itmadehimacoward。
ThroughhismindandheartsweptthememoryofEllenJorth，herbeautyandcharm，herboldnessandpathos，hershameandherdegradation。
Andthesweetnessofheroutweighedtheboldness。Andthemysteryofherarrayeditselfinunquenchableprotestagainstheracknowledgedshame。Jeanliftedhisfacetotheheavens，tothepitilesswhitestars，totheinfinitedepthsofthedark—bluesky。Hecouldsensethefactofhisbeinganatomintheuniverseofnature。Whatwashe，whatwashisrevengefulfather，whatwerehateandpassionandstrifeincomparisontothenamelesssomething，immenseandeverlasting，thathesensedinthisdarkmoment？
Buttherustlers——Daggs——theJorths——theyhadkilledhisbrotherGuy——
murderedhimbrutallyandruthlessly。GuyhadbeenaplaymateofJean’s——afavoritebrother。Billhadbeensecretiveandselfish。JeanhadneverlovedhimashedidGuy。Guylaydeaddownthereonthemeadow。
Thisfeudhadbeguntorunitsbloodycourse。Jeansteeledhisnerve。
Thehotbloodcreptbackalonghisveins。Thedarkandmasterfultideofrevengewavedoverhim。Thekeenedgeofhismindthencutoutsharpandtrenchantthoughts。Hemustkillwhenandwherehecould。ThismancouldhardlybeEllenJorth’sfather。Jorthwouldbewiththemaincrowd，directinghostilities。Jeancouldshootthisrustlerguardandhisshotwouldbetakenbythegangastheregularonefromtheircomrade。ThenswiftlyJeanleveledhisrifle，coveredthedarkform，grewcoldandset，andpressedthetrigger。Afterthereportheroseandwheeledaway。Hedidnotlooknorlistenfortheresultofhisshot。Aclammysweatwethisface，thehollowofhishands，hisbreast。
Ahorrible，leaden，thicksensationoppressedhisheart。NaturehadendowedhimwithIndiangifts，buttheexerciseofthemtothisendcausedarevoltinhissoul。
Nevertheless，itwastheIsbelbloodthatdominatedhim。Thewindblewcoolonhisface。Theburdenuponhisshouldersseemedtolift。Theclamoringwhispersgrewfainterinhisears。Andbythetimehehadretracedhiscautiousstepsbacktotheorchardallhisphysicalbeingwasstrungtothetaskathand。Somethinghadcomebetweenhisreflectiveselfandthismanofaction。
Crossingthelane，hetooktothewestlineofsheds，andpassedbeyondthemintothemeadow。Inthegrasshecrawledsilentlyawaytotheright，usingthesameprecautionthathadactuatedhimontheslope，onlyherehedidnotpausesooften，normovesoslowly。Jeanaimedtogofarenoughtotherighttopasstheendoftheembankmentbehindwhichtherustlershadfoundsuchefficientcover。Thisditchhadbeenmadetokeepwater，duringspringthawsandsummerstorms，frompouringofftheslopetofloodthecorrals。
Jeanmiscalculatedandfoundhehadcomeupontheembankmentsomewhattotheleftoftheend，whichfact，however，causedhimnouneasiness。
Helaythereawhiletolisten。Againheheardvoices。Afteratimeashotpealedout。Hedidnotseetheflash，buthecalculatedthatithadcomefromthenorthsideofthecabins。
ThenextquarterofanhourdiscoveredtoJeanthatthenearestguardwasfiringfromthetopoftheembankment，perhapsahundredyardsdistant，andasecondonewasperformingthesameofficefromapointapparentlyonlyafewyardsfartheron。Tworustlersclosetogether！
Jeanhadnotcalculateduponthat。Foralittlewhileheponderedonwhatwasbesttodo，andatlengthdecidedtocrawlroundbehindthem，andascloseasthesituationmadeadvisable。
Hefoundtheditchbehindtheembankmentafavorablepathbywhichtostalktheseenemies。Itwasdryandsandy，withbordersofhighweeds。
Theonlydrawbackwasthatitwasalmostimpossibleforhimtokeepfrombrushingagainstthedry，invisiblebranchesoftheweeds。Tooffsetthishewormedhiswaylikeasnail，inchbyinch，takingalongtimebeforehecaughtsightofthesittingfigureofaman，blackagainstthedark—bluesky。ThisrustlerhadfiredhisriflethreetimesduringJean’sslowapproach。Jeanwatchedandlistenedafewmoments，thenwormedhimselfcloserandcloser，untilthemanwaswithintwentystepsofhim。
Jeansmelledtobaccosmoke，butcouldseenolightofpipeorcigarette，becausethefellow’sbackwasturned。
\"Say，Ben，\"saidthismantohiscompanionsittinghunchedupafewyardsdistant，\"shoreitstrikesmequeerthetSomersain’tshootin’
anyoverthar。\"
Jeanrecognizedthedry，drawlingvoiceofGreaves，andtheshockofitseemedtocontractthemusclesofhiswholethrillingbody，likethatofapantherabouttospring。
CHAPTERVIII
Wasshorethinkin’thetsame，\"saidtheotherman。\"An’，say，didn’tthetlastshotsoundtoosharpferSomers’sforty—five？\"
\"Cometothinkofit，Ireckonitdid，\"repliedGreaves。
\"Wal，I’llgoaroundovertharan’see。\"
Thedarkformoftherustlerslippedoutofsightovertheembankment。
\"Bettergoslowan’careful，\"warnedGreaves。\"An’onlygocloseenoughtocallSomers……Mebbethetdamnhalf—breedIsbeliscomin’someInjunonus。\"
Jeanheardthesoftswishoffootstepsthroughwetgrass。Thenallwasstill。Helayflat，withhischeekonthesand，andhehadtolookaheadandupwardtomakeoutthedarkfigureofGreavesonthebank。OnewayoranotherhemeanttokillGreaves，andhehadthewillpowertoresistthestrongestgustofpassionthathadeverstormedhisbreast。Ifhearoseandshottherustler，thatactwoulddefeathisplanofslippingonaroundupontheotheroutpostswhowerefiringatthecabins。JeanwantedtocallsoftlytoGreaves，\"You’rerightaboutthehalf—breed！\"andthen，ashewheeledaghast，tokillhimashemoved。ButitsuitedJeantoriskleapingupontheman。Jeandidnotwastetimeintryingtounderstandthestrange，deadlyinstinctthatgrippedhimatthemoment。ButherealizedthenhehadchosenthemostperilousplantogetridofGreaves。
Jeandrewalong，deepbreathandheldit。Heletgoofhisrifle。
Herose，silentlyasaliftingshadow。Hedrewthebowieknife。
Thenwithlight，swiftboundsheglidedupthebank。Greavesmusthaveheardarustling——asoft，quickpadofmoccasin，forheturnedwithastart。AndthatinstantJean’sleftarmdartedlikeastrikingsnakeroundGreaves’sneckandclosedtightandhard。Withhisrighthandfree，holdingtheknife，Jeanmighthaveendedthedeadlybusinessinjustonemove。Butwhenhisbaredarmfeltthehot，bulgingnecksomethingterribleburstoutofthedepthsofhim。Tokillthisenemyofhisfather’swasnotenough！PhysicalcontacthadunleashedthesavagesouloftheIndian。Yettherewasmore，andasJeangavethestrainingbodyatremendousjerkbackward，hefeltthesamestrangethrill，thedarkjoythathehadknownwhenhisfisthadsmashedthefaceofSimmBruce。Greaveshadleered——hehadcorroboratedBruce’svileinsinuationaboutEllenJorth。SoitwasmorethanhatethatactuatedJeanIsbel。
Greaveswasheavyandpowerful。Hewhirledhimself，feetfirst，overbackward，inalungelikethatofalassoedsteer。ButJean’sholdheld。Theyrolleddownthebankintothesandyditch，andJeanlandeduppermost，withhisbodyatrightangleswiththatofhisadversary。
\"Greaves，yourhunchwasright，\"hissedJean。\"It’sthehalf—breed……An’I’mgoin’tocutyou——firstforEllenJorth——an’thenforGastonIsbel！\"
Jeangazeddownintothegleamingeyes。Thenhisrightarmwhippedthebigblade。Itflashed。Itfell。Lowdown，asfarasJeancouldreach，itenteredGreaves’sbody。
Alltheheavy，muscularframeofGreavesseemedtocontractandburst。
Hisspringwasthatofananimalinterrorandagony。ItwassotremendousthatitbrokeJean’shold。Greavesletoutastrangledyellthatcleared，swellingwildly，withahideousmortalnote。Hewrestledfree。Thebigknifecameout。Suppleandswift，hegottohis，knees。HehadhisgunoutwhenJeanreachedhimagain。LikeabearJeanenvelopedhim。Greavesshot，buthecouldnotraisethegun，nortwistitfarenough。ThenJean，lettinggowithhisrightarm，swungthebowie。Greaves’sstrengthwentoutinanawful，hoarsecry。
Hisgunboomedagain，thendroppedfromhishand。Heswayed。Jeanletgo。AndthatenemyoftheIsbelssanklimplyintheditch。
Jean’seyesrovedforhisrifleandcaughtthestarlitgleamofit。
Snatchingitup，heleapedovertheembankmentandranstraightforthecabins。FromallaroundyellsoftheJorthfactionattestedtotheirexcitementandfury。
Afenceloomedupgrayintheobscurity。Jeanvaultedit，dartedacrossthelaneintotheshadowofthecorral，andsoongainedthefirstcabin。Hereheleanedtoregainhisbreath。Hisheartpoundedhighandseemedtoolargeforhisbreast。Thehotbloodbeatandsurgedalloverhisbody。Sweatpouredoffhim。Histeethwereclenchedtightasavise，andittookeffortonhisparttoopenhismouthsohecouldbreathemorefreelyanddeeply。Butthesephysicalsensationswereasnothingcomparedtothetumultofhismind。
Thentheinstinct，thespell，letgoitsgripandhecouldthink。
HehadavengedGuy，hebaddepletedtheranksoftheJorths，hehadmadegoodthebragofhisfather，allofwhichaffordedhimsatisfaction。
Butthesethoughtswerenotaccountableforallthatbefelt，especiallyforthebittersweetstingofthefactthatdeathtothedefilerofEllenJorthcouldnoteffacethedoubt，theregretwhichseemedtogrowwiththehours。
Gropinghiswayintothewoodshed，heenteredthekitchenand，callinglow，hewentonintothemaincabin。
\"Jean！Jean！\"camehisfather’sshakingvoice。
\"Yes，I’mback，\"repliedJean。
\"Are——you——allright？\"
\"Yes。IthinkI’vegotabulletcreaseonmyleg。Ididn’tknowI
hadittillnow……It’sbleedin’alittle。Butit’snothin’。\"
Jeanheardsoftstepsandsomeonereachedshakinghandsforhim。
TheybelongedtohissisterAnn。Sheembracedhim。Jeanfelttheheaveandthrobofherbreast。
\"Why，Ann，I’mnothurt，\"hesaid，andheldherclose。\"Nowyouliedownan’trytosleep。\"
IntheblackdarknessofthecabinJeanledherbacktothecornerandhisheartwasfull。Speechwasdifficult，becausetheverytouchofAnn’shandshadmadehimdivinethatthesuccessofhisventureinnowisechangedtheplightofthewomen。
\"Wal，whathappenedoutthere？\"demandedBlaisdell。
\"Igottwoofthem，\"repliedJean。\"Thatfellowwhowasshootin’
fromtheridgewest。An’theotherwasGreaves。\"
\"Hah！\"exclaimedhisfather。
\"ShorethenitwasGreavesyellin’，\"declaredBlaisdell。\"ByGod，Ineverheardsuchyells！Whad’dyoudo，Jean？\"
\"Iknifedhim。Yousee，I’dplannedtoslipupononeafteranother。
An’Ididn’twanttomakenoise。ButIdidn’tgetanyfartherthanGreaves。\"
\"Wal，Ireckonthat’llendtheirshootin’inthedark，\"mutteredGastonIsbel。\"We’vegottobeonthelookoutforsomethin’else——
fire，mostlikely。\"
Theoldrancher’ssurmiseprovedtobepartiallycorrect。Jorth’sfactionceasedtheshooting。Nothingfurtherwasseenorheardfromthem。Butthissilenceandapparentbreakinthesiegewerehardertobearthandeliberatehostility。Thelong，darkhoursdraggedby。
Thementookturnswatchingandresting，butnoneofthemslept。
Atlasttheblacknesspaledandgraydawnstoleoutoftheeast。
Theskyturnedroseoverthedistantrangeanddaylightcame。
Thechildrenawokehungryandnoisy，havingsleptawaytheirfears。
Thewomentookadvantageofthequietmorninghourtogetahotbreakfast。
\"Maybethey’vegoneaway，\"suggestedGuyIsbel’swife，peeringoutofthewindow。Shehaddonethatseveraltimessincedaybreak。Jeansawhersombergazesearchthepastureuntilitresteduponthedark，proneshapeofherdeadhusband，lyingfacedowninthegrass。HerlookworriedJean。
\"No，Esther，they’venotgoneyet，\"repliedJean。\"I’veseensomeofthemoutthereattheedgeofthebrush。\"
Blaisdellwasoptimistic。HesaidJean’snightworkwouldhaveitseffectandthattheJorthcontingentwouldnotrenewthesiegeverydeterminedly。Itturnedout，however，thatBlaisdellwaswrong。
Directlyaftersunrisetheybegantopourvolleysfromfoursidesandfromcloserrange。DuringthenightJorth’sganghadthrownearthbanksandconstructedlogbreastworks，frombehindwhichtheywerenowfiring。Jeanandhiscomradescouldseetheflashesoffireandstreaksofsmoketosuchgoodadvantagethattheybegantoreturnthevolleys。
InhalfanhourthecabinwassofullofsmokethatJeancouldnotseethewomenfolkintheircorner。Thefierceattackthenabatedsomewhat，andthefiringbecamemoreintermittent，andthereforemorecarefullyaimed。AglancingbulletcutafurrowinBlaisdell’shoaryhead，makingapainful，thoughnotseriouswound。ItwasEstherIsbelwhostoppedtheflowofbloodandboundBlaisdell’shead，ataskwhichsheperformedskillfullyandwithoutatremor。TheoldTexancouldnotsitstillduringthisoperation。Sightofthebloodonhishands，whichhetriedtoruboff，appearedtoinflamehimtoagreatdegree。
\"Isbel，wegottogooutthar，\"hekeptrepeating，\"an’killthemall。\"
\"No，we’regoin’tostayheah，\"repliedGastonIsbel。\"ShoreI’mlookin’forBluean’Fredericksan’Gordontoopenupoutthere。
Theyoughttobeheah，an’iftheyarey’ushorecanbetthey’vegotthefightsizedup。\"
Isbel’shopesdidnotmaterialize。Theshootingcontinuedwithoutanylulluntilaboutmidday。ThentheJorthfactionstopped。
\"Wal，nowwhat’sup？\"queriedIsbel。\"Boys，holdyourfirean’
let’swait。\"
Graduallythesmokewaftedoutofthewindowsanddoors，untiltheroomwasoncemoreclear。AndatthisjunctureEstherIsbelcameovertotakeanothergazeoutuponthemeadows。Jeansawhersuddenlystartviolently，thenstiffen，withatremblinghandoutstretched。
\"Look！\"shecried。
\"Esther，getback，\"orderedtheoldrancher。\"Keepawayfromthatwindow。\"
\"Whatthehell！\"mutteredBlaisdell。\"Sheseessomethin’，orshe’sgonedotty。\"
Estherseemedturnedtostone。\"Look！Thehogshavebrokenintothepasture！……They’lleatGuy’sbody！\"
EveryonewasfrozenwithhorroratEsther’sstatement。Jeantookaswiftsurveyofthepasture。AbunchofbigblackhogshadindeedappearedonthesceneandwererootingaroundinthegrassnotfarfromwherelaythebodiesofGuyIsbelandJacobs。Thisherdofhogsbelongedtotherancherandwasallowedtorunwild。
\"Jane，thosehogs——\"stammeredEstherIsbel，tothewifeofJacobs。
\"Come！Look！……Doy’uknowanythin’abouthogs？\"
Thewomanrantothewindowandlookedout。ShestiffenedashadEsther。
\"Dad，willthosehogs——eathumanflesh？\"queriedJean，breathlessly。
Theoldmanstaredoutofthewindow。Surpriseseemedtoholdhim。
Acompletelyunexpectedsituationhadstaggeredhim。
\"Jean——canyou——canyoushootthatfar？\"heasked，huskily。
\"Tothosehogs？No，it’soutofrange。\"
Then，byGod，we’vegottostaytrappedinheahan’watchanawfulsight，\"ejaculatedtheoldman，completelyunnerved。\"Seethatbreakinthefence！……Jorth’sdonethat……Toletinthehogs！\"
\"Aw，Isbel，it’snotsobadasallthat，\"remonstratedBlaisdell，wagginghisbloodyhead。\"Jorthwouldn’tdosuchahell—benttrick。\"
\"It’sshoredone。\"
\"Wal，mebbethehogswon’tfindGuyan’Jacobs，\"returnedBlaisdell，weakly。Plainitwasthatheonlyhopedforsuchacontingencyandcertainlydoubtedit。
\"Look！\"criedEstherIsbel，piercingly。They’reworkin’straightupthepasture！\"
Indeed，toJeanitappearedtobethefataltruth。Helookedblankly，feelingalittlesick。AnnIsbelcametopeeroutofthewindowandsheutteredacry。Jacobs’swifestoodmute，asifdazed。
Blaisdellsworeamightyoath。 \"——————！Isbel，wecain’tstandheahan’watchthemhogseatourpeople！\"
\"Wal，we’llhaveto。Whatelseonearthcanwedo？\"
Estherturnedtothemen。Shewaswhiteandcold，excepthereyes，whichresembledgrayflames。
\"Somebodycanrunouttherean’buryourdeadmen，\"shesaid。
\"Why，child，it’dbeshoredeath。Y’usawwhathappenedtoGuyan’
Jacobs……We’vejestgottobearit。Shorenobodyneedn’tlookout——an’see。\"
Jeanwonderedifitwouldbepossibletokeepfromwatching。Thethinghadahorriblefascination。Thebighogswererootingandtearinginthegrass，someofthemlazy，othersnimble，andallweregraduallyworkingcloserandclosertothebodies。Theleader，ahuge，gauntboar，thathadfaredillallhislifeinthisbarrencountry，wasscarcelyfiftyfeetawayfromwhereGuyIsbellay。
\"Ann，getmesomeofyourclothes，an’asunbonnet——quick，\"saidJean，forcedoutofhislethargy。\"I’llrunouttheredisguised。MaybeI
cangothroughwithit。\"
\"No！\"orderedhisfather，positively，andwithdarkfaceflaming。
\"Guyan’Jacobsaredead。Wecain’thelpthemnow。\"
\"But，dad——\"pleadedJean。HehadbeenwroughttoapitchbyEsther’sblazeofpassion，bytheagonyinthefaceoftheotherwoman。
\"Itelly’uno！\"thunderedGastonIsbel，flinginghisarmswide。
\"IWILLGO！\"criedEsther，hervoiceringing。
\"Youwon’tgoalone！\"instantlyansweredthewifeofJacobs，repeatingunconsciouslythewordsherhusbandhadspoken。
\"Youstayrightheah，\"shoutedGastonIsbel，hoarsely。
\"I’mgoin’，\"repliedEsther。\"You’venoholdoverme。Myhusbandisdead。Noonecanstopme。I’mgoin’outtheretodrivethosehogsawayan’buryhim。\"
\"Esther，forHeaven’ssake，listen，\"repliedIsbel。\"Ify’ushowyourselfoutside，Jorthan’hisgangwillkiny’u。\"
\"Theymaybemean，butnowhitemencouldbesolowasthat。\"
Thentheypleadedwithhertogiveupherpurpose。Butinvain！
ShepushedthembackandranoutthroughthekitchenwithJacobs’swifefollowingher。Jeanturnedtothewindowintimetoseebothwomenrunoutintothelane。Jeanlookedfearfully，andlistenedforshots。Butonlyaloud，\"Haw！Haw！\"camefromthewatchersoutside。ThatcoarselaughrelievedthetensioninJean’sbreast。
PossiblytheJorthswerenotasblackashisfatherpaintedthem。
Thetwowomenenteredanopenshedandcameforthwithashovelandspade。
\"Shorethey’vegottohurry，\"burstoutGastonIsbel。
Shiftinghisgaze，Jeanunderstoodtheimportofhisfather’sspeech。
Theleaderofthehogshadnodoubtscentedthebodies。Suddenlyheespiedthemandbrokeintoatrot。
\"Run，Esther，run！\"yelledJean，withallhismight。
Thaturgedthewomentoflight。Jeanbegantoshoot。ThehogreachedthebodyofGuy。Jean’sshotsdidnotreachnorfrightenthebeast。
Allthehogsnowhadcaughtascentandwentamblingtowardtheirleader。Estherandhercompanionpassedswiftlyoutofsightbehindacorral。Loudandpiercingly，withsomeawfulnote，rangouttheirscreams。Thehogsappearedfrightened。Theleaderliftedhislongsnout，looked，andturnedaway。Theothershadhalted。Thenthey，too，wheeledandranoff。
AllwassilenttheninthecabinandalsooutsidewherevertheJorthfactionlayconcealed。Alleyesmanifestlywerefixeduponthebravewives。TheyspadedupthesodanddugagraveforGuyIsbel。ForashroudEstherwrappedhiminhershawl。Thentheyburiedhim。NexttheyhurriedtothesideofJacobs，wholaysomeyardsaway。Theydugagraveforhim。Mrs。Jacobstookoffherouterskirttowraproundhim。Thenthetwowomenlaboredhardtolifthimandlowerhim。
Jacobswasaheavyman。Whenhehadbeencoveredhiswidowkneltbesidehisgrave。Estherwentbacktotheother。Butsheremainedstandinganddidnotlookasifsheprayed。Heraspectwastragic——
thatofawomanwhohadlostfather，mother，sisters，brother，andnowherhusband，inthisbloodyArizonaland。
ThedeedandthedemeanorofthesewivesofthemurderedmensurelymusthaveshamedJorthandhisfollowers。Theydidnotfireashotduringtheordealnorgiveanysignoftheirpresence。
Insidethecabinallweresilent，too。Jean’seyesblurredsothathecontinuallyhadtowipethem。OldIsbelmadenoefforttohidehistears。Blaisdellnoddedhisshaggyheadandswallowedhard。Thewomensatstaringintospace。Thechildren，inround—eyeddismay，gazedfromonetotheotheroftheirelders。
\"Wal，they’recomin’back，\"declaredIsbel，inimmenserelief。
