Heglidedonabouttenshort，swiftstepsbeforehehalted。Thatwasasfarashispiercingeyescouldpenetrate。IftherehadbeenaguardstationedoutsidethestoreJeanwouldhaveseenhimbeforebeingseen。
Hesawthefence，reachedit，enteredtheyard，glidedinthedenseshadowofthebarnuntiltheblacksquarebegantoloomgray——thecolorofstoneatnight。Jeanpeeredthroughtheobscurity。Nodarkfigureofamanshowedagainstthatgraywall——onlyablackpatch，whichmustbetheholeinthefoundationmentioned。Arayoflightnowstreakedoutfromthelittleblackwindow。Totherightshowedthewide，blackdoor。
FartheronJeanglidedsilently。Thenhehalted。Therewasnoguardoutside。Jeanheardtheclinkofacap，thelazydrawlofaTexan，andthenastrong，harshvoice——Jorth’s。ItstrungJean’swholebeingtightandvibrating。Insidehewasonfirewhilecoldthrillsrippledoverhisskin。Ittooktremendouseffortofwilltoholdhimselfbackanotherinstanttolisten，tolook，tofeel，tomakesure。Andthatinstantchargedhimwithamightycurrentofhotblood，straining，throbbing，damming。
WhenJeanleapedthiscurrentburst。Inafewswiftboundshegainedhispointhalfwaybetweendoorandwindow。Heleanedhisrifleagainstthestonewall。Thenheswungtheax。Crash！Thewindowshuttersplitandrattledtothefloorinside。Thesilencethenbrokewithahoarse，\"What’sthet？\"
WithallhismightJeanswungtheheavyaxonthedoor。Smash！Thelowerhalfcavedinandbangedtothefloor。Brightlightflaredoutthehole。
\"Lookout！\"yelledaman，inloudalarm。\"They’rebatterin’thebackdoor！\"
Jeanswungagain，highonthesplintereddoor。Crash！Piecesflewinside。
\"They’vegotaxes，\"hoarselyshoutedanothervoice。\"Shovethecounterag’in’thedoor。\"
\"No！\"thunderedavoiceofauthoritythatdenotedterroraswell。
\"Letthemcomein。Pullyourgunsan’taketocover！\"
\"Theyain’tcomin’in，\"wasthehoarsereply。\"They’llshootinonusfromthedark。\"
\"Putoutthelamp！\"yelledanother。
Jean’sthirdheavyswingcavedinpartoftheupperhalfofthedoor。
Shoutsandcursesintermingledwiththeslidingofbenchesacrossthefloorandthehardshuffleofboots。Thisconfusionseemedtobesplitandsilencedbyapiercingyell，ofdifferentcaliber，ofterriblemeaning。ItstayedJean’sswing——causedhimtodroptheaxandsnatchuphisrifle。
\"DON’TANYBODYMOVE！\"
Likeasteelwhipthisvoicecutthesilence。ItbelongedtoBlue。
Jeanswiftlybenttoputhiseyetoacrackinthedoor。Mostofthosevisibleseemedtohavebeenfrozenintounnaturalpositions。Jorthstoodratherinfrontofhismen，hatlessandcoatless，onearmoutstretched，andhisdarkprofilesettowardalittlemanjustinsidethedoor。ThismanwasBlue。JeanneededonlyoneflashinglookatBlue’sface，athisleveled，quiveringguns，tounderstandwhyhehadchosenthistrick。
\"Who’re———you？\"demandedJorth，inhuskypants。
\"ReckonI’mIsbel’sright—handman，\"camethebitingreply。
\"OncetolerablewellknowninTexas……KINGFISHER！\"
Thenamemusthavebeenaguaranteeofdeath。Jorthrecognizedthisoutlawandrealizedhisownfate。Inthelamplighthisfaceturnedapalegreenishwhite。Hisoutstretchedhandbegantoquiverdown。
Blue’sleftgunseemedtoleapupandflashredandexplode。Severalheavyreportsmergedalmostasone。Jorth’sarmjerkedlimply，flinginghisgun。Andhisbodysaggedinthemiddle。Hishandsflutteredlikecrippledwingsandfoundtheirwaytohisabdomen。Hisdeath—palefaceneverchangeditssetlooknorpositiontowardBlue。Buthisgaspingutterancewasoneofhorriblemortalfuryandterror。Thenhebegantosway，stillwiththatstrange，rigidsetofhisfacetowardhisslayer，untilhefell。
Hisfallbrokethespell。EvenBlue，likethegunmanhewas，hadpausedtowatchJorthinhislastmortalaction。Jorth’sfollowersbegantodrawandshoot。JeansawBlue’sreturnfirebringdownahugeman，whofellacrossJorth’sbody。ThenJean，quickasthethoughtthatactuatedhim，raisedhisrifleandshotatthebiglamp。Itburstinaflare。Itcrashedtothefloor。Darknessfollowed——ablank，thick，envelopingmantle。Thenredflashesofgunsemphasizedtheblackness。
Insidethestoretherebrokelooseapandemoniumofshots，yells，curses，andthuddingboots。Jeanshovedhisriflebarrelinsidethedoorand，holdingitlowdown，hemovedittoandfrowhileheworkedleverandtriggeruntilthemagazinewasempty。Then，drawinghissix—shooter，heemptiedthat。AroarofriflesfromthefrontofthestoretoldJeanthathiscomradeshadenteredthefray。Bulletszippedthroughthedoorhehadbroken。Jeanranswiftlyroundthecorner，takingcaretosheeroffalittletotheleft，andwhenhegotclearofthebuildinghesawalineofflashesinthemiddleoftheroad。Blaisdellandtheotherswerefiringintothedoorofthestore。WithnimblefingersJeanreloadedhisrifle。Thenswiftlyheranacrosstheroadanddowntogetbehindhiscomrades。Theirshootinghadslackened。Jeansawdarkformscominghisway。
\"Hello，Blaisdell！\"hecalled，warningly。
\"Thaty’u，Jean？\"returnedtherancher，loomingup。\"Wal，wewasn’tworriedabooty’u。\"
\"Blue？\"queriedJean，sharply。
Alittle，darkfigureshuffledpastJean。\"Howdy，Jean！\"saidBlue，dryly。\"Y’ushoredidyourpart。ReckonI’llneedtobetiedup，butIain’thurtmuch。\"
\"Colmor’shit，\"calledthevoiceofGordon，afewyardsdistant。
\"Helpme，somebody！\"
JeanrantohelpGordonupholdtheswayingColmor。\"Areyouhurt—bad？\"
askedJean，anxiously。Theyoungman’sheadrolledandhung。Hewasbreathinghardanddidnotreply。Theyhadalmosttocarryhim。
\"Comeon，men！\"calledBlaisdell，turningbacktowardtheotherswhowerestillfiring。\"We’llletwellenoughalone……Fredericks，y’uan’Billhelpmefindthebodyoftheoldman。It’sheahsomewhere。\"
FartherondowntheroadthesearchersstumbledoverGastonIsbel。
TheypickedhimupandfollowedJeanandGordon，whoweresupportingthewoundedColmor。JeanlookedbacktoseeBluedragginghimselfalongintherear。Itwastoodarktoseedistinctly;nevertheless，JeangottheimpressionthatBluewasmoreseverelywoundedthanhehadclaimedtobe。ThedistancetoMeeker’scabinwasnotfar，butittookwhatJeanfelttobealongandanxioustimetogetthere。
Colmorapparentlyralliedsomewhat。WhenthisprocessionenteredMeeker’syard，Bluewaslaggingbehind。
\"Blue，howairy’u？\"calledBlaisdell，withconcern。
\"Wal，Igot——myboots——on——anyhow，\"repliedBlue，huskily。
Helurchedintotheyardandsliddownonthegrassandstretchedout。
\"Man！Y’u’rehurtbad！\"exclaimedBlaisdell。Theothershaltedintheirslowmarchand，asifbytacit，unspokenword，loweredthebodyofIsbeltotheground。ThenBlaisdellkneltbesideBlue。JeanleftColmortoGordonandhurriedtopeerdownintoBlue’sdimface。
\"No，Iain’t——hurt，\"saidBlue，inamuchweakervoice。I’m——jestkilled！……ItwasQueen！……Y’uallheerdme——Queenwas——onlybadmaninthatlot。Iknowedit……Icould——hevkilledhim……
ButIwas——afterLeeJorthan’hisbrothers……\"
Blue’svoicefailedthere。
\"Wal！\"ejaculatedBlaisdell。
\"Shorewasfunny——Jorth’sface——whenIsaid——KingFisher，\"whisperedBlue。\"Funnier——whenIbored——himthrough……Butit——was——Queen——\"
Hiswhisperdiedaway。
\"Blue！\"calledBlaisdell，sharply。Receivingnoanswer，hebentlowerinthestarlightandplacedahandupontheman’sbreast。
\"Wal，he’sgone……IwonderifhereallywastheoldTexasKingFisher。Noonewouldeverbelieveit……ButifhekilledtheJorths，I’llshorebelievehim。
CHAPTERX
TwoweeksoflonelysolitudeintheforesthadworkedincalculablechangeinEllenJorth。
LateinJuneherfatherandhertwouncleshadpackedandriddenoffwithDaggs，Colter，andsixothermen，allheavilyarmed，somesomberwithdrink，othershardandgrimwithaforetasteoffight。Ellenhadnotbeengivenanyorders。Herfatherhadforgottentobidhergood—byorhadavoidedit。Theirdarkmissionwasstampedontheirfaces。
Theyhadgoneand，keenashadbeenEllen’spang，nevertheless，theirdeparturewasarelief。ShehadheardthemblusterandbragsooftenthatshehadherdoubtsofanygreatJorth—Isbelwar。Barkingdogsdidnotbite。Somebody，perhapsoneachside，wouldbebadlywounded，possiblykilled，andthenthefeudwouldgoonasbefore，mostlytalk。
Manyofherformerimpressionshadfaded。Developmenthadbeensorapidandcontinuousinherthatshecouldlookbacktoaday—by—daytransformation。Atnightshehadhatedthesightofherselfandwhenthedawncameshewouldrise，singing。
JorthhadleftEllenathomewiththeMexicanwomanandAntonio。
Ellensawthemonlyatmealtimes，andoftennotthen，forshefrequentlyvisitedoldJohnSpragueorcamehomelatetodoherowncooking。
ItwasbutashortdistanceuptoSprague’scabin，andsinceshehadstoppedridingtheblackhorse，Spades，shewalked。Spadeswasaccustomedtohavinggrain，andinthemorningshewouldcomedowntotheranchandwhistle。EllenhadvowedshewouldneverfeedthehorseandbadeAntoniodoit。ButonemorningAntoniowasabsent。
ShefedSpadesherself。Whenshelaidahandonhimandwhenherubbedhisnoseagainsthershouldershewasnotquitesosureshehatedhim。
\"WhyshouldI？\"shequeried。\"Ahorsecain’thelpitifhebelongsto——to——\"Ellenwasnotsureofanythingexceptthatmoreandmoreitgrewgoodtobealone。
Awholedayinthelonelyforestpassedswiftly，yetitleftafeelingoflongtime。Shelivedbyherthoughts。Alwaysthemorningwasbright，sunny，sweetandfragrantandcolorful，andhermoodwaspensive，wistful，dreamy。Andalways，justassurelyasthehourspassed，thoughtintrudeduponherhappiness，andthoughtbroughtmemory，andmemorybroughtshame，andshamebroughtfight。Sunsetaftersunsetshehaddraggedherselfbacktotheranch，sullenandsickandbeaten。Yetsheneverceasedtostruggle。
TheJulystormscame，andtheforestfloorthathadbeensosearandbrownanddryanddustychangedasifbymagic。Thegreengrassshotup，theflowersbloomed，andalongthecanyonbedsoflacyfernsswayedinthewindandbenttheirgracefultipsovertheamber—coloredwater。
Ellenhauntedthesecooldells，thesepine—shaded，mossy—rockedravineswherethebrookstinkledandthedeercamedowntodrink。Shewanderedalone。Buttheregrewtobecompanyintheaspensandthemusicofthelittlewaterfalls。Ifshecouldhavelivedinthatsolitudealways，neverreturningtotheranchhomethatremindedherofhername，shecouldhaveforgottenandhavebeenhappy。
Shelovedthestorms。Itwasadrycountryandshehadlearnedthroughyearstowelcomethecreamycloudsthatrolledfromthesouthwest。Theycamesailingandclusteringanddarkeningatlasttoformagreat，purple，angrymassthatappearedtolodgeagainstthemountainrimandburstintodazzlingstreaksoflightningandgraypallsofrain。Lightningseldomstruckneartheranch，butupontheRimtherewasneverastormthatdidnotsplinterandcrashsomeofthenoblepines。Duringthestormseasonsheepherdersandwoodsmengenerallydidnotcampunderthepines。
Fearoflightningwasinborninthenatives，butforEllenthedazzlingwhitestreaksorthetremendoussplitting，cracklingshock，orthethunderousboomandrumblealongthebattlementsoftheRimhadnoterrors。Astormeasedherbreast。Deepinherheartwasahiddengatheringstorm。Andsomehow，tobeoutwhentheelementswerewarring，whentheearthtrembledandtheheavensseemedtoburstasunder，affordedherstrangerelief。
Thesummerdaysbecameweeks，andfartherandfarthertheycarriedEllenonthewingsofsolitudeandlonelinessuntilsheseemedtolookbackyearsattheselfshehadhated。Andalways，whenthedarkmemoryimpingeduponpeace，shefoughtandfoughtuntilsheseemedtobefightinghatreditself。Scornofscornandhateofhate！Yetevenherbattlesgrewtobedreams。ForwhentheinevitableretrospectbroughtbackJeanIsbelandhisloveandhercowardlyfalsehoodshewouldshudderalittleandputanunconscioushandtoherbreastandutterlyfailinherfightanddriftoffdowntovagueandwistfuldreams。
Thecleanandhealingforest，withitswhisperingwindandimperioussolitude，hadcomebetweenEllenandthemeaningofthesqualidsheepranch，withitstravestyofhome，itstragicowner。Anditwascomingbetweenhertwoselves，theonethatshehadbeenforcedtobeandtheotherthatshedidnotknow——thethinker，thedreamer，theromancer，theonewholivedinfancythelifesheloved。
ThesummermorningdawnedthatbroughtEllenstrangetidings。Theymusthavebeencreatedinhersleep，andnowwererealizedinthegloriousburstofgoldensun，inthesweepofcreamycloudsacrosstheblue，inthesolemnmusicofthewindinthepines，inthewildscreechofthebluejaysandthenoblebugleofastag。Theseheraldedthedayasnoordinaryday。Somethingwasgoingtohappentoher。
Shedivinedit。Shefeltit。Andshetrembled。Nothingbeautiful，hopeful，wonderfulcouldeverhappentoEllenJorth。Shehadbeenborntodisaster，tosuffer，tobeforgotten，anddiealone。Yetallnatureaboutherseemedamagnificentrebuketohermorbidness。Thesamespiritthatcameouttherewiththethick，amberlightwasinher。Shelived，andsomethinginherwasstrongerthanmind。
Ellenwenttothedoorofhercabin，wheresheflungoutherarms，driventoembracethisnamelesspurportofthemorning。Andawell—knownvoicebrokeinuponherrapture。
\"Wal，lass，Iliketoseeyouhappyan’Ihatemyselffercomin’。
BecauseI’vebeentoGrassValleyfertwodaysan’I’vegotnews。\"
OldJohnSpraguestoodthere，withasmilethatdidnothideatroubledlook。
\"Oh！UncleJohn！Youstartledme，\"exclaimedEllen，shockedbacktoreality。Andslowlysheadded:\"GrassValley！News？\"
Sheputoutanappealinghand，whichSpraguequicklytookinhisown，asiftoreassureher。
\"Yes，an’notbadsofarasyouJorthsareconcerned，\"hereplied。
\"ThefirstJorth—Isbelfighthascomeoff……Reckonyouremembermakin’mepromisetotellyouifIheerdanythin’。Wal，Ididn’twaitferyoutocomeup。\"
\"SoEllenheardhervoicecalmlysaying。Whatwasthislyingcalmwhenthereseemedtobeastonehammeratherheart？Thefirstfight——notsobadfortheJorths！ThenithadbeenbadfortheIsbels。
Asudden，coldstillnessfelluponhersenses。
\"Let’ssitdown——outdoors，\"Spraguewassaying。\"Nicean’sunnythis——mornin’。Ideclare——I’moutofbreath。Notusedtowalkin’。An’
besides，IleftGrassValley，inthenight——an’I’mtired。Butexcoosemefromhangin’roundthetvillagelastnight！Therewasshore——\"
\"Who——whowaskilled？\"interruptedEllen，hervoicebreakinglowanddeep。
\"GuyIsbelan’BillJacobsontheIsbelside，an’Daggs，Craig，an’
Greavesonyourfather’sside，\"statedSprague，withsomethingofawedhaste。
\"Ah！\"breathedEllen，andsherelaxedtosinkbackagainstthecabinwall。
Spragueseatedhimselfonthelogbesideher，turningtofaceher，andheseemedburdenedwithgraveandimportantmatters。
\"Iheerdagoodmanyconflictin’stories，\"hesaid，earnestly。\"Thevillagefolksisallskeeredan’there’snobelievin’theirgossip。
ButIgotwhathappenedstraightfromJakeEvarts。Thefightcomeoffdaybeforeyestiddy。Yourfather’sgangrodedowntoIsbel’sranch。
Daggswasseentobewantin’someoftheIsbelhosses，soEvartssays。
An’GuyIsbelan’Jacobsranoutinthepasture。Daggsan’someothersshotthemdown\"Killedthem——thatway？\"putinEllen，sharply。
\"SoEvartssays。Hewasontheridgean’swearsheseenitall。TheykilledGuyan’Jacobsincoldblood。Nochancefertheirlives——noteventofight！……Wall，hentheysurroundedtheIsbelcabin。Thefightlastallthetdayan’allnightan’thenextday。EvartssaysGuyan’Jacobslaidouttharallthistime。An’aherdofhogsbrokeinthepasturean’waseatin’thedeadbodies……\"
\"MyGod！\"burstoutEllen。\"UncleJohn，y’ushorecain’tmeanmyfatherwouldn’tstopfightin’longenoughtodrivethehogsoffan’
burythosedaidmen？\"
\"Evartssaystheystoppedfightin’，allright，butitwastowatchthehogs，\"declaredSprague。\"An’then，whatd’yethink？Thewimminfolkscomeout——thered—headedone，Guy’swife，an’Jacobs’swife——theydrovethehogsawayan’buriedtheirhusbandsrightthereinthepasture。Evartssaysheseenthegraves。\"
\"ItisthewomenwhocanteachthesebloodyTexansalesson，\"
declaredEllen，forcibly。
\"Wal，Daggswasdrunk，an’hegotupfrombehindwherethegangwashidin’，an’daredtheIsbelstocomeout。Theyshothimtopieces。
An’thetnightsomeoneoftheIsbelsshotCraig，whowasaloneonguard……An’last——thishere’swhatIcometotellyou——JeanIsbelslippedupinthedarkonGreavesan’knifedhim。\"
\"Whydidy’uwanttotellmethatparticularly？\"askedEllen，slowly。
\"BecauseIreckonthefactsinthecasearequeer——an’because，Ellen，yournamewasmentioned，\"announcedSprague，positively。
\"Myname——mentioned？\"echoedEllen。Herhorroranddisgustgavewaytoaquickeningprocessofthought，amountingastonishment。\"Bywhom？\"
\"JeanIsbel，\"repliedSprague，asifthenameandthefactweremomentous。
Ellensatstillasastone，herhandsbetweenherknees。Slowlyshefeltthebloodrecedefromherface，pricklingherkindownbelowherneck。Thatnamelockedherthought。
\"Ellen，it’samightyqueerstory——tooqueertobealie，\"wentonSprague。\"Nowyoulisten！EvartsgotthisfromTedMeeker。An’TedMeekerheerditfromGreaves，whodidn’tdietillthenextdayafterJeanIsbelknifedhim。An’yourdadshotTedfertellin’whatheheerd……No，Greaveswasn’tkilledoutright。Hewascutsomethin’turrible——intwoplaces。Theywrappedhimallupan’nextdaypackedhiminawagonbacktoGrassValley。EvartssaysTedMeekerwasfriendlywithGreavesan’wenttoseehimashewaslayin’inhisroomnexttothestore。Wal，accordin’toMeeker’sstory，Greavescametoan’talked。
Hesaidhewassittin’thereinthedark，shootin’occasionallyatIsbel’scabin，whenheheerdarustlebehindhiminthegrass。Heknowedsomeonewascrawlin’onhim。Butbeforehecouldgethisgunaroundhewasjumpedbywhathethoughtwasagrizzlybear。Butitwasaman。HeshutoffGreaves’swindan’draggedhimbackintheditch。
An’hesaid:’Greaves，it’sthehalf—breed。An’he’sgoin’tocutyou——FIRSTFORELLENJORTH！an’thenforGastonIsbel！’……GreavessaidJeanrippedhimwithabowieknife……An’thetwasallGreavesremembered。Hediedsoonaftertellin’thisstory。Hemusthevfoughtawfulhard。ThetsecondcutIsbelgavehimwentclearthroughhim……
SomeofthegangwastharwhenGreavestalked，an’naturallytheywonderedwhyJeanIsbelhadsaid’firstforEllenJorth。’……SomebodyrememberedthetGreaveshadcastasluronyourgoodname，Ellen。An’
thentheyhadJeanIsbel’sreasonfersayin’thettoGreaves。Itcausedalotoftalk。An’whenSimmBrucebustedinsomeoftheganghaw—hawedhiman’saidashowhe’dgetthethirdcutfromJeanIsbel’sbowie。
Brucewashalfdrunkan’hebegantocussan’raveaboutJeanIsbelbein’inlovewithhisgirl……Asbadluckwouldhaveit，acoupleofmorefellarscomeinan’askedMeekerquestions。Hejestgottothetpart，’Greaves，it’sthehalf—breed，an’he’sgoin’tocutyou——
FIRSTFORELLENJORTH，’wheninwalkedyourfather！……Thenitallhadtocomeout——whatJeanIsbelhadsaidan’done——an’why。
HowGreaveshadbackedSimmBruceinslurrin’you！\"
SpraguepausedtolookhardatEllen。
\"Oh！Then——whatdiddaddo？\"whisperedEllen。
\"Hesaid，’ByGod！half—breedornot，there’soneIsbelwho’saman！’
An’hekilledBruceonthespotan’gaveMeekeranastywound。
SomebodygrabbedhimbeforehecouldshootMeekeragain。TheythrewMeekeroutan’hecrawledtoaneighbor’shouse，wherehewaswhenEvartsseenhim。\"
EllenfeltSprague’sroughbutkindlyhandshakingher。\"An’nowwhatdoyouthinkofJeanIsbel？\"hequeried。
Agreat，unsurmountablewallseemedtoobstructEllen’sthought。
Itseemedgrayincolor。Itmovedtowardher。Itwasinsideherbrain。
\"Itellyou，EllenJorth，\"declaredtheoldman，\"thetJeanIsbellovesyou—lovesyouturribly——an’hebelievesyou’regood。\"
\"Ohno——hedoesn’t！\"falteredEllen。
\"Wal，hejestdoes。\"
\"Oh，UncleJohn，hecain’tbelievethat！\"shecried。
\"Ofcoursehecan。Hedoes。Youaregood——goodasgold，Ellen，an’
heknowsit……Whataqueerdealitallis！Poordevil！Toloveyouthetturriblyan’hevtofightyourpeople！Ellen，yourdadhaditcorrect。Isbelornot，he’saman……An’Isaywhatashameyoutwoaredividedbyhate。Hatethetyouhednothin’todowith。\"
Spraguepattedherheadandrosetogo。\"Mebbethetfightwillendthetrouble。Ireckonitwill。Don’tcrossbridgestillyoucometothem，Ellen。，……Imusthurrybacknow。Ididn’ttaketimetounpackmyburros。Comeupsoon……An’，say，Ellen，don’tthinkhardanymoreofthetJeanIsbel。\"
Spraguestrodeaway，andEllenneitherheardnorsawhimgo。Shesatperfectlymotionless，yethadastrangesensationofbeingliftedbyinvisibleandmightypower。Itwaslikemovementfeltinadream。
Shewasbeingimpelledupwardwhenherbodyseemedimmovableasstone。
Whenherbloodbeatdownthisdeadlockofanherphysicalbeingandrushedonandonthroughherveinsitgaveheranirresistibleimpulsetofly，tosailthroughspace，toranandrunandran。
Andonthemomenttheblackhorse，Spades，comingfromthemeadow，whinniedatsightofher。Ellenleapedupandranswiftly，butherfeetseemedtobestumbling。Shehuggedthehorseandburiedherhotfaceinhismaneandclungtohim。Thenjustasviolentlysherushedforhersaddleandbridleandcarriedtheheavyweightaseasilyasifithadbeenanemptysack。Throwingthemuponhim，shebuckledandstrappedwithstrong，eagerhands。Itneveroccurredtoherthatshewasnotdressedtoride。Upsheflungherself。Andthehorse，sensingherspirit，plungedintostrong，freegaitdownthecanyontrail。
Theride，theaction，thethrill，thesensationsofviolencewerenotallsheneeded。Solitude，theemptyaislesoftheforest，thefarmilesoflonelywilderness——werethesetheaddedall？Spadestookaswinging，rhythmiclopeupthewindingtrail。Thewindfannedherhotface。Thestingofwhippingaspenbrancheswaspleasant。Adeeprumbleofthundershookthesultryair。Upbeyondthegreenslopeofthecanyonmassedthecreamyclouds，shadingdarkeranddarker。Spadeslopedonthelevels，leapedthewashes，trottedovertherockyground，andtooktoawalkupthelongslope。Ellendroppedthereinsoverthepommel。
Herhandscouldnotstaysetonanything。Theypressedherbreastandflewouttocaressthewhiteaspensandtotearatthemapleleaves，andgatherthelavenderjuniperberries，andcamebackagaintoherheart。
Herheartthatwasgoingtoburstorbreak！Asithadswelled，sonowitlabored。Itcouldnotkeeppacewithherneeds。Allthatwasphysical，allthatwaslivinginherhadtobeunleashed。
Spadesgainedthelevelforest。Howthegreat，brown—greenpinesseemedtobendtheirloftybranchesoverher，protectively，understandingly。
Patchesofazure—blueskyflashedbetweenthetrees。Thegreatwhitecloudssailedalongwithher，andshaftsofgoldensunlight，fleckedwithgleamsoffallingpineneedles，shonedownthroughthecanopyoverhead。Awayinfrontofher，uptheslowheaveofforestland，boomedtheheavythunderboltsalongthebattlementsoftheRim。
Wassheridingtoescapefromherself？FornogaitsuitedheruntilSpadeswasrunninghardandfastthroughtheglades。Thenthepressureofdrywind，thethickodorofpine，theflashesofbrownandgreenandgoldandblue，thesoft，rhythmicthudsofhoofs，thefeelofthepowerfulhorseunderher，thewhipofsprucebranchesonhermusclescontractingandexpandinginhardaction——allthesesensationsseemedtoquellforthetimethemountingcataclysminherheart。
Theoakswales，themaplethickets，theaspengroves，thepine—shadedaisles，andthemilesofsilverspruceallspedbyher，asifshehadriddenthewind;andthroughtheforestaheadshonethevastopenoftheBasin，gloomedbypurpleandsilvercloud，shadowedbygraystorm，andinthewestbrightenedbygoldensky。
StraighttotheRimshehadridden，andtothepointwhereshehadwatchedJeanIsbelthatunforgetableday。Sherodetothepromontorybehindthepinethicketandbeheldascenewhichstayedherrestlesshandsuponherheavingbreast。
Theworldofskyandcloudandearthlyabyssseemedoneofstorm—sunderedgrandeur。Theairwassultryandstill，andsmelledofthepeculiarburnt—woododorcausedbylightningstrikingtrees。Afewheavydropsofrainwerepatteringdownfromthethin，grayedgeofcloudsoverhead。
Totheeasthungthestorm——ablackcloudlodgedagainsttheRim，fromwhichlong，mistyveilsofrainstreameddownintothegulf。Theroarofrainsoundedlikethesteadyroaroftherapidsofariver。Thenablue—white，piercinglybright，raggedstreakoflightningshotdownoutoftheblackcloud。ItstruckwithasplittingreportthatshockedtheverywallofrockunderEllen。Thentheheavensseemedtoburstopenwiththunderingcrashandclosewithmightythunderingboom。Longroarandlongerrumblerolledawaytotheeastward。Therainpoureddowninroaringcataracts。
Thesouthheldapanoramaofpurple—shroudedrangeandcanyon，canyonandrange，onacrosstherollingleaguestothedim，loftypeaks，allcanopiedoverwithangry，dusky，low—driftingclouds，horizon—wide，smoky，andsulphurous。AndasEllenwatched，handspressedtoherbreast，feelingincalculablereliefinsightofthistempestandgulfthatresembledhersoul，thesunburstoutfrombehindthelongbankofpurplecloudinthewestandfloodedtheworldtherewithgoldenlightning。
\"Itisforme！\"criedEllen。\"Mymind——myheart——myverysoul……
Oh，Iknow！Iknownow！……Ilovehim——lovehim——lovehim！\"
Shecrieditouttotheelements。\"Oh，IloveJeanIsbel——an’myheartwillburstorbreak！\"
Themightofherpassionwasliketheblazeofthesun。Beforeitallelseretreated，diminished。Thesuddennessofthetruthdimmedhersight。
Butshesawclearlyenoughtocrawlintothepinethicket，throughtheclutching，drytwigs，overthematsoffragrantneedlestothecovertwhereshehadoncespieduponJeanIsbel。Andhereshelayfacedownforawhile，handsclutchingtheneedles，breastpressedhardupontheground，strickenandspent。Butvitalitywasexceedingstronginher。
Itpassed，thatweaknessofrealization，andsheawakenedtotheconsciousnessoflove。
