Theyalllistened。Ellenheardthebeatingofherheart，therustleofleaves，thetappingofawoodpecker，andfaint，remotesoundsthatshecouldnotname。
\"Deer，Ireckon，\"spokeupSomers。
\"Ahuh！Wal，Ireckontheyain’ttrailin’usyet，\"repliedColter。
\"Wegavethemashadebetter’ntheysentus。\"
\"Shortan’sweet！\"ejaculatedSpringer，andheremovedhisblacksombrerotopokeadirtyforefingerthroughabuffetholeinthecrown。
\"Thet’showcloseIcometocashin’。Iwaslyin’behindalog，listenin’an’watchin’，an’whenIstuckmyheadupalittle——zam！
Somebodymademybonnetleak。\"
\"Where’sQueen？\"askedColter。
\"Hewaswithmefustoff，\"repliedSomers。\"An’thenwhentheshootin’
slacked——afterI’dpluggedthetbig，red—faced，white—hairedpalofIsbel’s——\"
\"ReckonthetwasBlaisdell，\"interruptedSpringer。
\"Queen——hegottiredlayin’low，\"wentonSomers。\"Hewantedaction。
Iheerdhimchewin’tohimself，an’whenIaskedhimwhatwaseatin’
himheupan’growledhewasgoin’toquitthisInjunfightin’。
An’heslippedoffinthewoods。\"
\"Wal，that’sthegunfighterofit，\"declaredColter，wagginghishead，\"Eversincethatcowman，Blue，bracedusan’saidhewasKingFisher，whyQueenhasbeensulkieran’sulkier。Hecain’thelpit。He’lldothesametrickasBluetried。An’shorehe’llgethiseverlastin’。
Buthe’stheTexasbreedallright。\"
\"Say，doyoureckonBluereallyisKingFisher？\"queriedSomers。
\"Naw！\"ejaculatedColter，withdownwardsweepofhishand。\"Manyawould—begunslingerhasborrowedFisher’sname。ButFisherisdaidthesemanyyears。\"
\"Ahuh！Wal，mebbe，butdon’tyoufergitit——thetBluewasnowould—be，\"
declaredSomers。\"Hewasthegenuinearticle。\"
\"Ishouldsmile！\"affirmedSpringer。
ThesubjectirritatedColter，andhedismisseditwithanotherforciblegestureandacounterquestion。
\"HowmanyleftinthatIsbeloutfit？\"
\"Notellin’。Thereshorewasenoughofthem，\"repliedSomers。\"Anyhow，thewoodswasfullofflyin’bullets……Springer，didyouaccountforanyofthem？\"
\"Nope——notthetInoticed，\"respondedSpringer，dryly。\"Ihadmychanceatthehalf—breed……ReckonIwasnervous。\"
\"WasSlaternearyouwhenheyelledout？\"
\"No。Hewaslyin’besideSomers。\"
\"Wasn’tthetaqueerwayferamantoact？\"brokeinSomers。\"AbullethitSlater，cuthimdownthebackashewaslyin’flat。Reckonitwasn’tbad。Butithurthimsothethejumpedrightupan’staggeredaround。
Hemadeatargetbigasatree。An’mebbethemIsbelsdidn’triddlehim！\"
\"ThatwaswhenIgotmycrackatBillIsbel，\"declaredColter，withgrimsatisfaction。\"WhentheyshotmyhorseoutfromundermeIhadEllentothinkofan’couldn’tgetmyrifle。Shorehadtorun，asyuseen。Wal，asIonlyhadmysix—shooter，therewasnothin’formetodobutlaylowan’listentothespingoflead。Wellswasstandin’upbehindatreeaboutthirtyyardsoff。Hegotplugged，an’fallin’overhebegantocrawlmyway，stillholdin’tohisrifle。Icrawledalongthelogtomeethim。Buthedroppedaboothalf—way。Iwentonan’tookhisriflean’belt。WhenIpeepedoutfrombehindasprucebushthenIseenBillIsbel。Hewasshootin’fast，an’allofthemwasshootin’fast。Thatwar，whentheyhadtheopenshotatSlater……Wal，IboredBillIsbelrightthroughhismiddle。Hedroppedhisriflean’，allbentdouble，hefooledaroundinacircletillhefloppedovertheRim。Ireckonhe’slayin’rightuptheresomewherebelowthatdaidspruce。I’dshoreliketoseehim。\"
\"IWal，you’dbeascrazyasOueenifyoutriedthet，declaredSomers。
\"We’renotoutofthewoodsyet。\"
\"Ireckonnot，\"repliedColter。\"An’I’velostmyhorse。Where’dy’uleaveyours？\"
\"They’redownthecanyon，belowthetwillowbrake。An’saddledan’
noneofthemtied。Reckonwe’llhavetolookthemupbeforedark。\"
\"Colter，what’rewegoin’todo？\"demandedSpringer。
\"Waitheahawhile——thencrossthecanyonan’workroundupunderthebluff，backtothecabin。\"
\"An’thenwhat？\"queriedSomers，doubtfullyeyingColter。
\"We’vegottoeat——we’vegottohaveblankets，\"rejoinedColter，testily。\"An’Ireckonwecanhidetherean’standabettershowinafightthanrunnin’foritinthewoods。\"
\"Wal，I’mgivin’youahunchthetitlookedlikeyouwasrunnin’
ferit，\"retortedSomers。
\"Yes，an’packin’thegirl，\"addedSpringer。\"Looksfunnytome。\"
BothrustlerseyedColterwithdarkanddistrustfulglances。Whathemighthaverepliednevertranspired，forthereasonthathisgaze，alwaysshiftingaround，hadsuddenlyfixedonsomething。
\"Isthatawolf？\"heasked，pointingtotheRim。
Bothhiscomradesmovedtogetinlinewithhisfinger。Ellencouldnotseefromherposition。
\"Shorethet’sabiglofer，\"declaredSomers。\"Reckonhescentedus。\"
\"TherehegoesalongtheRim，\"observedColter。\"Hedoesn’tactleary。
Lookslikeagoodsigntome。MebbetheIsbelshavegonetheotherway。\"
\"Looksbadtome，\"rejoinedSpringer，gloomily。
\"An’why？\"demandedColter。
\"Iseenthetanimal。FusttimeIreckoneditwasalofer。SecondtimeitwasrightnearthemIsbels。An’I’mdamnednowifIdon’tbelieveit’sthethalf—lofersheepdogofGassIsbel’s。\"
\"Wal，whatifitis？\"
\"Ha！……Shoreweneedn’tworryabouthidin’out，\"repliedSpringer，sententiously。\"WiththetdogJeanIsbelcouldtrailagrasshopper。\"
\"Thehelly’usay！\"mutteredColter。Manifestlysuchapossibilityputadifferentlightuponthepresentsituation。Themengrewsilentandwatchful，occupiedbybroodingthoughtsandvigilantsurveillanceofallpoints。Somersslippedoffintothebrush，soontoreturn，withintentlookofimportance。
\"Iheerdsomethin’，\"hewhispered，jerkinghisthumbbackward。
\"Rollin’gravel——crackin’oftwigs。Nodeer！……Reckonit’dbeagoodideeforustosliproundacrostthisbench。\"
\"Wal，y’ufellarsgo，an’I’llwatchheah，\"returnedColter。
\"Notmuch，\"saidSomers，whileSpringerleeredknowingly。
Colterbecameincensed，buthedidnotgivewaytoit。Ponderingamoment，hefinallyturnedtoEllen。\"Y’uwaitheahtillIcomeback。
An’ifIdon’tcomeinreasonabletimey’uslipacrossthecanyonan’
throughthewillowstothecabins。Waittillabootdark。\"Withthathepossessedhimselfofoneoftheextrariflesandbeltsandsilentlyjoinedhiscomrades。Togethertheynoiselesslystoleintothebrush。
EllenhadnootherthoughtthantocomplywithColter’swishes。
Therewasherwoundedunclewhohadbeenleftunattended，andshewasanxioustogetbacktohim。Besides，ifshehadwantedtorunofffromColter，wherecouldshego？Aloneinthewoods，shewouldgetlostanddieofstarvation。HerlotmustbecastwiththeJorthfactionuntiltheend。Thatdidnotseemfaraway。
Herstrainedattentionandsuspensemadethemomentsfly。Byandbyseveralshotspealedoutfaracrossthesidecanyononherright，andtheywereansweredbyreportssoundingclosertoher。Thefightwasonagain。Buttheseshotswerenotrepeated。Thefliesbuzzed，thehotsunbeatdownandslopedtothewest，thesoft，warmbreezestirredtheaspens，theravenscroaked，theredsquirrelsandbluejayschattered。
Suddenlyaquick，short，yelpelectrifiedEllen，broughtheruprightwithsharp，listeningrigidity。Surelyitwasnotawolfandhardlycoulditbeacoyote。Againsheheardit。Theyelpofasheepdog！
Shehadheardthat’oftenenoughtoknow。Andsherosetochangeherpositionsoshecouldcommandaviewoftherockybluffabove。Presentlysheespiedwhatreallyappearedtobeabigtimberwolf。Butanotheryelpsatisfiedherthatitreallywasadog。Shewatchedhim。Soonitbecameevidentthathewantedtogetdownoverthebluff。Herantoandfro，andthenoutofsight。Inafewmomentshisyelpsoundedfromlowerdown，atthebaseofthebluff，anditwasnowthecryofanintelligentdogthatwastryingtocallsomeonetohisaid。EllengrewconvincedthatthedogwasnearwhereColterhadsaidBillIsbelhadplungedoverthedeclivity。Wouldthedogyelpthatwayifthemanwasdead？Ellenthoughtnot。
Noonecame，andthecontinuousyelpingofthedoggotonEllen’snerves。
Itwasacallforhelp。Andfinallyshesurrenderedtoit。SincehernaturalterrorwhenColter’shorsewasshotfromunderherandshehadbeendraggedaway，shehadnotrecoveredfromfearoftheIsbels。ButcalmconsiderationnowconvincedherthatshecouldhardlybeinaworseplightintheirhandsthanifsheremainedinColter’s。Soshestartedouttofindthedog。
Thewoodedbenchwaslevelforafewhundredyards，andthenitbegantoheaveinrugged，rockybulgesuptowardtheRim。Itdidnotappearfartowherethedogwasbarking，butthelatterpartofthedistanceprovedtobeahardclimboverjumbledrocksandthroughthickbrush。
Pantingandhot，sheatlengthreachedthebaseofthebluff，tofindthatitwasnotveryhigh。
Thedogespiedherbeforeshesawhim，forhewascomingtowardherwhenshediscoveredhim。Big，shaggy，grayishwhiteandblack，withwild，keenfaceandeyesheassuredlylookedthereputationSpringerhadaccordedhim。Butsagacious，guardedaswashisapproach，heappearedfriendly。
\"Hello——doggie！\"pantedEllen。\"What’s——wrong——upheah？\"
Heyelped，hisearslosttheirstiffness，hisbodysankalittle，andhisbushytailwaggedtoandfro。Whatagray，clear，intelligentlookhegaveher！Thenhetrottedback。
Ellenfollowedhimaroundacornerofblufftoseethebodyofamanlyingonhisback。Freshearthandgravellayabouthim，attestingtohisfallfromabove。Hehadonneithercoatnorhat，andthepositionofhisbodyandlimbssuggestedbrokenbones。AsEllenhurriedtohissideshesawthatthefrontofhisshirt，lowdown，wasabloodyblotch。
Buthecouldlifthishead;hiseyeswereopen;hewasperfectlyconscious。Ellendidnotrecognizethedusty，skinnedface，yetthemoldoffeatures，thelookoftheeyes，seemedstrangelyfamiliar。
\"You’re——Jorth’s——girl，\"hesaid，infaintvoiceofsurprise。
\"Yes，I’mEllenJorth，\"shereplied。\"An’arey’uBillIsbel？\"
\"Allthet’sleftofme。ButI’mthankin’Godsomebodycome——evenaJorth。\"
Ellenkneltbesidehimandexaminedthewoundinhisabdomen。
Aheavybullethadindeed，asColterhadavowed，tornclearthroughhismiddle。Evenifhehadnotsustainedotherseriousinjuryfromthefalloverthecliff，thatterriblebulletwoundmeantdeathveryshortly。Ellenshuddered。Howinexplicableweremen！Howcruel，bloody，mindless！
\"Isbel，I’msorry——there’snohope，\"shesaid，lowvoiced。\"Y’u’venotlongtolive。Icain’thelpy’u。GodknowsI’ddosoifIcould。\"
\"Allover！\"hesighed，withhiseyeslookingbeyondher。\"Ireckon——I’mglad……Buty’ucan——dosomethin’fororme。Willy’u？\"
\"Indeed，Yes。Tellme，\"shereplied，liftinghisdustyheadonherknee。
Herhandstrembledasshebrushedhiswethairbackfromhisclammybrow。
\"I’vesomethin’——onmyconscience，\"hewhispered。
Thewoman，thesensitiveinEllen，understoodandpitiedhimthen。
\"Yes，\"sheencouragedhim。
\"Istolecattle——mydad’san’Blaisdell’s——an’madedeals——withDaggs……Allthecrookedness——wasn’ton——Jorth’sside……Iwant——mybrotherJean——toknow。\"
\"I’lltry——totellhim，\"whisperedEllen，outofhergreatamaze。
\"Wewereall——abadlot——exceptJean，\"wentonIsbel。\"Dadwasn’tfair……God！howhehatedJorth！Jorth，yes，whowas——yourfather……
Wal，they’reevennow。\"
\"How——so？\"falteredEllen。
\"Yourfatherkilleddad……Atthelast——dadwantedto——saveus。
Hesentword——he’dmeethim——facetoface——an’letthetendthefeud。
Theymetoutintheroad……Butsomeoneshotdaddown——witharifle——an’thenyourfatherfinishedhim。\"
\"An’then，Isbel，\"addedEllen，withunconsciousmockingbitterness，\"Yourbrothermurderedmydad！\"
\"What！\"whisperedBillIsbel。\"Shorey’u’vegot——itwrong。IreckonJean——couldhavekilled——yourfather……Buthedidn’t。Queer，weallthought。\"
\"Ah！……Whodidkillmyfather？\"burstoutEllen，andhervoiceranglikegreathammersatherears。
\"ItwasBlue。Hewentinthestore——alone——facedthewholegangalone。
Bluffedthem——tauntedthem——toldthemhewasKingFisher……Thenhekilled——yourdad——an’JacksonJorth……Jeanwasout——backofthestore。Wewereout——front。Therewasshootin’。Colmorwashit。
ThenBlueranout——badhurt……Bothofthem——diedinMeeker’syard。\"
\"An’soJeanIsbelhasnotkilledaJorth！\"saidEllen，instrange，deepvoice。
\"No，\"repliedIsbel，earnestly。\"Ireckonthisfeud——washardestonJean。Heneverlivedheah……An’mysisterAnnsaid——hegotsweetony’u……Nowdidhe？\"
Slow，stingingtearsfilledEllen’seyes，andherheadsanklowandlower。
\"Yes——hedid，\"shemurmured，tremulously。
\"Ahuh！Wal，thetaccounts，\"repliedIsbel，wonderingly。\"Toobad！……
Itmighthavebeen……Amanalwayssees——differentwhen——he’sdyin’……IfIhad——mylife——toliveoveragain！……Mypoorkids——desertedintheirbabyhood——ruinedforlife！Allfornothin’……
MayGodforgive——\"
Thenhechokedandwhisperedforwater。
Ellenlaidhisheadbackand，rising，shetookhissombreroandstartedhurriedlydowntheslope，makingdustflyandrocksroll。Hermindwasaseethingferment。Leaping，bounding，slidingdowntheweatheredslope，shegainedthebench，torunacrossthat，andsoondownintotheopencanyontothewillow—borderedbrook。Hereshefilledthesombrerowithwaterandstartedback，forcednowtowalkslowlyandcarefully。Itwasthen，withtheviolenceandfuryofintensemuscularactivitydeniedher，thatthetremendousimportofBillIsbel’srevelationburstuponherveryfleshandbloodandtransfiguringtheveryworldofgoldenlightandazureskyandspeakingforestlandthatencompassedher。
Notadropofthepreciouswaterdidshespill。Notamisstepdidshemake。Yetsogreatwasthespelluponherthatshewasnotawareshehadclimbedthesteepslopeuntilthedogyelpedhiswelcome。Thenwithallthefloodofheremotionsurgingandresurgingsheknelttoallaytheparchingthirstofthisdyingenemywhosewordshadchangedfrailtytostrength，hatetolove，and，thegloomyhellofdespairtosomethingunutterable。Butshehadreturnedtoolate。BillIsbelwasdead。
CHAPTERXIII
JeanIsbel，holdingthewolf—dogSheppinleash，wasonthetrailofthemostdangerousofJorth’sgang，thegunmanQueen。Darkdropsofbloodonthestonesandplaintracksofarider’ssharp—heeledbootsbehindcovertsindicatedthetrailofawounded，slow—travelingfugitive。Therefore，JeanIsbelheldinthedogandproceededwiththewaryeyeandwatchfulcautionofanIndian。
Queen，truetohisclass，andemulatingBluewiththesamemagnificenteffronteryandwiththesameparalyzingsuddennessofsurprise，hadappearedasifbymagicatthelastnightcampoftheIsbelfaction。
Jeanhadseenhimfirst，intimetoleaplikeapantherintotheshadow。
ButhecarriedinhisshoulderQueen’sfirstbulletofthatterribleencounter。UponGordonandFredericksfellthebruntofQueen’sfusillade。Andthey，shottopieces，staggeringandfalling，heldpassionategriponlifelongenoughtodrawandstillQueen’sgunsandsendhimreelingoffintothedarknessoftheforest。
Unarmed，andhinderedbyapainfulwound，Jeanhadkeptavigilnearcampallthatsilentandmenacingnight。MorningdisclosedGordonandFredericksstarkandghastlybesidetheburned—outcamp—fire，theirgunsclutchedimmovablyinstiffenedhands。Jeanburiedthemasbesthecould，andwhentheywereundergroundwithflatstonesontheirgravesheknewhimselftobeindeedthelastoftheIsbelclan。Andallthatwaswildandsavageinhisbloodanddesperateinhisspiritrosetomakehimmorethanmanandlessthanhuman。Thenforthethirdtimeduringthesetragiclastdaysthewolf—dogSheppcametohim。
JeanwashedthewoundQueenhadgivenhimandboundittightly。
Thekeenpangandburnoftheleadwasaconstantandall—powerfulreminderofthegrimworkleftforhimtodo。ThewholeworldwasnolongerlargeenoughforhimandwhoeverwasleftoftheJorths。Theheritageofbloodhisfatherhadbequeathedhim，theunshakableloveforaworthlessgirlwhohadsodwarfedandobstructedhiswillandsobitterlydefeatedandreviledhispoor，romantic，boyishfaith，thekillingofhostilemen，sostrangeinitsaftereffects，thepursuitsandfights，andlossofonebyoneofhisconfederates——thesehadfinallyengenderedinJeanIsbelawild，unslakablethirst，thesehadbeenthecauseofhisretrogression，thesehadunalterablyandruthlesslyfixedinhisdarkenedmindonefiercepassion——toliveanddiethelastmanofthatJorth—Isbelfeud。
AtsunriseJeanleftthiscamp，takingwithhimonlyasmallknapsackofmeatandbread，andwiththeeager，wildSheppinleashhesetoutonQueen’sbloodytrail。
BlackdropsofbloodonthestonesandanirregulartrailoffootprintsprovedtoJeanthatthegunmanwashardhit。Herehehadfallen，orknelt，orsatdown，evidentlytobindhiswounds。Jeanfoundstripsofscarf，redanddiscarded。Andtheblooddropsfailedtoshowonmorerocks。Inadeepforestofspruce，undersilver—tippedspreadingbranches，Queenhadrested，perhapsslept。Thenlaboringwithdraggingsteps，notimprobablywithalameleg，hehadgoneon，upoutofthedark—greenravinetotheopen，dry，pine—tippedridge。Herehehadrested，perhapswaitedtoseeifhewerepursued。FromthatpointhistrailspokeaneasylanguageforJean’skeeneye。Thegunmanknewhewaspursued。Hehadseenhisenemy。ThereforeJeanproceededwithaslowcaution，nevergettingwithinrevolverrangeofambush，usingallhiswoodcrafttotrailthismanandyetsavehimself。Queentraveledslowly，eitherbecausehewaswoundedorelsebecausehetriedtoambushhispursuer，andJeanaccommodatedhispacetothatofQueen。Fromnoonofthatdaytheywereneverfarapart，neveroutofhearingofarifleshot。
ThecontrastofthebeautyandpeaceandlonelinessofthesurroundingstothenatureofQueen’sflightoftenobtrudeditsstrangetruthintothesomberturbulenceofJean’smind，intothatfixedcolumnarideaaroundwhichfleetingthoughtshoveredandgatheredlikeshadows。
Earlyfrosthadtouchedtheheightswithitsmagicwand。Andtheforestseemedatempleinwhichmanmightworshipnatureandliferatherthanstealthroughthedellsandunderthearchedaisleslikeabeastofprey。
Thegreen—and—goldleavesofaspensquiveredintheglades;maplesintheravinesflutteredtheirred—and—purpleleaves。Theneedle—mattedcarpetunderthepinesviedwiththelonglanesofsilverygrass，alikeenticingtotheeyeofmanandbeast。Sunnyraysoflight，fleckedwithdustandflyinginsects，slanteddownfromtheoverhangingbrown—limbed，green—massedfoliage。Roarofwindinthedistantforestalternatedwithsoftbreezecloseathand。Smalldove—graysquirrelsranalloverthewoodland，verycuriousaboutJeanandhisdog，rustlingthetwigs，scratchingthebarkoftrees，chatteringandbarking，frisky，saucy，andbright—eyed。Aplaintivetwitterofwildcanariescamefromtheregionabovethetreetops——firstvoicesofbirdsintheirpilgrimagetowardthesouth。Pineconesdroppedwithsoftthuds。Thebluejaysfollowedtheseintrudersintheforest，screechingtheirdispleasure。
Likerainpatteredthedroppingseedsfromthespruces。Awoody，earthy，leafyfragrance，dampwiththecurrentoflife，mingledwithacool，dry，sweetsmellofwitheredgrassandrottingpines。
Solitudeandlonesomeness，peaceandrest，wildlifeandnature，reignedthere。Itwasagolden—greenregion，enchantingtothegazeofman。AnIndianwouldhavewalkedtherewithhisspirits。
AndevenasJeanfeltallthiselevatingbeautyandinscrutablespirithiskeeneyeoncemorefastenedupontheblood—reddropsQueenhadagainleftonthegraymossandrock。Hiswoundhadreopened。
Jeanfeltthethrillofthescentingpanther。
Thesunset，twilightgathered，nightfell。Jeancrawledunderadense，low—spreadingspruce，atesomebreadandmeat，fedthedog，andlaydowntorestandsleep。Histhoughtsburdenedhim，heavyandblackasthemantleofnight。Awolfmournedahungrycryforamate。SheppquiveredunderJean’shand。Thatwasthecallwhichhadluredhimfromtheranch。
Thewolfbloodinhimyearnedforthewild。Jeantiedthecowhideleashtohiswrist。WhenthisdarkbusinesswasatanendSheppcouldbefreetojointhelonelymatemourningoutthereintheforest。ThenJeanslept。
Dawnbrokecold，clear，frosty，withsilveredgrasssparkling，withasoft，faintrustlingoffallingaspenleaves。WhenthesunroseredJeanwasagainonthetrailofQueen。Byafrosty—fernedbrook，wherewatertinkledandranclearasairandcoldasice，Jeanquenchedhisthirst，leaningonastonethatshoweddropsofblood。Queen，too，hadtoquenchhisthirst。Whatgood，whathelp，Jeanwondered，couldthecold，sweet，granitewater，sodeartowoodsmenandwildcreatures，dothiswounded，huntedrustler？Whydidhenotwaitintheopentofightandfacethedeathhehadmeted？Wherewasthatsplendidandterribledaringofthegunman？Queen’sloveoflifedraggedhimonandon，hourbyhour，throughthepinegrovesandsprucewoods，throughtheoakswalesandaspenglades，upanddowntherockygorges，aroundthewindfallsandovertherottinglogs。
ThetimecamewhenQueentriednomoreambush。Hegaveuptryingtotraphispursuerbylyinginwait。Hegaveuptryingtoconcealhistracks。Hegrewstrongeror，indesperation，increasedhisenergy，sothatheredoubledhisprogressthroughthewilderness。That，atbest，wouldcountonlyafewmilesaday。Andhebegantocircletothenorthwest，backtowardthedeepcanyonwhereBlaisdellandBillIsbelhadreachedtheendoftheirtrails。Queenhadevidentlylefthiscomrades，hadlone—handeditinhislastfight，butwasnowtryingtogetbacktothem。Somewhereinthesewild，deepforestbrakestherestoftheJorthfactionhadfoundahidingplace。JeanletQueenleadhimthere。
EllenJorthwouldbewiththem。Jeanhadseenher。IthadbeenhisshotthatkilledColter’shorse。AndhehadwithheldfurtherfirebecauseColterhaddraggedthegirlbehindhim，protectinghisbodywithhers。SoonerorlaterJeanwouldcomeupontheircamp。Shewouldbethere。Thethoughtofherdarkbeauty，wastedinwantonnessupontheserustlers，addedadeadlyragetothebloodlustandrighteouswrathofhisvengeance。Letheragainflauntherdegradationinhisfaceand，bytheGodshehadforsaken，hewouldkillher，andsoendtheraceofJorths！
Anothernightfell，darkandcold，withoutstarlight。Thewindmoanedintheforest。Sheppwasrestless。Hesniffedtheair。Therewasasteponhistrail。Againamournful，eager，wild，andhungrywolfcrybrokethesilence。Itwasdeepandlow，likethatofabayinghound，butinfinitelywilder。Sheppstrainedtogetaway。Duringthenight，whileJeanslept，hemanagedtochewthecowhideleashapartandrunoff。
NextdaynodogwasneededtotrailQueen。Fogandlow—driftingcloudsintheforestandamistyrainhadputtherustleroffhisbearings。
Hewaslost，andshowedthatherealizedit。Strangehowamaturedman，fighterofahundredbattles，steepedinbloodshed，andonhislaststand，shouldgrowpanic—strickenuponbeinglost！SoJeanIsbelreadthesignsofthetrail。
Queencircledandwanderedthroughthefoggy，drippingforestuntilheheadeddownintoacanyon。ItwasonethatnotchedtheRimandleddownanddown，mileaftermileintotheBasin。NotsoonhadQueendiscoveredhismistake。Whenhediddoso，nightovertookhim。
Theweatherclearedbeforemorning。Redandbrightthesunburstoutoftheeasttofloodthatlowbasinlandwithlight。JeanfoundthatQueenhadtraveledonandon，hoping，nodoubt，toregainwhathehadlost。Butinthedarknesshehadclimbedtothemanzanitaslopesinsteadofbackupthecanyon。AndherehehadfoughttheholdofthatstrangebrushofSpanishnameuntilhefellexhausted。
SurelyQueenwouldmakehisstandandwaitsomewhereinthisdevilishthicketforJeantocatchupwithhim。ManyandmanyaplaceJeanwouldhavechosenhadhebeeninQueen’splace。ManyarockanddensethicketJeancircledorapproachedwithextremecare。Manzanitagrewinpatchesthatwereimpenetrableexceptforasmallanimal。Thebrushwasafewfeethigh，seldomsohighthatJeancouldnotlookoverit，andofabeautifulappearance，havingglossy，smallleaves，agoldenberry，andbranchesofdark—redcolor。Thesebranchesweretoughandunbendable。
