Butheisapoorjudgesometimes。IwishImighthavebegunwithhersooner。
Icannotthinksheisquiteasmercenaryasherepresentshertobe。”
Throughthewindowhesawaprettypicture。OutlinedagainstthedarkgreencedarsofthenorthanglewasProfessorBurgess，tall，slender，fairofface，faultlessindress。BesidehimwasElinorWream，alldaintyandsweetandwhite，fromthebroad-brimmedhatsetjauntilyonherdarkhairtothewhitebowsontheinstepofherneatlittlecanvasshoes。
AwaveoflonelinesssweptoverDr。Fenneben\'ssoulashelooked。
\"ItmusthavebeenathousandyearsagothatIwasinloveandwalkedinmyEden。Therearenoserpentshereastherewereinmine。”
Justthenhiseyesfelluponthewidestonelandingofthecampussteps。
AtthesamemomentElinorgaveascreamoffright。Abullsnake，bigandugly，hadcrawledhalfoutoftheburnedgrassesoftheslopeandstretcheditselflazilyinthesunshinealongthewarmstone。
Itrouseditselfatthescream，emittingitshoarsehiss，afterthemannerofbullsnakes。Elinorclutchedathercompanion\'sarm，palewithfear。
\"Killit!Killit!\"shecried，tryingtoforceherslenderwhiteparasolintohishand。
Beforehecouldmove，VicBurleighleapedoutfrombehindthecedars，and，pickingupasharp-edgedbitoflimestone，tippedhishanddexterouslyandsentitcleanasaknifecutacrossthespace。
Itstruckthesnakejustbelowthehead，halfseveringitfromthebody。
AnotherleapandBurleighhadkickedthewholewrithingmass——
itwouldhavemeasuredfivefeet——offthestoneintothesunflowerstalksandlonggrassesofthesteepslope。
\"Howdidyoueverdare？\"Elinorasked。
\"Oh，he\'snotpoison；hejustdoesn\'tbelonguphere。”
ThebluntnessoftimiditywasinVic\'sanswer，butthestrengthandmusicaldepthofhisresonantvoicewasalmoststartling。
\"ThereisnoEdenwithoutaserpent，MissElinor，\"ProfessorBurgesssaidlightly。
\"NoraserpentwithoutsomesortofEdenbuiltaroundit。
Thething\'smatewillbealongafteritprettysoon。
Lookoutforitdownthere。Thebestplacetocatchitisrightbehinditsears，\"cametheboy\'squickresponse。
BurleighlookedbackdefiantlyatBurgessashedisappearedindoors。
Andtheantagonismborninthemeetingofthesetwomeninthemorningtookonatinydegreeofstrengthintheafternoon。
\"Whatawonderfulvoice，Vincent。Itmakesonewanttohearitagain，\"Elinorexclaimed。
\"Yes，andwhatanovergrownpileofawkwardness。Itmakesonehopenevertoseeitagain，\"hercompanionresponded。
\"Buthekilledthatsnakeinawaythatlookedexperttome，\"Elinorinsisted。
\"MydearMissElinor，hewasprobablyborninsomeKansascabinandhaspracticedkillingsnakesallhislife。Notaveryelevatingfeat。
Let\'sgodownandexploreLagondaLedgenowbeforetheothersnakecomesinforthecoroner\'sinquest。”
Andthetwopasseddownthestonestepstotheshadylevelcampusandontothetownbeyondit。
\"Youarehardonsnakes，Burleigh，\"Dr。Fennebensaidashewelcomedthecountryboyintohisstudy。\"Abullsnakeisaharmlesscreature，andheisthefarmer\'sfriend。”
\"Lethimstayonthefarmthen。Ihatehim。He\'snofriendofmine，\"Vicreplied。
HewasoverflowingthechairrecentlygracedbyProfessorBurgessandclutchinghisderbyasifitmightescapeandleavehimbareheadedforever。
Hisfacehadadoggedexpressionandhisglancewasstern。
Yethisdirectwordsandthedeeprichnessofhisvoiceputhimoutsideoftheclassofcommonplacebeginners。
\"Areyoufondofkillingthings？\"theDeanasked。
TheruddycolordeepenedinVicBurleigh\'sbrowncheek，butthesteadfastgazeofhiseyesandthefirmlinesofhismouthtoldtheheadofSunrisesomethingofwhathewouldfindinthesturdyyoungJayhawker。
\"Sometimes，\"camethebluntanswer。\"I\'vealwayslivedonaKansasclaim。
Unlessyouknowwhatthatmeansyoumightnotunderstand——howhardalife\"——
Vicstoppedabruptlyandsqueezedtherimofhisderby。
\"Nevermind。Wetakeonlyfacevaluehere。Fineviewfromthatwindow，\"
andLloydFenneben\'sgenialsmilebegantowintheheartofthecountryboyasmostyoungheartswerewontohim。
Burleighleanedtowardthewindow，forgetfulofthechairarmshehadstriventosubdue，thelateafternoonsunlightfallingonhisbrownfaceandglintinginhisauburnhair。
\"It\'sasprettyasparadise，\"hesaid，simply。\"There\'snothinglikeourKansasprairies。”
\"Youcomefromtheplainsoutwest，Ihear。Howlongdoyouplantostayhere，Burleigh？\"Dr。Fennebenasked。
\"FouryearsifIcanmakeitgo。I\'vegotalittleschoolingandIknowhowtoherdcattle。Ineedmorethanthis，ifIamonlyacountryboy。”
\"Whopaysforyourschooling，yourself，oryourfather？\"Fennebenqueried。
\"Ihavenofathernormothernow。”
\"YouarewillingtoworkfouryearstogetadiplomafromSunrise？Itishardwork；alltheharderifyouhavenothadmuchschoolingbeforeit。”
\"I\'mwillingtowork，andI\'dliketohavethediplomaforit，\"Vicanswered。
\"Burleigh，didyounoticetheletterScarvedinthestoneabovethedoor？\"
\"Yes，sir；IsupposeitstandsforSunrise？\"
\"Itdoes。Butwiththeyearsitwilltakeonnewmeaningsforyou。
Whenyouhavelearnedallthesemeaningsyouwillbereadyforyourdiploma——
andmore。YouwillbefaronyourwaytothewinningofaMaster\'sDegree。”
Vic\'seyeswidenedwithasortofchild-likesimplicity。
Heforgothishatandthechairarms，andDr。Fennebennotedforthefirsttimethathisgolden-browneyesmatchinghisauburnhairwereshadedbylongblacklashes，thekindartistsraveabout，andarchedoverwithblackbrows。
\"Hiseyesandvoiceareallright，\"wastheDean\'smentalcomment。
\"There\'sgoodbloodinhisveins，I\'llwager。”
Butbeforehecouldspeakfurthertheshrillscreamofafrightenedchildcamefromthecampusbelowtheridge。
AtthecryVicBurleighsprangtohisfeet，upsettinghischair，andwithoutstoppingtopickitup，herushedfromthebuilding。
Ashetoredownthelongflightofsteps，LloydFennebencaughtsightofachildonthelevelcampusrunningtowardhimasfastasitsfatlittlelegscouldtoddle。TwominuteslaterVicBurleighwasbackinthestudy，pantingandhot，withthelittleoneclingingtohisneck。
\"Excuseme，please，\"Vicsaidasheliftedthefallenchair。
\"IforgotallaboutBugdownthere，andthewidowBull\"——
hegaveahalf-smile——\"waswrigglingaroundtryingtofindhermate，andscaredhim。He\'stoolittletobeleftalone，anyhow。”
Bugwasasturdy，stubbythree-year-old，orless，dimpledandbrown，withbigdarkeyesandatangleofsoftlittlered-brownringlets。
AsVicseatedhimself，Bugperchedonthearmofthechairinsideofthebigboy\'sencirclingarm。
\"Whoisyourfriend？Isheyourbrother？\"askedtheDean。
\"No。He\'snorelation。Idon\'tknowanythingabouthim，exceptthathisnameisBuler。BugBuler，hesays。”
LittleBugputupachubbybrownhandloving-wisetoVicBurleigh\'sbrowncheek，and，lookingstraightatDr。Fennebenwithwideseriouseyes，heasked，\"IsyoudoodtoVic？\"
\"Yes，indeed，\"repliedtheDean。
\"Nen，Ilikeyoufornever，\"Bugdeclared，shuttinghislipssotightlythathischeckspuffed。
\"Howdoyouhappentohavethischildhere，Burleigh？\"questionedFenneben。
\"Becausehe\'sgotnobodyelsetolookafterhim，\"answeredVic。
\"Howaboutanorphanasylum？
Viclookeddownatthelittlefellowcuddledagainsthisarm，andeveryfeatureofhissternfacesoftened。
\"WillitmakeanydifferenceabouthimifIgetmylessons，sir？Ican\'tletBuggonow。Wearethelimitforeachother——neitherofusgotanybodyelse。
Itakecareofhim，buthekeepsmefromgettingtoocoarseandrough。
Everyfellowneedssomethinginnocentandgoodabouthimsometimes。”
\"Oh，no!Keephimifyouwanthim。Butwouldyoumindtellingmeabouthim？\"
\"I\'drathernotnow，\"Burleighsaid，quietly，andLloydFennebenknewwhentodropasubject。
\"ThenI\'mthroughwithyoufortoday，Burleigh。ImustletMissSaxonhavemyroomnow。Comeherewheneveryoulike，andbringBugifyoucareto。”
SunrisestudentsalwaysleftDr。Fenneben\'sstudywithalittlemoreofself-respectthanwhentheyenteredit；richer，notsomuchfromthewordasfromthespiritoftheheadofSunrise。VictorBurleighwithlittleBugBuler\'sfatfistclaspedinhisbig，hardhandwalkedoutofthecollegedoorthatafternoonwiththeunconsciousbaptismofthestudentuponhim，thedimsenseofafellowshipwithascholarlymasterofbooksandofmen。
BackinhisstudyLloydFennebensatlookingoutoncemoreattheEmpirethatmeantnothingbutdrearydistancestothescholarlyprofessorofGreek，andseemedaparadisetotheuntrainedyoungfellowfromtheprairies。
\"Iseemystintofclothfortheday，\"hemurmured。
\"Acollegeprofessorinthemakingwhohasmuchtounlearn；
acrudeyounggiantwhoisfondofkillingthings，andcaresforhelplesschildren；andabeautiful，wilful，characterlessgirltobeshownintoherwomanlyheritage。
Theclayisready。Itisthepotterwhosehandsneedskill。
VictorBurleigh!VictorBurleigh!There\'smygreatestproblemofallthree。HehasthestrengthofaTitaninthosearms，andthepassionofatigerbehindthoseinnocentyelloweyes。
Godkeepmeonthehilltopnorletmyfeetoncegetintothedarkanddangerousways!\"
Helookedlongatthelandscaperadiantunderthelevelraysofsplendorstreamingfromthelowafternoonsun。
\"Iwonderwhobuiltthatfire，andwhatthatpillarofsmokemeantthisafternoon。Themysteryofourliveshangssometokenineachday。”
TheshadowsweregatheringintheWalnutValley，thepigeonsaboutthecottageuptheriver，wereintheircotesnow，theheatofthedaywasover，andwithonemorelookatthefarpeacefulprairiesDr。LloydFennebenclosedhisstudydoorandpassedoutintothecoolSeptemberair。
CHAPTERIII
PIGEONPLACE
_Strangeisthewindandthetide，Theheavenseternallywide；
Lessfathomed，thislifeatmyside_——
W。H。SIMPSON
THESunriserotundawasringingwithachorusfromthreehundredthroatsasthreehundredstudentspouredoutofdoors，andover-flowedtheridgeandspilleddownthebroadsteps，makingababelofmusicaltongues；
whilefittingitselftoeverycatchycollegeairknowntoSunrisecamethenoisyrefrain:
RahforFunnybone!
RahforFunnybone!
RahforFunnybone!
_Rah!_RAH!RAH!!!
Againitwasrepeated，swellingalongtheridgeandfloatingwideawayovertheWalnutValley。NorwasthereaclimaxofexuberanceuntiltheappearanceofDr。LloydFennebenhimself，withhistallfigureandstrikingpresenceoutlinedagainstthegraystonecolumnsoftheveranda。
Allthisbecauseitwasmid-October，aheaven-madeautumndayinKansas，withitsgraciouswarmthandbracingbreath；withtheIndiansummerhazeinshimmeringamethystandgoldoverhangingtheland；
andtheWalnutValley，gorgeousintheglowoftheOctoberfrost-fires，windingdownbetweenbroadseasofrainbow-radiantprairies。
Andallthisgladnessandgrandeur，bythedecreeofDr。Fenneben，wasgiveninfeesimpletothesethreehundredyoungpeopleforthehoursofoneperfectday——theirannualautumnholiday。
Nowondertheyfilledtheairwithshouts。Andbeforethesinginghadceasedthecrowdbrokeintogroupsbynaturalselection，andtheholidaywasbegun。
WhateverboundsoftimeNaturemaygivetotheseedinwhichtobecomeaplant，ortothegrubtobecomeabutterfly，thereisnosetlimitwhereinthecountry-bredboymaybloomintoafull-fledgedcollegestudent。
SevenweeksafterVicBurleighhadcomealongsidetheGreekProfessorintoSunrise，foundthequickmarvelouschangefromthetimid，untrained，overgrownyounggiantintoaleaderofhisclan，theprideoftheFreshman，theterroroftheSophomores，thedramaticinterestoftheclassroom，andthehopeofSunriseonthefootballgridiron。Hisstore-madeclotheshadajauntycarelessnessoffit。Thetanhadlefthischeek。
Hisauburnhairhadlostitssun-burn。Hispowerfulphysique，thecharmofhisdeepvoice，thesingularbeautyofhiswideopengolden-browneyes，withtheirlongblacklasheslightinguphisruggedface，gavetohimanattractivepersonality。
YettoLloydFenneben，whosawbelowthesurface，VictorBurleighwasonlyatthebeginningofthings。Somethingofthetigerlightinthebrowneyes，theprideinbrutestrength，thebluntjusticelackingthefinersenseofmercy，showedhowwideyetwasthedistancebetweenthemanandthegentleman。
WhenDr。FennebenreturnedtohisstudyafterthehilariousdemonstrationhefoundDennieSaxonbusywiththelittlefilmofdustthatcomesinovernight。OldBondSaxon，Dennie\'sfather，hadbeenoneoftheimprovidentofLagondaLedgewhotookanewleaseonalivelihoodwiththeadventofSunrise。Frombeingadissipatedoldfellowdriftingtowardpauperism，hebecametheproprietorofarespectableboardinghouseforstudents，doingaveragewell。
Atrareintervals，however，helapsedintohisoldways。
Duringsuchoccasionshekepttotheriversideofthetown。
Sober，hewasgood-naturedandobliging；drunken，hewassullen，withadispositiontoskulkoutofsightandbealone。
HisdaughterDenniehadherfather\'sgood-naturecombinedwithawillpowerallherown。
AsDr。Fennebenwatchedheraboutherworkthismorning，henotedhowcomfortablyshetookholdofit。Henoted，too，thatherheavyyellow-brownhairwasfullofripplesjustwhererippleshelped，thatherarmswereplump，thatshewasshortandnothingwillowy，andthatshehadamischievoustwinkleinhereyes。
\"Whydon\'tyoutakeaholiday，MissDennie？\"heasked，presently。
\"IwantedthisdonesoIwouldn\'tbeseeingdustybooksinmydaydreams，\"Dennieanswered。
\"Wheredoyoudoyourdreamingtoday？\"
\"AcrowdofusaregoingdowntherivertotheKickapooCorral。Imustmakethecakesyetthismorning，\"sheanswered。
\"GoodenoughCan\'tIdosomethingforyou？Doyouneedachaperon？\"
theDeanqueried，smilingly。
\"ProfessorBurgessistobeourchaperon。Heisallwecanlookafter。”
Dennie\'sgrayeyesdanced。butshewasseriousamomentlater。
\"Dr。Fenneben，youcandosomething，maybe，that\'snoneofyourbusiness，normine。”Denniewonderedafterwardhowshecouldhavehadthecouragetospeakthesewords。
\"That\'sgenerallytheeasything。Whatisit？\"theDeansmiled。
Thegirlhungherfeatherbrushinitsplaceandsatdownoppositetohim。
\"DoyouknowanythingaboutPigeonPlace？\"shebegan。
\"Thelittleplaceuptheriverwhereaqueer，half-crazywomanlivesalonewithafiercedog？\"heasked。
\"Yes，youneverheardanythingmore？\"Denniequeried。
\"Onlythatthehouseishiddenfromtheroadandhasmanypigeonsaboutit，andthatthewomanseesfewcallers。I\'veneverlocatedtheplace。
Tellmeaboutit，\"hereplied。
\"BugBulerandIwereupthereaftereggsthismorning。
BugisVictorBurleigh\'slittleboy。Theyboardatourhouse，\"
Dennieexplained。\"PigeonPlaceisalittlecottageallcoveredwithvinesandwithflowerseverywhere。
It\'shiddenawayfromtheroadjustoutsideoftown。
Mrs。Marianisn\'tcrazynorqueer，onlysheseldomleaveshome，nevergoestochurch，norvisitsanywhere。Shedoesn\'tcareforanybody，nortakeanyinterestinLagondaLedge，andshekeepsaGreatDanedog，asbigasacalf，thatisfriendlytowomenandchildren，butwon\'tletamancomenear，unlessMrs。Mariansaysso。”Denniepaused。
\"Veryinteresting，MissDennie，butwhatcanIdo？\"Fennebenasked。
\"ShallIkillthedogandcarryoffthewomanliketheregulationgrimogreofthefairytales？\"
Denniehesitated。Fewgirlswouldhavecometoacollegepresidentonsuchamissionashers。ButthenfewcollegepresidentsarelikeLloydFenneben。
\"OfcoursenobodylikesMrs。Marian，andmyfather——whenhe\'snotquitehimself——saysdreadfulthingsifImentionhername。”
Dennie\'scheckswerecrimsonasshethoughtofherfather。
\"It\'snoneofmybusiness，butI\'vefeltsorryforMrs。Marianeversinceshecamehere。Sheseemslikeaninnocentoutcast。”
\"Thatisverypitiful。”LloydFenneben\'svoicewassympathetic。
\"Thismorning，\"continuedDennie，\"Bugwasplayingwiththedogoutside，andIwentintothehouseforthefirsttime。Mrs。Marianisverypleasant。
SheaskedmeaboutmyworkhereandItoldheraboutSunriseandyou，andyourniece，MissElinor，beinghere。”
\"Alltheinterestingfeatures。DidyoumentionProfessorBurgess？\"Thequerywasinnocentlymeant，butitbroughtthecolortoDennieSaxon\'scheek。
\"No，Ididn\'tthinkhewasinthatclass，\"shereplied，quickly。
\"Butwhatsurprisedmewasherinterestinthings。Sheisapretty，refined，young-lookingwoman，withgrayhair。WhenIwasleavingI
turnedbacktoaskaboutsomeeggsforSaturday。ShethoughtIwasgone，andshehaddroppedherheadonthetableandwascrying，soIslippedoutwithoutherknowing。”Dennie\'sgrayeyeswerefulloftearsnow。
\"Dr。Fenneben，iftalkingaboutSunrisemadeherdothat，maybeyoumightdosomethingforher。Ipityherso。Nobodyseemstocareabouther。
Myfatherissetagainstherwhenheisnotresponsible，andhemight——\"
Shestoppedabruptlyanddidnotfinishthesentence。
TheDeanlookedoutofthewindowatthepurplemistmeltingalongthehorizonline。DowninthevalleypigeonswerecirclingaboveawoodedspotatabendintheWalnutRiver。Fennebenrememberednowthathehadseenthemtheremanytimes。Hehadaboyhoodmemoryofacountryhomewithpigeonsflyingaboutit。
\"Iwish，too，thatImightdosomething，\"hesaidatlast。
\"Yousayshewillnotletmeninsidehergatenow。
I\'llkeepherinmind，though。Thegatemayopensometime。”
Itwasmid-afternoonwhenLloydFennebenlefthisstudyforastroll。
AsheapproachedtheSaxonHouse，hesawoldBondSaxonslippingoutofthesidegateandwithuncertainstepsskulkdownthealley。
\"Pooroldsinner!Whataslaveandafoolwhiskycanmakeofaman!\"
hethought。ThenherememberedDennie\'sanxietyofthemorning。
\"Theremustbesomecauseforhisprejudiceagainstthisstrangehermitwomanwhenheisdrunk。BondSaxonisnotamantohateanybodywhenheissober。”
\"IsyouDonFonnybone？\"BugBuler\'slittlepipingvoicefromthedoorstephaledtheDean。\"IfinkedVicwouldturn，andhedon\'tturn，andI\'shungryforsomebody。MayIgowisyou，DonFonnybone？\"Thebabylipsquivered。
LloydFennebenheldouthishandandBugputhislittlefistintoit。
\"Whereshallwego，Bug？I\'mhungryforsomebody，too。”
\"Let\'sdofindthebunnythebiddodistscaredawaythismorning。
Turnon!\"
LloydFennebenwashardlyconsciousthatBugwaschoosingtheirpathasthetwostrolledawaytogether。Everywheretherewasthepathosofawaningautumnday，andasofthazecreepingoutofthewestwasmakingablood-redcarbuncleofthesun，setasajewelontheamber-veiledbosomofthesky。
Theairwassoft，wooingthespirittoastill，sweetpeace。
ThetwowereattheoutskirtsofLagondaLedgenow。
Thelastboardwalkwasthreeblocksback，andthecinder-madewayhaddwindledtoabarehardpathbytheroadside。
AbendintherivercuttingclosetotheroadshowsalongvistaoftheWalnutborderedbyvine-drapedshrubberyandoverhungwithtrees。Aslaboflimestonebesideahugeelmtreehadbeenplacedatthisbendtopreventthebankfrombreaking，orachancemisdrivingintothewater。
\"I\'spittytired，\"Bugsaidasthetworeachedthestone。
\"Willwetumtothebunny\'shousepittysoon？\"
\"We\'llresthereawhileandmaybethebunnywillcomeouttomeetus，\"
Dr。Fennebensaid，andtheysatdownonthebroadstone。
\"Itwassomewhereherethebunnyrunned。”LittleBugstudiedtheroadsidewithaquaintpuzzledface。\"Isyou\'faidofsnakes？\"
\"Notverymuch。”TheDean\'seyeswereonthegracefulflightofpigeonscirclingaboutthetreesbeyondthebend。
\"Vicisn\'t\'faid。Hekilledbidone，two，five，freewattle，wattlesnakes——\"
Bugcaughthisbreathsuddenly——\"Hetoldmenottotellthat。Ifordot。
Idon\'t\'member。Hedidn\'tdoit——hedidn\'tkillednosnakesfornever。”
Dr。Fennebengavelittleheedtothisprattle。Hiseyeswereonthepigeonscleavingtheairwithshort，gracefulflights。
Presentlyhefeltthesofttouchofbabycurlsagainsthishand，andlittleBughadfallenasleepwithhisdroopingheadonFenneben\'slap。
TheDeangentlyplacedthetiredlittleoneinaneasyposition，andrestedhisshoulderagainstthetree。
\"ThatmustbePigeonPlace，\"hemused。\"Everytownhasitsoddcharacters。ThisisoneofLagondaLedge\'slittlemysteries。
Denniefindsitapatheticone。Howgracefulthosepigeonsare!\"
AndhisthoughtsdriftedtoafarNewEnglandhomesteadwherepigeonsusedtosweepaboutanoldbarnroof。
Afuzzygrayrabbitflashedacrosstheroad，followedbyaGreatDanedoginhotchase。
\"Bug\'sbunny!Ihopethebigmurdererwillmissit，\"Fennebenthought。
Theroadsidebusheshalfhidhim。Asthecrashingsoundofthehugedogthroughtheunderbrushceasedhenoticedawomancomingleisurelytowardhim。
Herarmswerefullofbitter-sweetberriesandflamingautumnleaves。
SheworenohatandFennebensawthathergrayhairwaswoundlikeacoronalaboutherhead。Beforehecouldcatchsightofherfaceaheavystaggeringstepwasbesidehim，andoldBondSaxon，mutteringandshakinghisclenchedfists，passedbeyondhimtowardthewoman。
LloydFenneben\'sownfistsclenched，buthesatstonestill。
Thewomanseemedtomeltintothebushesandobliterateherselfentirely，whilethedrunkenmanstalkedunsteadilyontowardwhereshehadbeen。
Thenshakinghisfistsvehementlyatthepigeons，heskulkedaroundthebendintheroad。
Assoonashewasoutofsightthewomanemergedfromthebushes，withautumnleaveshidinghercrownofhair。Shehastenedafewrodstowardthemanwatchingher，thendisappearedthroughavine-coveredgatewayintoawildernessofshrubbery，beyondwhichthepigeonswerecooingabouttheircotes。
Assheclosedthegate，shecaughtsightofLloydFenneben，leaningmotionlessagainstthegrayboleoftheelmtree。
Butshewaslookingthroughatangleofpurpleoakleavesandtwiningbitter-sweetbranches，andFennebenwasunconsciousofbeingdiscovered。
\"Awomannevercouldwhistle，\"hesmiled，ashelistened，\"butthatcallseemstodoforthedog，allright。”
TheGreatDanewastearingacrosslotsinanswertothetrillofawoman\'svoice。
\"Sheissafenow。Butwhatdoesitallmean？Isthereawaysidetragedyherethatcallsformyunraveling？\"
Attractedbysomesubtleforcebeyondhispowertocheck，heturnedtowardtheriverandlookedsteadilyatthestilloverhangingshrubbery。Justbelowhim，wherethecurrentturns，thequietwaterswerelappingaboutaledgeofrock。
Betweenthatledgeandhimselfatangleofbushesclutchedthesteepbank。Helookedstraightintothetangle。
justplaintwigandbrownleaf，givingplaceashestared，fortwostillblackhumaneyeslookingbalefullyathimasasnakeatitsprey。LloydFennebencouldnotwithdrawhisgaze。
Thetwoeyes——nootherhumantokenvisible——justtwocruelhumaneyesfullofhumanhatewerefixedonhim。
Andthefascinationofthethingwasparalyzing，horrible。Hecouldnotmovenorutterasound。BugBulerwokewithalittlecry。
Thebushesbytheriversidejustrippled——onequiverofmotion——
andtheeyeswerenotthere。ThenFennebenknewthathisheart，whichhadbeenstillforanage，hadbeguntobeatagain。
Bugstaredupintohisface，dazedfromsleep。
\"Where\'smyVic？Who\'sdotme？\"hecried。
\"Wecametohuntthebunny。He\'sgoneawayagain。Shallwegobackhome？\"
Thegentlevoiceandstronghandsoothedthelittleone。
\"It\'sdettin\'told。Let\'swunhome。”BugcuddledagainstFenneben\'ssideandhuggedhishand。\"Iloveyoulots，\"
hesaid，lookingupwitheyesofinnocenttrust。
\"Yes，let\'srunhome。Thereisastormintheairandthesunishiddenfromthevalley。”Hestoopedandkissedthelittleupturnedface。
\"Thankheavenforchildren!\"hemurmured。\"Amidskulking，drunkenmenandstrange，lonelywomen，andcrueleyesofunknownbeings，theyleadusloving-wisebackhomeagain。”
Behindthevine-coveredgateagray-haired，fair-facedwomanwatchedthetwoastheydisappeareddowntheroad。
Andtheblood-redsunoutonthewestprairiesankswiftlyintoabluecloudbank，presagingthecomingofastorm。
CHAPTERIV
THEKICKAPOOCORRAL
_Andevennow，asthenightcomes，andtheshadowsgatherround，Andyoutelltheold-timestory，IcanalmosthearthesoundOfthehorses\'hoofsinthesilence，andthevoicesofstrugglingmen；
Forthenightisthesameforever，andthetimecomesbackagain_。