Jorthlaughedinscorn。\"Fool！MyGod！Ellen，Imusthavedraggedyoulow——thateverydamnedru——er——sheepman——whocomesalongthinkshecanmarryyou。\"
Atthebreakinhiswords，theincompletedmeaning，Ellendroppedhereyes。Littlethingsoncenevernotedbyherwerenowcometohaveafascinatingsignificance。
\"Nevermind，dad，\"shereplied。\"Theycain’tmarryme。\"
\"Daggssaidsomebodyhadbeentalkin’toyou。Howabootthat？\"
\"OldJohnSpraguehasjustgottenbackfromGrassValley，\"saidEllen。
\"Istoppedintoseehim。Shorehetoldmeallthevillagegossip。\"
\"Anythin’tointerestme？\"hequeried，darkly。
\"Yes，dad，I’mafraidagooddeal，\"shesaid，hesitatingly。TheninaccordancewithadecisionEllenhadmadeshetoldhimoftherumoredwarbetweensheepmenandcattlemen;thatoldIsbelhadBlaisdell，Gordon，Fredericks，Blueandotherwell—knownranchersonhisside;
thathissonJeanIsbelhadcomefromOregonwithawonderfulreputationasfighterandscoutandtracker;thatitwasnosecrethowColonelLeeJorthwasattheheadofthesheepmen;thatabloodywarwassuretocome。
\"Hah！\"exclaimedJorth，withastainofredinhissallowcheek。
\"Reckonnoneofthatisnewstome。Iknewallthat。\"
EllenwonderedifhehadheardofhermeetingwithJeanIsbel。IfnothewouldhearassoonasSimmBruceandLorenzocameback。Shedecidedtoforestallthem。
\"Dad，ImetJeanIsbel。Hecameintomycamp。AskedthewaytotheRim。
Ishowedhim。We——wetalkedalittle。Andshoreweregettin’acquaintedwhen——whenhetoldmewhohewas。ThenIlefthim——hurriedbacktocamp。\"
\"ColtermetIsbeldowninthewoods，\"repliedJorth，ponderingly。
\"SaidhelookedlikeanIndian——ahardan’slipperycustomertoreckonwith。\"
\"ShoreIguessIcanindorsewhatColtersaid，\"returnedEllen，dryly。
Shecouldhavelaughedaloudatherdeceit。Stillshehadnotlied。
\"How’dthisheahyoungIsbelstrikeyou？\"queriedherfather，suddenlyglancingupather。
Ellenfelttheslow，sickening，guiltyriseofbloodinherface。
Shewashelplesstostopit。Butherfatherevidentlyneversawit。
Hewaslookingatherwithoutseeingher。
\"He——hestruckmeasdifferentfrommenheah，\"shestammered。
\"DidSpraguetellyouabootthishalf—IndianIsbel——aboothisreputation？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Didhelooktoyoulikearealwoodsman？\"
\"Indeedhedid。Heworebuckskin。Hesteppedquickandsoft。Heactedathomeinthewoods。Hehadeyesblackasnightandsharpaslightnin’。
Theyshoresawaboutalltherewastosee。\"
Jorthchewedathismustacheandlosthimselfinbroodingthought。
\"Dad，tellme，istheregoin’tobeawar？\"askedEllen，presently。
Whatared，strange，rollingflashblazedinhiseyes！Hisbodyjerked。
\"Shore。Youmightaswellknow。\"
\"Betweensheepmenandcattlemen？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Withy’u，dad，atthehaidofonefactionandGastonIsbeltheother？\"
\"Daughter，youhaveitcorrect，sofarasyougo。\"
\"Oh！……Dad，can’tthisfightbeavoided？\"
\"Youforgetyou’refromTexas，\"hereplied。
\"Cain’titbehelped？\"sherepeated，stubbornly。
\"No！\"hedeclared，withdeep，hoarsepassion。
\"Whynot？\"
\"Wal，wesheepmenaregoin’torunsheepanywherewelikeontherange。
An’cattlemenwon’tstandforthat。\"
\"But，dad，it’ssofoolish，\"declaredEllen，earnestly。\"Y’usheepmendonothavetorunsheepoverthecattlerange。\"
\"Ireckonwedo。\"
\"Dad，thatargumentdoesn’tgowithme。Iknowthecountry。Foryearstocometherewillberoomforbothsheepandcattlewithoutoverrunnin’。
Ifsomeoftherangeisbetterinwaterandgrass，thenwhoevergottherefirstshouldhaveit。Thatshoreisonlyfair。It’scommonsense，too。\"
\"Ellen，Ireckonsomecattlepeoplehavebeenprejudicin’you，\"saidJorth，bitterly。
\"Dad！\"shecried，hotly。
ThishadgrowntobeanordealforJorth。Heseemedavictimofcontendingtidesoffeeling。Somewillorstrugglebrokewithinhimandthechangewasmanifest。Haggard，shifty—eyed，withwabblingchin，heburstintospeech。
\"Seeheah，girl。Youlisten。There’sacliqueofranchersdownintheBasin，allthoseyounamed，withIsbelattheirhaid。Theyhaveresentedsheepmencomin’downintothevalley。Theywantitalltothemselves。That’sthereason。Shorethere’sanother。AlltheIsbelsarecrooked。They’recattlean’horsethieves——havebeenforyears。
GastonIsbelalwayswasamaverickrustler。He’sgettin’oldnowan’
rich，sohewantstocoverhistracks。Heaimstoblamethiscattlerustlin’an’horsestealin’ontoussheepmen，an’runusoutofthecountry。\"
GravelyEllenJorthstudiedherfather’sface，andthenewlyfoundtruth—seeingpowerofhereyesdidnotfailher。Inpart，perhapsinall，hewastellinglies。Sheshudderedalittle，loyallybattlingagainsttheinsidiousconvictionsbeingbroughttofruition。Perhapsinhisbroodingoverhisfailuresandtroublesheleanedtowardfalsejudgments。Ellencouldnotattachdishonortoherfather’smotivesorspeeches。Forlong，however，somethingabouthimhadtroubledher，perplexedher。Fearfullyshebelievedshewascomingtosomerevelation，and，despiteherkeendeterminationtoknow，shefoundherselfshrinking。
\"Dad，mothertoldmebeforeshediedthattheIsbelshadruinedyou，\"
saidEllen，verylow。Ithurthersotoseeherfathercoverhisfacethatshecouldhardlygoon。\"Iftheyruinedyoutheyruinedallofus。Iknowwhatwehadonce——whatwelostagainandagain——andIseewhatwearecometonow。MotherhatedtheIsbels。Shetaughtmetohatetheveryname。ButIneverknewhowtheyruinedyou——orwhy——
orwhen。AndIwanttoknownow。\"
ThenitwasnotthefaceofaliarthatJorthdisclosed。Thepresentwasforgotten。Helivedinthepast。Heevenseemedyounger’intherevivifyingflashofhatethatmadehisfaceradiant。Thelinesburnedout。Hategavehimbackthespiritofhisyouth。
\"GastonIsbelan’IwereboystogetherinWeston，Texas，\"beganJorth，inswift，passionatevoice。\"Wewenttoschooltogether。Welovedthesamegirl——yourmother。WhenthewarbrokeoutshewasengagedtoIsbel。Hisfamilywasrich。Theyinfluencedherpeople。Butshelovedme。WhenIsbelwenttowarshemarriedme。Hecamebackan’
facedus。God！I’llneverforgetthat。Yourmotherconfessedherunfaithfulness——byHeaven！Shetauntedhimwithit。Isbelaccusedmeofwinnin’herbylies。Butshetookthestingoutofthat。
Isbelneverforgaveheran’hehoundedmetoruin。Hemademeoutacard—sharp，cheatin’mybestfriends。Iwasdisgraced。Laterhetangledmeinthecourts——hebeatmeoutofproperty——an’lastbyconvictin’meofrustlin’cattleherunmeoutofTexas。\"
Blackanddistortednow，Jorth’sfacewasaspectacletomakeEllensickwithaterriblepassionofdespairandhate。Thetruthofherfather’sruinandherownwereenough。Whatmatteredallelse？
Jorthbeatthetablewithfluttering，nervelesshandsthatseemedallthemoresignificantfortheirlackofphysicalforce。
\"An’sohelpmeGod，it’sgottobewipedoutinblood！\"hehissed。
ThatwashisanswertothewaveringandnobilityofEllen。Andsheinherturnhadnoanswertomake。Shecreptawayintothecornerbehindthecurtain，andthereonhercouchinthesemidarknessshelaywithstrainedheart，andaresurging，unconquerabletumultinhermind。Andshelaytherefromthemiddleofthatafternoonuntilthenextmorning。
Whensheawakenedsheexpectedtobeunabletorise——shehopedshecouldnot——butlifeseemedmultipliedinher，andinactionwasimpossible。Somethingyoungandsweetandhopefulthathadbeeninherdidnotgreetthesunthismorning。Intheirplacewasawoman’spassiontolearnforherself，towatchevents，tomeetwhatmustcome，tosurvive。
Afterbreakfast，atwhichshesatalone，shedecidedtoputIsbel’spackageoutoftheway，sothatitwouldnotbesubjectinghertocontinualannoyance。Themomentshepickedituptheoldcuriosityassailedher。
\"ShoreI’llseewhatitis，anyway，\"shemuttered，andwithswifthandssheopenedthepackage。Theactiondisclosedtwopairsoffine，softshoes，ofastyleshehadneverseen，andfourpairsofstockings，twoofstrong，serviceablewool，andtheothersofafinertexture。
Ellenlookedattheminamaze。Ofallthingsintheworld，thesewouldhavebeenthelastsheexpectedtosee。And，strangely，theywerewhatshewantedandneededmost。Naturally，then，Ellenmadethemistakeoftakingtheminherhandstofeeltheirsoftnessandwarmth。
\"Shore！Hesawmybarelegs！Andhebroughtmethesepresentshe’dintendedforhissister……Hewasashamedforme——sorryforme……AndIthoughthelookedatmebold—like，asI’musedtobelookedatheah！Isbelornot，he’sshore……\"
ButEllenJorthcouldnotutteraloudtheconvictionherintelligencetriedtoforceuponher。
\"It’dbeapitytoburnthem，\"shemused。\"Icain’tdoit。
SometimeImightsendthemtoAnnIsbel。\"
Whereuponshewrappedthemupagainandhidtheminthebottomoftheoldtrunk，andslowly，assheloweredthelid，lookingdarkly，blanklyatthewall，shewhispered:\"JeanIsbel！……Ihatehim！\"
LaterwhenEllenwentoutdoorsshecarriedherrifle，whichwasunusualforher，unlesssheintendedtogointothewoods。
Themorningwassunnyandwarm。Agroupofshirt—sleevedmenloungedinthehallandbeforetheporchofthedoublecabin。Herfatherwaspacingupanddown，talkingforcibly。Ellenheardhishoarsevoice。
Assheapproachedheceasedtalkingandhislistenersrelaxedtheirattention。Ellen’sglanceranoverthemswiftly——Daggs，withhissuperbhead，likethatofahawk，uncoveredtothesun;Colterwithhislowered，secretivelooks，hissand—grayleanface;JacksonJorth，heruncle，huge，gaunt，hulking，withwhiteinhisblackbeardandhair，andthefireofaghoulinhisholloweyes;TadJorth，anotherbrotherofherfather’s，younger，redofeyeandnose，aweak—chinneddrinkerofrum。Threeotherlimber—leggedTexansloungedthere，partnersofDaggs，andtheyweresun—browned，light—haired，blue—eyedmensingularlyalikeinappearance，fromtheirdustyhigh—heeledbootstotheirbroadblacksombreros。Theyclaimedtobesheepmen。AllEllencouldbesureofwasthatRockWellsspentmostofhistimethere，doingnothingbutlookforachancetowaylayher;Springerwasagambler;andthethird，whoansweredtothestrangenameofQueen，wasasilent，lazy，watchful—eyedmanwhoneverworeagloveonhisrighthandandwhoneverwasseenwithoutagunwithineasyreachofthathand。
\"Howdy，Ellen。Shoreyouain’tgoin’tosaygoodmawnin’tothisheahbadlot？\"drawledDaggs，withgood—naturedsarcasm。
\"Why，shore！Goodmorning，y’uhard—workingindustriousMANANAsheepraisers，\"repliedEllen，coolly。
Daggsstared。Theothersappearedtakenbackbyagreetingsoforeignfromanytowhichtheywereaccustomedfromher。JacksonJorthletoutagruffhaw—haw。Someofthemdoffedtheirsombreros，andRockWellsmanagedalazy，politegoodmorning。Ellen’sfatherseemedmostsignificantlystruckbyhergreeting，andtheleastamused。
\"Ellen，I’mnotlikin’yourtalk，\"hesaid，withafrown。
\"Dad，wheny’uplaycardsdon’ty’ucallaspadeaspade？\"
\"Why，shoreIdo。\"
\"Well，I’mcallingspadesspades。\"
\"Ahuh！\"gruntedJorth，furtivelydroppinghiseyes。\"Whereyougoin’
withyourgun？I’dratheryouhungroundheahnow。\"
\"ReckonImightaswellgetusedtopackingmygunallthetime，\"
repliedEllen。\"ReckonI’llbetreatedmorelikeaman。\"
ThentheeventEllenhadbeenexpectingallmorningtookplace。
SimmBruceandLorenzorodearoundtheslopeoftheKnollandtrottedtowardthecabin。InterestinEllenwasrelegatedtothebackground。
\"Shorethey’rebustin’withnews，\"declaredDaggs。
\"Theybeenridin’some，youbet，\"remarkedanother。
\"Huh！\"exclaimedJorth。\"Bruceshorelooksqueertome。\"
\"Redliquor，\"saidTadJorth，sententiously。\"You—allknowthebrandGreaveshandsout。\"
\"Naw，Simmain’tdrunk，\"saidJacksonJorth。\"Lookathisbloodyshirt。\"
Thecool，indolentinterestofthecrowdvanishedattheredcolorpointedoutbyJacksonJorth。Daggsroseinasinglespringymotiontohisloftyheight。ThefaceBruceturnedtoJorthwasswollenandbruised，withunhealedcuts。Wherehisrighteyeshouldhavebeenshowedapuffeddarkpurplebulge。Hisothereye，however，gleamedwithhardandsullenlight。HestretchedabigshakinghandtowardJorth。
ThetNezPerceIsbelbeatmehalftodeath，\"hebellowed。
Jorthstaredhardatthetragic，almostgrotesquefigure，atthebatteredface。Butspeechfailedhim。ItwasDaggswhoansweredBruce。
\"Wal，Simm，I’llbedamnedifyoudon’tlookit。\"
\"Beatyou！Whatwith？\"burstoutJorth，explosively。
\"Ithoughthewasswingin’anax，butGreavessworeitwashisfists，\"
bawledBruce，inmiseryandfury。
\"Wherewasyourgun？\"queriedJorth，sharply。
\"Gun？Hell！\"exclaimedBruce，flingingwidehisarms。\"AskLorenzo。
Hehadagun。An’hegotabiffinthejawbeforemyturncome。
Askhim？\"
AttentionthusdirectedtotheMexicanshowedaheavydiscoloredswellinguponthesideofhisolive—skinnedface。Lorenzolookedonlyserious。
\"Hah！Speakup，\"shoutedJorth，impatiently。
\"SenorIsbelheetmeverquick，\"repliedLorenzo，withexpressivegesture。\"Iseethousandstars——thenmoochoblack——alllikenight。\"
AtthatsomeofDaggs’smenlolledbackwithdrycrisplaughter。
Daggs’shardfacerippledwithasmile。ButtherewasnohumorinanythingforColonelJorth。
\"Telluswhatcomeoff。Quick！\"heordered。\"Wheredidithappen？
Why？Whosawit？Whatdidyoudo？\"
Brucelapsedintoasullenimpressiveness。\"Wal，IhappenedinGreaves’sstorean’runintoJeanIsbel。Shorewaslookin’ferhim。
Ihadmymindmadeupwhattodo，butIgottoshootin’offmygabinsteadofmygun。IcalledhimNezPerce——an’IthrowedallthettalkinhisfaceaboutoldGassIsbelsendin’ferhim———an’Itoldhimhe’dgitrunoutoftheTonto。ReckonIwasjestwarmin’up……Butthenitallhappened。HesluggedLorenzojestone。An’
Lorenzoslidpeaceful—liketobedbehindthecounter。Ihadn’ttimetothinkofthrowin’agunbeforehewhaledintome。Heknockedouttwoofmyteeth。An’Iswalleredoneofthem。\"
Ellenstoodinthebackgroundbehindthreeofthemenandintheshadow。ShedidnotjoininthelaughthatfollowedBruce’sremarks。
Shehadknownthathewouldlie。Uncertainyetofherreactiontothis，butmorebitterandfuriousasherevealedhisutterbaseness，shewaitedformoretobesaid。
\"Wal，I’llbedoggoned，\"drawledDaggs。
\"Whatdoyoumakeofthiskindoffightin’？\"queriedJorth，\"DarnifIknow，\"repliedDaggsinperplexity。\"Shorean’sartinit’snotthewayofaTexan。MebbethisyoungIsbelreallyiswhatoldGassswearsheis。ShoreBruceain’tnothin’togiveanedgetoarealgunfighter。LookstomelikeIsbelbluffedGreavesan’hisgangan’lickedyourmenwithoutthrowin’agun。\"
\"MaybeIsbeldoesn’twantthenameofdrawin’firstblood，\"
suggestedJorth。
\"That’dbelikeGass，\"spokeupRockWells，quietly。IonctrodeferGassinTexas。\"
\"Say，Bruce，\"saidDaggs，\"wasthisheahpalaverin’ofyoursan’
JeanIsbel’saboottheoldstockdispute？Aboothisfather’srangean’water？An’partickleraboot，sheep？\"
\"Wal——I——Iyelledaheap，\"declaredBruce，haltingly，\"butIdon’trecollectallIsaid——Iwasriled……Shore，thoughitwasthesameoldargymentthet’sbeenfetchin’uscloseran’closertotrouble。\"
DaggsremovedhiskeenhawklikegazefromBruce。Wal，Jorth，allI’llsayisthis。IfBruceistellin’thetruthweain’tgotahellofalottofearfromthisyoungIsbel。I’veknownaheapofgunfightersinmyday。An’JeanIsbeldon’trantruetoclass。Shorethereneverwasagunmanwho’driskcripplin’hisrighthandbysluggin’anybody。\"
\"Wal，\"brokeinBruce，sullenly。\"You—allcantakeitdaidstraightornot。Idon’tgiveadamn。Butyou’veshoregotmyhunchthetNezPerceIsbelisliabletohandleanyofyoufellarsjestashedidme，an’jestaseasy。What’smore，he’sgotGreavesfiggered。An’you—allknowthetGreavesisasdeepin——\"
\"Shutupthatkindofgab，\"demandedJorth，stridently。\"An’answerme。
WastherowinGreaves’sbarroomabootsheep？\"
\"Aw，hell！Isaidso，didn’tI？\"shoutedBruce，withafierceupliftofhisdistortedface。
Ellenstrodeoutfromtheshadowofthetallmenwhohadobscuredher。
\"Bruce，y’u’realiar，\"shesaid，bitingly。
ThesurpriseofhersuddenappearanceseemedtorootBrucetothespot。
Allbutthediscoloredplacesonhisfaceturnedwhite。Heheldhisbreathamoment，thenexpelledithard。Hisefforttorecoverfromtheshockwaspainfullyobvious。Hestammeredincoherently。
\"Shorey’u’remorethanaliar，too，\"criedEllen，facinghimwithblazingeyes。Andtherifle，grippedinbothhands，seemedtodeclareherintentofmenace。\"Thatrowwasnotaboutsheep……JeanIsbeldidn’tbeaty’uforanythin’aboutsheep……OldJohnSpraguewasinGreaves’sstore。Heheardy’u。HesawJeanIsbelbeaty’uasy’udeserved……An’hetoldME！\"
EllensawBruceshrinkinfearofhislife;anddespiteherfuryshewasfilledwithdisgustthathecouldimagineshewouldhavehisbloodonherhands。ThenshedivinedthatBrucesawmoreinthegatheringstorminherfather’seyesthanhehadtofearfromher。
\"Girl，whatthehellarey’usayin’？\"hoarselycalledJorth，indarkamaze。
\"Dad，y’uleavethistome，\"sheretorted。
DaggssteppedbesideJorth，significantlyonhisrightside。\"LetheraloneLee，\"headvised，coolly。\"She’sshoregotahunchonBruce。\"
\"SimmBruce，y’ucastadirtysluronmyname，\"criedEllen，passionately。
ItwasthenthatDaggsgraspedJorth’srightarmandheldittight，\"JestwhatIthought，\"hesaid。\"Standstill，Lee。Let’sseethekidmakehimshowdown。\"
\"That’swhatjeanIsbelbeaty’ufor，\"wentonEllen。\"Forslanderingagirlwhowasn’tthere……Me！Y’urottenliar！\"
\"But，Ellen，itwasn’talllies，\"saidBruce，huskily。\"Iwashalfdrunk——an’horriblejealous……YouknowLorenzoseenIsbelkissin’
you。Icanprovethet。\"
Ellenthrewupherheadandascarletwaveofshameandwrathfloodedherface。
\"Yes，\"shecried，ringingly。\"HesawJeanIsbelkissme。Once！……
An’itwastheonlydecentkissI’vehadinyears。Hemeantnoinsult。
Ididn’tknowwhobewas。An’throughhiskissIlearnedadifferencebetweenmen……Y’umadeLorenzolie。An’ifIhadashredofgoodnameleftinGrassValleyyoudishonoredit……Y’umadehimthinkIwasyourgirl！Damny’u！Ioughttokilly’u……Eatyourwordsnow——takethemback——orI’llcrippley’uforlife！\"
Ellenloweredthecockedrifletowardhisfeet。
\"Shore，Ellen，Itakeback——allIsaid，\"gulpedBruce。HegazedatthequiveringriflebarrelandthenintothefaceofEllen’sfather。
Instincttoldhimwherehisrealperillay。
HerethecoolandtactfulDaggsshowedhimselfmasterofthesituation。
\"Heah，listen！\"hecalled。\"Ellen，IreckonBrucewasdrunkan’outofhishaid。He’sshoreatehiswords。Now，wedon’twantanycripplesinthiscamp。Lethimalone。YourdadgotmeheahtoleadtheJorths，an’that’smysaytoyou……Simm，you’reshorealow—downlyin’
rascal。KeepawayfromEllenafterthisorI’llboreyoumyself……
Jorth，itwon’tbeabadideeforyoutoforgetyou’reaTexantillyoucooloff。LetBrucestopsomeIsbellead。ShoretheJorth—Isbelwarisabooton，an’Ireckonwe’dbesmarttobelieveoldGass’stalkaboothisNezPerceson。\"
CHAPTERVI
>FromthishourEllenJorthbentallofherlatelyawakenedintelligenceandwilltotheonlyendthatseemedtoholdpossiblesalvationforher。
Inthecrisissuretocomeshedidnotwanttobeblindorweak。
Dreamingandindolence，habitsborninherwhichwereoftenacomforttooneaslonelyasshe，wouldillfitherforthehardtestshedivinedanddreaded。Inthematterofherfather’sfightshemuststandbyhimwhatevertheissueortheoutcome;inwhatpertainedtoherownprinciples，herwomanhood，andhersoulshestoodabsolutelyalone。
Therefore，Ellenputdreamsaside，andindolenceofmindandbodybehindher。Manytasksshefound，andwhentheseweredoneforadayshekeptactiveinotherways，thusearningthepoiseandpeaceoflabor。
Jorthrodeoffeveryday，sometimeswithoneortwoofthemen，oftenwithalargernumber。IfhespokeofsuchtripstoEllenitwastogiveanimpressionofvisitingtheranchesofhisneighborsorthevarioussheepcamps。Oftenhedidnotreturnthedayheleft。Whenhedidgetbackhesmelledofrumandappearedheavyfromneedofsleep。
Hishorseswerealwaysdustandsweatcovered。DuringhisabsencesEllenfellvictimtoanxiousdreaduntilhereturned。Dailyhegrewdarkerandmorehaggardofface，moreobsessedbysomeimpendingfate。
Oftenhestayeduplate，haranguingwiththemeninthedim—litcabin，wheretheydrankandsmoked，butseldomgambledanymore。Whenthemendidnotgamblesomethingimmediateandperturbingwasontheirminds。
Ellenhadnotyetloweredherselftothedeceitandsuspicionofeavesdropping，butsherealizedthattherewasaclimaxapproachinginwhichshewoulddeliberatelydoso。
InthoseclosingMaydaysEllenlearnedthesignificanceofmanythingsthatpreviouslyshehadtakenasamatterofcourse。Herfatherdidnotrunaranch。Therewasabsolutelynoranchingdone，andlittlework。
OftenEllenhadtochopwoodherself。Jorthdidnotpossessaplow。
Ellenwasboundtoconfessthattheevidenceofthislackdumfoundedher。
EvenoldJohnSpragueraisedsomehay，beets，turnips。Jorth’scattleandhorsesfaredillduringthewinter。Ellenrememberedhowtheyusedtocleanupfour—inchoaksaplingsandaspens。Manyofthemdiedinthesnow。Theflocksofsheep，however，weredrivendownintotheBasininthefall，andacrosstheRenoPasstoPhoenixandMaricopa。
Ellencouldnotdiscoverafencepostontheranch。norapieceofsaltforthehorsesandcattle，norawagon，noranysignofasheep—shearingoutfit。Shehadneverseenanysheepsheared。
Ellencouldneverkeeptrackofthemanyanddifferenthorsesrunninglooseandhobbledroundtheranch。Thereweredrovesofhorsesinthewoods，andsomeofthemwildasdeer。Accordingtoherlong—establishedunderstanding，herfatherandheruncleswerekeenonhorsetradingandbuying。