Withthathemountedandturnedaway。Ellencalledoutforhimtotakehishorse。Hedidnotstopnorlookback。Shecalledagain，buthervoicewasfainter，andIsbelwasnowleavingatatrot。Slowlyshesaggedagainstthetree，lowerandlower。Heheadedintothetrailleadingupthecanyon。HowstrangeareliefEllenfelt！Shewatchedhimrideintotheaspensandstartuptheslope，atlasttodisappearinthepines。Itseemedatthemomentthathetookwithhimsomethingwhichhadbeenhers。Apaininherheaddulledthethoughtsthatwaveredtoandfro。Afterhehadgoneshecouldnotseesowell。
Hereyesweretired。Whathadhappenedtoher？Therewasbloodonherhands。Isbel’sblood！Sheshuddered。Wasitanomen？Lowershesankagainstthetreeandclosedhereyes。
OldJohnSpraguedidnotreturn。Hoursdraggedby——darkhoursforEllenJorthlyingprostratebesidethetree，hidingtheblueskyandgoldensunlightfromhereyes。Atlengththelethargyofdespair，theblackdullmiseryworeaway;andshegraduallyreturnedtoaconditionofcoherentthought。
Whathadshelearned？Sightoftheblackhorsegrazingnearseemedtopromptthetrenchantreplies。SpadesbelongedtoJeanIsbel。Hehadbeenstolenbyherfatherorbyoneofherfather’saccomplices。
Isbel’svauntedcunningasatrackerhadbeennoidleboast。Herfatherwasahorsethief，arustler，asheepmanonlyasablind，aconsortofDaggs，leaderoftheHashKnifeGang。Ellenwellrememberedtheillreputeofthatgang，waybackinTexas，yearsago。
Herfatherhadgotteninwiththisfamousbandofrustlerstoservehisownends——theexterminationoftheIsbels。ItwasallveryplainnowtoEllen。
\"Daughterofahorsethiefan’rustler！\"shemuttered。
Andherthoughtsspedbacktothedaysofhergirlhood。Onlytheveryearlystageofthattimehadbeenhappy。InthelightofIsbel’srevelationthemanychangesofresidence，thesuddenmovestounsettledpartsofTexas，theperiodsofpovertyandsuddenprosperity，allleadingtothefinaljourneytothisGod—forsakenArizona——thesewerenowseenintheirtruesignificance。Asfarbackasshecouldrememberherfatherhadbeenacrookedman。Andhermotherhadknownit。Hehaddraggedhertoherruin。Thatdegradationhadkilledher。
Ellenrealizedthatwithpoignantsorrow，withasuddenrevoltagainstherfather。HadGastonIsbeltrulyanddishonestlystartedherfatheronhisdownhillroad？Ellenwondered。ShehatedtheIsbelswithunutterableandgrowinghate，yetshehaditinhertothink，toponder，toweighjudgmentsintheirbehalf。Sheowedittosomethinginherselftobefair。ButwhatdiditmatterwhowastoblamefortheJorth—Isbelfeud？SomehowEllenwasforcedtoconfessthatdeepinhersoulitmatteredterribly。Tobetruetoherself——theselfthatshealoneknew——shemusthaverightonherside。IftheJorthswereguilty，andsheclungtothemandtheircreed，thenshewouldbeoneofthem。
\"ButI’mnot，\"shemused，aloud。\"Myname’sJorth，an’IreckonIhavebadblood……Butitnevercameoutinmetillto—day。I’vebeenhonest。I’vebeengood——yes，GOOD，asmymothertaughtmetobe——inspiteofall……Shoremypridemademeafool……An’nowhaveIanychoicetomake？I’maJorth。Imuststicktomyfather。
Allthissummingup，however，didnotwhollyaccountforthepanginherbreast。
Whathadshedonethatday？Andtheanswerbeatinherearslikeagreatthrobbinghammer—stroke。Inanagonyofshame，inthethroesofhate，shehadperjuredherself。Shehadswornawayherhonor。Shehadbaselymadeherselfvile。Shehadstruckruthlesslyatthegreatheartofamanwholovedher。Ah！Thatthrusthadreboundedtoleavethisdreadfulpanginherbreast。Lovedher？Yes，thestrangetruth，theinsupportabletruth！Shehadtocontendnow，notwithherfatherandherdisgrace，notwiththebafflingpresenceofJeanIsbel，butwiththemysteriesofherownsoul。Wonderofallwonderswasitthatsuchlovehadbeenbornforher。Shameworsethanallothershamewasitthatsheshouldkillitbyapoisonedlie。Bywhatmonstrousmotivehadshedonethat？TostingIsbelashehadstungher！Butthathadbeenbase。Nevercouldshehavestoppedsolowexceptinamomentoftremendoustumult。IfshehaddonesoreinjurytoIsbelwhatbadshedonetoherself？Howstrange，howtenacioushadbeenhisfaithinherhonor！Couldsheeverforget？Shemustforgetit。ButshecouldneverforgetthewayhehadscornedthosevilemeninGreaves’sstore——thewayhehadbeatenBrucefordefilinghername——thewayhehadstubbornlydeniedherowninsinuations。Shewasawomannow。Shehadlearnedsomethingofthecomplexityofawoman’sheart。Shecouldnotchangenature。Andallherpassionatebeingthrilledtothemanhoodofherdefender。Butevenwhileshethrilledsheacknowledgedherhate。
Itwasthecontentionbetweenthetwothatcausedthepanginherbreast。\"An’nowwhat’sleftforme？\"murmuredEllen。Shedidnotanalyzethesignificanceofwhathadpromptedthatquery。Themostincalculableoftheday’sdisclosureswasthewrongshehaddoneherself。\"ShoreI’mdonefor，onewayoranother……ImuststicktoDad……orkillmyself？\"
EllenrodeSpadesbacktotheranch。Sherodelikethewind。Whensheswungoutofthetrailintotheopenmeadowinplainsightoftheranchherappearancecreatedacommotionamongtheloungersbeforethecabin。
SherodeSpadesatafullrun。
\"Who’safteryou？\"yelledherfather，asshepulledtheblacktoahalt。
Jorthheldarifle。Daggs，Colter，theotherJorthswerethere，likewisearmed，andallwatchful，strungwithexpectancy。
\"Shorenobody’safterme，\"repliedEllen。\"Cain’tIrunahorseroundheahwithoutbeingchased？\"
Jorthappearedbothincensedandrelieved。
\"Hah！……Whatyoumean，girl，runnin’likeastreakrightdownonus？You’reactin’queerthesedays，an’youlookqueer。
I’mnotlikin’it。\"
\"Reckonthesearequeertimes——fortheJorths，\"repliedEllen，sarcastically。
\"Daggsfoundstrangehorsetrackscrossin’themeadow，\"saidherfather。
\"An’thatworriedus。Someone’sbeensnoopin’roundtheranch。An’
whenweseenyourunnin’sowildweshorethoughtyouwasbein’chased。\"
\"No。IwasonlytryingoutSpadestoseehowfasthecouldrun，\"
returnedEllen。\"Reckonwhenwedogetchasedit’lltakesomerunningtocatchme。\"
\"Haw！Haw！\"roaredDaggs。\"Itshorewill，Ellen。\"
\"Girl，it’snotonlyyourrunnin’an’yourlooksthat’squeer，\"
declaredJorth，indarkperplexity。\"Youtalkqueer。\"
\"Shore，dad，y’u’renotusedtohearingspadescalledspades，\"
saidEllen，asshedismounted。
\"Humph！\"ejaculatedherfather，asifconvincedoftheuselessnessoftryingtounderstandawoman。\"Say，didyouseeanystrangehorsetracks？\"\"
\"IreckonIdid。AndIknowwhomadethem。\"
Jorthstiffened。Allthemenbehindhimshowedasuddenintensityofsuspense。
\"Who？\"demandedJorth。
\"ShoreitwasJeanIsbel，\"repliedEllen，coolly。\"Hecameupheahtrackinghisblackhorse。\"
\"Jean——Isbel——trackin’——his——blackhorse，\"repeatedherfather。
\"Yes。He’snotoverratedasatracker，that’sshore。\"
Blanksilenceensued。Ellencastaslowglanceoverherfatherandtheothers，thenshebegantoloosenthecinchesofhersaddle。
PresentlyJorthburstthesilencewithacurse，andDaggsfollowedwithoneofhissardoniclaughs。
\"Wal，boss，whatdidItellyou？\"hedrawled。
JorthstrodetoEllen，and，whirlingheraroundwithastronghand，heheldherfacinghim。
\"Didy’useeIsbel？\"
\"Yes，\"repliedEllen，justassharplyasherfatherhadasked。
\"Didy’utalktohim？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Whatdidhewantupheah？\"
\"Itoldy’u。Hewastrackingtheblackhorsey’ustole。\"
Jorth’shandandarmdroppedlimply。Hissallowfaceturnedalividhue。
Amazemergedintodiscomfitureandthatgaveplacetorage。HeraisedahandasiftostrikeEllen。AndsuddenlyDaggs’slongarmshotouttoclutchJorth’swrist。Wrestlingtofreehimself，Jorthcursedunderhisbreath。\"Letgo，Daggs，\"heshouted，stridently。\"AmIdrunkthatyougrabme？\"
\"Wal，y’uain’tdrunk，Ireckon，\"repliedtherustler，withsarcasm。
\"Buty’u’reshoresomethingsI’llreserveforyourprivateear。\"
Jorthgainedasemblanceofcomposure。Butitwasevidentthathelaboredunderashock。
\"Ellen，didJeanIsbelseethisblackhorse？\"
\"Yes。HeaskedmehowIgotSpadesan’Itoldhim。\"
\"DidhesaySpadesbelongedtohim？\"
\"ShoreIreckonhe，provedit。Y’ucanalwaystellahorsethatlovesitsmaster。\"
\"Didy’uoffertogiveSpadesback？\"
\"Yes。ButIsbelwouldn’ttakehim。\"
\"Hah！……An’whynot？\"
\"Hesaidhe’dratherIkepthim。Hewasabouttoengageinadirty，blood—spillingdeal，an’hereckonedhe’dnotbeabletocareforafinehorse……Ididn’twantSpades。ItriedtomakeIsbeltakehim。
Butherodeoff……Andthat’sallthereistothat。\"
\"Maybeit’snot，\"repliedJorth，chewinghismustacheandeyingEllenwithdark，intentgaze。\"Y’u’vemetthisIsbeltwice。\"
\"Itwasn’tanyfaultofmine，\"retortedEllen。
\"Iheahhe’ssweetony’u。Howabootthat？\"
Ellensmartedundertheblazeofbloodthatswepttoneckandcheekandtemple。Butitwasonlymemorywhichfiredthisshame。Whatherfatherandhiscrowdmightthinkweremattersofsupremeindifference。
Yetshemethissuspiciousgazewithtruthfulblazingeyes。
\"IheahtalkfromBrucean’Lorenzo，\"wentonherfather。\"An’Daggsheah——\"
\"Daggsnothin’！\"interruptedthatworthy。\"Don’tfetchmein。Isaidnothin’an’Ithinknothin’。\"
\"Yes，JeanIsbelwassweetonme，dad……buthewillneverbeagain，\"
returnedEllen，inlowtones。WiththatshepulledhersaddleoffSpadesand，throwingitoverhershoulder，shewalkedofftohercabin。
Hardlyhadshegottenindoorswhenherfatherentered。
\"Ellen，Ididn’tknowthathorsebelongedtoIsbel，\"hebegan，intheswift，hoarse，persuasivevoicesofamiliartoEllen。\"IswearIdidn’t。
Iboughthim——tradedwithSlaterforhim……HonesttoGod，Ineverhadanyideahewasstolen！……Why，wheny’usaid’thathorsey’ustole，’Ifeltasify’u’dknifedme……\"
Ellensatatthetableandlistenedwhileherfatherpacedtoandfroand，byhisrestlessactionandpassionatespeech，workedhimselfintoafrenzy。Hetalkedincessantly，asifhersilencewascondemnatoryandasifeloquencealonecouldconvinceherofhishonesty。ItseemedthatEllensawandheardwithkeenerfacultiesthaneverbefore。
Hehadaterriblethirstforherrespect。Notsomuchforherlove，shedivined，butthatshewouldnotseehowhehadfallen！
Shepitiedhimwithallherheart。Shewasallhehad，ashewasalltheworldtoher。Andso，asshegaveeartohislong，illogicalrigmaroleofargumentanddefense，sheslowlyfoundthatherpityandherloveweremakingvitaldecisionsforher。Asofold，inpoignantmoments，herfatherlapsedatlastintoadenunciationoftheIsbelsandwhattheyhadbroughthimto。Hissufferingswerereal，atleast，inEllen’spresence。Shewastheonlylinkthatboundhimtolong—pasthappiertimes。Shewashermotheroveragain——thewomanwhohadbetrayedanothermanforhimandgonewithhimtoherruinanddeath。
\"Dad，don’tgoonso，\"saidEllen，breakinginuponherfather’srant。
\"Iwillbetruetoy’u——asmymotherwas……IamaJorth。Yourplaceismyplace——yourfightismyfight……Neverspeakofthepasttomeagain。IfGodsparesusthroughthisfeudwewillgoawayandbeginalloveragain，faroffwherenooneeverheardofaJorth……Ifwe’renotsparedwe’llatleasthavehadourwhackatthesedamnedIsbels。\"
CHAPTERVII
DuringJuneJeanIsbeldidnotridefarawayfromGrassValley。
AnotherattempthadbeenmadeuponGastonIsbel’slife。Anothercowardlyshothadbeenfiredfromambush，thistimefromapinethicketborderingthetrailthatledtoBlaisdell’sranch。Blaisdellheardthisshot，sonearhishomewasitfired。Notraceofthehiddenfoecouldbefound。The’groundallaroundthatvicinityboreacarpetofpineneedleswhichshowednotraceoffootprints。Thesuppositionwasthatthiscowardlyattempthadbeenperpetrated，orcertainlyinstigated，bytheJorths。Buttherewasnoproof。AndGastonIsbelhadotherenemiesintheTontoBasinbesidesthesheepclan。Theoldmanragedlikealionaboutthissneakingattackonhim。AndhisfriendBlaisdellurgedanimmediategatheringoftheirkinandfriends。\"Let’squitranchin’tillthistrouble’ssettled，\"hedeclared。\"Let’sarman’
ridethetrailsan’meetthesemenhalf—way……Itwon’thelpoursideanytowaittillyou’reshotintheback。\"MorethanoneofIsbel’ssupportersofferedthesameadvice。
\"No;we’llwaittillweknowforshore，\"wasthestubborncattleman’sreplytoallthesepromptings。
\"Know！Wal，hell！Didn’tJeanfindtheblackhossupatJorth’sranch？\"
demandedBlaisdell。\"Whatmoredowewant？\"
\"Jeancouldn’tswearJorthstoletheblack。\"
\"Wal，bythunder，Icansweartoit！\"growledBlaisdell。\"An’we’relosin’cattleallthetime。Who’sstealin’’em？\"
\"We’vealwayslostcattleeversincewestartedranchin’heah。\"
\"Gas，IreckonyuwantJorthtostartthisfightintheopen。\"
\"It’llstartsoonenough，\"wasIsbel’sgloomyreply。
Jeanhadnotfailedaltogetherinhistrackingoflostorstolencattle。
Circumstanceshadbeenagainsthim，andtherewassomethingbafflingaboutthisrustling。Thesummerstormssetinearly，andithadbeenhislucktohaveheavyrainswashoutfreshtracksthathemighthavefollowed。Therangewaslargeandcattlewereeverywhere。Sometimesalosswasnotdiscoveredforweeks。GastonIsbel’ssonswerenowtheonlymenlefttoridetherange。Twoofhisridershadquitbecauseofthethreatenedwar，andIsbelhadletanothergo。SothatJeandidnotoftenlearnthatcattlehadbeenstolenuntiltheirtrackswereold。
AddedtothatwasthefactthatthisGrassValleycountrywascoveredwithhorsetracksandcattletracks。Therustlers，whoevertheywere，hadlongbeenatthegame，andnowthattherewasreasonforthemtoshowtheircunningtheydidit。
EarlyinJulythehotweathercame。DownontheredridgesoftheTontoitwashotdesert。Thenightswerecool，theearlymorningswerepleasant，butthedaywassomethingtoendure。Whenthewhitecumuluscloudsrolledupoutofthesouthwest，growinglargerandthickeranddarker，hereandtherecoalescingintoablackthundercloud，Jeanwelcomedthem。Helikedtoseethegraystreamersofrainhangingdownfromacanopyofblack，andtheroarofrainonthetreesasitapproachedlikeatramplingarmywasalwayswelcome。Thegrassyflats，theredridges，therockyslopes，thethicketsofmanzanitaandscruboakandcactusweredusty，glaring，throat—parchingplacesunderthehotsummersun。JeanlongedforthecoolheightsoftheRim，theshadypines，thedarksweetverdureunderthesilverspruces，thetinkleandmurmuroftheclearrills。Heoftenhadanotherlonging，too，whichhebitterlystifled。
Jean’sally，thekeen—nosedshepherdclog，haddisappearedoneday，andhadneverreturned。AmongmenattheranchtherewasadifferenceofopinionastowhathadhappenedtoShepp。Theoldrancherthoughthehadbeenpoisonedorshot;BillandGuyIsbelbelievedhehadbeenstolenbysheepherders，whowerealwaysstealingdogs;andJeaninclinedtotheconvictionthatShepphadgoneoffwiththetimberwolves。ThefactwasthatSheppdidnotreturn，andJeanmissedhim。
OnemorningatdawnJeanheardthecattlebellowingandtramplingoutinthevalley;anduponhurryingtoavantagepointhewasamazedtoseeupwardoffivehundredsteerschasingalonewolf。Jean’sfatherhadseensuchaspectacleasthis，butitwasanewoneforJean。Thewolfwasabiggrayandblackfellow，rangyandpowerful，anduntilhegotthesteersallbehindhimhewasratherhardputtoittokeepoutoftheirway。Probablyhehaddoggedtheherd，tryingtosneakinandpulldownayearling，andfinallythesteershadchargedhim。
Jeankeptalongtheedgeofthevalleyinthehopetheywouldchasehimwithinrangeofarifle。ButthewarywolfsawJeanandsheeredoff，graduallydrawingawayfromhispursuers。
Jeanreturnedtothehouseforhisbreakfast，andthensetoffacrossthevalley。HisfatherownedonesmallflockofsheepthathadnotyetbeendrivenupontheRim，whereallthesheepinthecountrywererunduringthehot，drysummerdownontheTonto。YoungEvartsandaMexicanboynamedBernardinohadchargeofthisflock。TheregularMexicanherder，amanofexperience，hadgivenuphisjob;
andtheseboyswerenotequaltothetaskofriskingthesheepupintheenemies’stronghold。
Thisflockwasknowntobegrazinginasidedraw，wellupfromGrassValley，wherethebrushaffordedsomeprotectionfromthesun，andtherewasgoodwaterandalittlefeed。BeforeJeanreachedhisdestinationheheardashot。Itwasnotarifleshot，whichfactcausedJeanalittleconcern。EvartsandBernardinohadrifles，but，tohisknowledge，nosmallarms。Jeanrodeupononeoftheblack—brushedconicalhillsthatroseonthesouthsideofGrassValley，andfromtherehetookasharpsurveyofthecountry。Atfirsthemadeoutonlycattle，andbaremeadowland，andthelowencirclingridgesandhills。Butpresentlyuptowardtheheadofthevalleyhedescriedabunchofhorsemenridingtowardthevillage。Hecouldnottelltheirnumber。ThatdarkmovingmassseemedtoJeantobeinstinctwithlife，mystery，menace。Whowerethey？Itwastoofarforhimtorecognizehorses，letaloneriders。Theyweremovingfast，too。
Jeanwatchedthemoutofsight，thenturnedhishorsedownhillagain，androdeonhisquest。AnumberofhorsemenlikethatwasaveryunusualsightaroundGrassValleyatanytime。Whatthendiditportendnow？Jeanexperiencedalittleshockofuneasydreadthatwasanewsensationforhim。Broodingoverthisheproceededonhisway，atlengthtoturnintothedrawwherethecampofthesheep—herderswaslocated。Uponcominginsightofitheheardahoarseshout。YoungEvartsappearedrunningfranticallyoutofthebrush。Jeanurgedhishorseintoarunandsooncoveredthedistancebetweenthem。Evartsappearedbesidehimselfwithterror。
\"Boy！what’sthematter？\"queriedJean，ashedismounted，rifleinhand，peeringquicklyfromEvarts’swhitefacetothecamp，andallaround。
\"Ber—nardino！Ber—nardino！\"gaspedtheboy，wringinghishandsandpointing。
Jeanranthefewremainingrodstothesheepcamp。Hesawthelittleteepee，aburned—outfire，ahalf—finishedmeal——andthentheMexicanladlyingproneontheground，dead，withabulletholeinhisghastlyface。Nearhimlayanoldsix—shooter。
\"Whosegunisthat？\"demandedJean，ashepickeditup。
\"Ber—nardino’s，\"repliedEvarts，huskily。\"He——hejestgotit——theotherday。\"
\"Didheshoothimselfaccidentally？\"
\"Ohno！No！Hedidn’tdoit——atall。\"
\"Whodid，then？\"
\"Themen——theyrodeup——agang—theydidit，\"pantedEvarts。
\"Didyouknowwhotheywere？\"
\"No。Icouldn’ttell。Isawthemcomin’an’Iwasskeered。Bernardinohadgoneferwater。Irunan’hidinthebrush。Iwantedtoyell，buttheycometooclose……ThenIheerdthemtalkin’。Bernardinocomeback。They’pearedfriendly—like。Thetmademeraiseup，tolook。
An’Icouldn’tseegood。IheerdoneofthemaskBernardinotolethimseehisgun。An’Bernardinohandeditover。Helookedatthegunan’
haw—hawed，an’flippeditupintheair，an’whenitfellbackinhishandit——itwentoffbang！……An’Bernardinodropped……Ihiddownclose。Iwasskeeredstiff。Iheerdthemtalkmore，butnotwhattheysaid。Thentheyrodeaway……An’IhidtheretillIseeny’ucomin’。\"
\"Haveyougotahorse？\"queriedJean，sharply。
\"No。ButIcanrideoneofBernardino’sburros。\"
\"Getone。HurryovertoBlaisdell。TellhimtosendwordtoBlueandGordonandFrederickstoridelikethedeviltomyfather’sranch。
Hurrynow！\"
YoungEvartsranoffwithoutreply。JeanstoodlookingdownatthelimpandpatheticfigureoftheMexicanboy。\"ByHeaven！\"heexclaimed，grimly\"theJorth—Isbelwarison！……Deliberate，cold—bloodedmurder！
I’llgambleDaggsdidthisjob。He’sbeengiventheleadership。He’sstartedit……Bernardino，greaserornot，youwereafaithfullad，andyouwon’tgolongunavenged。\"
Jeanhadnotimetospare。Tearingatarpaulinoutoftheteepeehecoveredtheladwithitandthenranfor，hishorse。Mounting，hegallopeddownthedraw，overthelittleredridges，outintothevalley，whereheputhishorsetoarun。
ActionchangedthesickeninghorrorthatsightofBernardinohadengendered。Jeanevenfeltastrange，grimrelief。Thelong，draggingdaysofwaitingwereover。Jorth’sganghadtakentheinitiative。
Bloodhadbeguntoflow。Anditwouldcontinuetoflownowtillthelastmanofonefactionstoodoverthedeadbodyofthelastmanoftheother。WoulditbeaJorthoranIsbel？\"Myinstinctwasright，\"
hemuttered，aloud。\"Thatbunchofhorsesgavemeaqueerfeelin’。\"
Jeangazedallaroundthegrassy，cattle—dottedvalleyhewascrossingsoswiftly，andtowardthevillage，buthedidnotseeanysignofthedarkgroupofriders。TheyhadgoneontoGreaves’sstore，there，nodoubt，todrinkandtoaddmoreenemiesoftheIsbelstotheirgang。
SuddenlyacrossJean’smindflashedathoughtofEllenJorth。\"What’llbecomeofher？……What’llbecomeofallthewomen？Mysister？……Thelittleones？\"
Noonewasinsightaroundtheranch。NeverhaditappearedmorepeacefulandpastoraltoJean。Thegrazingcattleandhorsesintheforeground，thehaystackhalfeatenaway，thecowsinthefencedpasture，thecolumnofbluesmokelazilyascending，thecackleofhens，thesolid，well—builtcabins——alltheseseemedtorepudiateJean’shasteandhisdarknessofmind。Thisplacewas，hisfather’sfarm。Therewasnotacloudintheblue，summersky。
AsJeangallopedupthelanesomeonesawhimfromthedoor，andthenBillandGuyandtheirgray—headedfathercameoutupontheporch。
Jeansawhowhe’wavedthewomenfolkback，andthenstrodeoutintothelane。BillandGuyreachedhissideasJeanpulledhisheavinghorsetoahalt。TheyalllookedatJean，swiftlyandintently，withalittle，hard，fierygleamstrangelyidenticalintheeyesofeach。
Probablybeforeawordwasspokentheyknewwhattoexpect。
\"Wal，youshorewasinahurry，\"remarkedthefather。
\"Whatthehell’sup？\"queriedBill，grimly。
GuyIsbelremainedsilentanditwashewhoturnedslightlypale。
Jeanleapedoffhishorse。
\"Bernardinohasjustbeenkilled——murderedwithhisowngun。
GastonIsbelseemedtoexhalealong—dammed，burstingbreaththatlethischestsag。Aterribledeadlyglint，paleandcoldassunlightonice，grewslowlytodominatehiscleareyes。
\"A—huh！\"ejaculatedBillIsbel，hoarsely。
Notoneofthethreemenaskedwhohaddonethekilling。Theyweresilentamoment，motionless，lockedinthesecretseclusionoftheirownminds。ThentheylistenedwithabsorptiontoJean’sbriefstory。
\"Wal，thatletsusin，\"saidhisfather。\"Iwishwehadmoretime。
ReckonI’ddonebettertolistentoyouboysan’havemymencloseathand。Jacobshappenedtorideover。Thatmakesfiveofusbesidesthewomen。\"
\"Aw，dad，youdon’treckonthey’llroundusupheah？\"askedGuyIsbel。
\"Boys，Ialwaysfearedtheymight，\"repliedtheoldman。\"ButIneverreallybelievedthey’dhavethenerve。ShoreIoughttohavefiggeredDaggsbetter。Thisheahsecretbiznessan’shootin’atusfromambushlookedabootJorth’ssizetome。ButIreckonnowwe’llhavetofightwithoutourfriends。\"
\"Letthemcome，\"saidJean。\"IsentforBlaisdell，Blue，Gordon，andFredericks。Maybethey’llgethereintime。Butiftheydon’titneedn’tworryusmuch。WecanholdoutherelongerthanJorth’sgangcanhangaround。We’llwantplentyofwater，wood，andmeatinthehouse。\"
\"Wal，I’llseetothat，\"rejoinedhisfather。\"Jean，yougooutcloseby，whereyoucanseeallaround，an’keepwatch。\"
\"Who’sgoin’totellthewomen？\"askedGuyIsbel。
Thesilencethatmomentarilyensuedwasaneloquenttestimonytothehardestandsaddestaspectofthisstrifebetweenmen。Theinevitablenessofitinnowisedetractedfromitssheeruselessness。
Menfromtimeimmemorialhadhated，andkilledoneanother，alwaystothemiseryanddegradationoftheirwomen。OldGastonIsbelshowedthistragicrealizationinhislinedface。