eined her horse closer to that of the Scarlet Boy.

Ned Harris let a faint smile, of contempt and pity combined, come into
relief on his lips, as he saw this action. Better ten male enemies
than one female, he thought; but, then, women must not stand in the
way, now. No! nothing must block the path intervening between enmity
and vengeance.

Harris was, if anything, the coolest of the three; but, after all, why
should he not be? He had spent several years in society that seemed
callous to fear,--that knew not what it was to be a Christian; where
the utmost coolness was necessary to the preservation of life; where
bravery was all and education a dead letter. Fearless Frank, too, had
seen all phases of rough western life, probably, but his temperament
was more nervous and excitable, his passions tenfold harder to
restrain. Still, he managed to exercise a cool exterior now, that
equaled that of his opposite--his hated enemy. Mystery, as Frank
habitually called the girl, did not offer to conceal her feelings. It
was but natural that she should side with him to whom she owed her
life, and the glances of scorn and indignation she shot at the young
miner might have driven another man than him into a retreat.

Fearless Frank made no motion toward speech; he was determined that
the young miner should open the quarrel, if a quarrel it was to be.
But beneath his firm-set lips were clenched two rows of teeth,
tightly, fiercely; while every nerve in the youth's body was drawn to
its utmost tension.

Harris was wonderfully calm and at ease; only a gray pallor on his
handsome face and a menacing fire in his piercing eyes told that he
was in the least agitated.

"Justin McKenzie!"

Sternly rung out the words on the clear mountain air. Ned Harris had
spoken, and the grayish pallor deepened on his countenance while the
fire of rancor burned with stronger gleam in his eagle eye.

The effect on the scarlet youth was scarcely noticeable, more than
that the lips grew more rigid and compressed, and the right hand
clutched the pistol-butt more tightly. But no answer to the other's
summons.

"Justin McKenzie!" again said the young miner, calmly, "do you
recognize me?"

The Scarlet Boy bows his head slowly, his eyes watchful lest the other
shall catch the drop on him.

"Justin McKenzie, you _do_ recognize me, even after the elapse of two
long weary years, during which I have sought for you faithfully, but
failed to find you until th