ain't nothin' else."

"God forbid that a child of mine should ever become so debased and--"

"Hold! there are yet a few redeeming qualities about her. She was
_ruined_--" and here a shade dark as a thunder-cloud passed over Ned
Harris' face--"and set adrift upon the world, homeless and friendless;
yet she has bravely fought her way through the storm, without asking
anybody's assistance. True, she may not now have a heart; that was
trampled upon, years ago, but her character has not suffered blemish
since the day a foul wretch stole away her honor!"

"What is her real name?"

"I do not know; few in Deadwood do. It is said, however, that she
comes of a Virginia City, Nevada, family of respectability and
intelligence."

At this juncture there was a great hubbub outside, and instinctively
the twain drew their revolvers, expecting that Catamount Cass and his
toughs had discovered their retreat, and were about to make an attack.
But soon the gang were beard to tramp away, making the night hideous
with their hoarse yells.

"They'll pay a visit to every shanty in Deadwood," said Harris, with a
grim smile, "and if they don't find us, which they won't, they'll
h'ist more than a barrel of bug-juice over their defeat. Come, let's
be going."

They left the building and once more emerged onto the darkened street,
Ned taking the lead.

"Follow me, now," he said, tightening his belt, "and we'll get home
before sunrise, after all."

He struck out up the gulch, or, rather, down it, for his course lay
southward. Redburn followed, and in fifteen minutes the lights of
Deadwood--magic city of the wilderness--were left behind. Harris led
the way along the rugged mountain stage-road, that, after leaving
Deadwood on its way to Camp Crook and Custer City in the south, runs
alternately through deep, dark canyons and gorges, with an ease and
rapidity that showed him to be well acquainted with the route. About
three miles below Deadwood he struck a trail through a transverse
canyon running north-west, through which flowed a small stream, known
as Brown's creek. The bottom was level and smooth, and a brisk walk of
a half-hour brought them to where a horse was tied to an alder
sapling.

"You mount and ride on ahead until you come to the end of the canyon,"
said Harris, untying the horse. "I will follow on after you, and be
there almost as soon as you."

Redburn would have offered some objections, but the other motioned for
him to moun