fe. From
this vantage ground they could look down upon the village and observe
much that was taking place there. Curly was feeling the effects of his
experiences the previous day and was surly and ugly. Dan had fed him
and supplied him with a buck-skin jacket which made him more
presentable. But Curly's temper was bad, and he vented his spleen upon
Reynolds and Jim Weston in no mild language.

The high ridge of the Golden Crest was not reached until about the
middle of the morning, and here from a concealed position the two men
looked down upon Glen West lying snugly by the water's side. They
could see the big house quite plainly, and they eagerly watched Glen as
she paddled alone upon the creek. She was beyond their reach, however,
so they were helpless. But when the girl was at length joined by
Reynolds, and the canoe was headed upstream, Curly's eyes glowed with
the fire of hatred and jealousy, while his hands gripped hard the rifle
he was holding. He was lying flat upon the ground, peering over the
edge of a big boulder with Dan close by his side. As the canoe came
nearer, Curly thrust his rifle impetuously forward and fired. With a
curse, Dan reached out and laid a firm hand upon the weapon.

"What in h---- d'ye mean?" he demanded. "Ye've spoiled everything."

"I wanted to get that cur down there," was the snarling reply. "I
missed him that time, but I'll get him yet."

"No, ye don't," Dan declared, as Curly tried to free the rifle from his
companion's grasp. "If ye shoot again, we'll have a pack of Indians
after us. There, look now!" and he pointed to the canoe which was
heading down the creek. "That's what you've done. You've scared our
game and sent them back to give the alarm. Most likely they intended
to land somewhere up the creek, an' do some private spoonin'. We could
have crept down, knocked out the guy, an' carried off the gal. But
now--bah! ye've spoiled the whole show!"

Curly made no reply, but lay there watching the canoe until it had
reached Sconda's landing. His heart was bitter with rage as he
recalled his expulsion from Glen West, while his opponent was in full
possession of the girl he was seeking. Several times during the
morning he voiced his sentiments to his companion.

"Just wait, Curly," Dan comforted. "Our turn will come, never fear,
providin' ye don't lose yer head as ye did this mornin'. I know
something about lovers. They generally like to get off somewhere