en from view.

CHAPTER XXV

BY THE INLAND LAKE

It seemed to Glen as if the morning would never wear away as she sat
and guarded her prisoner. The severe strain was showing its effect
upon her face, which was unusually pale. Her eyes never once left the
man before her, and the revolver, as it rested lightly upon her lap,
was pointed straight toward him, ready for immediate action. She would
not allow Curly to speak, and whenever he made the attempt she sternly
checked him and menacingly raised her weapon of authority. Her brain
was very active, and her thoughts were by no means happy ones. Suppose
her father and lover should be shot ere Sconda could do anything, what
would be the outcome? she asked herself. She was well aware that
Sconda and Natsu would be more than a match for Dan, but he might
escape and get back to the cabin first. Her face became stern as she
thought of this, and she made up her mind what she would do. She could
deal with Curly all right, and settle his account. She would then have
only Dan to face. Anyway, she was determined that she would never fall
into the hands of those two villains so long as her revolver held true
and while the last cartridge remained.

And thus she retained her post through the slow morning hours. The sun
rode high in the heavens and beat upon her throbbing head. Birds
flitted and sang around her, and squirrels chattered and scolded among
the trees. Would Sconda never return? she wondered. What could be
keeping him! At times she felt that she could endure the strain no
longer, but when she realised how much was at stake she always nerved
herself by a mighty effort.

Curly watched Glen's every movement, and seeing how weary she was
becoming trusted to catch her off guard, spring forward, strike the
revolver from her hand, and seize her in his arms before she could
shoot. This was his only hope, but whenever he was on the point of
making the desperate attempt, the stern word of command and the
slightly lifted weapon caused him quickly to desist. Glen seemed to
divine his purpose, and always checked him in time.

So desperate did Curly at length become that he decided to throw all
caution to the wind. He was very anxious over Dan's tardiness in
returning, and feared lest his scheme had failed. He knew full well
that if Jim Weston should suddenly appear and find him in such an
embarrassing situation it would go hard with him. It would be death,