l, and gave no greater hint of trembling
than did the nigged hole of the giant cedar under which he stood.

He coiled his horse's tie-rope and led him back to camp. As he drew
near, Gloria promptly turned her back and studied her nails; she had had
encounters with men before now and had not yet gauged the profundity of
this man's emotion. She counted fully on bringing him to a full and
contrite sense of his crime before she condescended so much as to look
at him. But when she flashed him a quick, furtive glance she saw that he
had his back upon her, and that he gave neither hint of softening nor
yet of knowledge of her presence. He bridled the buckskin, saddled, tied
his rope at the saddle-horn, and began making his pack. She watched,
uneasy and concerned but not yet fully understanding. But when she noted
how he took from their breakfast-table one cup, one plate, one knife and
fork, only; how he did not appear interested in the marmalade-jar which
she knew had been brought for her; how he left half of the coffee and
bacon and sugar; a strange alarm came over her. She glanced wildly
around. The forest glowered darkly; the silence was overpowering; the
loneliness bewildering. He was going to leave her--she had not the
faintest idea in the world where the trail lay.

King went swiftly about his preparations. He did not even see her; he
studiously kept his eyes aloof. Within his soul he swore that he would
never look at her again....He took up his rifle.

Gloria stirred uneasily. She did not like to yield to him even to the
extent of saying a stiff word. But she felt that the man was not playing
a part, and that in another moment she would be alone.

"You are not going to leave me here alone, are you?" she demanded
coldly.

"I am going on," was his curt rejoinder.

"And I?" she persisted.

"What you please."

He went on with his preparations. Terror sprang up into the girl's
heart.

"I would never find my way out," she cried, jumping to her feet and
coming toward him. "I am not used to the mountains ...I don't know which
way ...I would die...."

"To be rid of you the easiest way," he returned bluntly, "I would turn
back with you until we got within striking distance of the open. But
you have made me waste time as it is, and I promised Ben that I'd be in
Gus Ingle's caves with no time lost. So I am going on."

"But," and all of her surging terror trembled in her rushing words, "I
would die, I tell you...."