a little thicket, that she might be alone, that night I found myself
breathing hard in terror and dread, gazing up at the stars in agony,
beating my hands on the ground at the thought of the ruin I had wrought,
the crime that I had done in gaining this I had sought.

I had written covenants before! I have said that I would tell simply the
truth in these pages, and this is the truth, the only extenuation I may
claim. The strength and sweetness of all this strange new life with her
had utterly wiped out my past, had put away, as though forever, the
world I once had known. Until the moment Ellen Meriwether began the
signing of her name, I swear I had forgotten that ever in the world was
another by name of Grace Sheraton! I may not be believed--I ought not to
be believed; but this is the truth and the truth by what measure my love
for Ellen Meriwether was bright and fixed, as much as my promise to the
other had been ill-advised and wrong.

A forsworn man, I lay there, thinking of her, sweet, simple, serious and
trusting, who had promised to love me, an utterly unworthy man, until we
two should go back into the flowers.

Far rather had I been beneath the sod that moment; for I knew, since I
loved Ellen Meriwether, _she must not complete the signing of her name
upon the scroll of our covenant!_

CHAPTER XXXIII

THE FLAMING SWORD

The question of food ever arose for settlement, and early the next
morning I set out upon a short exploring expedition through our new
country, to learn what I might of its resources. There were trout in our
little mountain stream, and although we had no hooks or lines I managed
to take a few of these in my hands, chasing them under the stones. Also
I found many berries now beginning to ripen, and as the forest growth
offered us new supplies, I gathered certain barks, thinking that we
might make some sort of drink, medicinal if not pleasant. Tracks of deer
were abundant; I saw a few antelope, and supposed that possibly these
bolder slopes might hold mountain sheep. None of these smaller animals
was so useful to us as the buffalo, for each would cost as much
expenditure of precious ammunition, and yield less return in bulk. I
shook the bullet pouch at my belt, and found it light. We had barely two
dozen bullets left; and few hunters would promise themselves over a
dozen head of big game for twice as many shots.

I cast about me in search of red cedar that I might make a bow. I
searched