ad. "You can never hang up your gun again."

"No. But perhaps I can keep out of their way, especially Snap's. Mescal,
you've forgotten Silvermane, and how he can run."

"I haven't forgotten. He can run, but he can't beat Bolly." She said
this with a hint of her old spirit. "Jack--you want to take me back
home?"

"Of course. What did you expect when you sent Wolf?"

"I didn't expect. I just wanted to see you, or somebody, and I thought
of the Navajos. Couldn't I live with them? Why can't we stay here or in
a canyon across the Colorado where there's plenty of game?"

"I'm going to take you home and Father Naab shall marry you--to--to me."

Startled, Mescal fell back upon his shoulder and did not stir nor speak
for a long time. "Did--did you tell him?"

"Yes."

"What did he say? Was he angry? Tell me."

"He was kind and good as he always is. He said if I found you, then the
issue would be between Snap and me, as man to man. You are still pledged
to Snap in the Mormon Church and that can't be changed. I don't suppose
even if he's outlawed that it could be changed."

"Snap will not let any grass grow in the trails to the oasis," said
Mescal. "Once he finds I've come back to life he'll have me. You don't
know him, Jack. I'm afraid to go home."

"My dear, there's no other place for us to go. We can't live the life of
Indians."

"But Jack, think of me watching you ride out from home! Think of me
always looking for Snap! I couldn't endure it. I've grown weak in this
year of absence."

"Mescal, look at me." His voice rang as he held her face to face. "We
must decide everything. Now--say you love me!"

"Yes--yes."

"Say it."

"I--love you--Jack."

"Say you'll marry me!"

"I will marry you."

"Then listen. I'll get you out of this canyon and take you home. You are
mine and I'll keep you." He held her tightly with strong arms; his face
paled, his eyes darkened. "I don't want to meet Snap Naab. I shall try
to keep out of his way. I hope I can. But Mescal, I'm yours now. Your
happiness--perhaps your life--depends on me. That makes a difference.
Understand!"

Silvermane walked into the glade with a saddle-girth so tight that his
master unbuckled it only by dint of repeated effort. Evidently the rich
grass of Thunder River Canyon appealed strongly to the desert stallion.

"Here, Silver, how do you expect to carry us out if you eat and drink
like that?" Hare removed the saddle and tethered the gray to one of t