us. But it's begun agin--thet flashin' of lights
over ridge tips, an' queer puffin' of smoke, en' then at night strange
whistles en' noises. But the herd's acted magnificent. An' my boys, say,
Miss Withersteen, they're only kids, but I ask no better riders. I got
the laugh in the village fer takin' them out. They're a wild lot, an'
you know boys hev more nerve than grown men, because they don't know
what danger is. I'm not denyin' there's danger. But they glory in it,
an' mebbe I like it myself--anyway, we'll stick. We're goin' to drive
the herd on the far side of the first break of Deception Pass. There's
a great round valley over there, an' no ridges or piles of rocks to aid
these stampeders. The rains are due. We'll hev plenty of water fer a
while. An' we can hold thet herd from anybody except Oldrin'. I come
in fer supplies. I'll pack a couple of burros an' drive out after dark
to-night."

"Judkins, take what you want from the store-room. Lassiter will help
you. I--I can't thank you enough... but--wait."

Jane went to the room that had once been her father's, and from a secret
chamber in the thick stone wall she took a bag of gold, and, carrying it
back to the court, she gave it to the rider.

"There, Judkins, and understand that I regard it as little for your
loyalty. Give what is fair to your boys, and keep the rest. Hide it.
Perhaps that would be wisest."

"Oh... Miss Withersteen!" ejaculated the rider. "I couldn't earn so much
in--in ten years. It's not right--I oughtn't take it."

"Judkins, you know I'm a rich woman. I tell you I've few faithful
friends. I've fallen upon evil days. God only knows what will become of
me and mine! So take the gold."

She smiled in understanding of his speechless gratitude, and left him
with Lassiter. Presently she heard him speaking low at first, then in
louder accents emphasized by the thumping of his rifle on the stones.
"As infernal a job as even you, Lassiter, ever heerd of."

"Why, son," was Lassiter's reply, "this breakin' of Miss Withersteen may
seem bad to you, but it ain't bad--yet. Some of these wall-eyed fellers
who look jest as if they was walkin' in the shadow of Christ himself,
right down the sunny road, now they can think of things en' do things
that are really hell-bent."

Jane covered her ears and ran to her own room, and there like caged
lioness she paced to and fro till the coming of little Fay reversed her
dark thoughts.

The following day, a warm