s?

"I'll--say no more," she faltered.

"Jane, Lassiter once called you blind," said Venters. "It must be true.
But I won't upbraid you. Only don't rouse the devil in me by praying for
Tull! I'll try to keep cool when I meet him. That's all. Now there's one
more thing I want to ask of you--the last. I've found a valley down in
the Pass. It's a wonderful place. I intend to stay there. It's so hidden
I believe no one can find it. There's good water, and browse, and game.
I want to raise corn and stock. I need to take in supplies. Will you
give them to me?"

"Assuredly. The more you take the better you'll please me--and perhaps
the less my--my enemies will get."

"Venters, I reckon you'll have trouble packin' anythin' away," put in
Lassiter.

"I'll go at night."

"Mebbe that wouldn't be best. You'd sure be stopped. You'd better go
early in the mornin'--say, just after dawn. That's the safest time to
move round here."

"Lassiter, I'll be hard to stop," returned Venters, darkly.

"I reckon so."

"Bern," said Jane, "go first to the riders' quarters and get yourself a
complete outfit. You're a--a sight. Then help yourself to whatever else
you need--burros, packs, grain, dried fruits, and meat. You must take
coffee and sugar and flour--all kinds of supplies. Don't forget corn and
seeds. I remember how you used to starve. Please--please take all you
can pack away from here. I'll make a bundle for you, which you mustn't
open till you're in your valley. How I'd like to see it! To judge by you
and Wrangle, how wild it must be!"

Jane walked down into the outer court and approached the sorrel.
Upstarting, he laid back his ears and eyed her.

"Wrangle--dear old Wrangle," she said, and put a caressing hand on his
matted mane. "Oh, he's wild, but he knows me! Bern, can he run as fast
as ever?"

"Run? Jane, he's done sixty miles since last night at dark, and I could
make him kill Black Star right now in a ten-mile race."

"He never could," protested Jane. "He couldn't even if he was fresh."

"I reckon mebbe the best hoss'll prove himself yet," said Lassiter,
"an', Jane, if it ever comes to that race I'd like you to be on
Wrangle."

"I'd like that, too," rejoined Venters. "But, Jane, maybe Lassiter's
hint is extreme. Bad as your prospects are, you'll surely never come to
the running point."

"Who knows!" she replied, with mournful smile.

"No, no, Jane, it can't be so bad as all that. Soon as I see Tull
there'll b