ou don't mean----"

"I mean, ef ye got five dollars on ye I'll ferry ye acrost to where ye
c'n ride to Timber City ef them old skates'll carry ye there, an' ef ye
hain't got the five, ye c'n swim acrost, or shove on up the river, or
go back where ye come from."

Endicott took one swift step forward, his right fist shot into the
man's stomach, and as he doubled forward with a grunt of pain,
Endicott's left crashed against the point of his jaw with a force that
sent him spinning like a top as he crumpled to the hard-trodden earth
of the door-yard.

"Good!" cried Alice. "It was beautifully done. He didn't even have a
chance to shoot," she pointed to the two 45's that hung, one at either
hip.

"I guess we'll just relieve him of those," said Endicott, and, jerking
the revolvers from their holsters, walked to his saddle and uncoiled
the rope. Alice lent eager assistance, and a few moments later the
inhospitable one lay trussed hand and foot. "Now, we'll go in and find
something to eat," said Endicott, as he made fast the final hitch.

The cabin was well stocked with provisions and, to the surprise of the
two, was reasonably clean. While Alice busied herself in the cabin,
Endicott unsaddled the horses and turned them into a small field where
the vegetation grew rank and high and green beside a series of
irrigation ditches. Passing the horse corral he saw that three or four
saddle-horses dozed in the shade of its pole fence, and continued on to
the river bank where he inspected minutely the ferry.

"I guess we can manage to cross the river," he told Alice, when he
returned to the cabin; "I will breathe easier when I see you safe in
Timber City, wherever that is. I am coming back after Tex. But first
I must see you safe."

The girl crossed to his side and as the man glanced into her face he
saw that her eyes were shining with a new light--a light he had dreamed
could shine from those eyes, but never dared hope to see. "No, Win,"
she answered softly, and despite the mighty pounding of his heart the
man realized it was the first time she had used that name. "You are
not going back alone. I am going too." Endicott made a gesture of
protest but she gave no heed. "From now on my place is with you. Oh,
Win, can't you see! I--I guess I have always loved you--only I didn't
know It. I wanted romance--wanted a red-blood man--a man who could do
things, and----"

"Oh, if I could come to you clean-handed!" he interr