ence you could
command, that you and I have ridden and fought and camped together like
brothers for six years? And how I gave you your first gun? And how
I've stayed between you and danger a thousand times? And how I've
never treated you otherwise than as a man? And how I've given you the
love of a blood-brother to take the place of the brother who died? And
how I've kept you in a clean and pure respect such as a man can only
give once in his life--and then only to his dearest friend? She
wouldn't listen--even when you talked to her like this?"

"For God's sake--Pierre!"

"Ah, but you talked well enough to pave the way for me. You talked so
eloquently that with a little more persuasion from me she will know and
understand. Come, I must be gone after her. Which way did she
ride--up or down the valley?"

"You could talk to her forever and she'd never listen. Pierre, I told
her that I was--your woman--that you'd told me of your scenes with
her--and that we'd laughed at them together."

She covered her eyes and crouched, waiting for the wrath that would
fall on her, but he only smiled bitterly on the bowed head, saying:
"Why have I waited so long to hear you say what I knew already? I
suppose because I wouldn't believe until I heard the whole abominable
truth from your own lips. Jack, why did you do it?"

"Won't you see? Because I've loved you always, Pierre!"

"Love--you--your tiger-heart? No, but you were like a cruel, selfish
child. You were jealous because you didn't want the toy taken away. I
knew it. I knew that even if I rode after her it would be hopeless.
Oh, God, how terribly you've hurt me, partner!"

It wrung a little moan from her. He said after a moment: "It's only
the ghost of a chance, but I'll have to take it. Tell me which way she
rode? No? Then I'll try to find her."

She leaped between him and the door, flinging her shoulders against it
with a crash and standing with outspread arms to bar the way.

"You must not go!"

He turned his head somewhat.

"Don't stand in front of me, Jack. You know I'll do what I say, and
just now it's a bit hard for me to face you."

"Pierre, I feel as if there were a hand squeezing my heart small, and
small, and small. Pierre, I'd die for you!"

"I know you would. I know you would, partner. It was only a mistake,
and you acted the way any cold-hearted boy would act if--if some one
were to try to steal his horse, for instance. But just