ness the
unheard-of feat, and to see the bare-armed young giant who
performed it turn again, breathing heavily with his great
exertion, but still ready to meet his big antagonist.

The defeated bully rose from the ground. The other stepped forward
to meet him. But without a word, Gibbs climbed into the wagon and
took up the reins. Before they could move, Young Matt had the
mules by their heads. "You have forgotten something," he said
quietly, pointing to the man on the ground, who was still
unconscious from his terrible fall. "That there's your property.
Take it along. We ain't got no use for such as that on Fall
Creek."

Sullenly Wash climbed down and lifted his companion into the
wagon. As Young Matt stood aside to let him go, the bully said,
"I'll see you agin fer this."

The strong man only answered, "I reckon you'd better stay on
Roark, Wash Gibbs. You got more room there."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

WHAT PETE TOLD SAMMY.

No word was spoken by either Sammy or her lover, while their
horses were climbing the mill road, and both were glad when they
reached the top of the ridge, and turned into the narrow path
where they would need to ride one before the other. It was not
easy to ride side by side, when each was busy with thoughts not to
be spoken.

At the gate, Ollie dismounted to help the girl from her horse. But
before he could reach the pony's side, Sammy sprang lightly to the
ground, unassisted. Opening the big gate, she turned Brownie loose
in the yard, while the man stood watching her, a baffled look upon
his face. He had always done these little things for her. To be
refused at this time was not pleasant. The feeling that he was on
the outside grew stronger.

Turning to his own horse, Ollie placed his foot in the stirrup to
mount, when Sammy spoke,--perhaps she felt that she had been a
little unkind--"You were going to stay to supper," she said.

"Not to-night," he answered, gaining his seat in the saddle, and
picking up the reins.

"But you are going to leave in the morning, are you not? You--you
must not go like this."

He dropped the reins to the horse's neck again, "Look here, Sammy,
do you blame me because I did not fight that big bully?"

Sammy did not reply.

"What could I do? You know there is not another man in the
mountains beside Young Matt who could have done it. Surely you
cannot blame me."

The young woman moved uneasily, "No, certainly not. I do not blame
you in the least