u find her first."

"What do you mean? Wait--"

But his visitor was gone, leaving behind him a lover already sorely
vexed, and now harassed by a new and sudden apprehension. What venom
the man distilled! Could it be that he had sent Necia away? Burrell
scouted the idea. She wasn't the kind to go at Stark's mere behest; and
as for his forcing her, why, this was not an age of abductions! He
might aim to take her, but it would require some time to establish his
rights, and even then there were Gale and himself to be reckoned with.
Still, this was no time for idling, and he might as well make certain,
so the young man put on his coat hurriedly, knowing there was work to
do There was no telling what this night would bring forth, but first he
must warn his friend, after which they would fight this thing together,
not as soldier and civilian, but as man and man, not for the law, but
against it. He smiled as he realized the situation. Well, he was
through with the army, anyhow; his path was strange and new from this
time henceforth, and led him away from all he had known, taking him
among other peoples; but he did not flinch, for it led to her. Behind
him was that former life; to-night he began anew.

Stark traced his way back to his cabin in a ten times fiercer mood than
he had come, reviling, cursing, hating; back past the dark trading-post
he went, pausing to shake his clenched fist and grind out an oath
between his teeth; past the door of his own saloon, which was a-light,
and whence came the sound of revelry, through the scattered houses,
where he went more by feel than by sight, up to the door of his own
shack. He fitted his key in the lock, but the door swung open without
his aid, at which he remembered that he had only pulled it after him
when he came away with Necia. He closed it behind him now, and locked
it, for he had some thinking to do; then felt through his pockets for a
match, and, striking it, bent over his lamp to adjust the wick. It
flared up steady and strong at last, flooding the narrow place with its
illumination; then he straightened up and turned towards the bed to
throw off his coat, when suddenly every muscle of his body leaped with
an uncontrollable spasm, as if he had uncovered a deadly serpent coiled
and ready to spring. In spite of himself his lungs contracted as if
with the grip of giant hands, and his breath came forth in a startled
cry.

John Gale was sitting at his table, barely an arm's-le