e sounding-board--Billy
the faithful. Far down along the plain toward the Black Coulee he let
the red roan out, so that the girl, keen of hearing as of sight, caught
the following beat of hoofs, stopped, listened, understood and reined El
Rey up to wait.

And soon out of the shadows cast by the eastern ramparts, where the
moon was rising, she saw the rider coming. A quick mist of tears
suffused her eyes, a sick feeling gripped her heart.

Here was another mixed in the sorry tangle! She had always known
vaguely that Billy was one with her, that his heart was the deep heart
of her friend.

He was the one she always wanted near her in times of stress, it was
with him she liked to ride in the Big Shadow when the sun went down
behind the Canon Country.

But now she did not want him. She had a keen desire to see him safely
out of this--this which was to be the end, one way or the other, of
the blood-feud between the Stronghold and Last's.

Now as he loped up and stopped abreast of her in silence, she reached
out a hand and caught his in a close clasp.

"I don't want you, Billy, dear," she said miserably, "not because I
don't love you, but because I ain't a-goin' to see you shot by
Courtrey's gang. This is one time, boy, when I want you to leave me
alone, to go back without me."

The rider shook his head against the stars.

"Couldn't do it, little girl," he said wistfully, "you know I couldn't
do it."

"Ain't I your mistress, Billy?" asked Tharon sternly. "Ain't I your
boss?"

"Sure are," said the boy with conviction.

"Ain't I always been a good boss to you?"

"Best in th' world. Good as Jim Last."

"Then," said Tharon sharply, "it's up to you to take my orders. I
order you now--go back."

The cowboy leaned down suddenly and kissed the hand he held.

"I'm at your shoulder, Tharon, dear," he said with simple dignity,
"like your shadow. At your foot like the dogs that never forsake th'
herds. I couldn't go back an' leave you--not though I died for it
tonight.

"We'll say no more about it. I don't know where you're goin', but
wherever it is, there I'm goin', too, an' on my way. You can tell me
or not, just as you please, but let's go."

For a long time Tharon Last sat in the starlight and watched the
crests of the distant mountains fringed with the silver of the moon
that was rising behind them, and her throat ached with tears. All
these things that hurt her, these unknown, tangled things that she
knew d