RAE DOES

gain, and with it a volley of

thy green swamps breeding fever and disease. Hard though this young man was, in spite of her hatred of him, of her doubt as to what lay behind those inscrutable, reddish-brown eyes of his, she would

anner of walking expressed personality. There was none of the flat-footed Indian shuffle about her gai

ped to explain her. The words of an old

winsome lass, a

mountain-side, or tr

ae jewels bright, no

that a queen might we

dust-stained. But they could not eclipse the divine, dusky youth of her. She was slender

a good-looking breed. Let it go at that. In story-books there

e danger zone did he speak.

"You don't need to be afraid. He

y, appraising way she was to

awled. "I'll get my pay

ke there was the throb of contemptuous anger i

rawfish, w

lazing. "No. I don't ask

of scorn, used only in speaking of the worst of the whiskey-traders.

er won't offer

he steady stride carrying her straight to punishment. She wondered if he knew how mercilessly twenty-year-old Fergus had been thrashed after his drunken spree among the Ind

oked down on a camp of man

lass?" a v

stood six feet in his woolen socks. His chest was deep and his shoulders trem

rip that was half a caress. He had been a little anxi

r lane for so lang after da

ow, F

hunter turned upon Morse. They asked what he was

rony in his voice. "I found Miss McRae wanderin' around, so I b

shoestring draws, it would be only a millionth chance that would bring a man and woman together unexpectedly. He pushed

p as the three approached the light. She gave a grunt of

is shirt-sleeve soaked in it. Stains of it we

ven upper lip grew straight, his whole face ste

, fastened his eyes on h

ae the truth," An

ife," the daughter said, loo

Are ye talkin'

e truth,

uestion, at the end of it a threat. "Why would s

le up and smashed four-five kegs. I meant to slip away, but this man caught me.

," her fath

w I was a girl

point. "You went to this trad

es

hy

judge steadily with ey

d in a low voice,

aboot

the law. They sell li

o' the Lord to slash at men wi' your dirk an' fight wi' them like a wild limmer? I've been ower-easy wi' you. Weel, I'l

"That's why he brought me home instead of t

hands. He frowned at the young man beneath heavy grizzled eyebrows drawn sternl

ur girl's proposition, that if I didn't head in at our camp, but brought her here, you w

word on that, Jess?

reluctantly, after a mom

bargain," the dour old buffalo-hunter said. "But first we'll

he dark tan of his chee

ill I get ba

t up here and now. If my lass cut y

. I'm runni

nto the palm of his hand. "I'll b

o' jawin'? I'm goin'

p, Mr. Morse, or whate

lashed. "It's a thing I

ell me what they will

d tied up if I have to

he best

n gave way with a sardonic laugh. McRae ha

trader pulled back the sleeve of his shirt and stretched out a muscular, b

shed and tied up the wound. Her lips trembled. Strange little rivers of fire ran through her veins when her finger-t

nd the basin while McRae hung the lantern to a nail in the tent pole and brought from inside a silver-mount

n her brown throat. The eyes betrayed the dread of her soul,

made no motion to interfere. The lord

eckon I'll not stand out for my pound of flesh, Mr. McRae. S

ion. "I'm not thrashing the lass to please you, but because i

to the toes. She set her teeth to bite back a scream. Before the agony had passed, the whip was win

k to her knees with a wild burst of wail

dian woman crouched beside the tortured young thing and rocked the dark head,

uest. "You're nae doot wearyin' to tak the road, man.

in a hollow and listened. For along time there came to him the soft sound of weeping, and afterward the murmur of voic

party to some horrible outrage. Yet all that had taken place was the whipp

t inside he was a wil