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away by his fancied wrongs； it was perhaps fortunate that he did
not observe the flashing eyes of Lance behind his lank and
lustreless wig； but seeing only the figure of Lance； as he had
conjured him； he went on： 〃That's why I want you to hang around
her。 Hang around her ontil my boy；him that's comin' home on a
visit；gets here； and I reckon he'll clear out that yar Sacramento
counter…jumper。 Only let me get a sight o' him afore Flip does。
eh？ D'ye hear？ Dog my skin if I don't believe the dd Injin's
drunk。〃 It was fortunate that at that moment Flip reappeared； and；
dropping on the hearth between her father and the infuriated Lance；
let her hand slip in his with a warning pressure。 The light touch
momentarily recalled him to himself and her； but not until the
quick…witted girl had had revealed to her in one startled wave of
consciousness the full extent of Lance's infirmity of temper。 With
the instinct of awakened tenderness came a sense of responsibility；
and a vague premonition of danger。 The coy blossom of her heart
was scarce unfolded before it was chilled by approaching shadows。
Fearful of； she knew not what； she hesitated。 Every moment of
Lance's stay was imperiled by a single word that might spring from
his suppressed white lips； beyond and above the suspicions his
sudden withdrawal might awaken in her father's breast； she was
dimly conscious of some mysterious terror without that awaited him。
She listened to the furious onslaught of the wind upon the
sycamores beside their cabin； and thought she heard it there； she
listened to the sharp fusillade of rain upon roof and pane； and the
turbulent roar and rush of leaping mountain torrents at their very
feet； and fancied it was there。 She suddenly sprang to the window；
and； pressing her eyes to the pane； saw through the misty turmoil
of tossing boughs and swaying branches the scintillating
intermittent flames of torches moving on the trail above； and KNEW
it was there！
In an instant she was collected and calm。 〃Dad；〃 she said； in her
ordinary indifferent tone； 〃there's torches movin' up toward the
diamond pit。 Likely it's tramps。 I'll take the squaw and see。〃
And before the old man could stagger to his feet she had dragged
Lance with her into the road。
CHAPTER VI。
The wind charged down upon them； slamming the door at their backs；
extinguishing the broad shaft of light that had momentarily shot
out into the darkness； and swept them a dozen yards away。 Gaining
the lee of a madrono tree； Lance opened his blanketed arms；
enfolded the girl； and felt her for one brief moment tremble and
nestle in his bosom like some frightened animal。 〃Well；〃 he said；
gayly； 〃what next？〃 Flip recovered herself。 〃You're safe now
anywhere outside the house。 But did you expect them tonight？〃
Lance shrugged his shoulders。 〃Why not？〃 〃Hush！〃 returned the
girl； 〃they're coming this way。〃
The four flickering； scattered lights presently dropped into line。
The trail had been found； they were coming nearer。 Flip breathed
quickly； the spiced aroma of her presence filled the blanket as he
drew her tightly beside him。 He had forgotten the storm that raged
around them； the mysterious foe that was approaching； until Flip
caught his sleeve with a slight laugh。 〃Why； it's Kennedy and
Bijah？〃
〃Who's Kennedy and Bijah？〃 asked Lance； curtly。
〃Kennedy's the Postmaster and Bijah's the Butcher。〃
〃What do they want？〃 continued Lance。
〃Me；〃 said Flip； coyly。
〃You？〃
〃Yes； let's run away。〃
Half leading； half dragging her friend； Flip made her way with
unerring woodcraft down the ravine。 The sound of voices and even
the tumult of the storm became fainter； an acrid smell of burning
green wood smarted Lance's lips and eyes； in the midst of the
darkness beneath him gradually a faint； gigantic nimbus like a
lurid eye glowed and sank； quivered and faded with the spent breath
of the gale as it penetrated their retreat。 〃The pit；〃 whispered
Flip； 〃it's safe on the other side；〃 she added； cautiously skirting
the orbit of the great eye； and leading him to a sheltered nest of
bark and sawdust。 It was warm and odorous。 Nevertheless； they
both deemed it necessary to enwrap themselves in the single
blanket。 The eye beamed fitfully upon them； occasionally a wave of
lambent tremulousness passed across it； its weirdness was an excuse
for their drawing nearer each other in playful terror。
〃Flip。〃
〃Well？〃
〃What did the other two want？ To see you； TOO？〃
〃Likely；〃 said Flip； without the least trace of coquetry。 〃There's
been a lot of strangers yer； off and on。〃
〃Perhaps you'd like to go back and see them？〃
〃Do you want me to？〃
Lance's reply was a kiss。 Nevertheless he was vaguely uneasy。
〃Looks a little as if I were running away； don't it？〃 he suggested。
〃No；〃 said Flip； 〃they think you're only a squaw； it's me they're
after。〃 Lance smarted a little at this infelicitous speech。 A
strange and irritating sensation had been creeping over himit was
his first experience of shame and remorse。 〃I reckon I'll go back
and see；〃 he said； rising abruptly。
Flip was silent。 She was thinking。 Believing that the men were
seeking her only； she knew that their attention would be directed
from her companion when it was found out he was no longer with her；
and she dreaded to meet them in his irritable presence。
〃Go；〃 she said； 〃tell Dad something's gone wrong in the diamond
pit； and say I'm watching it for him here。〃
〃And you？〃
〃I'll go there and wait for him。 If he can't get rid of them； and
they follow him there； I'll come back here and meet you。 Anyhow；
I'll manage to have Dad wait there a spell。〃
She took his hand and led him back by a different path to the
trail。 He was surprised to find that the cabin； its window glowing
from the fire； was only a hundred yards away。 〃Go in the back way；
by the shed。 Don't go in the room； nor near the light； if you can。
Don't talk inside； but call or beckon to Dad。 Remember；〃 she said；
with a laugh； 〃you're keeping watch of me for him。 Pull your hair
down on your eyes so。〃 This operation； like most feminine
embellishments of the masculine toilet was attended by a kiss； and
Flip； stepping back into the shadow； vanished in the storm。
Lance's first movements were inconsistent with his assumed sex。 He
picked up his draggled skirt； and drew a bowie knife from his boot。
From his bosom he took a revolver； turning the chambers noiselessly
as he felt the caps。 He then crept toward the cabin softly and
gained the shed。 It was quite dark but for a pencil of light
piercing a crack of the rude； ill…fitting door that opened on the
sitting…room。 A single voice not unfamiliar to him； raised in
half…brutal triumph； greeted his ears。
A name was mentionedhis own！ His angry hand was on the latch。
One moment more and he would have burst the door； but