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off。〃
〃What for？〃 queried Dale； sharply。 He dropped a stick of
wood and straightened up from the camp…fire。
〃You're goin' to ride down to Pine with me thet's what
for。〃
Familiarly then came back to Dale the quiet； intent
suggestiveness of the Beemans in moments foreboding trial。
At this certain assurance of John's； too significant to be
doubted； Dale's though of Pine gave slow birth to a strange
sensation； as if he had been dead and was vibrating back to
life。
〃Tell what you got to tell！〃 he broke out。
Quick as a flash the Mormon replied： 〃Roy's been shot。 But
he won't die。 He sent for you。 Bad deal's afoot。 Beasley
means to force Helen Rayner out an' steal her ranch。〃
A tremor ran all through Dale。 It seemed another painful yet
thrilling connection between his past and this vaguely
calling future。 His emotions had been broodings dreams；
longings。 This thing his friend said had the sting of real
life。
〃Then old Al's dead？〃 he asked。
〃Long ago I reckon around the middle of February。 The
property went to Helen。 She's been doin' fine。 An' many
folks say it's a pity she'll lose it。〃
〃She won't lose it；〃 declared Dale。 How strange his voice
sounded to his own ears！ It was hoarse and unreal； as if
from disuse。
〃Wal； we…all have our idees。 I say she will。 My father says
so。 Carmichael says so。〃
〃Who's he？〃
〃Reckon you remember thet cow…puncher who came up with Roy
an' Auchincloss after the girls last fall？〃
〃Yes。 They called him Las Las Vegas。 I liked his looks。〃
〃Humph！ You'll like him a heap when you know him。 He's kept
the ranch goin' for Miss Helen all along。 But the deal's
comin' to a head。 Beasley's got thick with thet Riggs。 You
remember him？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Wal； he's been hangin' out at Pine all winter； watchin' for
some chance to get at Miss Helen or Bo。 Everybody's seen
thet。 An' jest lately he chased Bo on hossback gave the
kid a nasty fall。 Roy says Riggs was after Miss Helen。 But I
think one or t'other of the girls would do thet varmint。
Wal； thet sorta started goin's…on。 Carmichael beat Riggs an'
drove him out of town。 But he come back。 Beasley called on
Miss Helen an' offered to marry her so's not to take the
ranch from her； he said。〃
Dale awoke with a thundering curse。
〃Shore！〃 exclaimed John。 〃I'd say the same only I'm
religious。 Don't thet beady…eyed greaser's gall make you
want to spit all over yourself？ My Gawd！ but Roy was mad！
Roy's powerful fond of Miss Helen an' Bo。 。 。 。 Wal； then；
Roy； first chance he got； braced Beasley an' give him some
straight talk。 Beasley was foamin' at the mouth； Roy said。
It was then Riggs shot Roy。 Shot him from behind Beasley
when Roy wasn't lookin'！ An' Riggs brags of bein' a
gun…fighter。 Mebbe thet wasn't a bad shot for him！〃
〃I reckon；〃 replied Dale； as he swallowed hard。 〃Now； just
what was Roy's message to me？〃
〃Wal； I can't remember all Roy said；〃 answered John；
dubiously。 〃But Roy shore was excited an' dead in earnest。
He says： 'Tell Milt what's happened。 Tell him Helen Rayner's
in more danger than she was last fall。 Tell him I've seen
her look away acrost the mountains toward Paradise Park with
her heart in her eyes。 Tell him she needs him most of all！'〃
Dale shook all over as with an attack of ague。 He was seized
by a whirlwind of passionate； terrible sweetness of
sensation； when what he wildly wanted was to curse Roy and
John for their simple…minded conclusions。
〃Roy's crazy！〃 panted Dale。
〃Wal； now； Milt thet's downright surprisin' of you。 Roy's
the level…headest of any fellars I know。〃
〃Man！ if he MADE me believe him an' it turned out untrue
I'd I'd kill him；〃 replied Dale。
〃Untrue！ Do you think Roy Beeman would lie？〃
〃But； John you fellows can't see my case。 Nell Rayner
wants me needs me！ 。 。 。 It can't be true！〃
〃Wal； my love…sick pard it jest IS true！〃 exclaimed John；
feelingly。 〃Thet's the hell of life never knowin'。 But
here it's joy for you。 You can believe Roy Beeman about
women as quick as you'd trust him to track your lost hoss。
Roy's married three girls。 I reckon he'll marry some more。
Roy's only twenty…eight an' he has two big farms。 He said
he'd seen Nell Rayner's heart in her eyes； lookin' for you
an' you can jest bet your life thet's true。 An' he said
it because he means you to rustle down there an' fight for
thet girl。〃
〃I'll go；〃 said Dale； in a shaky whisper； as he sat down
on a pine log near the fire。 He stared unseeingly at the
bluebells in the grass by his feet while storm after storm
possessed his breast。 They were fierce and brief because
driven by his will。 In those few moments of contending
strife Dale was immeasurably removed from that dark gulf of
self which had made his winter a nightmare。 And when he
stood erect again it seemed that the old earth had a
stirring； electrifying impetus for his feet。 Something
black； bitter； melancholy； and morbid； always unreal to him；
had passed away forever。 The great moment had been forced
upon him。 He did not believe Roy Beeman's preposterous hint
regarding Helen； but he had gone back or soared onward； as
if by magic； to his old true self。
Mounted on Dale's strongest horses； with only a light pack；
an ax； and their weapons； the two men had reached the
snow…line on the pass by noon that day。 Tom； the tame
cougar； trotted along in the rear。
The crust of the snow； now half thawed by the sun； would not
hold the weight of a horse； though it upheld the men on
foot。 They walked； leading the horses。 Travel was not
difficult until the snow began to deepen； then progress
slackened materially。 John had not been able to pick out the
line of the trail； so Dale did not follow his tracks。 An old
blaze on the trees enabled Dale to keep fairly well to the
trail； and at length the height of the pass was reached；
where the snow was deep。 Here the horses labored； plowing
through foot by foot。 When； finally； they sank to their
flanks； they had to be dragged and goaded on； and helped by
thick flat bunches of spruce boughs placed under their
hoofs。 It took three hours of breaking toil to do the few
hundred yards of deep snow on the height of the pass。 The
cougar did not have great difficulty in following； though it
was evident he did not like such traveling。
That behind them； the horses gathered heart and worked on to
the edge of the steep descent； where they had all they could
do to hold back from sliding and rolling。 Fast time was made
on this slope； at the bottom of which began a dense forest
with snow still deep in places and windfalls hard to locate。
The men here performed Herculean labors； but they got
through to a park where the snow was gone。 The ground；
however； soft and boggy； in places was more treacherous than
the snow； and the travelers had to skirt the edge of the
park to a point opposite； and then go on through the forest。
When they reached bare and solid ground； just before dark
that night； it was high time； for the horses were ready to
drop； and the men likewise。
Camp was made in an open wood。 Darkness fell and the men
were resting on