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〃Of course；〃 replied Jane。 〃My horses are all there； except the blooded stock I keep here。〃
〃Haven't you heardthen？〃
〃Heard？ No！ What's happened to them？〃
〃They're gone； Miss Withersteen； gone these ten days past。 Dorn told me； and I rode down to see for myself。〃
〃Lassiterdid you know？〃 asked Jane； whirling to him。
〃I reckon so。。。。But what was the use to tell you？〃
It was Lassiter turning away his face and Blake studying the stone flags at his feet that brought Jane to the understanding of what she betrayed。 She strove desperately； but she could not rise immediately from such a blow。
〃My horses！ My horses！ What's become of them？〃
〃Dorn said the riders report another drive by Oldring。。。。And I trailed the horses miles down the slope toward Deception Pass。〃
〃My red herd's gone！ My horses gone！ The white herd will go next。 I can stand that。 But if I lost Black Star and Night； it would be like parting with my own flesh and blood。 LassiterBlakeam I in danger of losing my racers？〃
〃A rustleroror anybody stealin' hosses of yours would most of all want the blacks；〃 said Lassiter。 His evasive reply was affirmative enough。 The other rider nodded gloomy acquiescence。
〃Oh！ Oh！〃 Jane Withersteen choked； with violent utterance。
〃Let me take charge of the blacks？〃 asked Blake。 〃One more rider won't be any great help to Judkins。 But I might hold Black Star and Night； if you put such store on their value。〃
〃Value！ Blake； I love my racers。 Besides； there's another reason why I mustn't lose them。 You go to the stables。 Go with Jerd every day when he runs the horses； and don't let them out of your sight。 If you would please mewin my gratitude； guard my black racers。〃
When Blake had mounted and ridden out of the court Lassiter regarded Jane with the smile that was becoming rarer as the days sped by。
〃'Pears to me； as Blake says； you do put some store on them hosses。 Now I ain't gainsayin' that the Arabians are the handsomest hosses I ever seen。 But Bells can beat Night； an' run neck en' neck with Black Star。〃
〃Lassiter； don't tease me now。 I'm miserablesick。 Bells is fast； but he can't stay with the blacks； and you know it。 Only Wrangle can do that。〃
〃I'll bet that big raw…boned brute can more'n show his heels to your black racers。 Jane； out there in the sage； on a long chase； Wrangle could kill your favorites。〃
〃No； no；〃 replied Jane； impatiently。 〃Lassiter； why do you say that so often？ I know you've teased me at times； and I believe it's only kindness。 You're always trying to keep my mind off worry。 But you mean more by this repeated mention of my racers？〃
〃I reckon so。〃 Lassiter paused； and for the thousandth time in her presence moved his black sombrero round and round； as if counting the silver pieces on the band。 〃Well； Jane； I've sort of read a little that's passin' in your mind。〃
〃You think I might fly from my homefrom Cottonwoodsfrom the Utah border？〃
〃I reckon。 An' if you ever do an' get away with the blacks I wouldn't like to see Wrangle left here on the sage。 Wrangle could catch you。 I know Venters had him。 But you can never tell。 Mebbe he hasn't got him now。。。。Besidesthings are happenin'； an' somethin' of the same queer nature might have happened to Venters。〃
〃God knows you're right！。。。Poor Bern； how long he's gone！ In my trouble I've been forgetting him。 But； Lassiter； I've little fear for him。 I've heard my riders say he's as keen as a wolf。。。。
〃As to your reading my thoughtswell； your suggestion makes an actual thought of what was only one of my dreams。 I believe I dreamed of flying from this wild borderland； Lassiter。 I've strange dreams。 I'm not always practical and thinking of my many duties； as you said once。 For instanceif I daredif I dared I'd ask you to saddle the blacks and ride away with meand hide me。〃
〃Jane！〃
The rider's sunburnt face turned white。 A few times Jane had seen Lassiter's cool calm brokenwhen he had met little Fay； when he had learned how and why he had come to love both child and mistress； when he had stood beside Milly Erne's grave。 But one and all they could not be considered in the light of his present agitation。 Not only did Lassiter turn whitenot only did he grow tense； not only did he lose his coolness； but also he suddenly； violently； hungrily took her into his arms and crushed her to his breast。
〃Lassiter！〃 cried Jane； trembling。 It was an action for which she took sole blame。 Instantly； as if dazed； weakened； he released her。 〃Forgive me！〃 went on Jane。 〃I'm always forgetting youryour feelings。 I thought of you as my faithful friend。 I'm always making you out more than human。。。only； let me sayI meant thatabout riding away。 I'm wretched； sick of thisthisOh； something hitter and black grows on my heart！〃
〃Jane； the hellof it；〃 he replied； with deep intake of breath； 〃is you can't ride away。 Mebbe realizin' it accounts for my grabbin' youthat way； as much as the crazy boy's rapture your words gave me。 I don't understand myself。。。。But the hell of this game isyou can't ride away。〃
〃Lassiter！。。。What on earth do you mean？ I'm an absolutely free woman。〃
〃You ain't absolutely anythin' of the kind。。。。I reckon I've got to tell you！〃
〃Tell me all。 It's uncertainty that makes me a coward。 It's faith and hopeblind love； if you will； that makes me miserable。 Every day I awake believingstill believing。 The day grows； and with it doubts； fears； and that black bat hate that bites hotter and hotter into my heart。 Then comes nightI prayI pray for all； and for myselfI sleepand I awake free once more； trustful； faithful； to believeto hope！ Then； O my God！ I grow and live a thousand years till night again！。。。But if you want to see me a woman； tell me why I can't ride awaytell me what more I'm to losetell me the worst。〃
〃Jane； you're watched。 There's no single move of yours； except when you're hid in your house； that ain't seen by sharp eyes。 The cottonwood grove's full of creepin'； crawlin' men。 Like Indians in the grass。 When you rode； which wasn't often lately； the sage was full of sneakin' men。 At night they crawl under your windows into the court； an' I reckon into the house。 Jane Withersteen； you know； never locked a door！ This here grove's a hummin' bee…hive of mysterious happenin's。 Jane； it ain't so much that these soles keep out of my way as me keepin' out of theirs。 They're goin' to try to kill me。 That's plain。 But mebbe I'm as hard to shoot in the back as in the face。 So far I've seen fit to watch only。 This all means； Jane； that you're a marked woman。 You can't get away not now。 Mebbe later； when you're broken； you might。 But that's sure doubtful。 Jane； you're to lose the cattle that's leftyour home en' ranchen' amber Spring。 You can't even hide a sack of gold！ For it couldn't be slipped out of the house； day or night； an' hid or buried； let alone be rid off with。 You may lose all。 I'm tellin' you； Jane； hopin' to prepare you； if the worst does come。 I told you once before about that strange power I've got to feel things。〃
〃Lassiter； what can I do？〃
〃Nothin'； I reckon； except know what's comin' an' wait an' be game。 If you'd let me make a call on Tull； an' a long…deferred call on〃
〃Hush！。。。Hush！〃 she whispered。
〃Well； even that wouldn't help you any in the end。〃
〃What does it mean？ Oh； what does it mean？ I am my father's daughtera Mormon； yet I can't see！ I've not failed in religionin duty。 For years I've given with a free and full heart。 When my father died I was rich。 If I'm still rich it's because I couldn't find enough ways to become poor。 What am I； what are my possessions to set in motion such intensity of secret oppression？〃
〃Jane； the mind behind it all is an empire builder。〃
〃But； Lassiter； I would give freelyall I own to avert thisthis wretched thing。 If I gavethat would leave me with faith still。 Surely mymy churchmen think of my soul？ If I lose my trust in them〃
〃Child； be still！〃 said Lassiter； with a dark dignity that had in it something of pity。 〃You are a woman； fine en' big an' strong； an' your heart matches your size。 But in mind you're a child。 I'll say a little morethen I'm done。 I'll never mention this again。 Among many thousands of women you're one who has bucked against your churchmen。 They tried you out； an' failed of persuasion； an' finally of threats。 You meet now the cold steel of a will as far from Christlike as the universe is wide。 You're to be broken。 Your body's to be held； given to some man； made； if possible； to bring children into the world。 But your soul？。。。What do they care for your soul？〃
CHAPTER XIII。 SOLITUDE AND STORM
In his hidden valley Venters awakened from sleep； and his ears rang with innumerable melodies from full…throated mockingbirds； and his eyes opened wide upon the glorious golden shaft of sunlight shining through the great stone bridge。 The circle of cliffs surrounding Surprise Valley lay shrouded in morning mist； a dim blue low down along the terraces； a creamy； moving cloud along the ramparts。 The oak forest in the center was a plumed and tufted oval of gold。
He saw Bess under the spruces。 Upon her complete recovery of strength she always rose with the dawn。 At the moment she was feeding the quail she had tamed。 And she had begun to tam