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Rh thick-headed cayuses I ever see, you're the most out-beatin'est!”

“I couldn't help it.”

“Why not?”

“When I went in she took one look at me and then jumped up and stood as straight as a pine tree.

“'Lee,' she said, 'what have you heard?'”

“'About what?' I asked her, and I looked sort of indifferent.”

“Dan!” snorted Buck. “She could see death an' hell written all over your face, most like.”

“I suppose,” muttered Haines, “I—I was sick!

“'Tell me!' she said, coming close up.

“'He's gone wild again,' was all I could put my tongue to.

“Then I blurted it out. I had to get rid of the damned story some way, and the quickest way seemed the best—how Dan rode into Alder and did the killing.

“When I got to that she gave one cry.”

“I know,” said Buck, shuddering. “Like something dying.”

“Then she asked me to saddle her horse. I begged her to let me go with her, and she said to me what she just now said to you. And so I stayed. What good could we do against that devil?”