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boyish inexperience and mature doubt and disbelief； which was
partly the result of his temperament； and partly of his cloistered
life on the mountain； made him regard his late companions； now that
they were gone； and his intimacy with them； with remorseful
distrust。 The mountain was barren and lonely； because it was no
longer HIS。 It had become a part of the great world； which four
years ago he and his brother had put aside； and in which； as two
self…devoted men； they walked alone。 More than that； he believed
he had acquired some understanding of the temptations that assailed
his brother； and the poor little vanities of the 〃Marysville Pet〃
were transformed into the blandishments of a Circe。 Rand； who
would have succumbed to a wicked； superior woman； believed he was a
saint in withstanding the foolish weakness of a simple one。
He did not resume his work that day。 He paced the mountain；
anxiously awaiting his brother's return； and eager to relate his
experiences。 He would go with him to the dramatic entertainment；
from his example and wisdom； Ruth should learn how easily
temptation might be overcome。 But； first of all； there should be
the fullest exchange of confidences and explanations。 The old rule
should be rescinded for once； the old discussion in regard to
Mornie re…opened； and Rand； having convinced his brother of error；
would generously extend his forgiveness。
The sun sank redly。 Lingering long upon the ledge before their
cabin； it at last slipped away almost imperceptibly； leaving Rand
still wrapped in revery。 Darkness； the smoke of distant fires in
the woods； and the faint evening incense of the pines； crept slowly
up； but Ruth came not。 The moon rose； a silver gleam on the
farther ridge； and Rand； becoming uneasy at his brother's prolonged
absence； resolved to break another custom； and leave the summit； to
seek him on the trail。 He buckled on his revolvers； seized his
gun； when a cry from the depths arrested him。 He leaned over the
ledge； and listened。 Again the cry arose； and this time more
distinctly。 He held his breath： the blood settled around his heart
in superstitious terror。 It was the wailing voice of a woman。
〃Ruth； Ruth！ for God's sake come and help me！〃
The blood flew back hotly to Rand's cheek。 It was Mornie's voice。
By leaning over the ledge； he could distinguish something moving
along the almost precipitous face of the cliff； where an abandoned
trail； long since broken off and disrupted by the fall of a portion
of the ledge； stopped abruptly a hundred feet below him。 Rand knew
the trail； a dangerous one always： in its present condition a
single mis…step would be fatal。 Would she make that mis…step？ He
shook off a horrible temptation that seemed to be sealing his lips；
and paralyzing his limbs； and almost screamed to her； 〃Drop on your
face； hang on to the chaparral； and don't move！〃
In another instant； with a coil of rope around his arm； he was
dashing down the almost perpendicular 〃slide。〃 When he had nearly
reached the level of the abandoned trail； he fastened one end of
the rope to a jutting splinter of granite； and began to 〃lay out；〃
and work his way laterally along the face of the mountain。
Presently he struck the regular trail at the point from which the
woman must have diverged。
〃It is Rand；〃 she said； without lifting her head。
〃It is；〃 replied Rand coldly。 〃Pass the rope under your arms； and
I'll get you back to the trail。〃
〃Where is Ruth？〃 she demanded again； without moving。 She was
trembling； but with excitement rather than fear。
〃I don't know；〃 returned Rand impatiently。 〃Come！ the ledge is
already crumbling beneath our feet。〃
〃Let it crumble！〃 said the woman passionately。
Rand surveyed her with profound disgust； then passed the rope
around her waist； and half lifted； half swung her from her feet。
In a few moments she began to mechanically help herself； and
permitted him to guide her to a place of safety。 That reached； she
sank down again。
The rising moon shone full upon her face and figure。 Through his
growing indignation Rand was still impressed and even startled with
the change the few last months had wrought upon her。 In place of
the silly； fanciful； half…hysterical hoyden whom he had known； a
matured woman； strong in passionate self…will； fascinating in a
kind of wild； savage beauty； looked up at him as if to read his
very soul。
〃What are you staring at？〃 she said finally。 〃Why don't you help
me on？〃
〃Where do you want to go？〃 said Rand quietly。
〃Where！ Up there！〃she pointed savagely to the top of the
mountain；〃to HIM！ Where else should I go？〃 she said； with a
bitter laugh。
〃I've told you he wasn't there；〃 said Rand roughly。 〃He hasn't
returned。〃
〃I'll wait for himdo you hear？wait for him； stay there till he
comes。 If you won't help me； I'll go alone。〃
She made a step forward but faltered； staggered； and was obliged to
lean against the mountain for support。 Stains of travel were on
her dress； lines of fatigue and pain； and traces of burning
passionate tears； were on her face； her black hair flowed from
beneath her gaudy bonnet； and； shamed out of his brutality； Rand
placed his strong arm round her waist； and half carrying； half
supporting her； began the ascent。 Her head dropped wearily on his
shoulder； her arm encircled his neck； her hair； as if caressingly；
lay across his breast and hands； her grateful eyes were close to
his； her breath was upon his cheek： and yet his only consciousness
was of the possibly ludicrous figure he might present to his
brother； should he meet him with Mornie Nixon in his arms。 Not a
word was spoken by either till they reached the summit。 Relieved
at finding his brother still absent； he turned not unkindly toward
the helpless figure on his arm。 〃I don't see what makes Ruth so
late；〃 he said。 〃He's always here by sundown。 Perhaps〃
〃Perhaps he knows I'm here；〃 said Mornie； with a bitter laugh。
〃I didn't say that；〃 said Rand； 〃and I don't think it。 What I
meant was； he might have met a party that was picnicking here to…
day；Sol。 Saunders and wife； and Miss Euphemia〃
Mornie flung his arm away from her with a passionate gesture。
〃THEY here！picnicking HERE！those people HERE！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Rand； unconsciously a little ashamed。 〃They came here
accidentally。〃
Mornie's quick passion had subsided： she had sunk again wearily and
helplessly on a rock beside him。 〃I suppose；〃 she said； with a
weak laugh〃I suppose； they talked of ME。 I suppose they told you
how； with their lies and fair promises； they tricked me out； and
set me before an audience of brutes and laughing hyenas to make
merry over。 Did they tell you of the insults that I received？how
the sins of my parents were flung at me instead of bouquets？ Did
they tell you they could have spared me this； but they wanted the
few extra dollars taken in at the door？ No！〃
〃They said nothing of the kind；〃 replied Rand surlily。
〃Then you must have stopped them。 You were horrified enough to
know that I had dared to take the only honest way left me to make a
living。 I know you； Randolph Pinkney！ You'd rather see Joaquin
Muriatta； the Mexican bandit； standing before you to…night with a
revolver； than the helpless； shamed； miserable Mornie Nixon。 And
you can't help yourself； unless you throw me over the cliff。
Perhaps you'd better；〃 she said； with a bitter laugh that faded
from her lips as she leaned； pale and breathless； against the
bowlder。
〃Ruth will tell you〃 began Rand。
〃Dn Ruth！〃
Rand turned away。
〃Stop！〃 she said suddenly； staggering to her feet。 〃I'm sickfor
all I know； dying。 God grant that it may be so！ But； if you are a
man； you will help me to your cabinto some place where I can lie
down NOW； and be at rest。 I'm very； very tired。〃
She paused。 She would have fallen again； but Rand； seeing more in
her face than her voice interpreted to his sullen ears； took her
sullenly in his arms； and carried her to the cabin。 Her eyes
glanced around the bright party…colored walls； and a faint smile
came to her lips as she put aside her bonnet； adorned with a
companion pinion of the bright wings