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More rattling shots disturbed the noonday quiet。 She heard a sliding of weathered rock； a hoarse shout of warning； a yell of alarm； again the clear； sharp crack of the rifle； and another cry that was a cry of death。 Then rifle reports pierced a dull volley of revolver shots。 Bullets whizzed over Jane's hiding…place； one struck a stone and whined away in the air。 After that； for a time； succeeded desultory shots； and then they ceased under long； thundering fire from heavier guns。
Sooner or later； then； Jane heard the cracking of horses' hoofs on the stones； and the sound came nearer and nearer。 Silence intervened until Lassiter's soft； jingling step assured her of his approach。 When he appeared he was covered with blood。
〃All right； Jane；〃 he said。 〃I come back。 An' don't worry。〃
With water from a canteen he washed the blood from his face and hands。
〃Jane； hurry now。 Tear my scarf in two； en' tie up these places。 That hole through my hand is some inconvenient； worse 'n this at over my ear。 Thereyou're doin' fine！ Not a bit nervousno tremblin'。 I reckon I ain't done your courage justice。 I'm glad you're brave jest nowyou'll need to be。 Well； I was hid pretty good； enough to keep them from shootin' me deep； but they was slingin' lead close all the time。 I used up all the rifle shells； an' en I went after them。 Mebbe you heard。 It was then I got hit。 Had to use up every shell in my own gun； an' they did； too； as I seen。 Rustlers an' Mormons； Jane！ An' now I'm packin' five bullet holes in my carcass； an' guns without shells。 Hurry； now。〃
He unstrapped the saddle…bags from the burros； slipped the saddles and let them lie； turned the burros loose； and； calling the dogs； led the way through stones and cedars to an open where two horses stood。
〃Jane； are you strong？〃 he asked。
〃I think so。 I'm not tired；〃 Jane replied。
〃I don't mean that way。 Can you bear up？〃
〃I think I can bear anything。〃
〃I reckon you look a little cold an' thick。 So I'm preparin' you。〃
〃For what？〃
〃I didn't tell you why I jest had to go after them fellers。 I couldn't tell you。 I believe you'd have died。 But I can tell you nowif you'll bear up under a shock？〃
〃Go on； my friend。〃
〃I've got little Fay！ Alivebad hurtbut she'll live！〃
Jane Withersteen's dead…locked feeling； rent by Lassiter's deep； quivering voice； leaped into an agony of sensitive life。
〃Here；〃 he added； and showed her where little Fay lay on the grass。
Unable to speak； unable to stand； Jane dropped on her knees。 By that long； beautiful golden hair Jane recognized the beloved Fay。 But Fay's loveliness was gone。 Her face was drawn and looked old with grief。 But she was not deadher heart beatand Jane Withersteen gathered strength and lived again。
〃You see I jest had to go after Fay；〃 Lassiter was saying； as he knelt to bathe her little pale face。 〃But I reckon I don't want no more choices like the one I had to make。 There was a crippled feller in that bunch； Jane。 Mebbe Venters crippled him。 Anyway； that's why they were holding up here。 I seen little Fay first thing； en' was hard put to it to figure out a way to get her。 An' I wanted hosses； too。 I had to take chances。 So I crawled close to their camp。 One feller jumped a hoss with little Fay； an' when I shot him； of course she dropped。 She's stunned an' bruisedshe fell right on her head。 Jane； she's comin' to！ She ain't bad hurt！〃
Fay's long lashes fluttered； her eyes opened。 At first they seemed glazed over。 They looked dazed by pain。 Then they quickened； darkened； to shine with intelligencebewildermentmemoryand sudden wonderful joy。
〃MuvverJane！〃 she whispered。
〃Oh； little Fay； little Fay！〃 cried Jane； lifting； clasping the child to her。
〃Now； we've got to rustle！〃 said Lassiter； in grim coolness。 〃Jane； look down the Pass！〃
Across the mounds of rock and sage Jane caught sight of a band of riders filing out of the narrow neck of the Pass； and in the lead was a white horse； which； even at a distance of a mile or more； she knew。
〃Tull！〃 she almost screamed。
〃I reckon。 But； Jane； we've still got the game in our hands。 They're ridin' tired hosses。 Venters likely give them a chase。 He wouldn't forget that。 An' we've fresh hosses。〃
Hurriedly he strapped on the saddle…bags； gave quick glance to girths and cinches and stirrups； then leaped astride。
〃Lift little Fay up；〃 he said。
With shaking arms Jane complied。
〃Get back your nerve； woman！ This's life or death now。 Mind that。 Climb up！ Keep your wits。 Stick close to me。 Watch where your hoss's goin' en' ride！〃
Somehow Jane mounted； somehow found strength to hold the reins； to spur； to cling on； to ride。 A horrible quaking； craven fear possessed her soul。 Lassiter led the swift flight across the wide space； over washes； through sage； into a narrow canyon where the rapid clatter of hoofs rapped sharply from the walls。 The wind roared in her ears； the gleaming cliffs swept by； trail and sage and grass moved under her。 Lassiter's bandaged； blood…stained face turned to her； he shouted encouragement； he looked back down the Pass； he spurred his horse。 Jane clung on； spurring likewise。 And the horses settled from hard； furious gallop into a long…stridng； driving run。 She had never ridden at anything like that pace； desperately she tried to get the swing of the horse； to be of some help to him in that race； to see the best of the ground and guide him into it。 But she failed of everything except to keep her seat the saddle； and to spur and spur。 At times she closed her eyes unable to bear sight of Fay's golden curls streaming in the wind。 She could not pray； she could not rail； she no longer cared for herself。 All of life； of good； of use in the world； of hope in heaven entered in Lassiter's ride with little Fay to safety。 She would have tried to turn the iron…jawed brute she rode； she would have given herself to that relentless； dark…browed Tull。 But she knew Lassiter would turn with her； so she rode on and on。
Whether that run was of moments or hours Jane Withersteen could not tell。 Lassiter's horse covered her with froth that blew back in white streams。 Both horses ran their limit； were allowed slow down in time to save them； and went on dripping； heaving； staggering。
〃Oh； Lassiter； we must runwe must run！〃
He looked back； saying nothing。 The bandage had blown from his head； and blood trickled down his face。 He was bowing under the strain of injuries； of the ride； of his burden。 Yet how cool and gay he lookedhow intrepid！
The horses walked； trotted； galloped； ran； to fall again to walk。 Hours sped or dragged。 Time was an instantan eternity。 Jane Withersteen felt hell pursuing her； and dared not look back for fear she would fall from her horse。
〃Oh； Lassiter！ Is he coming？〃
The grim rider looked over his shoulder； but said no word。 Fay's golden hair floated on the breeze。 The sun shone； the walls gleamed； the sage glistened。 And then it seemed the sun vanished； the walls shaded； the sage paled。 The horses walkedtrottedgallopedranto fall again to walk。 Shadows gathered under shelving cliffs。 The canyon turned； brightened； opened into a long； wide； wall…enclosed valley。 Again the sun； lowering in the west； reddened the sage。 Far ahead round； scrawled stone appeared to block the Pass。
〃Bear up； Jane； bear up！〃 called Lassiter。 〃It's our game； if you don't weaken。〃
〃Lassiter！ Go onalone！ Save little Fay！〃
〃Only with you！〃
〃Oh！I'm a cowarda miserable coward！ I can't fight or think or hope or pray！ I'm lost！ Oh； Lassiter； look back！ Is he coming？ I'll nothold out〃
〃Keep your breath； woman； an' ride not for yourself or for me； but for Fay！〃
A last breaking run across the sage brought Lassiter's horse to a walk。
〃He's done；〃 said the rider。
〃Oh； nono！〃 moaned Jane。
〃Look back； Jane； look back。 Threefour miles we've come across this valley； en' no Tull yet in sight。 Only a few more miles！〃
Jane looked back over the long stretch of sage； and found the narrow gap in the wall； out of which came a file of dark horses with a white horse in the lead。 Sight of the riders acted upon Jane as a stimulant。 The weight of cold； horrible terror lessened。 And； gazing forward at the dogs； at Lassiter's limping