tention, I got to fix you better. I didn't
do this here, pardner, but you shore look like some of my handiwork in
days past and gone. I'll share this corner with you for a while, and
if you don't give me away to them that's coming, I promise to set you
free. That's fair, I guess. 'A man ain't all bad,' says Brick, 'as
unties the knots that other men has tied,' says he. Just lay still and
comfortable, and we'll see what's coming."

Presently there were footsteps in the path, and to Willock's intense
disappointment, Gledware and Annabel came in together. They were in
the midst of a conversation and at the first few words, he found it
related to Lahoma. The boatman who had promised to bring the skiff for
them at seven--it developed that Gledware had no intention of doing the
rowing--had not yet come. They sat down on the rustic bench, their
voices distinctly audible in all parts of the small building.

"Her closest living relative," Gledware said, "is a great-aunt, living
in Boston. As soon as I found out who she was--I'd always supposed her
living among Indians, and that it would be impossible to find her--but
as soon as I learned the truth, without saying anything to HER, I wrote
to her great-aunt. I've never been in a position to take care of
Lahoma--I felt that I ought to place her with her own family. I got an
answer--about what you would expect. They'd give her a home--I told
them what a respectable girl she is--fairly creditable
appearance--intelligent enough... But they couldn't stand those
people she lives with--criminals, you know, Annabel,
highwaymen--murderers! Imagine Brick Willock in a Boston
drawing-room... But you couldn't."

"No," Annabel agreed. "Poor Lahoma! And I know she'd never give him
up."

"That's it--she's immovable. She'd insist on taking him along. But he
belongs to another age--a different country. He couldn't understand.
He thinks when you've anything against a man, the proper move is to
kill 'im. He's just like an Indian--a wild beast. Wouldn't know what
we meant if we talked about civilization. His religion is the knife.
Well--you see; if he were out of the way, Lahoma would have her chance."

"But couldn't he be arrested?"

"That's my only hope. If he were hanged, or locked up for a certain
number of years, Lahoma'd go East. But as long as he's at large,
she'll wait for him to turn up. She'll stay right there in the cove
till she dies of old age, if he's free t