rom the landing, his
brow wrinkled in anxious thought. He felt strange and dizzy, and at
first fancied it was because of the resolution that had taken
possession of him--the resolution to return to Greer County and give
himself up. This purpose, as unreasoning as his plan to kill Gledware,
grew as fixed in his mind as half an hour before his other plan had
been.

To go voluntarily to the sheriff, unresistingly to hold out his wrists
for the handcuffs--that would indeed mark a new era in his life. "A
wild Indian wouldn't do that," he mused, "nor a wild beast. I guess I
understand, after all. And if that's the way to make Lahoma happy...."

No wonder he felt queer; but his light-headedness did not rise, as a
matter of fact, entirely from subjective storm-threatenings. There was
something about that boatman--now, when he tilted up his head slightly,
and the hat failed to conceal--was it possible?...

"My God!" whispered Willock; "it's Red Feather!"

And Gledware, with eyes only for Annabel, finding nothing beyond her
but a long gray coat, a big straw hat and two rowing arms--did not
suspect the truth!

In a flash, Willock comprehended all. The Indian had dropped the pin
in Kimball's path, and Kimball, finding it, had carried it to Gledware
as if Red Feather were dead. The Indian had led his braves against the
stage-coach--Kimball had fallen under his knife. Yonder man in the
corner, bound and gagged, was doubtless the old deaf boatman engaged by
Gledware. Red Feather had taken his place that he might row Gledware
far out on the lake....

But Annabel was in the boat. If the Indian...

Far away toward the east, Edgerton Compton was rowing, not near enough
to intervene in case the Indian attempted violence, but better able
than himself to lend assistance if the boat were overturned. Willock
could, in truth, do nothing, except shout a warning, and this he
forebore lest it hasten the impending catastrophe. He remained,
therefore, half-hidden, crouching at the doorway, his eyes glued to the
rapidly gliding boat, with its three figures clear-cut against the
first faint sun-glow.

CHAPTER XXV

GLEDWARE'S POSSESSIONS

Red Feather's mind was not constituted to entertain more than one
leading thought at a time. Ever since the desertion and death of his
daughter, revenge had been his dominant passion. It was in order to
find Gledware that he had haunted the trail during the years of
lahoma's youth, alwa