e making of our calendar, and
not St. Anthony, else some minutes might be spun to days, and hours
squeezed to the fraction of a second.

But the ever present danger had not at any time quite ceased to pierce
the mist of our paradise. She knew I was keeping a careful watch, even
while I held her. Now she drew away, and crossed her arms upon the
parapet.

"When things begin to happen," I said, "you must sit on the ground. I
won't risk your lovely head above the wall!"

"Why?" she asked. "Aren't two rifles better than one?"

"Yes," I admitted, "but I can't shoot unless you're safe."

"Then don't think of me, at all, for I promise to do whatever you say.
Look," she pointed suddenly. "There they are!--I believe every one of
them! Oh, I wonder if they've killed Echochee!"

I, too, wondered; for surely here was the gang that had pursued
them--quite a mile out on the prairie, to be sure, but unquestionably
Efaw Kotee's band, showing as a black smudge above the grass. Whether
this pack of human wolves had lost the trail of Smilax I would not try
to guess, for it was enough to know that they had found our own.

They were still too far off to be counted, but I felt that Doloria had
been right in saying every man of them. That would mean eight if Jess
and the old chief were along, furious devils demanding their revenge,
mad to surround us and take their own good time about placing a shot
where it would do the work. It was only fair that she should know the
odds, so I put my arm around her, saying:

"When they get nearer, they'll scatter out. Some will stay in front,
hiding in the grass and shooting enough to keep us busy, and others will
circle to the trees behind us. It's going to be a close call,
sweetheart, but they'll never get in while I'm up."

"I know that," she answered gently. "We may as well be brave and speak
of it with indifference; it's easier that way; so I want to tell you
that if you--you----" but her voice did choke, yet she raised her chin
and calmly finished, "are killed, I'll follow right away. It's
infinitely preferable to being taken," she hastily added, seeing my look
of horror. "So wait for me just a little while, and I'll catch up with
you."

Was there ever such courage! Looking back into her eyes I saw a light
that by its own vital force was self-translated, requiring no words, nor
the sight of her fingers grasping the handle of that small revolver at
her waist, to tell of her determination. In