first three days and nights. He had made his own list of
foods and tobaccos and alcohols; he had selected men for his work.
Down in San Juan men said: 'Jim Courtot is playing his luck again.'
For though information was garbled long before it reached the mission
town, yet always it was understood that Jim Courtot was playing to win
heavily--he and Sanchia Murray.

Those hours which, in Sanchia's Town, had been given over to frenzy and
the fury of feverish endeavour, had dragged by wearily and anxiously
for the inmates of Longstreet's half-mile-distant cabin. For both
Monte Devine and Ed True the night was one of bitter rage and pain.
Longstreet was gentle with them, bringing them water, asking them often
of their wants; Helen ministered to them silently, a strange new look
in her eyes. Often she went to the door and stood looking off into the
moonlit night, across the rolling hills and down into the wide sweep of
Desert Valley. Carr remained with them all night. It was as well to
be on hand, he suggested, if anything happened. He seemed scarcely
conscious of the presence of the two wounded men; tilted back in his
chair, smoking one cigar after another, he scarcely for an instant lost
sight of Helen.

In the morning early there was the sound of hoofs and then men's
voices. It was Carr who went to the door.

'It is Bettins and a couple of other men,' he said over his shoulder.
'Come for Devine and True, I guess.' And still without turning, he
demanded, 'Ready to go, Monte?'

'Damn right,' said Monte.

Between Carr and Longstreet, Monte shambled to the door. Here he was
turned over to his friends, who got him into his saddle. Then,
assisted as Monte had been, and cursing at every step, Ed True passed
through the door. The men outside accepted the two wounded men with
only a few low words; in another moment the five horses were carrying
their riders slowly toward Sanchia's Town. Carr returning saw the
whisk of Helen's skirt as she disappeared within the little room
partitioned off at the rear and knew that she had gone to fling herself
down upon her bed. He looked after her as though he still half hoped
she were coming back if only to say a belated 'good night.' Then he
and Longstreet made coffee and drank it perfunctorily. After breakfast
Carr left, saying that he would ride over to have a look at the new
camp, and would drop in again some time during the afternoon.

'If I am not making a nuisance of m