was great; but it looked like lingering leisure compared to
the speed of Kish Taka and his great hungering dog. And, now, behind
Kish Taka came a second dog, like the first; and behind it a second
man, like Kish Taka.

If Jim Courtot remembered his revolver, it must have been to know that
not long would that stand between him and the two rushing, slavering
beasts and the two avenging Indians behind him. His one hope was his
hidden cave with its small orifice and concealed exit. And Jim Courtot
must have realized how small was his chance of coming to it.

They saw him plunge on. The light slowly increased. They saw how the
dogs and men gained upon him. They lost sight of all down in the
ravine among the shadows. They saw Courtot again, still in the lead
but losing ground. They lost sight of him again. They heard a wild
scream, a gun fired, the howl of a dog. Another scream, tortured and
terrified. Then, in the passes of the hills, it was as still as death.

Longstreet, alone, had not seen all of this; the dogs had swept on, but
to him, deep in his own thoughts, they were but dogs barking as dogs
have a way of doing. Sanchia sat in a crumpled heap, her face in her
hands. Longstreet's face was smiling when he came to where his
daughter stood with her lover's arms tight about her.

'I gave that woman her chance, and she was not innocent,' he announced
equably. 'I wanted to make sure, but I had my doubts of her, my dear.
Do you know,' he went on brightly, as though he were but now making a
fresh discovery of tremendous importance to the world, 'I am inclined
to believe that she is entirely untrustworthy! I first began to
suspect her when she appeared to be in love with me!' He came closer
and patted Helen's hand; his kindly eyes, passing over the stakes of
his claim, were gentle as he peered reminiscently across the dead
departed years. 'Why, no woman ever did that except your mother, my
dear!'

Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner Ltd., Frome and London

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