es. He could see Susan's solitary figure, David's horse
following.

"What's _she_ mind for?" he said.

"Because she's a woman and they're made that way. She's more set on
that chump than she'd be on the finest man you could bring her if you
hunted the world over for him."

They fared on in silence, the soft soil muffling their steps. The
wagon lurched on a hummock and David groaned.

"Are you meaning she cares for him?" asked Courant.

"All her might," answered the old man. "Ain't she goin' to marry the
varmint?"

It was an hour for understanding, no matter how bitter. Daddy John's
own dejection made him unsparing. He offered his next words as
confirmation of a condition that he thought would kill all hope in the
heart of the leader.

"Last night he made her get him water--the store we had left if you
hadn't found any. Twict in the night while I was asleep she took and
gave it to him. Then when I found it out she let me think she took it
for herself," he spat despondently. "She the same as lied for him. I
don't want to hear no more after that."

The mountain man rode with downdrooped head. Daddy John, who did not
know what he did, might well come to such conclusions. _He_ knew the
secret of the girl's contradictory actions. He looked into her
perturbed spirit and saw how desperately she clung to the letter of her
obligation, while she repudiated the spirit. Understanding her
solicitude for David, he knew that it was strengthened by the
consciousness of her disloyalty. But he felt no tenderness for these
distracted feminine waverings. It exhilarated him to think that while
she held to the betrothed of her father's choice and the bond of her
given word, her hold would loosen at his wish. As he had felt toward
enemies that he had conquered--crushed and subjected by his will--he
felt toward her. It was a crowning joy to know that he could make her
break her promise, turn her from her course of desperate fidelity, and
make her his own, not against her inclination, but against her pity,
her honor, her conscience.

The spoor left by his horse the night before was clear in the
starlight. He told Daddy John to follow it and drew up beside the
track to let the wagon pass him. Motionless he watched the girl's
approaching figure, and saw her rein her horse to a standstill.

"Come on," he said softly. "I want to speak to you."

She touched the horse and it started toward him. As she came nearer he