ded, fear and distrust burning in her
tone.

"My life," he said slowly, "isn't worth it."

"You know--" He could see her resolute underlip, pink with fresh young
blood, quiver with intensity of feeling as she faltered. "You know
what every man says of every girl--foolish, trusting, easy to
deceive--everything like that."

"May God wither my tongue before ever it speaks to deceive _you_,
Nan."

"A while ago you frightened me so----"

"Frightened you! Great God!" He stepped closer and looked straight
down into her eyes. "If you had raised just one finger when I was
bluffing that fellow, I'd have calmed down and eaten out of your
little hand, by the hour!"

"There's not a moment to lose," she said swiftly. "Listen: a trail
around this mountain leads out of the Gap, straight across the face of
El Capitan."

"I can make it."

"Listen! It is terribly dangerous----"

"Whatever it is it's a concrete boulevard to a man in my fix."

"It is half a mile--only inches wide in places--up and down--loose
rock----"

"Some trail!"

"If you slip it's a thousand feet----"

"A hundred would be more than plenty."

"A good climber can do it--I have done it. I'd even go with you, if I
could."

"Why?"

She shook her head angrily at what he dared show in his eyes. "Oh,
keep still, listen!"

"I know you'd go, Nan," he declared unperturbed. "But believe me, I
never would let you."

"I can't go, because to do any good I must meet you with a horse
outside."

He only looked silently at her, and she turned her eyes from his gaze.
"See," she said, taking him eagerly to the back of the ledge and
pointing, "follow that trail, the one to the east--you can't get lost;
you can reach El Capitan before dark--it's very close. Creep carefully
across El Capitan on that narrow trail, and on the other side there
is a wide one clear down to the road--oh, do be careful on El
Capitan."

"I'll be careful."

"I must watch my chance to get away from the corral with a horse. If I
fail it will be because I am locked up at home, and you must hide and
do the best you can. How much they will surmise of this, I don't
know."

"Go now, this minute," he said, restraining his words. "If you don't
come, I shall know why."

She turned without speaking and, fearless as a chamois, ran down the
rocks. De Spain, losing not a moment, hobbled rapidly up along the
granite-walled passage that led the way to his chance for life.

CHAPTER XVI

A