is mind how to meet the
emergency, she stood at his side, his equal, he knew, in courage,
daring, and resource, and answered his rapid questions as to possible
gateways of escape. The rain, which had been abating, now ceased, but
from every fissure in the mountains came the roar of rushing water,
and little openings of rock and waterway that might have offered a
chance when dry were now out of the question. In fact, it was Nan's
belief that before morning water would be running over the main trail
itself.

"Yet," said de Spain finally, "before morning we must be a long way
from this particular spot, Nan. Lefever is down there--I haven't the
slightest doubt of that. Sassoon has posted men at the neck of the
Gap--that's the first thing he would do. And if John heard my rifle
when I first shot, he would be for breaking in here, and his men, if
they've come up, would bump into Sassoon's. It would be insane for us
to try to get out over the trail with Sassoon holding it against
Lefever--we might easily be hit by our friends instead of our enemies.
I'll tell you what, Nan, suppose I scout down that way alone and see
what I can find out?"

He put the proposal very lightly, realizing almost as soon as he made
it what her answer would be. "Better we go together," she answered in
the steady tone he loved to hear. "If you were killed, what would
become of me? I should rather be shot than fall into his hands after
this--if there was ever a chance for it before, there'd be no mercy
now. Let's go together."

He would not consent, and she knew he was right. But what was right
for one was right, she told him, for both, and what was wrong for one
was wrong for both. "Then, I'll tell you," he said suddenly, as when
after long uncertainty and anxious doubt one chooses an alternative
and hastens to follow it. "Retreat is the thing for us, Nan. Let's
make for Music Mountain and crawl into our cave till morning. Lefever
will get in here some time to-morrow. Then we can connect with him."

They discussed the move a little further, but there seemed no escape
from the necessity of it, despite the hardship involved in reaching
the refuge; and, realizing that no time was to be lost, they set out
on the long journey. Every foot of the troublesome way offered
difficulties. Water impeded them continually. It lay in shallow pools
underfoot and slipped in running sheets over the sloping rocks that
lay in their obscure path. Sometimes de Spain led