married me knowing that you loved him all the time."

"I tried to quit," cried the wife. "I tried to, but I couldn't."

"And what's the rottenest of all"--McGill's voice was ugly again--"you
made him best man at the wedding, or just the same. He stood up with us.
Didn't you, Barclay?"

The wife flung herself into the breach once more with a self-sacrifice
that wrenched her husband's heart. "He didn't want to, but I made him. I
thought you had money, and I was mad at him for letting me go, so I
tried to hurt him. I wanted him to marry me, but he wouldn't, and I took
you. When it was over and I saw the kind of man you are I tried to love
you--honestly I did, but I couldn't. You're so--I--I couldn't do it,
that's all." She broke into a torrent of tears, holding herself on her
feet by an effort. Her wretched sobbing was the only sound in the cabin
for a time, then Barclay inquired:

"Well, what are you going to do?"

McGill turned to his wife, ignoring Barclay. "I guess I understand
things pretty well now, and I'm beginning to see your side. Of course I
never aimed to hurt _you_, Alice--I couldn't; but I aimed to kill this
man, and I will if he stays here." Over his shoulder he flung out,
quickly: "Oh, the gun won't help you none. You've got to go, Barclay."

"I'll go with him," cried Mrs. McGill, desperately. "If he goes, I'll
go, too."

"That's exactly what you've got to do. You can't stay here now, neither
of you. If he ain't able to take care of you, why, I will as long as I
live, but you've both got to go."

"It's the best course under the circumstances," Barclay agreed, with
relief. "We'll take the first boat--"

"You'll go to-day, now," said the husband, grimly, "before I have time
to think it over."

"But where?"

"To hell! That's where you're headed."

"We can't go afoot," the woman cried in a panic.

"I've got dogs! And don't argue or I'll weaken. I'm letting him go
because you seem to need him, Alice. Only remember one thing, both of
you--there ain't no town big enough to hold all three of us. Now go,
quick, before I change my mind, for if the sun ever goes down on Barclay
and me together, so help me God! it won't rise on both of us. There
ain't no place in the world that's big enough for him and me, no place
in the world."

McGill stood on the river-bank and watched them vanish into the ghostly
curtain that sifted slowly down from the heavens, and when they were
finally lost to view he turned