--you!" cried Carley. A hot anger that stirred in her seemed
to be beaten down and smothered by a cold shaking internal commotion,
threatening collapse. This man loomed over her, huge, somehow monstrous
in his brawny uncouth presence. And his knowing smile, and the hard,
glinting twinkle of his light eyes, devilishly intelligent and keen, in
no wise lessened the sheer brutal force of him physically. Sight of his
bulk was enough to terrorize Carley.

"Me! Aw, I'm a darin' hombre an' a devil with the wimmin," he said, with
a guffaw.

Carley could not collect her wits. The instant of his pushing her back
into the cabin and following her had shocked her and almost paralyzed
her will. If she saw him now any the less fearful she could not so
quickly rally her reason to any advantage.

"Let me out of here," she demanded.

"Nope. I'm a-goin' to make a little love to you," he said, and he
reached for her with great hairy hands.

Carley saw in them the strength that had so easily swung the sheep. She
saw, too, that they were dirty, greasy hands. And they made her flesh
creep.

"Glenn will kill--you," she panted.

"What fer?" he queried, in real or pretended surprise. "Aw, I know
wimmin. You'll never tell him."

"Yes, I will."

"Wal, mebbe. I reckon you're lyin', Pretty Eyes," he replied, with a
grin. "Anyhow, I'll take a chance."

"I tell you--he'll kill you," repeated Carley, backing away until her
weak knees came against the couch.

"What fer, I ask you?" he demanded.

"For this--this insult."

"Huh! I'd like to know who's insulted you. Can't a man take an
invitation to kiss an' hug a girl--without insultin' her?"

"Invitation!... Are you crazy?" queried Carley, bewildered.

"Nope, I'm not crazy, an' I shore said invitation.... I meant thet white
shimmy dress you wore the night of Flo's party. Thet's my invitation to
get a little fresh with you, Pretty Eyes!"

Carley could only stare at him. His words seemed to have some peculiar,
unanswerable power.

"Wal, if it wasn't an invitation, what was it?" he asked, with another
step that brought him within reach of her. He waited for her answer,
which was not forthcoming.

"Wal, you're gettin' kinda pale around the gills," he went on,
derisively. "I reckoned you was a real sport.... Come here."

He fastened one of his great hands in the front of her coat and gave
her a pull. So powerful was it that Carley came hard against him, almost
knocking her breathless.