lended with the
odor of burning pine that came from the ranch house, where Flick built
the fire for supper. On the hill the pines were still, but the brook
babbled on, and there was an incessant low twittering of birds in
the cottonwoods.

Haig had now fully recovered. He had taken to his horse again some
days before, to ride a little the first day, and more the next, each
day adding something to his exercise, until he felt the blood running
warmly in his veins, and his muscles tightening at his will. Then he
had hardened himself with every kind of labor around the ranch. For he
was impatient to remove the stigma of doubt that Sunnysides had burned
into his soul. He had told Marion that she was incapable of
understanding why he must conquer Sunnysides. He was not sure that he
understood it himself. But he knew that he must. Ever since that day
when he had fled into the world he had fought to be master of himself;
and his way of being master of himself was to be master of every man
and every animal and every obstacle that appeared across his
path,--that irresponsible, uncharted path that had neither beginning
nor end, that led he knew not where nor cared. Every moment was a
moment to itself, and every day was its own if he had done what he
had set out to do. His one purpose in life was not to be beaten, never
to fail, though he should throw away to-morrow what he had won to-day.
So it was that to conquer Sunnysides was for the moment the one thing
that counted, and he would have no rest until it was done.

Twilight settled down upon the valley. Haig's pipe went out, and still
he stood gazing at Sunnysides. In the dusk the horse glowed like a
living jewel that holds the light when the sun has gone. Night fell,
and the golden hide became a shimmer in the dark, as the outlaw moved
restlessly to and fro in his prison. Then, of a sudden, with the
unexpectedness and unreason of a dog's wolf-howl at the rising moon,
there rose from the gloom of the corral a shrill, wild neigh that
shattered the peaceful silence of the night.

Haig left the fence, and walked swiftly to the barn.

"Farrish!" he said shortly. "We'll break Sunnysides to-morrow. Tell
Pete and Curly not to ride away in the morning. The cattle can wait."

CHAPTER XVIII

THE CHALLENGE OF THE BRUTE

There had been yellow, mellow weather for weeks on weeks, but this day
dawned hard and cold. Some projected rancor of the winter was in the
air. Westward th