"Then I must get stronger fast, for I cannot bear to lie here while you
are withholding something from me."

"I fear you won't like me when I have confessed and laid my life bare
before you."

"That cannot be, Jack. Nothing at all shall separate us, so far as I am
concerned."

Wade raised the thin pale hand to his lips and kissed it, thus bringing
a flush to her sweet face.

CHAPTER XV

Nora gradually regained her old strength, and after a few weeks had
passed she was going about doing her domestic duties as before. Jack
Wade was sorrowful no longer, and Rover was himself once more.

When the good dog saw Wade coming through the gate he began wagging his
tail and showing by other signs that he was as happy as the human beings
about him. When Wade departed for his own cabin Rover would accompany
him, sometimes halfway, sometimes the entire distance, as if he believed
harm would come to his friend unless he kept close watch over him.
Somehow, Rover had a better instinct in sniffing danger than most dogs,
and when there was the least intimation of danger or trouble Rover
scented it very early, and generally conveyed the news to those about
him in his own good way. He was fully understood, his language was well
known to his masters, and they knew by his actions what was about to
happen.

Thus it was that, when Wade was doing his evening chores, Rover came
galloping into the horse-lot, baying in a troubled fashion. Something
was about to happen. Rover never acted in this manner unless it was so.
He ran whining to Wade, caught his boot-leg between his teeth and
pulled; then letting loose, darted rapidly toward the gate, back again,
barking in a manner indicating fear, taking the boot-leg again and
pulling vigorously.

"What, old boy," said Wade, "some more trouble in the air? Well, just be
patient until I can lock this door and get my good weapons, and we shall
see what it's all about."

So speaking to the dog, Wade locked the barn, hurried into the house
and, taking his two pistols and rifle, started cautiously up the lane
toward Judson's cabin. Night had fallen and the moon was just peeping up
over the hills, sending forth a dim dusty light, while the sky was
canopied with a very thin white cloud and the stars gave forth no light
at all. Wade made his way as noiselessly as possible, followed by Rover.
Looking in the direction of Judson's, he saw a streak of light made from
the flash of a rifle shot, f