d Zeke's arm was about her, and her hand was
clasped in his. So, she slept, and smiled a little in her dreams, for
the touch of the breeze on her cheek seemed the caress of her lover's
lips. From his lair in the laurel, Dan Hodges, watching, knew that his
opportunity was come. The outlaw laid down his rifle, and drew from a
pocket a stout leash of cowhide, a yard long. Glancing from time to
time at his intended victim, to see that she still slept, he hastily
fashioned a slip-noose at either end of the thong. This done, he began
moving forward with the utmost caution, taking advantage of the cover,
that he might remain invisible should the girl awake. He held the
leash in his two hands ready for instant action. A slight detour
brought him around the stump of the poplar, just behind Plutina.
Advancing with even increased carefulness now, he approached until the
girl was easily within his reach. As she reclined on the tree-trunk,
her left hand hung at length on the side next to him. The right arm
was bent along the supporting branch, and the hand pillowed her cheek.
After a moment of doubt, Hodges decided that he would attempt to
secure the free wrist in a noose of the leash without awakening her.
It would be easy then to catch and bind the other wrist. In the
confusion of sudden rousing from sleep, she would make no effective
resistance. The capture would be very simple.

It was, in truth, tragically simple, yet not so simple as the outlaw
had anticipated. From dreams of tenderness, Plutina was suddenly
started to hateful realization by the scarcely perceptible touch of
this being so repugnant to her every instinct. She was confused,
indeed, but not too confused for frantic resistance. It needed no more
than recognition of the man's brutal face so close to hers to inspire
her. She fought him with every ounce of her strength. The left hand
was useless, held down by his on the thong, with the noose drawn taut
about the wrist. But the outlaw, though he contrived to get the other
noose over her right hand, failed somehow to tighten it at once. She
was able to strike at him again and again. Her blows fell on his face,
and they were sturdy blows. Hodges made no effort to avoid them, nor
struck back--only busied himself with the effort to tighten the noose.
It was evident that he disdained her attack. A certain virile pride
forbade defense against this onslaught of a girl. Finally, he brought
his left hand to aid in adjusting th