t, helplessly.

"Now, you know. It's no use. I don't complain. But, he's fastened to the
Bend with a diamond hitch!"

"Now, I know!" David Bond exclaimed.

A halloo sounded from the shack. Facing that way they saw the
section-boss. He was standing just outside the door, balanced on one
crutch. The other he was thrusting angrily at the ground.

"You see!" said Dallas. "You see! And he can't help it. Poor dad!"

The evangelist groaned and held out a hand. "Dear girl," he said, "it is
good-by. God keep you all, and God help me! I see truly that you are
tied; that I can do no good. The Colonel will surely take care that you
are protected. Lounsbury and Charles will watch. I must go with that
comforting knowledge. My love to Marylyn--Good-by."

She steadied her voice to answer. "I watch," she said. "I don't sleep
well, so it's easy. If they heard a gun at Brannon----"

He raised his hand to bless her. Then, without speaking again, walked
slowly away. She unhooked the tugs and headed the mules for home.

"Wal," called her father, sarcastically, as she approached, "what's thet
ol' sniffler want? Is day aft' t'morrow th' en' o' th' world?"

She ignored his questions, and told him of the warning.

Instantly, his anger rose. Planting himself before her, he shook a
finger close to her face. "So th' Kunnel's tryin' t' skeer us, is he?"
he demanded. "Tryin' t' git us t' come in an' leave th' Ben'.
Wal!--ain't we right under his nose? Kain't he watch out fer us? W'at's
he here fer? W'at's he paid fer?"

Then, riding in on the tide of his wrath, came dark suspicion. "An'
w'at's he so crazy t' git us away fer?" he queried. "Yah! yah! Ah'd like
t' know--Ah do know! He's got thet low-down card-sharp of a Matthews fer
his interpreter. He knows thet card-sharp wants this lan'. _Thet's_ his
game! _An' he kain't fool me!_"

"Maybe, maybe," said Dallas, leaving him to stand beside Marylyn. "But,
of course, dad, we mustn't forget that he's warned the other folks on
this side, too."

Her father glared at her. "You takin' his part, _ain't_ y'?" he said.
"M-m-m! how's thet? Are _you_ so all-fired anxious t' git t' Brannon?"

"No, dad, I'll never go to Brannon. Never! never! If I did, you, my
father, oughtn't t' misunderstand it."

He quailed before her vehemence, and hobbled shamefacedly toward the
door. "O' course, if th' Injuns come----" he began.

"They won't." She drew Marylyn to her. "And if they do, a shot'll bring
help."