“Yes.  If you don’t, I shall.”

“Forever?”

“Forever!”

Jane sighed.  Another shadow had lengthened down the sage slope to cast further darkness upon her.  A melancholy sweetness pervaded her resignation.  The boy who had left her had returned a man, nobler, stronger, one in whom she divined something unbending as steel.  There might come a moment later when she would wonder why she had not fought against his will, but just now she yielded to it.  She liked him as well—­nay, more, she thought, only her emotions were deadened by the long, menacing wait for the bursting storm.

Once before she had held out her hand to him—­when she gave it; now she stretched it tremblingly forth in acceptance of the decree circumstance had laid upon them.  Venters bowed over it kissed it, pressed it hard, and half stifled a sound very like a sob.  Certain it was that when he raised his head tears glistened in his eyes.

“Some—­women—­have a hard lot,” he said, huskily.  Then he shook his powerful form, and his rags lashed about him.  “I’ll say a few things to Tull—­when I meet him.”

“Bern—­you’ll not draw on Tull?  Oh, that must not be!  Promise me—­”

“I promise you this,” he interrupted, in stern passion that thrilled while it terrorized her.  “If you say one more word for that plotter I’ll kill him as I would a mad coyote!”

Jane clasped her hands.  Was this fire-eyed man the one whom she had once made as wax to her touch?  Had Venters become Lassiter and Lassiter Venters?

“I’ll—­say no more,” she faltered.

“Jane, Lassiter once called you blind,” said Venters.  “It must be true.  But I won’t upbraid you.  Only don’t rouse the devil in me by praying for Tull!  I’ll try to keep cool when I meet him.  That’s all.  Now there’s one more thing I want to ask of you—­the last.  I’ve found a valley down in the Pass.  It’s a wonderful place.  I intend to stay there.  It’s so hidden I believe no one can find it.  There’s good water, and browse, and game.  I want to raise corn and stock.  I need to take in supplies.  Will you give them to me?”

“Assuredly.  The more you take the better you’ll please me—­and perhaps the less my—­my enemies will get.”

“Venters, I reckon you’ll have trouble packin’ anythin’ away,” put in Lassiter.

“I’ll go at night.”

“Mebbe that wouldn’t be best.  You’d sure be stopped.  You’d better go early in the mornin’—­say, just after dawn.  That’s the safest time to move round here.”

“Lassiter, I’ll be hard to stop,” returned Venters, darkly.

“I reckon so.”

“Bern,” said Jane, “go first to the riders’ quarters and get yourself a complete outfit.  You’re a—­a sight.  Then help yourself to whatever else you need—­burros, packs, grain, dried fruits, and meat.  You must take coffee and sugar and flour—­all kinds of supplies.  Don’t forget corn and seeds.  I remember how you used to starve.  Please—­please take all you can pack away from here.  I’ll make a bundle for you, which you mustn’t open till you’re in your valley.  How I’d like to see it!  To judge by you and Wrangle, how wild it must be!”