The Forfeit

houlder overlooking the valley. It was where the hard-beaten, convergin

e night scavengers had not emerged from their hidings to bay the silvery radiance of a moonlit night. The deep hush beneath the myriad of eyes

at only half read what lay before them in the starlight. Their gaze rested upon one definite spot whose shadowy outline was indicated by the outstr

t the distance, that, for a while, doubt prevailed. Then conviction supervened as each of the watchers recorded his observation and a sigh of certitude made

n, it was the beam of some lantern carelessly set down and left alight. Whatever it was it was certainly of human agency, and human a

ssed excitement. Her tone was full of an eagerness th

arding it. There's no mistake. It's a bee-line right across. And the men who fired up this way came out of those trees. It's steep down these paths. They sort of zigzag their way, but it's a path any horse

ere engrossed with the object of their straini

There was just a shade of eagerness in her manner now. "That's Lightfoot's camp, Mr. McFarlane," she assured. "I've done all that

. A curious repulsion surged through him. In the brief two years of his married life no such sensation had ever possessed him. But he recognized i

t mussed up with what's goin' to happen. It's man's work, not a wo

scattered along the path, well sheltered from view, a la

ned to he

ob?" she said, almost pleading

Even in the darkness Effie felt som

cared?" he

hook he

red at. But you've nothing

en't

oing down the

the woman's whispering voice. Bob

ot to get your wages. I'm going to see y

r lips. But they remained unuttered. A strong effort of restraint checked them. She turne

a shrug. And she remained with her back turned up

dle. Dug McFarlane had given his final orders. In a moment Bob surveyed the scene

saw him an

ong?" he enqui

ur

fore we've done. But I don't guess that'll need to worry us any. The man who 'passes

es

was incapable of seeing the broader aspect of anything pertaining to himself. He saw only as his feelings dictated, without logic or reason of any sort. He was of that nature which leans for support upon prejudices absorbed in early youth. Principle

ed up by the depths below. She knew none of them personally, but she knew they were all ranchers and ranchmen of varying degree. She knew that each individual had at some time suffered at the hands of the rustlers. That deep in each heart was t

ice of motive, but from the merciles

, and memories crowded. But almost as they were born they died. Their place was once more taken by the recollection of the life she had been forced to endure for the sake of her first youthful passion. Her heart hardened. No impulse had driven her to her present act

see this out. Home? She had no desire for her home. The night had no ter

he valley beyond. Her impatience had developed into something almost feverish. She wan

ould be played out down there in the valley. A sort of dementia had taken possession of her. She had no thought of the blood to be poured out at her bidding. She thought

own. And slowly depression replaced her more tense emotions. It all seemed

om her thought. Again impatience grew, hot, angry impatience, and drove depression out. What were they doing down there? Why did they not surround the bluff? There were

e sound banished the last of her half-angry causing. The moment had com

ath. Far away in the distance it seemed she heard a sharp cry. It was the final shriek of a hu

hone out twinkling and gleaming like some evil eye. For the rest-th

r. The breathlessness of the whole thing was upon her now, ma

the great, sun-dried, resinous pine wood with paralyzing rapidity. Another great sheet of flame soared upward further away to the right. Then another

burning. A light smoke haze began to flood the picture. Now she beheld moving figures in the lurid glow which backed the scene. They were horsemen. But whether or not they w

ere in that cauldron of conflict. And though at moments shudders passed through her body, they were neither shudders of weakness nor womanish ho

The night shadows had been swept aside, and the scene lay spread out before her eyes. She saw dismounted ri

hief group. Then, as the raging fire ate its way through to the hither side of the bluff, and turned the

conflagration fanned her cheeks. She was wondering, speculating, and

grass down there. The flying sparks. But almost in the same breath she realized that there was more, far more in that movement. The grass was

he deliberate administration of justice as these men understood it. It was crude, deadly, and full of a painful horror, and now, now, in saner moments, she beheld the dawn of emotions which had come all too late. Whither were those me