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straining body a tremendous jerk backward； he felt the same strange
thrill； the dark joy that he had known when his fist had smashed the
face of Simm Bruce。 Greaves had leeredhe had corroborated Bruce's
vile insinuation about Ellen Jorth。 So it was more than hate that
actuated Jean Isbel。
Greaves was heavy and powerful。 He whirled himself； feet first；
over backward； in a lunge like that of a lassoed steer。 But Jean's
hold held。 They rolled down the bank into the sandy ditch； and Jean
landed uppermost； with his body at right angles with that of his adversary。
〃Greaves； your hunch was right；〃 hissed Jean。 〃It's the half…breed。
。 。 。 An' I'm goin' to cut youfirst for Ellen Jorthan' then for
Gaston Isbel！ 〃
Jean gazed down into the gleaming eyes。 Then his right arm whipped
the big blade。 It flashed。 It fell。 Low down； as far as Jean could
reach； it entered Greaves's body。
All the heavy； muscular frame of Greaves seemed to contract and burst。
His spring was that of an animal in terror and agony。 It was so
tremendous that it broke Jean's hold。 Greaves let out a strangled
yell that cleared； swelling wildly； with a hideous mortal note。 He
wrestled free。 The big knife came out。 Supple and swift； he got to
his； knees。 He had his gun out when Jean reached him again。 Like a
bear Jean enveloped him。 Greaves shot； but he could not raise the gun；
nor twist it far enough。 Then Jean； letting go with his right arm；
swung the bowie。 Greaves's strength went out in an awful； hoarse cry。
His gun boomed again； then dropped from his hand。 He swayed。 Jean
let go。 And that enemy of the Isbels sank limply in the ditch。
Jean's eyes roved for his rifle and caught the starlit gleam of it。
Snatching it up； he leaped over the embankment and ran straight for
the cabins。 From all around yells of the Jorth faction attested to
their excitement and fury。
A fence loomed up gray in the obscurity。 Jean vaulted it； darted
across the lane into the shadow of the corral； and soon gained the
first cabin。 Here he leaned to regain his breath。 His heart pounded
high and seemed too large for his breast。 The hot blood beat and
surged all over his body。 Sweat poured off him。 His teeth were
clenched tight as a vise； and it took effort on his part to open
his mouth so he could breathe more freely and deeply。 But these
physical sensations were as nothing compared to the tumult of his mind。
Then the instinct； the spell； let go its grip and he could think。
He had avenged Guy； he bad depleted the ranks of the Jorths； he had
made good the brag of his father； all of which afforded him satisfaction。
But these thoughts were not accountable for all that be felt； especially
for the bittersweet sting of the fact that death to the defiler of Ellen
Jorth could not efface the doubt； the regret which seemed to grow with
the hours。
Groping his way into the woodshed； he entered the kitchen and；
calling low； he went on into the main cabin。
〃Jean！ Jean！〃 came his father's shaking voice。
〃Yes； I'm back；〃 replied Jean。
〃Areyouall right？〃
〃Yes。 I think I've got a bullet crease on my leg。 I didn't know I
had it till now。 。 。 。 It's bleedin' a little。 But it's nothin'。〃
Jean heard soft steps and some one reached shaking hands for him。
They belonged to his sister Ann。 She embraced him。 Jean felt the
heave and throb of her breast。
〃Why； Ann； I'm not hurt；〃 he said； and held her close。 〃Now you
lie down an' try to sleep。〃
In the black darkness of the cabin Jean led her back to the corner
and his heart was full。 Speech was difficult； because the very touch
of Ann's hands had made him divine that the success of his venture in
no wise changed the plight of the women。
〃Wal； what happened out there？〃 demanded Blaisdell。
〃I got two of them；〃 replied Jean。 〃That fellow who was shootin'
from the ridge west。 An' the other was Greaves。〃
〃Hah！〃 exclaimed his father。
〃Shore then it was Greaves yellin'；〃 declared Blaisdell。 〃By God；
I never heard such yells！ Whad 'd you do； Jean？〃
〃I knifed him。 You see； I'd planned to slip up on one after another。
An' I didn't want to make noise。 But I didn't get any farther than
Greaves。〃
〃Wal； I reckon that 'll end their shootin' in the dark；〃 muttered
Gaston Isbel。 〃We've got to be on the lookout for somethin' else
fire； most likely。〃
The old rancher's surmise proved to be partially correct。 Jorth's
faction ceased the shooting。 Nothing further was seen or heard from
them。 But this silence and apparent break in the siege were harder
to bear than deliberate hostility。 The long； dark hours dragged by。
The men took turns watching and resting； but none of them slept。
At last the blackness paled and gray dawn stole out of the east。
The sky turned rose over the distant range and daylight came。
The children awoke hungry and noisy； having slept away their fears。
The women took advantage of the quiet morning hour to get a hot breakfast。
〃Maybe they've gone away；〃 suggested Guy Isbel's wife； peering out of
the window。 She had done that several times since daybreak。 Jean saw
her somber gaze search the pasture until it rested upon the dark； prone
shape of her dead husband； lying face down in the grass。 Her look
worried Jean。
〃No； Esther； they've not gone yet；〃 replied Jean。 〃I've seen some of
them out there at the edge of the brush。〃
Blaisdell was optimistic。 He said Jean's night work would have its
effect and that the Jorth contingent would not renew the siege very
determinedly。 It turned out； however； that Blaisdell was wrong。
Directly after sunrise they began to pour volleys from four sides
and from closer range。 During the night Jorth's gang had thrown
earth banks and constructed log breastworks； from behind which they
were now firing。 Jean and his comrades could see the flashes of fire
and streaks of smoke to such good advantage that they began to return
the volleys。
In half an hour the cabin was so full of smoke that Jean could not see
the womenfolk in their corner。 The fierce attack then abated somewhat；
and the firing became more intermittent； and therefore more carefully
aimed。 A glancing bullet cut a furrow in Blaisdell's hoary head；
making a painful； though not serious wound。 It was Esther Isbel who
stopped the flow of blood and bound Blaisdell's head； a task which
she performed skillfully and without a tremor。 The old Texan could
not sit still during this operation。 Sight of the blood on his hands；
which he tried to rub off； appeared to inflame him to a great degree。
〃Isbel； we got to go out thar；〃 he kept repeating； 〃an' kill them all。〃
〃No； we're goin' to stay heah；〃 replied Gaston Isbel。 〃Shore I'm
lookin' for Blue an' Fredericks an' Gordon to open up out there。
They ought to be heah； an' if they are y'u shore can bet they've
got the fight sized up。 〃
Isbel's hopes did not materialize。 The shooting continued without
any lull until about midday。 Then the Jorth faction stopped。
〃Wal； now what's up？〃 queried Isbel。 〃Boys； hold your fire an'
let's wait。〃
Gradually the smoke wafted out of the windows and doors； until the
room was once more clear。