“So you've been lost! And now you're found--come safe back to your loving brother. Ain't that luck for you? Hunted all over Texas till you found him, eh? And it's a powerful big State, too.” She caught sight of something that made her forget all else. “Have you got water in that canteen?” she asked, her parched eyes staring at it. “Yes, dearie.” “Give it me.” He squatted tailor-fashion on the ground, put the canteen between his knees, and shoved his teeth in a crooked grin. “Thirsty?” “I'm dying for a drink.” “You look like a right lively corpse.” “Give it to me.” “Will you take it now or wait till you get it?” “My throat's baked. I want water,” she said hoarsely. “Most folks want a lot they never get.” She walked toward him with her hand outstretched. “I tell you I've got to have it.” He laughed evilly. “Water's at a premium right now. Likely there ain't enough here to get us both out of this infernal hole alive. Yes, it's sure at a premium.” He let his eye drift insolently over her and take stock of his prey, in the same feline way of a cat with a mouse, gloating over her distress and the details of her young good looks. His tainted gaze got the faint pure touch of color in her face, the reddish tinge of her wavy brown hair, the desirable sweetness of her rounded maidenhood. If her step dragged, if dusky hollows shadowed her lids, if the native courage had been washed from the hopeless eyes, there was no spring of manliness hid deep within him that rose to refresh her exhaustion. No pity or compunction stirred at her sweet helplessness. “Do you want my money?” she asked wearily. “I'll take that to begin with.” She tossed him her purse. “There should be seventy dollars there. May I have a drink now?” “Not yet, my dear. First you got to come up to me and put your arms round--” He broke off with a curse, for she was flying toward the little circle of cottonwoods some forty yards away. She had caught a glimpse of the water-hole and was speeding for it. “Come back here,” he called, and in a rage let fly a bullet after her. She paid no heed, did not stop till she reached the spring and threw herself down full length to drink, to lave her burnt face, to drink again of the alkali brackish water that trickled down her throat like nectar incomparably delicious. She was just rising to her feet when Struve hobbled up. “Don't you think you can play with me, missie. When I give the word you stop in your tracks, and when I say 'Jump!' step lively.” She did not answer. Her head was lifted in a listening attitude, as if to catch some sound that came faintly to her from a distance. “You're mine, my beauty, to do with as I please, and don't you forget it.”