"Oh--oh, Jack!" the girl sobbed her relief. He clasped her to him protectingly. "All right, sweetheart--all right," he said, soothingly. "You see I have been here on watch. Slade---- But that is past. I see light outside. He will soon be leaving with me." Elsie clutched him, in renewed panic. "But I'm afraid! I don't want you to leave me, Jack. You'll never, never come back! I want to go along, too. If you leave me, I'm awful afraid Cochise'll catch me!" "You dear little frightened Blossom! But I cannot take you now. You must stay with Carmena. She will keep you up here, safe from Cochise. I will come back--never fear. I will come back and take you away." "Take me--away from Dead Hole? Oh, how wonderful! Mena says I came from outside, where are all the book things and people--like you. I can't remember, but I'll just love to go out and see the wide world with you--and Mena--and Dad. Only Dad doesn't want to leave the Hole at all." "You shall go with me out of this place," replied Lennon. "I will bring the sheriff and have him arrest every member of this band of outlaws." The rug curtains of the inner room flung apart. Carmena sprang out into the passage. She drew her foster-sister away from Lennon with a grasp as resolute as it was gentle. "Go and start breakfast, Blossom," she directed. "The sooner they leave the better." Elsie darted to the doorway and disappeared. Lennon started after her. He was checked by a low-spoken command from Carmena: "Stop. I want a show-down from you, Jack Lennon. I heard what you said about the sheriff. Good thing Slade wasn't in earshot. You'd have a bullet in you by now. You may yet. What are you aiming to do?" "You say you heard me," said Lennon. "I spoke clearly." "Do you count Dad in the gang?" "Don't you?" In the brightening light of red dawn Lennon saw the girl's eyes cloud with anguish. At sight of her grief and suffering a wave of compassion surged up within him. The flood overwhelmed and submerged all his prejudice against her. He started to express his pity and sympathy--only to be checked before the words could leave his lips. The girl's eyes were ablaze. Her mouth straightened in resolute lines. "All right, Mr. Lennon," she said. "You've shown your hand. Here's mine: You'll give your pledge to leave the sheriff out of this deal, or you'll never reach the trail." "Very kind of you, indeed, to warn me, Miss Farley. I presume you will tell Slade and Cochise to be ready if I attempt to escape." Though the girl's lips remained firm, her eyes again dilated with anguish. She turned about and groped her way into the inner room. Lennon felt an odd mingling of shame and regret, of anger and an emotion that went far beyond sympathy.