“You scoundrel!” she gasped. “You lied to me! You said----” He clutched her and pushed her back with an oath, and many of the emeralds fell to the ground. Her act, and the fact that his duplicity had been discovered, enraged him. He threw her to the ground, and, drawing his revolver, seemed on the point of shooting her; but he thought better of it, and began to pick up the fallen emeralds. She still clutched and held a few of them. “Gimme them!” he commanded angrily. “You lied to me!” she said. “What if I did? Gimme them emeralds!” “Where did you get them?” “That’s none of your affair; give ’em to me.” “I won’t. They’re mine, and not yours.” “Then I’ll take ’em!” he cried, with another oath. He sprang upon her, threw her down, and by sheer strength and brutal roughness took the gems from her. Then he stood off regarding her. Dropping the gems into the bag, he closed it, and thrust it into his pocket. “See here!” he said, in a harsh tone, “I’m taking care of you, and I expect to pay myself by keepin’ these, and by keepin’ you!” “What do you mean?” she gasped. “I dunno as I could make the words plainer. I intend to keep these, and to keep you.” He picked up his revolver. “So you might as well understand it fust as last. There ain’t goin’ to be any cry-baby bizness allowed here. I saved you from them Injuns, and----” “I believe you lied to me in that, too!” “Well, I didn’t! If I hadn’t hustled with you, and got away from ’em, your purty scalp would be soon dryin’ in some Injun lodge; and that wouldn’t be pleasant for you. Now see here!” He stood before her, large, uncouth, malevolent; a very brute of a man, whose sheer brutal strength was enough to overawe and reduce to subjection even a reasonably strong man. “Now see here! I ain’t goin’ to fool with you! You’re goin’ to do the things I say. I’ve got these emeralds, and I’ve got you. Jes’ as soon as it’s safe, I’m goin’ to make fer the Mexican line. Once across it, I know plenty good hidin’ places. I’ll treat you well, if you’ll let me; if you don’t let me treat ye well, that’s your own fault, not mine. You’re goin’ to live with me from this on as my wife.” She uttered a scream, and drew back. He laughed; he knew she could not get away. “Hurts yer feelin’s, does it? Well, it needn’t. I’ve seen worse-lookin’ men than I am.” “But never such a villain!”