"Tell Jed I was over," the big man said as they gave up their errand and turned to go. "And"--as he set a foot on the running board of his car--"any time you're our way drop in." "Yes, do!" added the girl, and her father could not check the impulse which made him turn halfway as though to shut her off. CHAPTER XIII VB Fights Jed returned that evening, worn by a hard day's riding. He was silent. VB, too, was quiet and they spoke little until the housework was finished and Jed had drawn off his boots preparatory to turning in. Then VB said: "Bob Thorpe was over to-day." "So?" "Uh-huh; wanted to buy the Captain." After a pause Jed commented: "That's natural." "Wanted me to give you the good word." The old man walked through the doorway into the little bunk room and VB heard him flop into the crude bed. A short interval of silence. "Jed," called VB, "ever hear where his daughter went to school?" A long yawn. Then: "Yep--don't remember." Another pause. "She was over, too." "Oh-ho-o-o!" The boy felt himself flushing, and then sat bolt upright, wondering soberly and seriously why it should be so--without reason. Young VB slept restlessly that night. He tossed and dreamed, waking frequently under a sense of nervous tension, then falling back to half-slumber once more. Thorpe came, and his daughter, offering fabulous sums for the Captain, which were stubbornly refused. Then, shouting at the top of her voice, the girl cried: "But I will give you kisses for him! Surely that is enough!" And VB came back to himself, sitting up in bed and wadding the blankets in his hands. He blinked in the darkness and herded his scattered senses with difficulty. Then the hands left off twisting the covers and went slowly to his throat. For the thirst was on him and in the morning he rose in the grip of the same stifling desire, and his quavering hands spilled things as he ate. Jed noticed, but made no comment. When the meal was finished he said: "S'pose I could get you to crawl up on the Captain an' take a shoot up Curley Gulch with an eye out for that black mare an' her yearlin'?" VB was glad to be alone with his horse, and as he walked to the corral, his bridle over his arm, he felt as though, much as Jed could help him, he could never bring the inspiration which the black beast offered. He opened the gate and let it swing wide. The Captain came across to him with soft nickerings, deserting the alfalfa he was munching. He thrust his muzzle into the crook of VB's elbow, and the arm tightened on it desperately, while the other hand went up to twine fingers in the luxurious mane. "Oh, Captain!" he muttered, putting his face close to the animal's cheek. "You know what it is to fight for yourself! You know--but where you found love and help when you lost that fight, I'd find--just blackness--without even a candle--"