“Don't think! You'll have enough of that to do, managing your own affairs. All this doesn't change a thing for you. It makes you feel bad--and for that I could kill him, almost!” So much flashed out, and then he brought himself in hand again. “You've still got to pack your trunks, and take the train home, just the same as if this hadn't happened. I didn't like the idea at first, but now I see it's the best thing you can do, for the present. After awhile--we'll see about it. Don't look out, if it upsets you, Val. You can't do any good, and you've got to save your nerves. Let pull down the shade--” “Oh, I've got to see!” Perversely, she caught up the field glasses from the table, drew them from their case, and, letting down the upper window sash with a slam, focused the glasses upon the river. “He usually crosses right at the mouth of the coulee--” She swung the glasses slowly about. “Oh, there he is--just on the bank. The river looks rather high--oh, your horse doesn't want to go in, Kent. He whirls on his hind feet, and tried to bolt when Manley started in--” Kent had been watching her face jealously. “Here, let me take a look, will you? I can tell--” She yielded reluctantly, and in a moment he had caught the focus. “Tell me what you see, Kent--everything,” she begged, looking anxiously from his face to the river. “Well, old Jake is fogging along down the coulee--but he ain't to the river yet, not by a long shot! Ah-h! Man's riding back to take a run in. That's the stuff--got Michael's feet wet that time, the old freak! They came near going clean outa sight.” “The sheriff--is he close enough--” Val began fearfully. “Oh, we're too far away to do a thing!” Kent kept his eyes to the glasses. “We couldn't do a thing if we were right there. Man's in swimming water already. Jake ain't riding in--from the motions he's ordering Man back.” “Oh, please let me look a minute! I won't get excited, Kent, and I'll tell you everything I see--_please!_” Val's teeth were fairly chattering with excitement, so that Kent hesitated before he gave up the glasses. But it seemed boorish to refuse. She snatched at them as he took them from his eyes, and placed them nervously to her own. “Oh, I see them both!” she cried, after a second or two. “The sheriff's got his rifle in his hands--Kent, do you suppose he'd--” “Just a bluff, pal. They all do it. What--” Val gave a start. “Oh, he shot, Kent! I saw him take aim--it looked as if he pointed it straight at Manley, and the smoke--” She moved the glasses slowly, searching the river. “Well, he'd have to be a dandy, to hit anything on the water, and with the sun in his eyes, too,” Kent assured her, hardly taking his eyes from her face with its varying expression. Almost he could see what was taking place at the river, just by watching her.