“I don’t know,” she said. “I tore his face to ribbons—I’d have killed him if I could. He crawled that way.” She nodded toward the north. Fair loosed her gently and was turning away, when Bossick caught his arm. “Hold hard, Smith—Mr. Fair,” he said, “not in your condition. Jermyn—go see what you can find. In the meantime—there’s Big Basford. The boy was quick——” Here Rod Stone broke in, speaking frankly. “I’d like to say men, that when young Allison killed Big Basford he got the man who threw his father down Rainbow Cliff and stretched the rope that lamed _him_. John Allison had found the only outside way to the rim and was looking down into the Pot here, when Basford went to meet him.” For a long moment there was silence. “It would seem to me,” said Bossick slowly, “that there has been a deal of justice done here this day—a very great deal of justice. It’s destiny.” Nance Allison looked up at him with a light in her blue eyes. “It’s the hand of God, Mr. Bossick,” she said gravely, “no less.” The rancher nodded. “Maybe,” he said, as Jermyn and several others who had accompanied him, came back across the basin with Sud Provine among them. One look at the man was sufficient. “I guess he’s had all that was coming to him for the present,” said Bossick grimly. “Take him along to the house. We’ll go gather in the rest.” And so, in the full day, with the risen sun touching all the tapestried slopes of Mystery with gold, Cattle Kate Cathrew went back to her stronghold under the tinted cliff—went in state with a retinue behind her. She had died as she had lived, spectacularly, and her turbulent soul should have been satisfied. With her went one man who had loved her after his selfish fashion, another who would have crawled in the dust to kiss her feet, while a third, borne rolling limply on a saddle, followed after more closely than any other. The young cowboy from the Upper Country absent-mindedly rolled a cigarette. “She was worth it,” he said softly to the bearded man beside him, “in spite of all!” “Hell!” said the other, “look yonder! One square foot of his satin hide was worth her whole body! I always thought he’d get her, some time, some way. I’m going to dig up my last dollar an’ buy him from whoever owns him now.” Bluefire stood against the cliff, watching with interested eyes this strange procession passing. * * * * * Another spring was smiling on the Deep Heart hills. On the broad slopes, the towering slants, the conifers sang their everlasting song, tuned by the little winds from the south. White clouds sailed the vault above leading their shadows for a little space upon the soft green country. On the wide brown flats by Nameless the young crops were springing, vigorous and safe, and some few herds browsed peacefully on the rugged range. In the doorway of the cabin by the river, Nance Fair sat with Sonny in her lap, watching the slope beyond.