As he placed her in the saddle and adjusted one stirrup to her bandaged foot, she turned and quietly thanked Darragh for the clothing. "And that was a brave thing you did," she added, "--to risk your life for my father's property. Because the morocco case which you saved proved to be empty does not make what you did any the less loyal and gallant." Darragh gazed at her, astounded; took the hand she stretched out to him; held it with a silly expression on his features. "Hal Smith," she said with perceptible emotion, "I take back what I once said to you on Owl Marsh. No man is a real crook by nature who did what you have done. That is 'faithfulness unto death'--the supreme offer--loyalty----" Her voice broke; she pressed Darragh's hand convulsively and her lip quivered. Darragh, with the morocco case full of jewels buttoned into his hip pocket, stood motionless, mutely swallowing his amazement. What in the world did this girl mean, talking about an _empty_ case? But this was no time to unravel that sort of puzzle. He turned to Stormont who, as perplexed as he, had been listening in silence. "Lead your horse forward," he said. "I know the trail. All you need do is to follow me." And, shouldering his rifle, he walked leisurely into the woods, the cartridge belt sagging _en bandouliere_ across his woollen undershirt. II When Stormont gently halted his horse it was dawn, and Eve, sagging against him with one arm around his neck, sat huddled up on her saddle fast asleep. In a birch woods, on the eastern slope of the divide, stood the log camp, dimly visible in the silvery light of early morning. Darragh, cautioning Stormont with a slight gesture, went forward, mounted the rustic veranda, and knocked at a lighted window. A man, already dressed, came and peered out at him, then hurried to open the door. "I didn't know you, Captain Darragh----" he began, but fell silent under the warning gesture that checked him. "I've a guest outside. She's Clinch's step-daughter, Eve Strayer. She knows me by the name of Hal Smith. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir----" "Cut _that_ out, too. I'm Hal Smith to you, also. State Trooper Stormont is out there with Eve Strayer. He was a comrade of mine in Russia. I'm Hal Smith to him, by mutual agreement. _Now_ do you get me, Ralph?" "Sure, Hal. Go on; spit it out!" They both grinned. "You're a hootch runner," said Darragh. "This is your shack. The hatchery is only a blind. That's all you have to know, Ralph. So put that girl into my room and let her sleep till she wakes of her own accord. "Stormont and I will take two of the guest-bunks in the _L._ And for heaven's sake make us some coffee when you make your own. But first come out and take the horse." They went out together. Stormont lifted Eve out of the saddle. She did not wake. Darragh led the way into the log house and along a corridor to his own room.