"In what is the danger?" "If you find none, there is none. For my part I have nothing to do with women." But David was already whistling to Glani. "One woman can be no more terrible than one man," he declared to Benjamin. "And I have made Joseph, who is great of body, bend like a blade of grass in the wind." "Farewell," said Connor, his voice trembling with joy. "Farewell, and God keep you!" "Farewell, Benjamin, my brother, and have no fear." Connor followed him with his eyes, half-triumphant, half-fearful. What would happen at the gate? He would have given much to see even from a distance the duel between the master and the woman. At the gate of the patio David turned and waved his hand. "I shall conquer!" And then he was gone. Connor stared down at the grass with a cynical smile until he felt another gaze upon him, and he became aware of the little beast--eyes of Joseph glittering. The giant had paused in his work with the stones. "What are you thinking of, Joseph?" asked the gambler. Joseph made an indescribable gesture of hate and fear. "Of the whip!" he said. "I also opened the gate of the Garden. On whose back will the whip fall this time?" _CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE_ Near the end of the eucalyptus avenue, and close to the gate, David dismounted and made Jacob do likewise. "We may come on them by surprise and listen," he said. "A soft step has won great causes." They went forward cautiously, interchanging sharp glances as though they were stalking some dangerous beast, and so they came within earshot of the gate and sheltered from view of it by the edge of the cliff. David paused and cautioned his companion with a mutely raised hand. "He lived through the winter," Ephraim was saying. "I took him into my room and cherished him by the warmth of my fire and with rubbing, so that when spring came, and gentler weather, he was still alive--a great leggy colt with a backbone that almost lifted through the skin. Only high bright eyes comforted me and told me that my work was a good work." David and Jacob interchanged nods of wonder, for Ephraim was telling to this woman the dearest secret of his life. It was how he had saved the weakling colt, Jumis, and raised him to a beautiful, strong stallion, only to have him die suddenly in the height of his promise. Certainly Ephraim was nearly won over by the woman; it threw David on guard. "Go back to Abra," he whispered. "Ride on to the gate and tell her boldly to be gone. I shall wait here, and in time of need I shall help you. Make haste. Ephraim grows like wet clay under her fingers. Ah, how wise is Benjamin!" Jacob obeyed. He stole away and presently shot past at the full gallop of Abra. The stallion came to a sliding halt, and Jacob spoke from his back, which was a grave discourtesy in the Garden of Eden.