Bobby eyed her with loathing but it was not as she had been on their previous encounter, for about her manner was something more concrete, as though she cherished a definite grudge this time. "Is your memory so bad that you don't recollect what I told you before?" she asked slowly. "I told you once to keep away from us; I tell you that again. This is our range now; your stock ain't got any rights here." "I'll grant you that I have no right to ask. I did what I could to keep my cattle out of here. The man I set to guard the Gap was shot down; that is why they are here this morning; that is why I must have your water, because it is the only water available. "I am willing to pay. This means very much to me. Won't you name a price, give me water? I am asking it as a favor and will be willing to pay for that favor." "Favor!" The girl shot the word out harshly. "Favor! You're a sweet one to come askin' _me_ for a favor!" A fever of rage rose in her face and her brows gathered threateningly. "Nothin' we've got is for sale to you! I wouldn't help you if I could save your outfit by liftin' my hand ... an' if I was starvin' for that you'd give me in pay!" Jane was nonplussed. Bobby's breast rose and fell quickly and her white teeth gleamed behind drawn lips. She was the catamount, ready to fight! "But think of these cattle! They're suffering--" "Cattle! You ask me to think of cattle because they're suffering and you'd make human beings suffer from worse things than thirst!" "I don't understand you. What have I done that would make people suffer?" "I s'pose you don't know?"--jeeringly. "I s'pose you don't _want_ to know in front of him,"--with a flirt of her quirt to indicate Beck. "I wouldn't either if I was in your place, you--sneak!" "Sneak?" Jane repeated, stung to open resentment. "Sneak?" "Yes, sneak. You'd run us out of this country if you could, but you can't. You'd take my man if you could ... but you can't!"--through shut teeth. "Your man?"--looking at the girl and then at Beck in bewilderment. "Your--" "Yes, my man! Oh, don't think I don't know. I saw it all. I saw one of your hands take him to your home last night. I followed him, I watched through your window. I seen you beg with him and plead with him. I know what you want.... "Why, he's told me everything, from th' first! You got him to follow you out here, you got mad at him and threw him out of your house once. Now you want him back. You want him back. I suppose while he,"--tilting her head toward Tom--"is away on round-up! You want him back when you've got everything you want and he's all I got, all I ever had!" Tears sprang into her eyes and her voice came trembling through trembling lips. Jane, swept by confusion, sought words and found none. It was preposterous! And yet the very accusation degraded her. Drawn into a quarrel over a man, and such a man!