“We might take them up into the mountains and camp out for a while,” he said, presently. “I know a wild place up among the crags. It’s a hard climb, but worth the work. I never saw a more beautiful spot. Fine water, and it will be cool. Pretty soon it’ll be too hot here for your party to go out-of-doors.” “You mean to hide me away among the crags and clouds?” replied Madeline, with a laugh. “Well, it’d amount to that. Your friends need not know. Perhaps in a few weeks this spell of trouble on the border will be over till fall.” “You say it’s a hard climb up to this place?” “It surely is. Your friends will get the real thing if they make that trip.” “That suits me. Helen especially wants something to happen. And they are all crazy for excitement.” “They’d get it up there. Bad trails, canyons to head, steep climbs, wind-storms, thunder and lightning, rain, mountain-lions and wildcats.” “Very well, I am decided. Stewart, of course you will take charge? I don’t believe I—Stewart, isn’t there something more you could tell me—why you think, why you know my own personal liberty is in peril?” “Yes. But do not ask me what it is. If I hadn’t been a rebel soldier I would never have known.” “If you had not been a rebel soldier, where would Madeline Hammond be now?” she asked, earnestly. He made no reply. “Stewart,” she continued, with warm impulse, “you once mentioned a debt you owed me—” And seeing his dark face pale, she wavered, then went on. “It is paid.” “No, no,” he answered, huskily. “Yes. I will not have it otherwise.” “No. That never can be paid.” Madeline held out her hand. “It is paid, I tell you,” she repeated. Suddenly he drew back from the outstretched white hand that seemed to fascinate him. “I’d kill a man to touch your hand. But I won’t touch it on the terms you offer.” His unexpected passion disconcerted her. “Stewart, no man ever before refused to shake hands with me, for any reason. It—it is scarcely flattering,” she said, with a little laugh. “Why won’t you? Because you think I offer it as mistress to servant—rancher to cowboy?” “No.” “Then why? The debt you owed me is paid. I cancel it. So why not shake hands upon it, as men do?” “I won’t. That’s all.” “I fear you are ungracious, whatever your reason,” she replied. “Still, I may offer it again some day. Good night.” He said good night and turned. Madeline wonderingly watched him go down the path with his hand on the black horse’s neck.