A halloo sounded from the shack. Facing that way they saw the section-boss. He was standing just outside the door, balanced on one crutch. The other he was thrusting angrily at the ground. "You see!" said Dallas. "You see! And he can't help it. Poor dad!" The evangelist groaned and held out a hand. "Dear girl," he said, "it is good-by. God keep you all, and God help me! I see truly that you are tied; that I can do no good. The Colonel will surely take care that you are protected. Lounsbury and Charles will watch. I must go with that comforting knowledge. My love to Marylyn--Good-by." She steadied her voice to answer. "I watch," she said. "I don't sleep well, so it's easy. If they heard a gun at Brannon----" He raised his hand to bless her. Then, without speaking again, walked slowly away. She unhooked the tugs and headed the mules for home. "Wal," called her father, sarcastically, as she approached, "what's thet ol' sniffler want? Is day aft' t'morrow th' en' o' th' world?" She ignored his questions, and told him of the warning. Instantly, his anger rose. Planting himself before her, he shook a finger close to her face. "So th' Kunnel's tryin' t' skeer us, is he?" he demanded. "Tryin' t' git us t' come in an' leave th' Ben'. Wal!--ain't we right under his nose? Kain't he watch out fer us? W'at's he here fer? W'at's he paid fer?" Then, riding in on the tide of his wrath, came dark suspicion. "An' w'at's he so crazy t' git us away fer?" he queried. "Yah! yah! Ah'd like t' know--Ah do know! He's got thet low-down card-sharp of a Matthews fer his interpreter. He knows thet card-sharp wants this lan'. _Thet's_ his game! _An' he kain't fool me!_" "Maybe, maybe," said Dallas, leaving him to stand beside Marylyn. "But, of course, dad, we mustn't forget that he's warned the other folks on this side, too." Her father glared at her. "You takin' his part, _ain't_ y'?" he said. "M-m-m! how's thet? Are _you_ so all-fired anxious t' git t' Brannon?" "No, dad, I'll never go to Brannon. Never! never! If I did, you, my father, oughtn't t' misunderstand it." He quailed before her vehemence, and hobbled shamefacedly toward the door. "O' course, if th' Injuns come----" he began. "They won't." She drew Marylyn to her. "And if they do, a shot'll bring help." He was in the doorway, now. "W'y," he cried, "here's thet fool Norwegian goin' t' th' landin'. Wal, he is pritty shy on sand!" "We'll be killed if the Indians come, Dallas." It was Marylyn, whispering up fearfully to her sister. "We'll be careful, honey. Keep away from the coulee after this. Walk toward Brannon, always." Dallas spent the afternoon out of doors, where everything spoke of peace. Not even a hand's breadth of cloud floated upon the sky. The air was warm, and fragrant with the new growth. Magpies chattered by. The bobolinks sent up their hearty song.