The young fellow looked at Alice with a keen glitter in his eyes. "I'll make answer myself," he said; "I'm very particular about my barkers." Alice, as she heard his revolver's answering word leap into the silent air and bound and rebound along the cliffs, was filled with a sudden fear that the sheriff might be guided back by the sound--and this indeed the fugitive himself remarked as he came back to his seat beside her. "If he's anywhere on this side of the divide he'll sure come back. But I've done my best. The Lord God Almighty has dropped the snow down here and shut me in with you, and I'm not complaining." There was no answer to be made to this fatalism of utterance, and none to the worship of his eyes. "Lift me up!" commanded Alice; "I want to look out and see if I can see anybody." The outlaw took her in his arms, supporting her in the threshold in order that she might see over the vast sea of white. But no human being was to be seen. "Take me back--inside," Alice said to the man who had her in his arms. "I feel cold here." Once again, and with a feeling that it was, perhaps, for the last time, he carried her back to her bench and re-enveloped her in her blankets. "Stay here with me now," she whispered to him, as she looked up into his face. And the outlaw, filled with gladness and pride, threw himself on the floor beside her. VII The signal pistol-shots came nearer and nearer, but very slowly; and as the outlaw sat beside Alice's couch he took her Bible from his pocket and said: "I made a stab at reading this last night." She smiled. "I saw you. How did you like it?" "I didn't exactly get aboard someway." "What was the trouble?" "I guess it was because I kept thinking of you--and my own place in the game. Three days ago I didn't care what became of me, but now I want a chance. I don't see any chance coming my way, but if I had it I'd make use of it." He looked at her a moment in silence, then with sudden intensity broke forth. "Do you know what you mean to me? When I look at your face and eyes I'm crazy hungry for you." She shrank from him and called to Mrs. Adams. He went on. "Oh, you needn't be afraid. I just wanted to say it, that's all. If there was only some other way to straighten myself--but I can't go to jail. I can't stand up to be clipped like a poodle-dog, then put on striped clothing and walk lock-step--I can't do it! They'll put me in for ten years. I'd be old when I got out." He shuddered. "No, I won't do that! I'd rather die here in the hills." She grew white in sympathy. "It is a frightful price to pay for one insane act, and yet--crime should be punished." "I'm getting my punishment now," he replied, with darkly brooding glance. "There's a good old man and two women, my sisters, waitin' for me down the slope. If I could reach home I'd try to live straight, but it's a long and dangerous trail between here and there."