out an oath between his teeth; past the door of his own saloon,
which was a-light, and whence came the sound of revelry, through the
scattered houses, where he went more by feel than by sight, up to
the door of his own shack. He fitted his key in the lock, but the
door swung open without his aid, at which he remembered that he had
only pulled it after him when he came away with Necia. He closed it
behind him now, and locked it, for he had some thinking to do; then
felt through his pockets for a match, and, striking it, bent over
his lamp to adjust the wick. It flared up steady and strong at last,
flooding the narrow place with its illumination; then he
straightened up and turned towards the bed to throw off his coat,
when suddenly every muscle of his body leaped with an uncontrollable
spasm, as if he had uncovered a deadly serpent coiled and ready to
spring. In spite of himself his lungs contracted as if with the grip
of giant hands, and his breath came forth in a startled cry.

John Gale was sitting at his table, barely an arm's-length away, his
gray-blue eyes fixed upon him, and the deep seams of his heavy face
set as if graven in stone. His huge, knotted hands were upon the
table, and between them lay a naked knife.




CHAPTER XVI

JOHN GALE'S HOUR


It was a heathenish time of night to arouse the girl, thought