The Border Legion

Joan had a swift, sharp gaze for the men who rose from their

lounging to greet the travelers. Jim Cleve was not among them. Her

heart left her throat then, and she breathed easier. How could she

meet him?

Kells was in better shape than at noon of the preceding day. Still,

he had to be lifted off his horse. Joan heard all the men talking at

once. They crowded round Pearce, each lending a hand. However, Kells

appeared able to walk into the cabin. It was Bate Wood who led Joan

inside.

There was a long room, with stone fireplace, rude benches and a

table, skins and blankets on the floor, and lanterns and weapons on

the wall. At one end Joan saw a litter of cooking utensils and

shelves of supplies.

Suddenly Kells's impatient voice silenced the clamor of questions.

"I'm not hurt," he said. "I'm all right--only weak and tired.

Fellows, this girl is my wife. ... Joan, you'll find a room there--

at the back of the cabin. Make yourself comfortable."

Joan was only too glad to act upon his suggestion. A door had been

cut through the back wall. It was covered with a blanket. When she

swept this aside she came upon several steep steps that led up to a

smaller, lighter cabin of two rooms, separated by a partition of

boughs. She dropped the blanket behind her and went up the steps.

Then she saw that the new cabin had been built against an old one.

It had no door or opening except the one by which she had entered.

It was light because the chinks between the logs were open. The

furnishings were a wide bench of boughs covered with blankets, a

shelf with a blurred and cracked mirror hanging above it, a table

made of boxes, and a lantern. This room was four feet higher than

the floor of the other cabin. And at the bottom of the steps leaned

a half-dozen slender trimmed poles. She gathered presently that

these poles were intended to be slipped under crosspieces above and

fastened by a bar below, which means effectually barricaded the

opening. Joan could stand at the head of the steps and peep under an

edge of the swinging blanket into the large room, but that was the

only place she could see through, for the openings between the logs

of each wall were not level. These quarters were comfortable,

private, and could be shut off from intruders. Joan had not expected

so much consideration from Kells and she was grateful.

She lay down to rest and think. It was really very pleasant here.

There were birds nesting in the chinks; a ground squirrel ran along

one of the logs and chirped at her; through an opening near her face

she saw a wild rose-bush and the green slope of the gulch; a soft,

warm, fragrant breeze blew in, stirring her hair. How strange that

there could be beautiful and pleasant things here in this robber

den; that time was the same here as elsewhere; that the sun shone

and the sky gleamed blue. Presently she discovered that a lassitude

weighted upon her and she could not keep her eyes open. She ceased

trying, but intended to remain awake--to think, to listen, to wait.

Nevertheless, she did fall asleep and did not awaken till disturbed

by some noise. The color of the western sky told her that the

afternoon was far spent. She had slept hours. Someone was knocking.

She got up and drew aside the blanket. Bate Wood was standing near

the door.