She had had some vague idea of forgiving him, after he had sued sufficiently for pardon; but now, forgetting her good intentions in the belief that he was making sport of her when he should have pleaded for forgiveness, she swiftly raised her hand and slapped him smartly.
The red blood flamed to the young man's face; as he staggered backward with his hand to his cheek, she heard a smothered exclamation behind her, and then the quick, joyous barking of a dog.
When Nell turned she was amazed to see Joe standing beside the wagon, while a big white dog was leaping upon him.

Suddenly she felt faint.

Bewildered, she looked from Joe to the man she had just struck; but could not say which was the man who professed to love her.
"Jim! So you followed me!" cried Joe, starting forward and flinging his arms around the other.
"Yes, Joe, and right glad I am to find you," answered the young man, while a peculiar expression of pleasure came over his face.
"It's good to see you again! And here's my old dog Mose! But how on earth did you know?
Where did you strike my trail?
What are you going to do out here on the frontier?
Tell me all.

What happened after I left---" Then Joe saw Nell standing nearby, pale and distressed, and he felt something was amiss.

He glanced quickly from her to his brother; she seemed to be dazed, and Jim looked grave.
"What the deuce--?
Nell, this is my brother Jim, the one I told you about.