This was an act of generosity and deliberate courage of the very kind most apt to appeal to her nature, and within her secret heart there was rapidly developing a respect for this man, who with such calm assurance won his own way.

He was strong, forceful, brave,--Homeric virtues of real worth in that hard life which she knew best.

All this swept across her mind in a flash of revelation while she stood alone, her eyes endeavoring vainly to peer into the gloom.

Then, suddenly, that black curtain was rent by jagged spurts of red and yellow flame.

Dazed for an instant, her heart throbbing wildly to the sharp reports of the rifles, she shrank cowering back, her fascinated gaze fixed on those imp-like figures leaping forward from rock to rock.