everything else that a woman can do to make you understand * * * He's
begged me so many times to run off. When he understood, he was beastly.
He put me off the horse and told me to walk, then. It was the dog who
fought him, and then I ran for Pinto and came back." Her low voice
failed her, but she controlled herself, and went on, "I thought if I
pretended to go you'd see - "

"See! Girl, you've known ever since you came creeping into Snake Gulch
that night that you were the very heart and soul of me."

"Yes, yes," she sobbed, "that is not what I would have you know."

"You mean - no, I am a great fool. No woman could bring herself to - A
face like mine! Even if you did, it would be from gratitude. I could not
permit such a sacrifice," he finished, with a touch of pride.

The girl waited, then when he was silent she turned with a sob to go to
her mother's cabin. The soft footfalls died away. Bob stood motionless.
Suddenly a scream rang out on the still night air. Bulldoze scrambled
off the door-stone with a snarl of battle-rage and charged for the
sound, but he was easily outdistanced by the huge miner, who ran with
the lithe grace of an Indian. In an incredibly short time the little
form was safe in his arms.

"Oh, there's a terrible animal in the mining ditch. I heard it! It's
coming this way! A grizzley, I know!" Bob peered into the ditch.

"Why, girl, it's only drunken old Solly Jake going home holding his jug
out of the water. He gets into the ditch so he won't lose the way."