Gulden was curious over the bullet. It's a forty-four caliber,
and neither Bill Bailey nor Halloway used that caliber of gun.
Gulden remembered. He's cunning. Bill was as near being a friend to
this Gulden as any man I know of. I can't trust any of these men,
particularly Gulden. You stay pretty close by me."

"Kells, you'll let me go soon--help me to get home?" implored Joan
in a low voice.

"Girl, it'd never be safe now," he replied.

"Then later--soon--when it is safe?"

"We'll see. ... But you're my wife now!"

With the latter words the man subtly changed. Something of the power
she had felt in him before his illness began again to be manifested.
Joan divined that these comrades had caused the difference in him.

"You won't dare--!" Joan was unable to conclude her meaning. A tight
band compressed her breast and throat, and she trembled.

"Will you dare go out there and tell them you're NOT my wife?" he
queried. His voice had grown stronger and his eyes were blending
shadows of thought.

Joan knew that she dared not. She must choose the lesser of two
evils. "No man--could be such a beast to a woman--after she'd saved
his life," she whispered.