"Don't let that ate at your heart. No, he didn't. I hurried him off,
and he didn't know how bad I was hit. But I--I've paid my debt, haven't
I, Jen?" With eyes that could not see for tears, she touched pityingly,
lovingly, the wounds on his head and shoulder, and said: "These pay a
greater debt than you ever owed me. You risked your life for me--yes,
for me. You have given up everything to do it. I can't pay you the
great difference. No, never!"

"Yes--yes, you can, if you will, Jen. It's as aisy! If you'll say what
I say, I'll give you quit of that difference, as you call it, forever and
ever."

"First, tell me. Is Val quite, quite safe?"

"Yes, he's safe over the border by this time; and to tell you the truth,
the Riders of the Plains wouldn't be dyin' to arrest him again if he was
in Canada, which he isn't. It's little they wanted to fire at us,
I know, when we were crossin' the river, but it had to be done, you see,
and us within sight. Will you say what I ask you, Jen?"

She did not speak, but pressed his hand ever so slightly.

"Tom Gellatly, I promise," he said.

"Tom Gellatly, I promise--"

"To give you as much--"

"To give you as much--"