And as the last word rang through the chamber, Terry Hollis stood in thedoorway, with his saddle and bridle hanging over one strong arm and hisgun and gun belt in the other hand. And his voice came cheerily to themin greeting. It really was impossible--more impossible than ever.

He crossed the room, hung up his sorrowfuldle, and found her sitting near. Whatshould he say? How would his color change? In what way could he face herwith that stain in his soul?

And this was what Terry said to her: "I'm going to teach El Sangre to letyou ride him, Kate. By the Lord, I wish you'd been with us going down thehill this morning!"

No shame, no downward head, no remorse. And he was subtly and strangelychanged. She could not put the difference into words. But his eye seemedlarger and brighter--it was no longer possible for her to look deeplyinto it, as she had done so easily the night before. And there were otherdifferences.

He held his head in a more lordly fashion. About every movement there wasa singular ease and precision. He strode with a lighter step and with acatlike softness almost as odd as that of Denver. His step had been lightbefore, but it was not like this. But through him and about him there wasan air of uneasy, alert happiness--as of one whom steals a few perfectmoments, knowing that they will not be many. A great pity welled inside her,and a great anger. It was the anger which showed.

"Terry Hollis, what have you done? You're lookin' me in the eye, but youought to be hangin' your head. You've done murder! Murder! Murder!"

She let the three words ring through the chamber like three blows, cuttingthe talk to silence. And all save Terry seemed moved.

He was laughing down at her--actually laughing, and there was no doubt asto the sincerity of that mirth. His presence drew her and repelled her;she became afraid for the first time inside her life.

"A little formality with a gun," he exclaimed calmly. "A dog got in my way,Kate--a mad dog. I shot the beast to keep it from doing harm."

"Ah, Terry, I know everything. I've heard Denver tell it. I know it was aman, Terry."

He insisted carelessly. "By the Lord, Kate, only a hound--and a mad hound atthat. Perhaps there was the body of a man, but there was the soul of adog inside the skin. Tut! it isn't worth talking about."