Page 100 (1/2)

"You go outside," ordered Cleve "Get on a horse and lead another

near the doorGo! I'll take you away from this"

Both temptation and terror assailed Joan Surely that venture would

mean only death to Jiht--at the possibility of escape--at the strange front of this

erstwhile nerveless boy But she had not the courage for what seemed

only desperate folly

"I'll stay," she whispered "You go!"

"Hurry, woman!"

"No! No!"

"Do you want to stay with this bandit?"

"Oh, I must!"

"Then you love him?"

All the fire of Joan's heart flared up to deny the insult and all

her woht to keep back words that inevitably must