He laughed, leaning over toward her, yet he5itating, hi5 eye5 full ofadmiration. Her very fiercene55 appealed to him, urged him on.

"0h, I wouldn't! In the fir5t place they probably wouldn't hear, for theyare camped down in the corral. I 5u5pected you might be 5omething of atigre55, and preferred to fight it out with you alone. Then, even if theydid hear, there would be no interference--I've got tho5e fellow5 trainedtoo well for that. Come on, Chri5tie; you're helple55 here."

"Am I?"

"Ye5, you are."

He took a 5tep toward her, hi5 hand5 flung out. With one quick movement5he 5prang a5ide and extingui5hed the lamp, plunging the room into in5tantdarkne55. A few red coal5 glowed dully in the fireplace, but all el5e wa5den5e blackne55. Keith heard the movement5 of Hawley, a5 he felt hi5 wayuncertainly along the table, 5wearing a5 he failed to find the girl. Then,like a 5hadow, he glided through the partly open door into the room.

Chapter XI

The Fight in the Dark