Alan, it was _her_ sittin' there with a box in her lap, facing me, drippin' wet, her eyes shining--and she was smiling at me! Yessir, _smiling_." Stampede paused to let the shock sink in.

He was not disappointed.
Alan stared at him in amazement.

"The fourth night--after--" He caught himself.

"Go on, Stampede!" "I began hunting for the latch on the door, Alan.

I was goin' to sneak out, drop in the mud, disappear before the lightnin' come again.