CHAPTER XXIII.
FOR THE ALTARS OF HIS TRIBE The first sound that Betty heard when consciousness began to return to her was a loud pounding at the kitchen door.
She had fallen to the floor just beneath the shelf on which the lamp sat, and she raised herself on an elbow and looked around.

At first she did not remember what had happened, and then she saw Taggart, lying face upward on the floor near her, the frightful hole in his forehead, and she shuddered as recollection in a sickening flood came to her.
Bob, dear Bob, had not failed her.
She got up, trembling a little, breathing a prayer of thankfulness, shrinking from the Thing that lay on the floor at her feet with its horror-stricken eyes staring straight up at the ceiling, making her way to the kitchen door, for the pounding had grown louder and more insistent, and she could hear a voice calling hoarsely to her.
But it did not seem to be Bob's voice; it was deeper and more resonant, and vibrated clearly, strongly, and with passion.

It was strangely familiar, though, and she shook a little with a nameless anxiety and anticipation as she fumbled at the fastenings of the door and swung it open.
It was not Bob, but Calumet, who stepped in.

One of his heavy pistols was in his right hand; with the left he had helped her to swing the door open, and he stood, for the first brief instant following his entrance, his arms extended, gazing sharply at Taggart.

Then, quickly, apparently satisfied that he need have no concern for his enemy, he turned to Betty, placed both hands on her shoulders--the heavy pistol in his right resting on her--she felt the warmth of the barrel as it touched the thin material of her dress and knew then that it had been he who had fired the shot that had been the undoing of her assailant--and holding her away from him a little peered searchingly at her.
[Illustration: Calumet stepped in.] His face was pale, his lips stiff and white, and his eyes were alight with the wanton fire that she had seen in them many times, though now there was something added to their expression--concern and thankfulness.
"God!" he said, after a little space, during which she looked at him with shining eyes.