“God! But it’s good to be a free man again!” he said softly, and the low spoken words sent a thrill through his hearers. Years of suffering seemed expressed in them.
Then the others’ tongues were loosened, and by the time the Palo Verde was reached, the story had been pieced together, bit by bit.
“Friends,” Gard said, as they walked together from the corrals to the casa, “I don’t know what to say; but I—I sure thank you.”
He bared his head, and looked up at the stars. They were still there, swinging their ancient round as they had done, night after night, above the glade.
“Yes,” he said, speaking to them as often and often he had done before, when he watched their solemn progress across the sky. “You knew. You told me ’t would come out all right, and it has.”
Then, as Jacinta appeared in the doorway, full of anxiety about Helen, they went into the house.
“I’ll see you to-morrow morning,” Gard said an hour later, to Helen, as they stood together near the cottonwoods. Sandy had gone to the corral for the horses; he meant to ride back to Sylvania with his friend. Helen had persuaded Mrs. Hallard to remain at the hacienda for the night.
“I must see you just a little while,” Gard said, “before I go away.”
“Go away?”
Helen’s voice was full of surprise as she repeated his words. “Where are you going?” she asked; for he was smiling down at her as though the thought of separation gave him pleasure.