"When these men have all gone," spoke up Allifair at last, "and my brothers have given up the search; shall we—I mean—well, what do you plan to do then?"
"What is there to do?" answered Hall, "except to work out our destiny? But how we can be married is more than I know—are you brave enough to stay here alone?"
"Alone!" she repeated with a catch in her voice; and then she reached for his hand. "No, Hall," she said, "we are too happy, you must not leave me. But I am brave enough to go with you—anywhere!"
"Ours is always the hardest way," he said at last. "Have you thought what is going to become of us? Every day that I stay here I shall eat up by so much the food that should be kept to feed you; and when that is gone can you live on turkeys and acorns, as I was compelled to do for days?"
"I can do what you can do," she answered resolutely. "But why do you have to go? Why can't we stay here together until the search for us is over——"
"Because," he broke in gently, "we are living in the world—and you know what people will say."
"Yes, I know," she sighed, "but why can't we be married? Why can't we ride into Tonto as soon as they leave and be married and start back home?"
"Because the trails will be watched—and your brothers will kill me if they ever find us together."
"Not if we're married!" she protested, but he took her in his arms and his silence questioned even that.