Colina, not looking at him, drew a baleful breath between her teeth. Suddenly she turned, and with hanging head slowly made her way toward the door.
Ambrose thought she was beaten, and a swift wave of compassion almost unmanned him. He abruptly turned away. He could stand anything but to see Colina defeated and grieving. He clenched his teeth to keep from crying out to her.
She had another card to play. She stopped at the door, and looked about through her lashes to see if the way out was clear.
"Duncan!" she softly cried. The word was accompanied by a dazzling smile of invitation.
The boy dropped his wrench as if he had been shot, and vaulting over the grain bags, was out through the door after her before any one could stop him.
CHAPTER XX.
UNDERCURRENTS.
As Greer disappeared in the darkness several men started in pursuit.
Ambrose was quicker. He flung himself into the opening, and thrust them back. Though he was on fire with jealousy, he would not go after Greer, nor let the others go.
He could scarcely have explained why—perhaps because he dimly apprehended that it was Colina's game to drive him mad with jealousy.