“What?” he ejaculated, and again his keen old eyes searched Adam’s.
“Yes. The grave—of my brother—Guerd,” whispered Adam.
“Say, man!... You think Guerd Larey’s buried here?... Thet’s why you come back?”
Astonishment seemed to dominate Merryvale, to hold in check other emotions.
“My friend,” replied Adam, “I came to see his grave—to make my peace with him and God—and to give myself up to the law.”
“Give yourself—up—to the law!” gasped Merryvale. “Have you gone desert mad?”
“No. I’m right in my mind,” returned Adam, patiently. “I owe it to my conscience, Merryvale.... Fourteen years of torture! Any punishment I may suffer here, compared with those long years, will be as nothing.... It will be happiness to give myself up.”
Merryvale’s lean jaw quivered as the astonishment and concern left his face. A light of divination began to dawn there.
“But what do you want to give yourself up for?” he demanded.
“I told you. My conscience. My need to stand right with myself. To pay!”