Jackson Gregory

“ Her eyes, passing beyond Northrup, were upon the man with the knife.
She lifted her hand as if putting a cup of water to her lips. Then she nodded briefly at the man who stood so close to Northrup with the knife shaking in his hand. Northrup, turning, saw again the picture of anger there, but an anger sullen and hesitant.
He again looked to the girl. Her hand, pointing at this man, made again the swift gesture of lifted cup, then swept in a wide arc, pointing into the rift in the rock walls through which the fire gleamed. ”

“ He was taller than the others, Northrup noted, gaunt-bodied like them, but with mighty sinews standing out upon shoulders and arms and thighs, a man as tall as Northrup.
Northrup threw out his arm to thrust this man aside, his one thought to come to the old man. But his arm struck a body hard like rock, unyielding.
"—— you!" shouted Northrup. "Stand aside. I want water!"
The man's body was swaying gently with the other swaying bodies, his lips moving with the other moving lips, his eyes fearless and stubborn and filled with threat. Northrup's two hands shot out, gripping the bare shoulders. ”

“ A word of thanks upon his lips was checked by what he read in her quick expression. The girl's gaze had swept him from the top of his tousled yellow hair to the sole of his dusty boots. Her look, meeting his again, was filled with admiration; her thought stood out plainly, with no attempt at concealment. It was as if she had opened her red mouth and said softly, wonderingly:
"You are the biggest man, the most wonderful, the most handsome I have ever looked upon!"
Northrup's face reddened suddenly and he went on, merely bowing deeply as he passed. He saw the face of the man with the knife ”

“ A moment of terror came upon him in which he ran here and there blindly. He jerked himself together with anger at himself.
He went to the flat-topped boulder and sat down. He needed rest almost as badly as he needed water. ”