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with the other。 Then； when her duties called her to the post from him and
the stream's border； with a promise for next day he sought the hotel and
found the three gamblers anxious to make his acquaintance； for when a
cow…puncher has his pay many people will take an interest in him。 The
three gamblers did not know that Mr。 McLean could play cards。 He left
them late in the evening fat with their money； and sought the tepees of the
Arapahoes。 They lived across the road from the Shoshones； and among
their tents the boy remained until morning。 He was here in church now；
keeping his promise to see the bishop with the girl of yesterday； and while
he gravely looked at the bishop； Miss Sabina Stone allowed his arm to
encircle her waist。 No soldier had achieved this yet； but Lin was the first
cow…puncher she had seen； and he had given her the handkerchief from
round his neck。
The quiet air blew in through the windows and door； the pure； light
breath from the mountains； only； passing over their foot…hills it had caught
and carried the clear aroma of the sage…brush。 This it brought into church；
and with this seemed also to float the peace and great silence of the plains。
The little melodeon in the corner； played by one of the ladies at the post；
had finished accompanying the hymn； and now it prolonged a few closing
chords while the bishop paused before his address； resting his keen eyes
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on the people。 He was dressed in a plain suit of black with a narrow black
tie。 This was because the Union Pacific Railroad； while it had delivered
him correctly at Green River； had despatched his robes towards Cheyenne。
Without citing chapter and verse the bishop began：
〃And he arose； and came to his father。 But when he was yet a great
way off； his father saw him； and had compassion； and ran； and fell on his
neck and kissed him。〃
The bishop told the story of that surpassing parable； and then
proceeded to draw from it a discourse fitted to the drifting destinies in
whose presence he found himself for one solitary morning。 He spoke
unlike many clergymen。 His words were chiefly those which the people
round him used； and his voice was more like earnest talking than
preaching。
Miss Sabina Stone felt the arm of her cow…puncher loosen slightly； and
she looked at him。 But he was looking at the bishop； no longer gravely but
with wide…open eyes； alert。 When the narrative reached the elder brother in
the field； and how he came to the house and heard sounds of music and
dancing； Miss Stone drew away from her companion and let him watch
the bishop； since he seemed to prefer that。 She took to reading hymns
vindictively。 The bishop himself noted the sun…browned boy face and the
wide…open eyes。 He was too far away to see anything but the alert；
listening position of the young cow…puncher。 He could not discern how
that； after he had left the music and dancing and begun to draw morals；
attention faded from those eyes that seemed to watch him； and they filled
with dreaminess。 It was very hot in church。 Chief Washakie went to sleep；
and so did a corporal； but Lin McLean sat in the same alert position till
Miss Stone pulled him and asked if he intended to sit down through the
hymn。 Then church was out。 Officers； Indians； and all the people dispersed
through the great sunshine to their dwellings； and the cow…puncher rode
beside Sabina in silence。
〃What are you studying over； Mr。 McLean？〃 inquired the lady； after a
hundred yards。
〃Did you ever taste steamed Duxbury clams？〃 asked Lin； absently。
〃No； indeed。 What's them？〃
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〃Oh； just clams。 Yu' have drawn butter； too。〃 Mr。 McLean fell silent
again。
〃I guess I'll be late for settin' the colonel's table。 Good…bye；〃 said
Sabina； quickly； and swished her whip across the pony； who scampered
away with her along the straight road across the plain to the post。
Lin caught up with her at once and made his peace。
〃Only；〃 protested Sabina； 〃I ain't used to gentlemen taking me out and…
… well； same as if I was a collie…dog。 Maybe it's Wind River politeness。〃
But she went riding with him up Trout Creek in the cool of the
afternoon。 Out of the Indian tepees； scattered wide among the flat levels of
sage…brush； smoke rose thin and gentle； and vanished。 They splashed
across the many little running channels which lead water through that
thirsty soil； and though the range of mountains came no nearer； behind
them the post； with its white； flat buildings and green trees； dwindled to a
toy village。
〃My！ but it's far to everywheres here；〃 exclaimed Sabina； 〃and it's
little you're sayin' for yourself to…day； Mr。 McLean。 I'll have to do the
talking。 What's that thing now； where the rocks are？〃
〃That's Little Wind River Canyon；〃 said the young man。 〃Feel like
goin' there； Miss Stone？〃
〃Why； yes。 It looks real nice and shady like； don't it？ Let's。〃
So Miss Stone turned her pony in that direction。
〃When do your folks eat supper？〃 inquired Lin。
〃Half…past six。 Oh； we've lots of time！ Come on。〃
〃How many miles per hour do you figure that cayuse of yourn can
travel？〃 Lin asked。
〃What are you a…talking about； anyway？ You're that strange to…day；〃
said the lady。
〃Only if we try to make that canyon； I guess you'll be late settin' the
colonel's table；〃 Lin remarked； his hazel eyes smiling upon her。 〃That is； if
your horse ain't good for twenty miles an hour。 Mine ain't； I know。 But I'll
do my best to stay with yu'。〃
〃You're the teasingest man〃 said Miss Stone； pouting。 〃I might have
knowed it was ever so much further nor it looked。〃
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〃Well； I ain't sayin' I don't want to go； if yu' was desirous of campin'
out to…night。〃
〃Mr。 McLean！ Indeed； and I'd do no such thing！〃 and Sabina giggled。
A sage…hen rose under their horses' feet； and hurtled away heavil