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edge of this upper plain。 There it lay； another world。 One step farther
away from its rim； and the two edges of the plain had flowed together
over it like a closing sea； covering without a sign or ripple the great
country which lay sunk beneath。
〃A man might think he'd dreamed he'd saw that place；〃 said Lin to the
foreman； and wheeled his horse to the edge again。 〃She's sure there；
though；〃 he added； gazing down。 For a moment his boy face grew
thoughtful。 〃Shucks！〃 said he then； abruptly； 〃where's any joy in money
that's comin' till it arrives？ I have most forgot the feel o' spot…cash。〃
He turned his horse away from the far…winding vision of the river； and
took a sharp jog after the foreman； who had not been waiting for him。
Thus they crossed the eighteen miles of high plain； and came down to Fort
Washakie； in the valley of Little Wind； before the day was hot。
His roll of wages once jammed in his pocket like an old handkerchief；
young Lin precipitated himself out of the post…trader's store and away on
his horse up the stream among the Shoshone tepees to an unexpected
entertainmenta wolf…dance。 He had meant to go and see what the new
waiter…girl at the hotel looked like； but put this off promptly to attend
the dance。 This hospitality the Shoshone Indians were extending to some
visiting Ute friends； and the neighborhood was assembled to watch the
ring of painted naked savages。
The post…trader looked after the galloping Lin。 〃What's he quitting his
job for？〃 he asked the foreman。
〃Same as most of 'em quit。〃
〃Nothing？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃Been satisfactory？〃
〃Never had a boy more so。 Good…hearted； willing； a plumb dare…devil with
a horse。〃
〃And worthless；〃 suggested the post…trader。
〃Wellnot yet。 He's headed that way。〃
〃Been punching cattle long？〃
〃Came in the country about seventy…eight； I believe； and rode for the
Bordeaux Outfit most a year； and quit。 Blew in at Cheyenne till he went
broke； and worked over on to the Platte。 Rode for the C。 Y。 Outfit most a
year； and quit。 Blew in at Buffalo。 Rode for Balaam awhile on Butte
Creek。 Broke his leg。 Went to the Drybone Hospital； and when the fracture
was commencing to knit pretty good he broke it again at the hog…ranch
across the bridge。 Next time you're in Cheyenne get Dr。 Barker to tell
you about that。 McLean drifted to Green River last year and went up over
on to Snake； and up Snake； and was around with a prospecting outfit on
Galena Creek by Pitchstone Canyon。 Seems he got interested in some
Dutchwoman up there； but she had troubledied； I think they saidand he
came down by Meteetsee to Wind River。 He's liable to go to Mexico or
Africa next。〃
〃If you need him；〃 said the post…trader； closing his ledger； 〃you can
offer him five more a month。〃
〃That'll not hold him。〃
〃Well； let him go。 Have a cigar。 The bishop is expected for Sunday； and
I've got to see his room is fixed up for him。〃
〃The bishop！〃 said the foreman。 〃I've heard him highly spoken of。〃
〃You can hear him preach to…morrow。 The bishop is a good man。〃
〃He's better than that； he's a man；〃 stated the foreman〃at least so
they tell me。〃
Now； saving an Indian dance； scarce any possible event at the Shoshone
agency could assemble in one spot so many sorts of inhabitants as a visit
from this bishop。 Inhabitants of four colors gathered to view the
wolf…dance this afternoon red men； white men； black men； yellow men。
Next day； three sorts came to church at the agency。 The Chinese laundry
was absent。 But because； indeed （as the foreman said）； the bishop was not
only a good man but a man； Wyoming held him in respect and went to look
at him。 He stood in the agency church and held the Episcopal service this
Sunday morning for some brightly glittering army officers and their
families； some white cavalry； and some black infantry； the agency doctor；
the post…trader； his foreman； the government scout； three gamblers； the
waiter…girl from the hotel； the stage…driver； who was there because she
was； old Chief Washakie； white…haired and royal in blankets； with two
royal Utes splendid beside him； one benchful of squatting Indian
children； silent and marvelling； and； on the back bench； the commanding
officer's new hired…girl； and； beside her； Lin McLean。
Mr。 McLean's hours were already various and successful。 Even at the
wolf…dance； before he had wearied of its monotonous drumming and pageant；
his roving eye had rested upon a girl whose eyes he caught resting upon
him。 A look； an approach； a word； and each was soon content 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 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。