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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？〃
〃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。〃
〃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 heavily over
the next rise of ground； taking a final wide sail out of sight。
〃Something like them partridges used to；〃 said Lin； musingly。
〃Partridges？〃 inquired Sabina。
〃Used to be in the woods between Lynn and Salem。 Maybe the woods are gone
by this time。 Yes； they must be gone； I guess。〃
Presently they dismounted and sought the stream bank。
〃We had music and dancing at Thanksgiving and such times；〃 said Lin； his
wiry length stretched on the grass beside the seated Sabina。 He was not
looking at her； but she took a pleasure in watching him； his curly head
and bronze face； against which the young mustache showed to its full
advantage。
〃I expect you used to dance a lot；〃 remarked Sabina； for a subject。
〃Yes。 Do yu' know the Portland Fancy？〃
Sabina did not； and her subject died away。
〃Did anybody ever tell you you had good eyes？〃 she inquired next。
〃Why； sure；〃 said Lin； waking for a moment； 〃but I like your color best。
A girl's eyes will mostly beat a man's。〃
〃Indeed； I don't think so！〃 exclaimed poor Sabina； too much expectant to
perceive the fatal note of routine with which her transient admirer
pronounced this gallantry。 He informed her that hers were like the sea；
and she told him she had not yet looked upon the sea。
〃Never？〃 said he。 〃It's a turruble pity you've never saw salt water。 It's
different from fresh。 All around home it's blueawful blue in July
around Swampscott and Marblehead and Nahant； and around the islands。 I've
swam there lots。 Then our home bruck up and we went to board in Boston。〃
He snapped off a flower in reach of his long arm。 Suddenly all dreaminess
left him。
〃I wonder if you'll be settin' the colonel's table when I come back？〃 he
said。
Miss Stone was at a loss。
〃I'm goin' East to…morrowEast； to Boston。〃
Yesterday he had told her that sixteen miles to Lander was the farthest
journey from the post that he intended to makethe farthest from the
post and her。
〃I hope nothing ain't happened to your folks？〃 said she。
〃I ain't got no folks；〃 replied Lin； 〃barring a brother。 I expect he is
taking good care of himself。〃
〃Don't you correspond？〃
〃Well； I guess he would if there was anything to say。 There ain't been
nothin'。〃
Sabina thought they must have quarrelled； but learned that they had not。
It was time for her now to return and set the colonel's table； so Lin
rose and went to bring her horse。 When he had put her in her saddle she
noticed him step to his own。
〃Why； I didn't know you were lame！〃 cried she。
〃Shucks！〃 said Lin。 〃It don't cramp my style any。〃 He had sprung on his
horse； ridden beside her； leaned and kissed her before she got any
measure of his activity。
〃That's how；〃 said he； and they took their homeward way galloping。 〃No；〃
Lin continued； 〃Frank and me never quarrelled。 I just thought I'd have a
look at this Western country。 Frank； he thought dry…goods was good enough
for him； and so we're both satisfied； I expect。 And that's a lot of years
now。 Whoop ye！〃 he suddenly sang out； and fired his six…shooter at a
jack…rabbit； who strung himself out flat and flew over the earth。
Both dismounted at the parade…ground gate； and he kissed her again when
she was not looking； upon which she very properly slapped him； and he
took the horses to the stable。 He sat down to tea at the hotel； and found
the me