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let's eat dinner。 I'm starved。〃
Then Helen forgot her troubles and the uncertain future； and
what with listening to Bo's chatter； and partaking again of
the endless good things to eat in the huge basket； and
watching the noble mountains； she drew once more into happy
mood。
The valley of the Rio Grande opened to view； wide near at
hand in a great gray…green gap between the bare black
mountains； narrow in the distance； where the yellow river
wound away； glistening under a hot sun。 Bo squealed in glee
at sight of naked little Mexican children that darted into
adobe huts as the train clattered by； and she exclaimed her
pleasure in the Indians； and the mustangs； and particularly
in a group of cowboys riding into town on spirited horses。
Helen saw all Bo pointed out； but it was to the wonderful
rolling valley that her gaze clung longest； and to the dim
purple distance that seemed to hold something from her。 She
had never before experienced any feeling like that； she had
never seen a tenth so far。 And the sight awoke something
strange in her。 The sun was burning hot； as she could tell
when she put a hand outside the window； and a strong wind
blew sheets of dry dust at the train。 She gathered at once
what tremendous factors in the Southwest were the sun and
the dust and the wind。 And her realization made her love
them。 It was there； the open； the wild； the beautiful； the
lonely land； and she felt the poignant call of blood in her
to seek； to strive； to find； to live。 One look down that
yellow valley； endless between its dark iron ramparts； had
given her understanding of her uncle。 She must be like him
in spirit； as it was claimed she resembled him otherwise。
At length Bo grew tired of watching scenery that contained
no life； and； with her bright head on the faded cloak； she
went to sleep。 But Helen kept steady； farseeing gaze out
upon that land of rock and plain； and during the long hours；
as she watched through clouds of dust and veils of heat；
some strong and doubtful and restless sentiment seemed to
change and then to fix。 It was her physical acceptance
her eyes and her senses taking the West as she had already
taken it in spirit。
A woman should love her home wherever fate placed her； Helen
believed； and not so much from duty as from delight and
romance and living。 How could life ever be tedious or
monotonous out here in this tremendous vastness of bare
earth and open sky； where the need to achieve made thinking
and pondering superficial？
It was with regret that she saw the last of the valley of
the Rio Grande； and then of its paralleled mountain ranges。
But the miles brought compensation in other valleys； other
bold； black upheavals of rock； and then again bare；
boundless yellow plains； and sparsely cedared ridges； and
white dry washes； ghastly in the sunlight； and dazzling beds
of alkali； and then a desert space where golden and blue
flowers bloomed。
She noted； too； that the whites and yellows of earth and
rock had begun to shade to red and this she knew meant an
approach to Arizona。 Arizona； the wild； the lonely； the red
desert； the green plateau Arizona with its thundering
rivers； its unknown spaces； its pasture…lands and
timber…lands； its wild horses； cowboys； outlaws； wolves and
lions and savages！ As to a boy； that name stirred and
thrilled and sang to her of nameless； sweet； intangible
things； mysterious and all of adventure。 But she； being a
girl of twenty； who had accepted responsibilities； must
conceal the depths of her heart and that which her mother
had complained was her misfortune in not being born a boy。
Time passed； while Helen watched and learned and dreamed。
The train stopped； at long intervals； at wayside stations
where there seemed nothing but adobe sheds and lazy
Mexicans； and dust and heat。 Bo awoke and began to chatter；
and to dig into the basket。 She learned from the conductor
that Magdalena was only two stations on。 And she was full of
conjectures as to who would meet them； what would happen。 So
Helen was drawn back to sober realities； in which there was
considerable zest。 Assuredly she did not know what was going
to happen。 Twice Riggs passed up and down the aisle； his
dark face and light eyes and sardonic smile deliberately
forced upon her sight。 But again Helen fought a growing
dread with contemptuous scorn。 This fellow was not half a
man。 It was not conceivable what he could do； except annoy
her； until she arrived at Pine。 Her uncle was to meet her or
send for her at Snowdrop； which place； Helen knew； was
distant a good long ride by stage from Magdalena。 This
stage…ride was the climax and the dread of all the long
journey； in Helen's considerations。
〃Oh； Nell！〃 cried Bo； with delight。 〃We're nearly there！
Next station； the conductor said。〃
〃I wonder if the stage travels at night；〃 said Helen；
thoughtfully。
〃Sure it does！〃 replied the irrepressible Bo。
The train； though it clattered along as usual； seemed to
Helen to fly。 There the sun was setting over bleak New
Mexican bluffs； Magdalena was at hand； and night； and
adventure。 Helen's heart beat fast。 She watched the yellow
plains where the cattle grazed； their presence； and
irrigation ditches and cottonwood…trees told her that the
railroad part of the journey was nearly ended。 Then； at Bo's
little scream； she looked across the car and out of the
window to see a line of low； flat； red…adobe houses。 The
train began to slow down。 Helen saw children run； white
children and Mexican together； then more houses； and high
upon a hill an immense adobe church； crude and glaring； yet
somehow beautiful。
Helen told Bo to put on her bonnet； and； performing a like
office for herself； she was ashamed of the trembling of her
fingers。 There were bustle and talk in the car。
The train stopped。 Helen peered out to see a straggling
crowd of Mexicans and Indians； all motionless and stolid； as
if trains or nothing else mattered。 Next Helen saw a white
man； and that was a relief。 He stood out in front of the
others。 Tall and broad； somehow striking； he drew a second
glance that showed him to be a hunter clad in gray…fringed
buckskin； and carrying a rifle。
CHAPTER V
Here； there was no kindly brakeman to help the sisters with
their luggage。 Helen bade Bo take her share； thus burdened；
they made an awkward and laborious shift to get off the
train。
Upon the platform of the car a strong hand seized Helen's
heavy bag； with which she was straining； and a loud voice
called out：
〃Girls； we're here sure out in the wild an' woolly West！〃
The speaker was Riggs； and he had possessed himself of part
of her baggage with action and speech meant more to impress
the curious crowd than to be really kind。 In the excitement
of arriving Helen had forgotten him。 The manner of sudden
reminder the insincerity of it made her temper flash。
She almost fell； encumbered as she was； in her hurry to
descend the steps。 She saw the tall hunter in gray step
forward close to her as she reached for the bag Riggs held。
〃Mr。 Riggs； I'll carry my bag；〃 she said。
〃Let me lug this。 You help Bo with hers