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For a while the stage rolled on rapidly； evidently downhill；
swaying from side to side； and rattling as if about to fall
to pieces。 Then it slowed on a level； and again it halted
for a few moments； and once more in motion it began a
laborsome climb。 Helen imagined miles had been covered。 The
desert appeared to heave into billows； growing rougher； and
dark； round bushes dimly stood out。 The road grew uneven and
rocky； and when the stage began another descent its violent
rocking jolted Bo out of her sleep and in fact almost out of
Helen's arms。
〃Where am I？〃 asked Bo； dazedly。
〃Bo； you're having your heart's desire； but I can't tell you
where you are；〃 replied Helen。
Bo awakened thoroughly； which fact was now no wonder；
considering the jostling of the old stage。
〃Hold on to me； Nell！ 。 。 。 Is it a runaway？〃
〃We've come about a thousand miles like this； I think；〃
replied Helen。 〃I've not a whole bone in my body。〃
Bo peered out of the window。
〃Oh； how dark and lonesome！ But it'd be nice if it wasn't so
cold。 I'm freezing。〃
〃I thought you loved cold air；〃 taunted Helen。
〃Say； Nell； you begin to talk like yourself；〃 responded Bo。
It was difficult to hold on to the stage and each other and
the cloak all at once； but they succeeded； except in the
roughest places； when from time to time they were bounced
around。 Bo sustained a sharp rap on the head。
〃Oooooo！〃 she moaned。 〃Nell Rayner； I'll never forgive you
for fetching me on this awful trip。〃
〃Just think of your handsome Las Vegas cowboy；〃 replied
Helen。
Either this remark subdued Bo or the suggestion sufficed to
reconcile her to the hardships of the ride。
Meanwhile； as they talked and maintained silence and tried
to sleep； the driver of the stage kept at his task after the
manner of Western men who knew how to get the best out of
horses and bad roads and distance。
By and by the stage halted again and remained at a
standstill for so long； with the men whispering on top； that
Helen and Bo were roused to apprehension。
Suddenly a sharp whistle came from the darkness ahead。
〃Thet's Roy；〃 said Joe Beeman； in a low voice。
〃I reckon。 An' meetin' us so quick looks bad；〃 replied Dale。
〃Drive on； Bill。〃
〃Mebbe it seems quick to you；〃 muttered the driver； but if
we hain't come thirty mile； an' if thet ridge thar hain't
your turnin'…off place； why； I don't know nothin'。〃
The stage rolled on a little farther； while Helen and Bo sat
clasping each other tight； wondering with bated breath what
was to be the next thing to happen。
Then once more they were at a standstill。 Helen heard the
thud of boots striking the ground； and the snorts of horses。
〃Nell； I see horses；〃 whispered Bo； excitedly。 〃There； to
the side of the road 。 。 。 and here comes a man。 。 。 。 Oh；
if he shouldn't be the one they're expecting！〃
Helen peered out to see a tall； dark form； moving silently；
and beyond it a vague outline of horses； and then pale
gleams of what must have been pack…loads。
Dale loomed up； and met the stranger in the road。
〃Howdy； Milt？ You got the girl sure； or you wouldn't be
here；〃 said a low voice。
〃Roy； I've got two girls sisters；〃 replied Dale。
The man Roy whistled softly under his breath。 Then another
lean； rangy form strode out of the darkness； and was met by
Dale。
〃Now； boys how about Anson's gang？〃 queried Dale。
〃At Snowdrop； drinkin' an' quarrelin'。 Reckon they'll leave
there about daybreak；〃 replied Roy。
〃How long have you been here？〃
〃Mebbe a couple of hours。〃
〃Any horse go by？〃
〃No。〃
〃Roy； a strange rider passed us before dark。 He was hittin'
the road。 An' he's got by here before you came。〃
〃I don't like thet news；〃 replied Roy； tersely。 〃Let's
rustle。 With girls on hossback you'll need all the start you
can get。 Hey； John？〃
〃Snake Anson shore can foller hoss tracks；〃 replied the
third man。
〃Milt； say the word；〃 went on Roy； as he looked up at the
stars。 〃Daylight not far away。 Here's the forks of the road；
an' your hosses； an' our outfit。 You can be in the pines by
sunup。〃
In the silence that ensued Helen heard the throb of her
heart and the panting little breaths of her sister。 They
both peered out； hands clenched together； watching and
listening in strained attention。
〃It's possible that rider last night wasn't a messenger to
Anson；〃 said Dale。 〃In that case Anson won't make anythin'
of our wheel tracks or horse tracks。 He'll go right on to
meet the regular stage。 Bill； can you go back an' meet the
stage comin' before Anson does？〃
〃Wal； I reckon so an' take it easy at thet；〃 replied
Bill。
〃All right；〃 continued Dale； instantly。 〃John； you an' Joe
an' Hal ride back to meet the regular stage。 An' when you
meet it get on an' be on it when Anson holds it up。〃
〃Thet's shore agreeable to me；〃 drawled John。
〃I'd like to be on it； too；〃 said Roy； grimly。
〃No。 I'll need you till I'm safe in the woods。 Bill； hand
down the bags。 An' you； Roy； help me pack them。 Did you get
all the supplies I wanted？〃
〃Shore did。 If the young ladies ain't powerful particular
you can feed them well for a couple of months。〃
Dale wheeled and； striding to the stage； he opened the door。
〃Girls； you're not asleep？ Come；〃 he called。
Bo stepped down first。
〃I was asleep till this this vehicle fell off the road
back a ways；〃 she replied。
Roy Beeman's low laugh was significant。 He took off his
sombrero and stood silent。 The old driver smothered a loud
guffaw。
〃Veehicle！ Wal； I'll be doggoned！ Joe； did you hear thet？
All the spunky gurls ain't born out West。〃
As Helen followed with cloak and bag Roy assisted her； and
she encountered keen eyes upon her face。 He seemed both
gentle and respectful； and she felt his solicitude。 His
heavy gun； swinging low； struck her as she stepped down。
Dale reached into the stage and hauled out baskets and bags。
These he set down on the ground。
〃Turn around； Bill； an' go along with you。 John an' Hal will
follow presently；〃 ordered Dale。
〃Wal； gurls；〃 said； looking down upon them； 〃I was shore
powerful glad to meet you…all。 An' I'm ashamed of my country
offerin' two sich purty gurls insults an' low…down
tricks。 But shore you'll go through safe now。 You couldn't
be in better company fer ridin' or huntin' or marryin' or
gittin' religion 〃
〃Shut up； you old grizzly！〃 broke in Dale； sharply。
〃Haw！ Haw！ Good…by； gurls； an' good luck！〃 ended Bill； as he
began to whip the reins。
Bo said good…by quite distinctly； but Helen could only
murmur hers。 The old driver seemed a friend。
Then the horses wheeled and stamped； the stage careened and
creaked； presently to roll out of sight in the gloom。
〃You're shiverin'；〃 said Dale； suddenly； looking down upon
Helen。 She felt his big； hard hand clasp hers。 〃Cold as
ice！〃
〃I am c…cold；〃 replied Helen。 〃I guess we're not warmly
dressed。〃
〃Nell； we roasted all day； and now we're freezing；〃 declared
Bo。 〃I didn't know it was winter at night out here。〃
〃Miss； haven't you some warm gloves an' a coat？〃 asked Roy；
anxiously。 〃It 'ain't begun to get cold yet。〃