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with some greaser sheep…herders drivin' a big flock。 They've
come up from the south an' are goin' to fatten up at Turkey
Senacas。 Then they'll drive back south an' go on to Phenix。
Wal； it's muddy weather。 Now you break camp quick an' make a
plain trail out to thet sheep trail； as if you was travelin'
south。 But； instead； you ride round ahead of thet flock of
sheep。 They'll keep to the open parks an' the trails through
them necks of woods out here。 An'； passin' over your tracks；
they'll hide 'em。〃
〃But supposin' Anson circles an' hits this camp？ He'll track
me easy out to that sheep trail。 What then？〃
〃Jest what you want。 Goin' south thet sheep trail is
downhill an' muddy。 It's goin' to rain hard。 Your tracks
would get washed out even if you did go south。 An' Anson
would keep on thet way till he was clear off the scent。
Leave it to me； Milt。 You're a hunter。 But I'm a
hoss…tracker。〃
〃All right。 We'll rustle。〃
Then he called the girls to hurry。
CHAPTER VIII
Once astride the horse again； Helen had to congratulate
herself upon not being so crippled as she had imagined。
Indeed； Bo made all the audible complaints。
Both girls had long water…proof coats； brand…new； and of
which they were considerably proud。 New clothes had not been
a common event in their lives。
〃Reckon I'll have to slit these；〃 Dale had said； whipping
out a huge knife。
〃What for？〃 had been Bo's feeble protest。
〃They wasn't made for ridin'。 An' you'll get wet enough even
if I do cut them。 An' if I don't； you'll get soaked。〃
〃Go ahead；〃 had been Helen's reluctant permission。
So their long new coats were slit half…way up the back。 The
exigency of the case was manifest to Helen； when she saw how
they came down over the cantles of the saddles and to their
boot…tops。
The morning was gray and cold。 A fine； misty rain fell and
the trees dripped steadily。 Helen was surprised to see the
open country again and that apparently they were to leave
the forest behind for a while。 The country was wide and flat
on the right； and to the left it rolled and heaved along a
black； scalloped timber…line。 Above this bordering of the
forest low； drifting clouds obscured the mountains。 The wind
was at Helen's back and seemed to be growing stronger。 Dale
and Roy were ahead； traveling at a good trot； with the
pack…animals bunched before them。 Helen and Bo had enough to
do to keep up。
The first hour's ride brought little change in weather or
scenery； but it gave Helen an inkling of what she must
endure if they kept that up all day。 She began to welcome
the places where the horses walked； but she disliked the
levels。 As for the descents； she hated those。 Ranger would
not go down slowly and the shake…up she received was
unpleasant。 Moreover； the spirited black horse insisted on
jumping the ditches and washes。 He sailed over them like a
bird。 Helen could not acquire the knack of sitting the
saddle properly； and so； not only was her person bruised on
these occasions； but her feelings were hurt。 Helen had never
before been conscious of vanity。 Still； she had never
rejoiced in looking at a disadvantage； and her exhibitions
here must have been frightful。 Bo always would forge to the
front； and she seldom looked back； for which Helen was
grateful。
Before long they struck into a broad； muddy belt； full of
innumerable small hoof tracks。 This； then； was the sheep
trail Roy had advised following。 They rode on it for three
or four miles； and at length； coming to a gray…green valley；
they saw a huge flock of sheep。 Soon the air was full of
bleats and baas as well as the odor of sheep； and a low；
soft roar of pattering hoofs。 The flock held a compact
formation； covering several acres； and grazed along rapidly。
There were three herders on horses and。 several pack…burros。
Dale engaged one of the Mexicans in conversation； and passed
something to him； then pointed northward and down along the
trail。 The Mexican grinned from ear to ear； and Helen caught
the quick 〃SI； SENYOR！ GRACIAS； SENYOR！〃 It was a pretty
sight； that flock of sheep； as it rolled along like a
rounded woolly stream of grays and browns and here and there
a black。 They were keeping to a trail over the flats。 Dale
headed into this trail and； if anything； trotted a little
faster。
Presently the clouds lifted and broke； showing blue sky and
one streak of sunshine。 But the augury was without warrant。
The wind increased。 A huge black pall bore down from the
mountains and it brought rain that could be seen falling in
sheets from above and approaching like a swiftly moving
wall。 Soon it enveloped the fugitives。
With head bowed； Helen rode along for what seemed ages in a
cold； gray rain that blew almost on a level。 Finally the
heavy downpour passed； leaving a fine mist。 The clouds
scurried low and dark； hiding the mountains altogether and
making the gray； wet plain a dreary sight。 Helen's feet and
knees were as wet as if she had waded in water。 And they
were cold。 Her gloves； too； had not been intended for rain；
and they were wet through。 The cold bit at her fingers so
that she had to beat her hands together。 Ranger
misunderstood this to mean that he was to trot faster； which
event was worse for Helen than freezing。
She saw another black； scudding mass of clouds bearing down
with its trailing sheets of rain； and this one appeared
streaked with white。 Snow！ The wind was now piercingly cold。
Helen's body kept warm； but her extremities and ears began
to suffer exceedingly。 She gazed ahead grimly。 There was no
help； she had to go on。 Dale and Roy were hunched down in
their saddles； probably wet through； for they wore no
rain…proof coats。 Bo kept close behind them； and plain it
was that she felt the cold。
This second storm was not so bad as the first； because there
was less rain。 Still； the icy keenness of the wind bit into
the marrow。 It lasted for an hour； during which the horses
trotted on； trotted on。 Again the gray torrent roared away；
the fine mist blew； the clouds lifted and separated； and；
closing again； darkened for another onslaught。 This one
brought sleet。 The driving pellets stung Helen's neck and
cheeks； and for a while they fell so thick and so hard upon
her back that she was afraid she could not hold up under
them。 The bare places on the ground showed a sparkling
coverlet of marbles of ice。
Thus； storm after storm rolled over Helen's head。 Her feet
grew numb and ceased to hurt。 But her fingers； because of
her ceaseless efforts to keep up the circulation； retained
the stinging pain。 And now the wind pierced right through
her。 She marveled at her endurance； and there were many
times that she believed she could not ride farther。 Yet she
kept on。 All the winters she had ever lived had not brought
such a day as this。 Hard and cold； wet and windy； at an
increasing elevation that was the explanation。 The air
did not have sufficient oxygen for her blood。
Still； during all those interminable hours； Helen watched
where she was traveling； and if she ever returned over that
trail she would recognize it。 The afternoo