"I do, sir."

"You can come on closer then, ma'am," he growled. "There ain't no secrets
between us."

Come on she did, with only an instant's hesitation and a little
compression of the lips. She swept our group fearlessly--her gaze crossed
mine, but she betrayed no sign.

"I wish to engage passage to Salt Lake."

"With this hyar train?" gasped Jenks.

"Yes. You are bound for Salt Lake, aren't you?"

"For your health, ma'am?" he stammered.

She faintly smiled, but her eyes were steady and wide.

"For my health. I'd like to throw in with your outfit. I will cook, keep
camp, and pay you well besides."

"We haven't no place for a woman, ma'am. You'd best take the stage."

"No. There'll be no stage out till morning. I want to make arrangements at
once--with you. There are other women in this train." She flashed a glance
around. "And I can take care of myself."

"If you aim to go to Salt Lake your main holt is Benton and the stage. The
stage makes through in four days and we'll use thirty," somebody
counseled.

"An' this bull train ain't no place for yore kind, anyhow," grumbled
another. "We've quit roarin'--we've cut loose from that hell-hole
yonder."

"So have I." But she did not turn on him. "I'm never going back. I--I
can't, now; not even for the stage. Will you permit me to travel with you,
sir?"

"No, ma'am, I won't," rasped Mr. Jenks. "I can't do it. It's not in my
line, ma'am."

"I'll be no trouble. You have only Mr. Beeson. I don't ask to ride. I'll
walk. I merely ask protection."

"So do we," somebody sniggered; and I hated him, for I saw her sway upon
her feet as if the words had been a blow.

"No, ma'am, I'm full up. I wouldn't take on even a yaller dog, 'specially
a she one," Jenks announced. "What your game is now I can't tell, and I
don't propose to be eddicated to it. But you can't travel along with me,
and that's straight talk. If you can put anything over on these other
fellers, try your luck."

"Oh!" she cried, wincing. Her hands clenched nervously, a red spot dyed
either cheek as she appealed to us all. "Gentlemen! Won't one of you help
me? What are you afraid of? I can pay my way--I ask no favors--I swear to
you that I'll give no trouble. I only wish protection across."

"Where's Pedro? Where's Montoyo?"

She turned quickly, facing the jeer; her two eyes blazed, the red spots
deepened angrily.

"He? That snake? I shot him."

"What! You? Killed him?" Exclamations broke from al