she recognized her opportunity. She leaned out of
her window and spoke in a clear, reproving voice:

"James, what does he want? Breakfast? You know father wouldn't want any
hungry person to be turned away. Let them sit down on the bench there
and tell Dorset I said to give them a good hot breakfast, and get some
milk for the baby. Be quick about it, too!"

James started and frowned at the clear, commanding voice. The squaw
turned grateful animal eyes up to the little beauty in the window,
muttering some inarticulate thanks, while the stolid Indian's eyes
glittered hopefully, though the muscles of his mask-like countenance
changed not an atom.

Rosa smiled radiantly and ran down to see that her orders were obeyed.
She tried to talk a little with the squaw, but found she understood very
little English. The Indian spoke better and gave her their brief story.
They were on their way to the Navajo reservation to the far north. They
had been unfortunate enough to lose their last scanty provisions by
prowling coyotes during the night, and were in need of food. Rosa gave
them a place to sit down and a plentiful breakfast, and ordered that a
small store of provisions should be prepared for their journey after
they had rested. Then she hurried up to her room to finish her letter.
She had her plan well fixed now. These strangers should be her willing
messengers. Now and then, as she wrote she lifted her head and gazed out
of the window, where she could see the squaw busy with her little one,
and her eyes fairly glittered with satisfaction. Nothing could have been
better planned than this.

She wrote her note carefully:

DEAR MARGARET [she had heard Hazel call Margaret by her first name,
and rightly judged that their new friendship was already strong
enough to justify this intimacy],--I have found just the
opportunity I wanted for you to come to us. These Indians are
thoroughly trustworthy and are coming in just the direction to
bring you to a point where we will meet you. We have decided to go
on to Walpi at once, and will probably meet you near Keams, or a
little farther on. The Indian knows the way, and you need not be
afraid. I trust him perfectly. Start at once, please, so that you
will meet us in time. John has to go on as fast as possible. I know
you will enjoy the trip, and am so glad you are coming.

Lovingly,