age, and I have no confidence in the
half-starved Cayuse ponies the Indians offered me. The trails are hardly
safe just now, and the regular freighters hadn't a beast to spare. It
would be a favor if you came with yours, and we should, of course, be
glad to recoup you for the time you lose."

His manner was pleasant, money was very scarce then, and as it happened we
had been compelled to lay off for a day or two, awaiting material; so I
arranged to start with him.

"A little change will be good for you," Harry said, when the man departed.
"You have been looking as grim as a hungry bear lately. Jim Lawrence, I
dare say, would lend you his sisters' saddles."

The outward journey, made partly under cover of darkness, was arduous, for
each torrent came roaring down swollen by melting snow almost bank-full,
and portions of the trail had been washed away; but we reached the station
settlement in safety, and after a few hours' sleep there we turned out to
meet the west-bound train. It came thundering down the valley presently
with the sunlight flashing upon burnished metal and the long car windows,
and when amid a roar of blown-off steam it rolled into the station, I
wondered with mild curiosity what kind of women the new arrivals would be.
The next moment my pulse quickened as a gray-haired lady stepped down from
the platform of a car, for when my companion hurried forward with uplifted
hat I saw that it was Miss Carrington, while fresh and dainty, as though
she had not traveled at all, Grace followed her.

Then I remembered that my place was that of hired teamster, and I stood
waiting outside the baggage-car until Calvert gave me the brass checks,
after which I assisted the man who came with me to cinch a surprisingly
heavy load on our two pack-horses. The battered felt hat probably
concealed my face, all I had on was homely and considerably the worse for
wear, and it was scarcely surprising that they did not recognize me.
Presently, leading Jasper's bay horse forward, I stooped and held out my
hand for Grace to rest her little foot on, and when she swung herself
lightly into the saddle, Calvert said:

"The sooner we start the better, the trails are positively awful.
Contractor Lorimer, you will no doubt take especial care of Miss
Carrington."

Swinging low the broad hat, I looked up and saw a faint tinge of crimson
mantle in the face of the girl, while again a thrill went through me when
she said simply, "Ralph!" for