in a man's house where no woman lived? Perhaps the man would
have a horse to lend or sell them. She would offer any sum he wanted if
she only could get to a safe place.

But the Indian did not knock at the door as she had expected he would
do. Instead he stooped to the lower step, and putting his hand into a
small opening in the woodwork of the step, fumbled there a minute and
presently brought out a key which he fitted into the lock and threw the
door wide open to her astonished gaze.

"Him friend me!" explained the Indian again.

He walked into the room with the manner of a partial proprietor of the
place, looked about, stooped down to the fireplace where a fire was
neatly laid, and set it blazing up cheerfully; took the water bucket and
filled it, and putting some water into the kettle swung it over the
blaze to heat, then turning, he spoke again:

"Lady stay. Me come back--soon. Sun no go down. Me come back; good horse
get lady."

"But where is the owner of this house? What will he think of my being
here when he comes back?" said Hazel, more frightened than ever at the
prospect of being left. She had not expected to stay entirely alone. She
had counted on finding some one in the house.

"Aneshodi way off. Not come back one--two--day mebbe! He know me. He me
friend. Lady stay! All right!"

Hazel, her eyes large with fear, watched her protector mount and ride
away. Almost she called after him that he must not leave her; then she
remembered that this was a part of a woman's life in Arizona, and she
was being tried. It was just such things as this the missionary had
meant when he said she was unfit for life out here. She would stay and
bear the loneliness and fright. She would prove, at least to herself,
that she had the courage of any missionary. She would not bear the
ignominy of weakness and failure. It would be a shame to her all her
life to know she had failed in this trying time.

She watched the Indian riding rapidly away as if he were in hot haste.
Once the suspicion crossed her mind that perhaps he had lamed her horse
on purpose, and left her here just to get rid of her. Perhaps this was
the home of some dreadful person who would return soon and do her harm.

She turned quickly, with alarm in her heart, to see what manner of place
she was in, for she had been too excited at first over the prospect of
being left to notice it much, save to be surprised that there were
chairs, a fireplace, and a look of