rides, as
otherwise she could not have undergone the experiences of the next few
hours in the saddle. All semblance of a trail seemed to end a mile or so
beyond the camp. The ride became a succession of scrambles across
treacherous slides of shale, succeeded by plunges into apparently
impenetrable walls of underbrush and low-hanging trees. The general
course of the river was followed. At times they had climbed to such a
height that the stream was merely a white line beneath them, and its
voice could not be heard. Then they would descend and cross and recross
the stream. The wild plunges across the torrent became matters of
torture to Helen. The horses slipped on the boulders. Water dashed over
the girl's knees, and each ford became more difficult, as the stream
became more swollen, owing to the melting of near-by snowbanks. One of
the pack-horses fell and lay helplessly in the stream until it was
fairly dragged to its feet. The men cursed volubly as they worked over
the animal and readjusted the wet pack, which had slipped to one side.

After an hour or two of travel the half-breed took Talpers's place in
the lead, the trader bringing up the rear behind Helen and the
pack-horses. Two bald mountain-peaks began to loom startlingly near. The
stream ran between the peaks, being fed by the snows on either slope. As
the altitude became more pronounced the horses struggled harder at their
work. The white horse was showing the stamina that was in him. Helen
urged him to his task, knowing the folly of attempting to thwart the
wishes of her captors. They passed a slope where a forest fire had swept
in years gone by. Wild raspberry bushes had grown in profusion among the
black, sentinel-like trunks of dead trees. The bushes tore her
riding-suit and scratched her hands, but she uttered no complaint.

Under any other circumstances Helen would have found much in the ride to
overcome its discomforts. The majesty of the scenery impressed itself
upon her mind, troubled as she was. Silence wrapped the two great peaks
like a mantle. An eagle swung lazily in midair between the granite
spires. Here was another plane of existence where the machinations of
men seemed to matter little. Almost indifferent to her discomforts Helen
struggled on, mechanically keeping her place in line. The half-breed
looked back occasionally, and even went so far as to take her horse by
the bridle and help the animal up an unusually hard slope.

When it became a