But whatever she might have wanted to add was smothered
when his arms closed tightly about her.

A little later she drew a deep breath and looked up at him with moist,
eloquent eyes.

"Perhaps I _shall_ have to change the story a little," she said.

He drew her head to his shoulder, one hand caressing her hair. "If you
do," he said smiling, "don't have the hero thinkin' that the girl is
makin' a fool of him." He drew her close. "That cert'nly was a mighty
bad minute you give me," he added.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE DIM TRAIL.

A shadow fell upon the rock. Ferguson turned his head and looked
toward the west, where the sun had already descended over the mountains.

"Why it's sundown!" he said, smiling into Miss Radford's eyes. "I
reckon the days must be gettin' shorter."

"The happy days are always short," she returned, blushing. He kissed
her for this. For a while they sat, watching together the vari-colors
swimming in the sky. They sat close together, saying little, for mere
words are sometimes inadequate. In a little time the colors faded, the
mountain peaks began to throw sombre shades; twilight--gray and
cold--settled suddenly into the flat. Then Miss Radford raised her
head from Ferguson's shoulder and sighed.

"Time to go home," she said.

"Yes, time," he returned. "I'm ridin' down that far with you."

They rose and clambered down the hillside and he helped her into the
saddle. Then he mounted Mustard and rode across the flat beside her.

Darkness had fallen when they rode through the clearing near the cabin
and dismounted from their ponies at the door. The light from the
kerosene lamp shone in a dim stream from the kitchen door and within
they saw dishes on the table with cold food. Ferguson stood beside his
pony while Miss Radford went in and explored the cabin. She came to
the door presently, shading her eyes to look out into the darkness.

"Ben has been here and gone," she said. "He can't be very far away.
Won't you come in?"

He laughed. "I don't think I'll come in," he returned. "This lover
business is new to me, an' I wouldn't want Ben to come back an' ketch
me blushin' an' takin' on."

"But he has to know," she insisted, laughing.

"Sure," he said, secure in the darkness, "but you tell him."

"I won't!" she declared positively, stamping a foot.

"Then I reckon he won't get told," he returned quietly.

"Well, then," she said, laughing, "I suppose that is settled."