rrow reed-grown creek, which meandered placidly in the deeps of a
trough between two waves of grass-land. It had been her intention to
cross it, but the marshy nature of its bed deterred her. So she rode
on until the rising ground abruptly mounted and merged into the two
great hills which formed the portals through which the stream had found
an outlet from its mountain prison to the freedom of the plains beyond.

For a moment she paused at the edge of a woodland bluff which mounted
the slope to her right, and crowned the hillock with a thatch of dark
green pine foliage. She gazed up with questioning eyes. And the
familiarity of the tattered foliage left her without enthusiasm for its
beauty. Then she gazed ahead along the course of the stream. And it
was obvious that she was in some doubt as to whether she should still
proceed.

After a moment of deep consideration she lifted her reins and her horse
moved forward. Then, suddenly, he was still again, held with a
tightened rein. The soft but rapid plod of galloping hoofs came out of
the distance. It was coming toward her from the hills, and an
unaccountable but overwhelming desire to beat a hasty retreat took
possession of her.

But the action never matured. She was still facing the hills when a
horseman emerged from a narrow pathway which split up converging
bluffs. He was riding at a great pace, and was heading straight for
the bank of the river where she had paused.

Elvine remained where she was. She made no effort either to proceed or
retreat. Somehow curiosity had caught her up and left her with no
other emotion. She regarded the stranger with searching eyes. At the
moment his features were too indistinct to obtain an impression. But
his general appearance left nothing to question. He was a cow-hand
without a doubt. His open shirt and loose waistcoat, his chapps, and
the plaited rawhide rope which hung from the horn of his saddle. These
were sufficient evidence. But for the rest, the wide flapping brim of
his hat left her no estimate of the face beneath it.

He came on. He even swerved his horse on one side as though to pass
her without pausing. Elvine's pony stirred restlessly in a desire to
join the stranger. Then, in a flash, the whole position was changed.
The man reined up his horse with a heavy "yank" which almost flung it
on its haunches, and a pair of fierce black eyes were staring into the
woman's face with a light of startled re