uts, obstructed by debris in the trail. In
places, the creek running bank-full, backed up over their path.

At times, Laramie halting his companions, rode slowly ahead, sounding
out the overflows and choosing the footing. Where streamlets poured
over rock outcroppings the horses slipped. Frequently to get his
bearings, Laramie felt his way forward by reaching for trees and
scraped his knees against them as he pushed his horse close. And in
spite of everything to confuse, intimidate and hold them back, they
slipped and floundered on their way, until quite suddenly a new roar
from out of the impenetrable dark struck their ears.

Laramie halted their party, and the three in silence, listened.
"That," said Laramie, after a moment, to Hawk, "sounds like the Crazy
Woman."

He went ahead to investigate. He was gone a long time, yet he groped
half a mile down the road and made his way back to his companions
without a signal. He was on foot. "We're all right," was the report
he brought, "it's a little dryer ahead. While I'm down," he said to
Kate, "I'll try your cinches. It's a mean night."

"Did you ever see such a night?" she echoed, shuddering.

"Plenty of 'em," returned Laramie. "Once we cross the creek the going
will be better."

Of the going between them and the creek, Laramie prudently said
nothing. It was the worst of the journey. Two stretches were filled
with backwater. Across these they cautiously waded and swam the
horses. When they gained high ground adjoining the creek, Kate
breathed more freely. There was a halt for reconnaissance. For this,
Laramie and Hawk, after placing Kate where she would be safe whether
they should come back or not, went forward together.

The splashing and floundering of their horses as the two left her side,
was gradually lost in the roar of the night and she was alone in the
darkness. They were gone a good while but Kate had enough of confused
and conflicting thought to occupy her reflections. After a long
interval the report of a Colt's struck her anxious ear. She swallowed
in sudden fear to listen more keenly. If there were a fight it would
be followed by another report and more. With her heart beating fast
she listened, but there was no successor to the single shot and,
calming somewhat, she speculated on just what it might mean. Again she
waited with such patience as she could until the measured splash of a
horse's feet nearing her through the shallow wat