ed that more could be gained
by friendly bartering. By October the train had left the plains and was
going higher into the mountains. The air grew more exhilarating. There was
less sickness in the village on wheels. One October morning they found a
light covering of snow.

"I can't tell you how that snow made me feel," said Aunt Deborah. "It made
me afraid somehow. I thought of the days I must stay alone that coming
winter while Robert was away. But my fears went later in the day when the
sun once more made the land like summer.

"It was early November when we reached our journey's end in a Montana
valley. A few sod huts were there to welcome us, and the day after our
arrival other pioneers drifted in from the south. The spot was chosen
because it was near water, and because there seemed to be plenty of wild
game. Some of our train pushed on to the gold mines, another day's journey
and more, but it was the gravel beds of the creek where we were promised
gold, and we decided to stay in the valley.

"We built a sod hut like those around us, and began to get settled. Our
poor cows and horses were glad enough to rest and crop the grass in among
the sagebrush. It was a forlorn-looking village enough when all our huts
were done. I wish you could have seen it! There we spent our first
winter--the happiest one of my whole life. Yes, my dears," she said,
looking into their doubtful, surprised faces, "it _was_ the happiest.
There were dangers, of course, and all kinds of hardships, but those made
no difference. Of course there were lonely days when I longed for home.
When Robert was there, I didn't mind the smoky, crowded hut, but on the
days when he had to be away I felt as though I couldn't stand it much
longer. We lived on meat and milk that winter. The flour gave out and
there was no way to get more, so we had no bread. All the provisions had
been used before February came, and we could get no more before spring.
Buffalo meat and elk, we ate mostly. Yes, Virginia, what is it?"

"The story, Aunt Deborah, about the Indian coming into the hut?"

"Oh, yes," said Aunt Deborah, "Virginia always must have that. It
happened on one day that Robert was away. He had ridden to the mining camp
to try to get flour. I was all alone in the hut. There had been no news of
Indians around, so imagine my surprise when the door was pushed open and
an Indian walked in. I knew by his signs that he wanted food, so I gave
him all I had. He drank a