ife for
nothing."

"The Indian will turn the trick, I tell you. Take my hunch. It's nothing
for me to drift down a swift river. I worked a ferry-boat once."

Shefford, to whom flying straws would have seemed stable, caught the
inflection of defiance and daring and hope of the Mormon's spirit.

"What then--after you meet us at the mouth of Nonnezoshe Boco?" he
queried.

"We'll all drift down to Lee's Ferry. That's at the head of Marble
Canyon. We'll get out on the south side of the river, thus avoiding
any Mormons at the ferry. Nas Ta Bega knows the country. It's open
desert--on the other side of these plateaus. He can get horses from
Navajos. Then you'll strike south for Willow Springs."

"Willow Springs? That's Presbrey's trading-post," said Shefford.

"Never met him. But he'll see you safe out of the Painted Desert. ...
The thing that worries me most is how not to miss you all at the mouth
of Nonnezoshe. You must have sharp eyes. But I forget the Indian. A bird
couldn't pass him.... And suppose Nonnezoshe Boco has a steep-walled,
narrow mouth opening into a rapids!... Whew! Well, the Indian will
figure that, too. Now, let's put our heads together and plan how to turn
this end of the trick here. Getting the girl!"

After a short colloquy it was arranged that Shefford would go to Ruth
and talk to her of the aid she had promised. Joe averred that this aid
could be best given by Ruth going in her somber gown and hood to the
school-house, and there, while Joe and Shefford engaged the guards
outside, she would change apparel and places with Fay and let her come
forth.

"What'll they do to Ruth?" demanded Shefford. "We can't accept her
sacrifice if she's to suffer--or be punished."

"Reckon Ruth has a strong hunch that she can get away with it. Did you
notice how strange she said that? Well, they can't do much to her. The
bishop may damn her soul. But--Ruth--"

Here Lake hesitated and broke off. Not improbably he had meant to say
that of all the Mormon women in the valley Ruth was the least likely to
suffer from punishment inflicted upon her soul.

"Anyway, it's our only chance," went on Joe, "unless we kill a couple of
men. Ruth will gladly take what comes to help you."

"All right; I consent," replied Shefford, with emotion. "And now after
she comes out--the supposed Ruth--what then?"

"You can be natural-like. Go with her back to Ruth's cabin. Then stroll
off into the cedars. Then climb the west wall. Mean