e for a bride an' groom, and gave ye what
the boys call the 'Bridal soot.'"

Trent laughed and assured him they were easily "suited," so the man led
them down the valley, beyond all the outhouses, tents, cabins, and
shacks to a log cabin cut off from the rest by a strip of woods.

"Nobody to interfere with ye here--lonesome as the top of Mill's
Mountain," remarked their host at parting.

Bob led the way about and Paul followed her. There were two rooms: one
with a fireplace, intended for a sitting-room; it had a couch bed,
however, and the minimum of furniture. The bedroom beyond was equally
bare. A sort of shed, used by some former tenant as a kitchenette, was
shut off by a low door. But out of the broad windows and the open doors
was a glory that made man-made comforts seem unessential details. They
made the circuit of their new domain, and laughed.

"Are you frightened?" he asked her.

"Not of this shack, nor the big mountains, nor you. It's fun."

"I can get along, of course, but you don't seem to fit."

"Wait till I get on my mountain clothes, then I'll fit. These Fifth
Avenue things look so ridiculous. But you're not to fret about me, Paul.
I've had plenty of roughing it. I have faced life without a bathroom
before. If I'm not a good enough Roman to stand it, I'll go back east."

"Let's go engage a guide and see what horses they have for us."

They started for the corral back of the ranch house, where the ponies
were grazing. They had to step off the road several times to let
parties of laughing men and girls gallop past. A cowboy volunteered to
bring in some ponies, and while they waited, a big, loose-jointed man
sauntered over to them.

"Howdy?" said he.

"Good evening."

"Strangers, ain't ye?"

"Yes, we've just come."

"East'ners?"

"Tenderfeet from New York," laughed Bob.

"We're gettin' used to you folks out here. Purty nigh all Noo Yawk State
has been out here. Them your ponies?" he added, as the cowboy came up.

"Yes, I telegraphed to have some reserved for us."

Their new acquaintance gave the boy an order.

"I'll show ye the pony you want, Ma'am. This here one is all right fer
yer man, but that old sawbuck won't do fer ye."

The cowboy came up with a fresh pony, ears back, eyes wide. He
investigated the party thoroughly before he permitted Bob to rub his
nose.

"You're right, Mr.--a----"

"Bill--Bill Hawkins. Sure I'm right. That's the pony fer her."

"We want to make a good