en eyes of
Wagalexa Conka and to steal away from the ranch, especially if she had
to work in the picture that day. But Luck unconsciously opened wide the
trail for her. He announced at breakfast that they would work up in Bear
Canon that day, and that he would not need Jean or Annie either; and
that, as it would be hotter than the hinges of Gehenna up in that canon,
they had better stay at home and enjoy themselves.

Annie-Many-Ponies did not betray by so much as a flicker of the lashes
that she heard him much less that it was the best of good news to her.
She went into her tent and packed all of her clothes into a bundle which
she wrapped in her plaid shawl, and was proud because the bundle was so
big, and because she had much fine beadwork and so many red ribbons, and
a waist of bright blue silk which she would wear when she stood before
the priest, if Ramon did not like the dress of beaded buckskin.

A ring with an immense red stone in it which Ramon had given her, she
slipped upon her finger with her little, inscrutable smile. She was
engaged to be married, now, just like white girls; and tomorrow she
would have a wide ring of shiny gold for that finger, and should be the
wife of Ramon.

Just then Shunka Chistala, lying outside her tent, flapped his tail on
the ground and gave a little, eager whine. Annie-Many-Ponies thrust
her head through the opening and looked out, and then stepped over the
little black dog and stood before her tent to watch the Happy Family
mount and ride away with Wagalexa Conka in their midst and with the
mountain wagon rattling after them loaded with "props" and the camera
and the noonday lunch and Pete Lowry and Tommy Johnson, the scenic
artist. Applehead was going to drive the wagon, and she scowled when he
yanked off the brake and cracked the whip over the team.

Luck, feeling perchance the intensity of her gaze, turned in the saddle
and looked back. The eyes of Annie-Many-Ponies softened and saddened,
because this was the last time she would see Wagalexa Conka riding away
to make pictures--the last time she would see him. She lifted her hand,
and made the Indian sign of farewell--the peace-go-with-you sign that is
used for solemn occasions of parting.

Luck pulled up short and stared. What did she mean by that? He reined
his horse around, half minded to ride back and ask her why she gave him
that peace-sign. She had never done it before, except once or twice in
scenes that he directe