Page 83 of 439

She gave her silent attention strictly to the business of making

progress through the cactus and the sand.

"Say I'm all you think I am. You can trample on me proper after

we get to the Mal Pais. Don't have to know me at all if you don't

want to. Won't you ride, ma'am? Please!"

His distress filled her with a fierce delight. She stumbled

defiantly forward.

He pondered a while before he asked quietly:

"Ain't you going to ride, Miss Kinney?"

"No, I'm not. Better go on. Pray don't let me detain you."

"All right. See that peak with the spur to it? Well, you keep

that directly in line and make straight for it. I'll say good-by

now, ma'am. I got to hurry to be in time for dinner. I'll send

some one out from the camp to meet you that ain't such a villain

as I am."