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sure thing。 I never thought of this cove without Lahoma in it； didn't seem
like it could be so empty。。。。 How did she get acquainted with Annabel？
and with my brother？〃
〃It come about； son。 I see at once that the bunch of 'em was from the
big world。 I come home and told Bill； 'Them's the people to tow Lahoma
out into life；' says I。 So they invited her to spend the winter with them； the
Sellimers did； and show her city doings。〃
〃Yesbut how did it come about？〃
〃Nothing more natural。 I goes over to their tent and I tells them of the
curiosities and good points of these mountains； and gets 'em to come on a
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sort of picnic to explore。 So here they comes； and they gets scattered； what
with Bill and Lahoma and me taking different waysthey liked Lahoma
first time they see her； as a matter of course。 And so； that Miss Sellimer；
she gets separated from all the rest； and I shows her a dandy hiding…place
where nobody couldn't find her； and I shows her what a good joke it would
be to pretend to be lost。 So I leaves her there to go to tell her crowd she
dares 'em to find her。 Are you listening？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃Well； while she was setting there waiting to be searched for； of a
sudden a great big Injun in a blanket and feathers and red paint jumps
down beside her and grabs her and picks her up； and about as quick as she
knew anything； she was gagged and bound and being bore along through
the air。 I reckon it was a terrible moment for her。 Now there is a crevice in
the top of the mountain that nobody don't never explore； because it's just a
crack in the rock that ain't to be climbed out of without a ladder。 So the
Injun carries her there； and lets her down with a rope that it seems he must
of had handy somewheres； and he puts out； and there she is； in a holler in
the mountain； not able to move or cry out no more than if she'd been
captured by a regular highwayman。〃
Wilfred stared at Willock in complete bewilderment。 Willock
chuckled。
〃There was a terrible time！〃 remarked Bill。
〃Dark was a…coming on before the party got plumb scared；〃 Willock
continued； 〃but they brushed and combed that mountain looking for the
poor lost lady； and as I tells 'em she's a…hiding a…purpose； they think it a
pore sort of joke till midnight catches 'em mighty serious。 Torches is
carried here and there and everywhere； but no use。 You would think that
the next day the crowd would naturally look down in that crevice； but
that's because I've posted you up on where she is。 There's lots of other
crevices； and no reason as they can see why Miss Sellimer should take the
trouble to worm herself down into any of 'emand as nobody saw that
Injun； how could they suspicion foul play？ It must of been AWFUL for
pore Miss Sellimer； all bound and gagged in that horrible way； but it takes
heroic treatment to get some curesand so Lahoma went with 'em to
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spend the winter。〃
〃But the Indian…？〃
〃Needn't think about HIM no more； son； we got no more use for THAT
Injun。 Well； on the next day； Lahoma is looking everywhere； being urged
on by me； and lo； and behold！ when she comes to that crevice looked
like she couldn't be induced to go there of her own will； but it was brung
about finallywhat does she see but a tomahawk lying right at the edge
what must have been dropped there recent； or the crowd would have saw it
the day before。 It come to her that Miss Sellimer is a prisoner down below。
She looks； but it's too dark to see nothing。 Not telling nobody for fear of
starting up false hopes； she gets a light and lowers itand there is that
miserable young woman； bound and gagged and her pretty dress all tore。
Lahoma jumps to her feet to raise the cry； when she discovers a ladder
under a boulder which the Injun must have put there meaning to descend
to his victim when the coast was clear。 Down she skins； and frees Miss
Sellimer； who's half dead； poor young lady！ Lahoma comes up the ladder
and meets me and I carries her out just like a featherWell； can't you
imagine the rest？ I reckon if Miss Sellimer lives a thousand years she'll
never forget the awfulness of that big Injun and the angel sweetness of the
little gal that saved her。 Why； if Lahoma had asked for the rings off her
fingers； she could have had 'em； diamonds and all。〃
Wilfred rose and went to stare at the darkness from the small square
window。 Not a word was spoken for some time。 At last the silence was
broken by the Indian 〃UGH！〃 grunted Red Feather。
〃Just so！〃 remarked Wilfred； with exceeding dryness。
〃What are you thinking； Wilfred？〃 demanded Brick Willock。
〃I'd have thought Lahoma would recognize the ladder。〃
〃So she done； but couldn't the Injun have stole my ladder and carried it
to that boulder？ Just as soon as Miss Sellimer was well enough to travel；
NOTHING couldn't hold her in these parts； and that's why your brother
had to leave before seeing youhe's setting to Miss Sellimer； and if
Lahoma don't git him away from her； I reckon he's a goner！〃
Bill Atkins spoke vaguely。 〃It wasn't none of my doings。〃
Wilfred looked steadily at Willock。 〃What about your whiskers？〃
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〃Oh； as to them； it was like old times； you takes a cloth and cuts it out…
…painted redPsha！ What are we talking of？ Bill； let's show him her letter
what do you say？〃
〃I reckon it wouldn't hurt；〃 Bill conceded。
〃How'd you like it； Wilfred？ We can't produce our little gal to keep
you company； but her letter would sort of be like hearing her talk； wouldn't
it？ And if you stay with us a spell； we'll let you read 'em as they come。〃
Wilfred perceived that Willock was anxious to get his mind off the
harrowing adventure of the crevice； and as he was eager to hear the letter；
and as Brick and Bill were anxious to hear it again； nothing more was said
about the 〃big Injun。〃
〃Who'll read it？〃 asked Bill； as he drew the precious letter from the
strong box behind the stove。
〃Let Wilfred do the deed；〃 Willock suggested。 〃It travels slow in my
company； and though Bill reads 'er correct； he does considerable droning。 I
expect if Wilfred reads it with unction； it'll sound like a new document。〃
Wilfred drew the only stool in the room up beside the lantern； and Bill
and Brick disposed themselves on the bench； each holding his pipe on his
knee as if fearful of losing a word。 Red Feather； his beady eyes fastened
on the young man's face； sat gracefully erect； apparently alert to all that
was going on。 The lantern reddened the strong clean…cut face of the young
man； and touched the upturned pages to the whiteness of snow。 A sudden
wind had sprung up； and the flaring blaze from the open stove…door
touched to vivid distinctness the giant； the old man and the Indian。 Brick
closed the stove…door； and the sudden gloom brought out in mellow effect
Wilfred's animated face； the dull yellow wall against which his sturdy
shoulder rested； and the letter in his hand。
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CHAPTER XIV
WRITING HOME
〃Dear Brick and Bill：
〃I don't know what to tell first。 It's all so strange and grandthe people
are just people； but the things are wonderful。 The people want it to be so；
they act； and think according to the things around them。 They pride
themselves on these things and on being amongst them； and I am trying to
learn to do that； too。 When I lived in the coveit seems a long； long time
agomy thoughts were always away from dirt…floors and cook…stoves and
cedar logs and wash…pans。 But the people in the big world keep their
minds tied right up to such thingsonly the things are finerthey are
marble floors and magnificent restaurants and