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never let himself be taken。 But he thinks nobody could get the better of
Red Feather。 You see； if he just dreamed what has happened； he'd KNOW
Mr。 Gledware can convict him。〃
〃We must reach Brick Willock before Red Kimball gets his warrant！〃
exclaimed Wilfred desperately。
〃Yes； we must； we must！〃 Lahoma was growing slightly hysterical。 〃I
won't mind any hardship； any dangerbut what are we to do？ You won't
let me ride on aloneand you wouldn't be willing to leave me here and
take the good horse yourself。〃
〃You're quite right about that！〃 returned the young man promptly。 〃We
can only mount again； and go as fast as my miserable beast can travel；
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hoping for some chance to come our way。 We have the advantage of not
being in the stage where Kimball could keep an eye on us。〃
〃I ought to be more thankful for that than I am；〃 Lahoma sighed。 They
mounted； but as they rode forward； Wilfred's horse lagged more and more。
〃It's slow sailing；〃 Wilfred remarked； 〃but it will give us a chance to
talk。 By the way； do you feel ready for supper？〃 From his overcoat pocket
he drew forth the sandwiches。
It seemed to Lahoma to show an unfeeling heart to experience hunger
at such a time； and to find the ham sandwiches good； but it was none the
less true that they were good； and the mustard with which the ham was
plastered added a tang of hope and returned a defiant answer to the cold
inquiry of the north wind。
After they had eaten and the remaining sandwiches had been carefully
stowed away in Wilfred's capacious pocket； they pressed forward with
renewed energy on the part of all save Wilfred's horse。 By dint of constant
urging it was kept going faster than a walk though it was obsessed by a
consuming desire to lie down。 In order to keep Lahoma's mind from
dwelling on their difficulties and on Brick's peril； the young man
maintained conversation at high pressure； ably seconded by his companion
who was anxious to show herself undaunted。
Wilfred chose as the topic to engage Lahoma's mind； the future of
Oklahoma Territory。 The theme filled him with enthusiasm such as no
long…settled commonwealth is able to inspire； and though Lahoma
considered herself a Texan； she was able to enter into his spirit from
having always lived at the margin of the new country。 Wilfred dwelt on the
day when Oklahoma would no longer be represented in congress by a
delegate without the right to vote； but would take its place as a state whose
constitution should be something new and inspiring in the history of civil
documents。
Wilfred meant to have a part in the framing of that constitution and as
he outlined some of his theories of government； Lahoma listened with
quick sympathy and appreciation。 A new feeling for him； something like
admiration； something like pride； stirred within her。 Here was a man who
meant to do things； things eminently worth a man's time and strength； and
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yet； for all his high purposes； there was no look； no tone； to indicate that
he held himself at a higher valuation than those for whom he meant to
labor。 As in time of stress the strongest man is given the heaviest burden；
so he seemed to take to himself a leading part in the future of his country
that all who dwelt within its borders might find it a freer； a richer； a better
country because of him。
〃You'll call me ambitious；〃 said Wilfred； glowing。 〃Well； I am。 You'll
accuse me of wanting power。 So I do！〃
Her eyes flashed。 〃And I'm ambitious for you！〃 she cried。 〃Go ahead
and get power。 Take the earth！ Don't stop till you reach the seathat's the
spirit of the West。 But how did you ever think of these things？〃
〃During my long winters on my quarter…section； nobody in sightjust
the prairie and me。 Nothing else to think about except the country that's
new…born。 So I studied out a good many things； just thinking about
Oklahoma andand〃
Lahoma said softly； 〃I KNEW there was SOMETHING ELSE you
thought about。〃
〃Yes；〃 exclaimed Wilfred； thrilled。 〃Yesthere WAS something else！〃
〃A little girl； I guess；〃 murmured Lahoma gently； with a touch of
compassion in her tone。
〃You've guessed it； Lahomayes； the dearest little girl in the world。〃
〃I wish she could have cared for youTHAT waylike your voice
sounds；〃 murmured Lahoma。
〃Maybe she can；〃 Wilfred's voice grew firmer。 〃Yesshe MUST！〃
〃Have you found a gold…mine？〃
〃What are you talking about； Lahoma？ What has a gold…mine to do
with it？〃
〃Because nothing else goes；〃 returned Lahoma decisively。 〃You might
get single statehood for Oklahoma； and write the constitution yourself； and
be elected governorbut you'd look just the same to Annabel； unless you
had a gold…mine。〃
Wilfred gave a jerk at his bridle。 〃Who's talking about Annabel？〃 he
cried rather sharply。 He had forgotten that there was an Annabel。
〃Everybody is；〃 returned Lahoma； somewhat sharply on her own
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account； 〃everybody is； or ought to be！〃
〃_I_ am not；〃 retorted Wilfred； springing to the ground just in time
for his horse； on being checked； had promptly lain down。
〃Then that's what you get！〃 remarked Lahoma severely； staring down
at the dark blur on the trail which her imagination correctly interpreted as
the horse stretched out on its side。
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CHAPTER XXI
THE NORTHER
The wind increased in fury。 Fortunately it was at their back。 Wilfred
pressed forward on foot； leading Lahoma's horse； and； partly on account of
their unequal position； partly because of awkward reserve； no more was
said for a long time。 She bent forward to shelter her face from the stinging
blast while he trod firmly and methodically on and on； braced slightly
backward against the wind； which was like a hand pushing him forward。
The voice of the wind filled the night。 It whistled and shrieked in
minor keys； dying away at brief intervals to come again with a rush and
roar。 It penetrated him to the bone； for he had compelled her to wrap
herself in his overcoat； and when the first stinging grains of fiercely driven
sleet pelted his cheek； he smothered a cry of dismay over her exposed
situation。 It could not be far past midnight。 The prospect of a snow…storm
in the bleak lands of the Kiowa appalled him； but even while facing that
possibility his mind was busy with Lahoma's attitude toward himself。
Evidently it had never occurred to her that Annabel had vanished from his
fancy years ago； now that she knew； she was displeasedmost
unreasonably so； he thought。 Lahoma did not approve of Annabelwhy
should she want him to remain passively under her yoke？ Unconsciously
his form stiffened in protest as he trudged forward。 The wind； so far from
showing signs of abatement； slightly increased； no longer with intervals of
pause。 The sleet changed rapidly first to snow； then to rainthen hail；
snow and rain alternated； or descended simultaneously； always driven with
cruel force by the relentless wind。
At last Lahoma shouted； 〃It's a regular norther！ How're you getting
along； Wilfred？〃
Despite their discomfort； his heart leaped at this unexpected note of
comradeship。 Had she already forgiven him for not loving Annabel？ 〃Oh；
Lahoma！〃 he cried with sudden tenderness； 〃what will become of you？〃
She returned gravely； 〃What will become of Brick？ Northers are bad；
but not so bad as some menRed Kimball； for instance。〃 A terrific blast
shook the half…frozen overcoat about her shoulders as if to snatch it away。
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〃Don't you wish the Indians built