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im the more he pondered。 All those wandering months of his had been filled with dissatisfaction； yet he had been too apathetic to understand himself。 So he had not been much of a person to try。。 Perhaps it had not been the blow to Rojas any more than other things that had wrought some change in him。
His meeting with Thorne； the wonderful black eyes of a Spanish girl； her appeal to him； the hate inspired by Rojas； and the rush； the blow； the action； sight of Thorne and Mercedes hurrying safely away； the girl's hand pressing his to her heaving breast； the sweet fire of her kiss； the fact of her being alone with him； dependent upon him all these things Gale turned over and over in his mind； only to fail of any definite conclusion as to which had affect him so remarkably； or to tell what had really happened to him。
Had he fallen in love with Thorne's sweetheart？ The idea came in a flash。 Was he； all in an instant； and by one of those incomprehensible reversals of character； jealous of his friend？ Dick was almost afraid to look up at Mercedes。 Still he forced himself to do so； and as it chanced Mercedes was looking down at him。 Somehow the light was better； and he clearly saw her white face； her black and starry eyes； her perfect mouth。 With a quick； graceful impulsiveness she put her hand upon his shoulder。 Like her appearance； the action was new； strange； striking to Gale； but it brought home suddenly to him the nature of gratitude and affection in a girl of her blood。 It was sweet and sisterly。 He knew then that he had not fallen in love with her。 The feeling that was akin to jealousy seemed to be of the beautiful something for which Mercedes stood in Thorne's life。 Gale then grasped the bewildering possibilities； the infinite wonder of what a girl could mean to a man。
The other haunting intimations of change seemed to be elusively blended with sensationsthe heat and thrill of action； the sense of something done and more to do； the utter vanishing of an old weary hunt for he knew not what。 Maybe it had been a hunt for work； for energy； for spirit； for love； for his real self。 Whatever it might be； there appeared to be now some hope of finding it。
The desert began to lighten。 Gray openings in the border of shrubby growths changed to paler hue。 The road could be seen some rods ahead； and it had become a stony descent down； steadily down。 Dark； ridged backs of mountains bounded the horizon； and all seemed near at hand； hemming in the plain。 In the east a white glow grew brighter and brighter； reaching up to a line of cloud； defined sharply below by a rugged notched range。 Presently a silver circle rose behind the black mountain； and the gloom of the desert underwent a transformation。 From a gray mantle it changed to a transparent haze。 The moon was rising。
〃Senor I am cold；〃 said Mercedes。
Dick had been carrying his coat upon his arm。 He had felt warm； even hot； and had imagined that the steady walk had occasioned it。 But his skin was cool。 The heat came from an inward burning。 He stopped the horse and raised the coat up； and helped Mercedes put it on。
〃I should have thought of you；〃 he said。 〃But I seemed to feel warm 。 。 。 The coat's a little large； we might wrap it round you twice。〃
Mercedes smiled and lightly thanked him in Spanish。 The flash of mood was in direct contrast to the appealing； passionate； and tragic states in which he had successively viewed her； and it gave him a vivid impression of what vivacity and charm she might possess under happy conditions。 He was about to start when he observed that Ladd had halted and was peering ahead in evident caution。 Mercedes' horse began to stamp impatiently； raised his hears and head； and acted as if he was about to neigh。
A warning 〃hist！〃 from Ladd bade Dick to put a quieting hand on the horse。 Lash came noiselessly forward to join his companion。 The two then listened and watched。
An uneasy yet thrilling stir ran through Gale's veins。 This scene was not fancy。 These men of the ranges had heard or seen or scented danger。 It was all real； as tangible and sure as the touch of Mercedes's hand upon his arm。 Probably for her the night had terrors beyond Gale's power to comprehend。 He looked down into the desert； and would have felt no surprise at anything hidden away among the bristling cactus； the dark； winding arroyos； the shadowed rocks with their moonlit tips； the ragged plain leading to the black bold mountains。 The wind appeared to blow softly； with an almost imperceptible moan； over the desert。 That was a new sound to Gale。 But he heard nothing more。
Presently Lash went to the rear and Ladd started ahead。 The progress now； however； was considerably slower； not owing to a roadfor that became betterbut probably owing to caution exercised by the cowboy guide。 At the end of a half hour this marked deliberation changed； and the horses followed Ladd's at a gait that put Gale to his best walking…paces。
Meanwhile the moon soared high above the black corrugated peaks。 The gray； the gloom； the shadow whitened。 The clearing of the dark foreground appeared to lift a distant veil and show endless aisles of desert reaching down between dim horizon…bounding ranges。
Gale gazed abroad； knowing that as this night was the first time for him to awake to consciousness of a vague； wonderful other self； so it was one wherein he began to be aware of an encroaching presence of physical thingsthe immensity of the star…studded sky； the soaring moon； the bleak； mysterious mountains； and limitless slope； and plain； and ridge； and valley。 These things in all their magnificence had not been unnoticed by him before； only now they spoke a different meaning。 A voice that he had never heard called him to see； to fee the vast hard externals of heaven and earth； all that represented the open； the free； silence and solitude and space。
Once more his thoughts； like his steps； were halted by Ladd's actions。 The cowboy reined in his horse； listened a moment； then swung down out of the saddle。 He raised a cautioning hand to the others； then slipped into the gloom and disappeared。 Gale marked that the halt had been made in a ridged and cut…up pass between low mesas。 He could see the columns of cactus standing out black against the moon…white sky。 The horses were evidently tiring； for the showed no impatience。 Gale heard their panting breaths； and also the bark of some animala dog or a coyote。 It sounded like a dog； and this led Gale to wonder if there was any house near at hand。 To the right； up under the ledges some distance away； stood two square black objects； too uniform； he thought； to be rocks。 While he was peering at them； uncertain what to think； the shrill whistle of a horse pealed out； to be followed by the rattling of hoofs on hard stone。 Then a dog barked。 At the same moment that Ladd hurriedly appeared in the road a light shone out and danced before one of the square black objects。
〃Keep close an' don't make no noise；〃 he whispered； and led his horse at right angles off the road。
Gale followed； leading Mercedes's horse。 As he turned he observed that Lash also had dismounted。
To keep closely at Ladd's heels without brushing the cactus or stumbling over rocks and depressions was a task Gale found impossible。 After he had been stabbed several times by the bayonetlike spikes； which seemed invisible； the matter of caution became equally one of self…preservation。 Both the cowboys； Dick had observed； wore leather chaps。 It was no easy matter to lead a spirited horse through the dark； winding lanes walled by thorns。 Mercedes horse often balked and had to be coaxed and carefully guided。 Dick concluded that Ladd was making a wide detour。 The position of certain stars grown familiar during the march veered round from one side to another。 Dick saw that the travel was fast； but by no means noiseless。 The pack animals at times crashed and ripped through the narrow places。 It seemed to Gale that any one within a mile could have heard these sounds。 From the tops of knolls or ridges he looked back； trying to locate the mesas where the light had danced and the dog had barked alarm。 He could not distinguish these two rocky eminences from among many rising in the background。
Presently Ladd let out into a wider lane that appeared to run straight。 The cowboy mounted his horse； and this fact convinced Gale that they had circled back to the road。 The march proceeded then once more at a good； steady； silent walk。 When Dick consulted his watch he was amazed to see that the hour was till early。 How much had happened in little time！ He now began to be aware that the night was growing colder； and； strange to him； he felt something damp that in a country he knew he would have recognized as dew。 He had not been aware there was dew on the desert。 The wind blew stronger； the stars shone whiter； the sky grew darker； and the moon climbed toward the zenith。 The road stretched level for miles； then crossed arroyos and ridges； wound between mounds of broken ruined rock； found a level again； and then began a long ascent。 Dick asked Mercedes if she was cold； and she answered that she was； speaking especially of her feet； which were growing