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is。〃
〃After a while a fellow loses the feelin' of hunger；〃 he replied。 〃I reckon
it'll come back quick。 。 。 。 This all looks good。〃
So they began to eat。 Lucy's excitement； her sense of the unreality of this
adventure； in no wise impaired her appetite。 She seemed acutely sensitive to
the perceptions of the moment。 The shade of the cedars was cool。 And out on
the desert she could see the dark smoky veils of heat lifting。 The breeze
carried a dry odor of sand and grass。 She heard bees humming by。 And all
around the great isolated monuments stood up； red tops against the blue sky。
It was a silent； dreaming； impressive place； where she felt unlike herself。
〃I mustn't stay long；〃 she said； suddenly remembering。
〃Will you come backagain？〃 he asked。
The question startled Lucy。 〃WhyII don't know。 。 。 。 Won't you ride in to
the Ford just as soon as you're able？〃
〃I reckon not。〃
〃But it's the only place where there's people in hundreds of miles。 Surely you
won't try to go back the way you came？〃
〃When Wildfire left that country I left it。 We can't back。〃
〃Then you've no peopleno one you care for？〃 she asked； in sweet seriousness。
〃There's no one。 I'm an orphan。 My people were lost in an Indian
massacrewith a wagon…train crossin' Wyomin'。 A few escaped； an' I was one of
the youngsters。 I had a tough time； like a stray dog； till I grew up。 An' then
I took to the desert。〃
〃Oh； I see。 II'm sorry；〃 replied Lucy。 〃But that's not very different from
my dad's story； of his early years。 。 。 。 What will you do now？〃
〃I'll stay here till my back straightens out。 。 。 。 Will you ride out again？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Lucy； without looking at him； and she wondered if it were
really she who was speaking。
Then he asked her about the Ford； and Bostil； and the ranches and villages
north； and the riders and horses。 Lucy told him everything she knew and could
think of； and； lastly； after waxing eloquent on the horses of the uplands；
particularly Bostil's； she gave him a graphic account of Cordts and Dick
Sears。
〃Horse…thieves！〃 exclaimed the rider； darkly。 There was a grimness as well as
fear in his tone。 〃I've heard of Sears； but not Cordts。 Where does this band
hang out？〃
〃No one knows。 Holley says they hide up in the canyon country。 None of the
riders have ever tried to track them far。 It would be useless。 Holley says
there are plateaus of rich grass and great forests。 The Ute Indians say that
much； too。 But we know little about the wild country。〃
〃Aren't there any hunters at Bostil's Ford？〃
〃Wild…horse hunters； you mean？〃
〃No。 Bear an' deer hunters。〃
〃There's none。 And I suppose that's why we're not familiar with the wild
canyon country。 I'd like to ride in there sometime and camp。 But our people
don't go in for that。 They love the open ranges。 No one I know； except a
half…witted boy； ever rode down among these monuments。 And how wonderful a
place！ It can't be more than twenty miles from home。 。 。 。 I must be going
soon。 I'm forgetting Sage King。 Did I tell you I was training him for the
races？〃
〃No； you didn't。 What races？ Tell me；〃 he replied； with keen interest。
Then Lucy told him about the great passion of her fatherabout the long；
time…honored custom of free…for…all races； and the great races that had been
run in the past； about the Creeches and their swift horses； about the rivalry
and speculation and betting； and lastly about the races to be run in a few
weeksraces so wonderful in prospect that even the horse…thief； Cordts； had
begged to be allowed to attend。
〃I'm going to see the King beat Creech's roan；〃 shouted the rider； with red in
his cheeks and a flash in his eye。
His enthusiasm warmed Lucy's interest； yet it made her thoughtful。 Ideas
flashed into her mind。 If the rider attended the races he would have that
fleet stallion with him。 He could not be separated from the horse that had
cost him so dearly。 What would Bostil and Holley and Farlane say at sight of
Wildfire？ Suppose Wildfire was to enter the races！ It was probable that he
could run away from the whole fieldeven beat the King。 Lucy thrilled and
thrilled。 What a surprise it would be！ She had the rider's true love of seeing
the unheralded horse win over the favorite。 She had for years wanted to see a
horseand ride a horseout in front of Sage King。 Then suddenly all these
flashing ideas coruscated seemingly into a gleam a leaping； radiant；
wonderful thought。 Irresistibly it burst from her。
〃Let ME ride your Wildfire in the great race？〃 she cried； breathlessly。
His response was instantaneousa smile that was keen and sweet and strong；
and a proffered hand。 Impulsively Lucy clasped that hand with both hers。
〃You don't mean it；〃 she said。 〃Oh； it's what Auntie would call one of my wild
dreams！ 。 。 。 And I'm growing upthey say。 。 。 。 But Oh； if I could ride
Wildfire against the field in that race。 。 。 。 If I ONLY COULD！〃
She was on fire with the hope； flushing； tingling。 She was unconscious of her
effect upon the rider； who gazed at her with a new…born light in his eyes。
〃You can ride him。 I reckon I'd like to see that race just as much as Bostil
or Cordts or any man。 。 。 。 An' see here； girl； Wildfire can beat this gray
racer of your father's。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Lucy。
〃Wildfire can beat the King；〃 repeated the rider； intensely。 〃The tame horse
doesn't step on this earth that can run with Wildfire。 He's a stallion。 He has
been a killer of horses。 It's in him to KILL。 If he ran a race it would be
that instinct in him。〃
〃How can we plan it？〃 went on Lucy； impulsively。 She had forgotten to withdraw
her hands from his。 〃It must be a surprisea complete surprise。 If you came
to the Ford we couldn't keep it secret。 And Dad or Farlane would prevent me；
somehow。〃
〃It's easy。 Ride out here as often as you can。 Bring a light saddle an' let me
put you up on Wildfire。 You'll run him； train him； get him in shape。 Then the
day of the races or the night before I'll go in an' hide out in the sage till
you come or send for Wildfire。〃
〃Oh； it'll be glorious；〃 she cried； with eyes like stars。 〃I know just where
to have you hide。 A pile of rocks near the racecourse。 There's a spring and
good grass。 I could ride out to you just before the big race； and we'd come
back； with me on Wildfire。 The crowd always stays down at the end of the
racecourse。 Only the starters stay out there。 。 。 。 Oh； I can see Bostil when
that red stallion runs into sight！〃
〃Well； is it settled？〃 queried the rider； strangely。
Lucy was startled into self…consciousness by his tone。
How strangely he must have felt。 And his eyes were piercing。
〃You meanthat I ride Wildfire？〃 she replied； shyly。 〃Yes； if you'll let me。〃
〃I'll be proud。〃
〃You're very good。 。 。 。 And do you think Wildfire can beat the King？〃
〃I know it。〃
〃How do you？〃
〃I've seen both horses。〃
〃But it will be a grand race。〃
〃I reckon so。 It's likely to be the grandest ever seen。 But Wildfire will win
because he's run wild all his lifean' run to kill other horses。 。 。 。 The
only question isCAN you ride him？〃
〃Yes。 I never saw the horse I couldn't ride。 Bostil says there are some I
can't ride。 Farlane says not。 Only two horses have thrown me； the King and
Sarchedon。 But that was before they knew me。 And I was sort of wild。 I can
make your Wildfire love me。〃
〃THAT'S the last part of it I'd ever doubt；〃 replied the rider。 〃It's settled；
then。 I'll camp here。 I'll be well in a few days。 Then I'll take Wildfire in
hand。 You will ride out whenever you have a chance； without bein' seen。 An'
the two of us will train the stallion to upset that race。〃
〃Yesthenit's settled。〃
Lucy's gaze was impelled and held by the rider's。 Why was he so pale？ But then
he had been injuredweakened。 This compact between them had somehow changed
their relation。 She seemed to have known him long。
〃What's your name？〃 she asked。
〃Lin Slone；〃 replied the rider。
Then she released her hands。 〃I must ride in now。 If this isn't a dream I'll
come back soon。〃 She led Sage King to a rock and mounted him。
〃It's good to see you up there；〃 said Slone。 〃An' that splendid horse！ 。 。 。
He knows what he is。 It'll break Bostil's heart to see that horse beat。〃
〃Dad'll feel bad； but it'll do him good；〃 replied Lucy。
That was the old rider's ruthless spirit speaking out of his daughter's lips。
Slone went close to the King and； putting a hand on the pommel； he looked up
at Lucy。 〃Maybeit isa dreaman' you won't come back；〃 he said； with
unsteady voice。
〃Then I'll come in dreams；〃 she flashed。 〃Be careful of yourself。 。 。 。
Good…by。〃
And at a touch the impatient King was off。 From far up the slope near a
monument Lucy looked back。 Slone was watching her。 She waved a gauntleted
handand then looked back no more。
CHAPTER X
Two weeks slipped by on the wings of time and opportunity and achievement； all
colored so wonderfully for Lucy； all spelling that adventure for which she had
yearned。
Lucy was riding down into the sage toward the monuments with a whole day
before her。 Bostil kept more and more to himself； a circumstance that worried
her； though she thought little about it。 Van had taken up the