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for it was heavy with a scorching heat。 The skin smarted and blistered
under it； and the eyes felt as if they were filled with sand。 The sun seemed
to swing but a little way above the earth； and though the sky was intensest
blue； around about this burning ball there was a halo of copper； as if the
very ether were being consumed in yellow fire。
Waite put some big burdock…leaves on Catherine's head under her
bonnet； and now and then he took a bottle of water from his pocket and
made her swallow a mouthful。 She staggered often as she walked； and the
road was black before her。 Still； it was not very long before the oddly
shaped shack of the three Johns came in sight； and as he caught a glimpse
of it； Waite quickened his footsteps。
〃What if he should be gone？〃 he said； under his breath。
〃Oh； come off！〃 said Catherine； angrily。 〃He's not gone。 You make me
tired！〃
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But she was trembling when she stopped just before the door to
compose herself for a moment。 Indeed； she trembled so very much that
Waite put out his sprawling hand to steady her。 She gently felt the pressure
tightening； and Waite whispered in her ear：
〃I guess I'd stand by him as well as any… body； excep' you； Mis' Ford。
He's been my bes' friend。 But I guess you like him better； eh？〃
Catherine raised her finger。 She could hear Henderson's voice within；
it was pitiably querulous。 He was half sitting up in his bunk； and Gillispie
had just handed him a plate on which two cakes were swim… ming in black
molasses and pork gravy。 Henderson looked at it a moment； then over his
face came a look of utter despair。 He dropped his head in his arms and
broke into uncontrolled crying。
〃Oh； my God； Gillispie；〃 he sobbed； 〃I shall die out here in this
wretched hole！ I want my mother。 Great God； Gillispie； am I going to die
without ever seeing my mother？〃
Gillispie； maddened at this anguish； which he could in no way
alleviate； sought comfort by first lighting his pipe and then taking his
revolver out of his hip…pocket and playing with it。 Henderson continued to
shake with sobs； and Catherine； who had never before in her life heard a
man cry； leaned against the door for a moment to gather courage。 Then she
ran into the house quickly； laugh… ing as she came。 She took Henderson's
arms away from his face and laid him back on the pillow； and she stooped
over him and kissed his forehead in the most matter… of…fact way。
〃That's what your mother would do if she were here；〃 she cried；
merrily。 〃Where's the water？〃
She washed his face and hands a long time； till they were cool and his
convulsive sobs had ceased。 Then she took a slice of thin bread from her
basket and a spoonful of amber jelly。 She beat an egg into some milk and
dropped a little liquor within it； and served them together on the first clean
napkin that had been in the cabin of the three Johns since it was built
At this the great fool on the bed cried again； only quietly； tears of weak
happi… ness running from his feverish eyes。 And Catherine straightened the
disorderly cabin。 She came every day for two weeks； and by that time
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A Mountain Woman
Henderson； very uncertain as to the strength of his legs； but once more
accoutred in his native pluck； sat up in a chair； for which she had made
clean soft cushions； writing a letter to his mother。 The floor was scrubbed；
the cabin had taken to itself cupboards made of packing…boxes； it had
clothes…presses and shelves； curtains at the windows； boxes for all sort of
necessaries； from flour to tobacco； and a cook…book on the wall； with an
inscription within which was more appropriate than respectful。
The day that she announced that she would have no further call to
come back； Waite； who was looking after the house while Gillispie was
afield； made a little speech。
〃After this here；〃 he said； 〃we four stands er falls together。 Now
look here； there's lots of things can happen to a person on this cussed
praira； and no one be none th' wiser。 So see here； Mis' Ford； every night
one of us is a…goin' to th' roof of this shack。 From there we can see your
place。 If anything is th' matter it don't signify how little er how big
you hang a lantern on th' stick that I'll put alongside th' house to…morrow。
Yeh can h'ist th' light up with a string； and every mornin' before we go out
we'll look too； and a white rag'll bring us quick as we can git there。 We
don't say nothin' about what we owe yeh； fur that ain't our way； but we
sticks to each other from this on。〃
Catherine's eyes were moist。 She looked at Henderson。 His face had no
expression in it at all。 He did not even say good…by to her； and she turned；
with the tears sud… denly dried under her lids； and walked down the road in
the twilight。
Weeks went by； and though Gillispie and Waite were often at
Catherine's； Henderson never came。 Gillispie gave it out as his opinion
that Henderson was an ungrateful puppy； but Waite said nothing。 This
strange man； who seemed like a mere unto… ward accident of nature； had
changed dur… ing the summer。 His big ill…shaped body had grown more
gaunt； his deep…set gray eyes had sunk deeper； the gentleness which had
distinguished him even on the wild ranges of Montana became more
marked。 Late in August he volunteered to take on himself the entire charge
of the night watch。
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〃It's nicer to be out at night；〃 he said to Catherine。 〃Then you don't
keep look… ing off at things； you can look inside；〃 and he struck his breast
with his splay hand。
Cattle are timorous under the stars。 The vastness of the plains； the
sweep of the wind under the unbroken arch； frighten them； they are made
for the close comforts of the barn…yard； and the apprehension is con…
tagious； as every ranchman knows。 Waite realized the need of becoming
good friends with his animals。 Night after night； riding up and down in the
twilight of the stars； or dozing； rolled in his blanket； in the shelter of a
knoll； he would hear a low roar； it was the cry of the alarmist。 Then from
every direction the cattle would rise with trembling awkwardness on their
knees； and answer； giving out sullen bellowings。 Some of them would
begin to move from place to place； spreading the baseless alarm； and then
came the time for action； else over the plain in mere fruitless frenzy would
go the whole frantic band； lashed to madness by their own fears； trampling
each other； heed… less of any obstacle； in pitiable； deadly rout。 Waite knew
the premonitory signs well； and at the first warning bellow he was on his
feet； alert and determined； his energy nerved for a struggle in which he
always conquered。
Waite had a secret which he told to none； knowing； in his unanalytical
fashion； that it would not be believed in。 But soon as ever the dark heads
of the cattle began to lift themselves； he sent a resonant voice out into the
stillness。 The songs he sang were hymns； and he made them into a sort of
imperative lullaby。 Waite let his lungs and soul fill with the breath of the
night； he gave himself up to the exaltation of mastering those trembling
brutes。 Mount… ing； melodious； with even and powerful swing he let his
full notes fall on the air in the confidence of power； and one by one the
reassured cattle would lie down again； lowing in soft contentment； and so
fall asleep with noses stretched out in mute attention； till their presence
could hardly be guessed except for the sweet aroma of their cuds。 One
night in the early dusk； he saw Cath… erine Ford hastening across the
prairie with Bill Deems。 He sent a halloo out to them； which they both
answered as they ran on。