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shouted the cook at the departing McLean。
This was the last of camp by Bull Lake Crossing； and in the foreman's
company young Lin now took the road for his accumulated dollars。
〃So you're leaving your bedding and stuff with the outfit？〃 said the
foreman。
〃Brought my tooth…brush；〃 said Lin； showing it in the breast…pocket of
his flannel shirt。
〃Going to Denver？〃
〃Why； maybe。〃
〃Take in San Francisco？〃
〃Sounds slick。〃
〃Made any plans？〃
〃Gosh； no！〃
〃Don't want anything on your brain？〃
〃Nothin' except my hat； I guess；〃 said Lin； and broke into cheerful
song：
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LIN McLEAN
〃'Twas a nasty baby anyhow；
And it only died to spite us； 'Twas afflicted with
the cerebrow Spinal meningitis！'〃
They wound up out of the magic valley of Wind River； through the
bastioned gullies and the gnome…like mystery of dry water…courses；
upward and up to the level of the huge sage…brush plain above。 Behind lay
the deep valley they had climbed from； mighty； expanding； its trees like
bushes； its cattle like pebbles； its opposite side towering also to the edge of
this upper plain。 There it lay； another world。 One step farther away from
its rim； and the two edges of the plain had flowed together over it like a
closing sea； covering without a sign or ripple the great country which lay
sunk beneath。
〃A man might think he'd dreamed he'd saw that place；〃 said Lin to the
foreman； and wheeled his horse to the edge again。 〃She's sure there；
though；〃 he added； gazing down。 For a moment his boy face grew
thoughtful。 〃Shucks！〃 said he then； abruptly； 〃where's any joy in money
that's comin' till it arrives？ I have most forgot the feel o' spot…cash。〃
He turned his horse away from the far…winding vision of the river； and
took a sharp jog after the foreman； who had not been waiting for him。
Thus they crossed the eighteen miles of high plain； and came down to Fort
Washakie； in the valley of Little Wind； before the day was hot。
His roll of wages once jammed in his pocket like an old handkerchief；
young Lin precipitated himself out of the post…trader's store and away on
his horse up the stream among the Shoshone tepees to an unexpected
entertainmenta wolf…dance。 He had meant to go and see what the new
waiter…girl at the hotel looked like； but put this off promptly to attend the
dance。 This hospitality the Shoshone Indians were extending to some
visiting Ute friends； and the neighborhood was assembled to watch the
ring of painted naked savages。
The post…trader looked after the galloping Lin。 〃What's he quitting his
job for？〃 he asked the foreman。
〃Same as most of 'em quit。〃
〃Nothing？〃
〃Nothing。〃
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LIN McLEAN
〃Been satisfactory？〃
〃Never had a boy more so。 Good…hearted； willing； a plumb dare…devil
with a horse。〃
〃And worthless；〃 suggested the post…trader。
〃Wellnot yet。 He's headed that way。〃
〃Been punching cattle long？〃
〃Came in the country about seventy…eight； I believe； and rode for the
Bordeaux Outfit most a year； and quit。 Blew in at Cheyenne till he went
broke； and worked over on to the Platte。 Rode for the C。 Y。 Outfit most a
year； and quit。 Blew in at Buffalo。 Rode for Balaam awhile on Butte Creek。
Broke his leg。 Went to the Drybone Hospital； and when the fracture was
commencing to knit pretty good he broke it again at the hog…ranch across
the bridge。 Next time you're in Cheyenne get Dr。 Barker to tell you about
that。 McLean drifted to Green River last year and went up over on to
Snake； and up Snake； and was around with a prospecting outfit on Galena
Creek by Pitchstone Canyon。 Seems he got interested in some
Dutchwoman up there； but she had troubledied； I think they saidand he
came down by Meteetsee to Wind River。 He's liable to go to Mexico or
Africa next。〃
〃If you need him；〃 said the post…trader； closing his ledger； 〃you can
offer him five more a month。〃
〃That'll not hold him。〃
〃Well； let him go。 Have a cigar。 The bishop is expected for Sunday；
and I've got to see his room is fixed up for him。〃
〃The bishop！〃 said the foreman。 〃I've heard him highly spoken of。〃
〃You can hear him preach to…morrow。 The bishop is a good man。〃
〃He's better than that； he's a man；〃 stated the foreman〃at least so they
tell me。〃
Now； saving an Indian dance； scarce any possible event at the
Shoshone agency could assemble in one spot so many sorts of inhabitants
as a visit from this bishop。 Inhabitants of four colors gathered to view the
wolf…dance this afternoon red men； white men； black men； yellow men。
Next day； three sorts came to church at the agency。 The Chinese laundry
was absent。 But because； indeed （as the foreman said）； the bishop was not
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LIN McLEAN
only a good man but a man； Wyoming held him in respect and went to
look at him。 He stood in the agency church and held the Episcopal service
this Sunday morning for some brightly glittering army officers and their
families； some white cavalry； and some black infantry； the agency doctor；
the post…trader； his foreman； the government scout； three gamblers； the
waiter…girl from the hotel； the stage…driver； who was there because she was；
old Chief Washakie； white…haired and royal in blankets； with two royal
Utes splendid beside him； one benchful of squatting Indian children； silent
and marvelling； and； on the back bench； the commanding officer's new
hired…girl； and； beside her； Lin McLean。
Mr。 McLean's hours were already various and successful。 Even at the
wolf…dance； before he had wearied of its monotonous drumming and
pageant； his roving eye had rested upon a girl whose eyes he caught
resting upon him。 A look； an approach； a word； and each was soon content
with the other。 Then； when her duties called her to the post from him and
the stream's border； with a promise for