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A sage…hen rose under their horses' feet； and hurtled away heavily over
the next rise of ground； taking a final wide sail out of sight。
〃Something like them partridges used to；〃 said Lin； musingly。
〃Partridges？〃 inquired Sabina。
〃Used to be in the woods between Lynn and Salem。 Maybe the woods
are gone by this time。 Yes； they must be gone； I guess。〃
Presently they dismounted and sought the stream bank。
〃We had music and dancing at Thanksgiving and such times；〃 said Lin；
his wiry length stretched on the grass beside the seated Sabina。 He was not
looking at her； but she took a pleasure in watching him； his curly head and
bronze face； against which the young mustache showed to its full
advantage。
〃I expect you used to dance a lot；〃 remarked Sabina； for a subject。
〃Yes。 Do yu' know the Portland Fancy？〃
Sabina did not； and her subject died away。
〃Did anybody ever tell you you had good eyes？〃 she inquired next。
〃Why； sure；〃 said Lin； waking for a moment； 〃but I like your color
best。 A girl's eyes will mostly beat a man's。〃
〃Indeed； I don't think so！〃 exclaimed poor Sabina； too much expectant
to perceive the fatal note of routine with which her transient admirer
pronounced this gallantry。 He informed her that hers were like the sea； and
she told him she had not yet looked upon the sea。
〃Never？〃 said he。 〃It's a turruble pity you've never saw salt water。 It's
different from fresh。 All around home it's blueawful blue in July around
Swampscott and Marblehead and Nahant； and around the islands。 I've
swam there lots。 Then our home bruck up and we went to board in
Boston。〃 He snapped off a flower in reach of his long arm。 Suddenly all
dreaminess left him。
〃I wonder if you'll be settin' the colonel's table when I come back？〃 he
said。
Miss Stone was at a loss。
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LIN McLEAN
〃I'm goin' East to…morrowEast； to Boston。〃
Yesterday he had told her that sixteen miles to Lander was the farthest
journey from the post that he intended to makethe farthest from the post
and her。
〃I hope nothing ain't happened to your folks？〃 said she。
〃I ain't got no folks；〃 replied Lin； 〃barring a brother。 I expect he is
taking good care of himself。〃
〃Don't you correspond？〃
〃Well； I guess he would if there was anything to say。 There ain't been
nothin'。〃
Sabina thought they must have quarrelled； but learned that they had
not。 It was time for her now to return and set the colonel's table； so Lin
rose and went to bring her horse。 When he had put her in her saddle she
noticed him step to his own。
〃Why； I didn't know you were lame！〃 cried she。
〃Shucks！〃 said Lin。 〃It don't cramp my style any。〃 He had sprung on
his horse； ridden beside her； leaned and kissed her before she got any
measure of his activity。
〃That's how；〃 said he； and they took their homeward way galloping。
〃No；〃 Lin continued； 〃Frank and me never quarrelled。 I just thought I'd
have a look at this Western country。 Frank； he thought dry…goods was good
enough for him； and so we're both satisfied； I expect。 And that's a lot of
years now。 Whoop ye！〃 he suddenly sang out； and fired his six…shooter at a
jack…rabbit； who strung himself out flat and flew over the earth。
Both dismounted at the parade…ground gate； and he kissed her again
when she was not looking； upon which she very properly slapped him； and
he took the horses to the stable。 He sat down to tea at the hotel； and found
the meal consisted of black potatoes； gray tea； and a guttering dish of fat
pork。 But his appetite was good； and he remarked to himself that inside the
first hour he was in Boston he would have steamed Duxbury clams。 Of
Sabina he never thought again； and it is likely that she found others to take
his place。 Fort Washakie was one hundred and fifty miles from the railway；
and men there were many and girls were few。
The next morning the other passengers entered the stage with
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LIN McLEAN
resignation； knowing the thirty…six hours of evil that lay before them。 Lin
climbed up beside the driver。 He had a new trunk now。
〃Don't get full； Lin；〃 said the clerk； putting the mail…sacks in at the
store。
〃My plans ain't settled that far yet；〃 replied Mr。 McLean。
〃Leave it out of them；〃 said the voice of the bishop； laughing； inside
the stage。
It was a cool； fine air。 Gazing over the huge plain down in which lies
Fort Washakie； Lin heard the faint notes of the trumpet on the parade
ground； and took a good…bye look at all things。 He watched the American
flag grow small； saw the circle of steam rising away down by the hot
springs； looked at the bad lands beyond； chemically pink and rose amid
the vast； natural； quiet…colored plain。 Across the spreading distance Indians
trotted at wide spaces； generally two large bucks on one small pony； or a
squaw and pappoosea bundle of parti…colored rags。 Presiding over the
whole rose the mountains to the west； serene； lifting into the clearest light。
Then once again came the now tiny music of the trumpet。
〃When do yu' figure on comin' back？〃 inquired the driver。
〃Oh； I'll just look around back there for a spell；〃 said Lin。 〃About a
month； I guess。〃
He had seven hundred dollars。 At Lander the horses are changed； and
during this operation Lin's friends gathered and said； where was any sense
in going to Boston when you could have a good time where you were？ But
Lin remained sitting safe on the stage。 Toward evening； at the bottom of a
little dry gulch some eight feet deep； the horses decided it was a suitable
place to stay。 It was the bishop who persuaded them to change their minds。
He told the driver to give up beating； and unharness。 Then they were led
up the bank； quivering； and a broken trace was spliced with rope。 Then the
stage was forced on to the level ground； the bishop proving a strong man；
familiar with the gear of vehicles。 They crossed through the pass among
the quaking asps and the pines； and； reaching Pacific Springs； came down
again into open country。 That afternoon the stage put its passengers down
on the railroad platform at Green River； this was the route in those days
before the mid…winter catastrophes