AndSam——whatdidhedo？Heobeyedher，Ishouldliketobesorryforhim。Butobediencewasnotalover’sparthere。Hehesitated，thegoldenmomenthunghovering，theconductorcried“Allaboard！“thetrainwent，andthereontheplatformstoodobedientSam，withhisgoldenmomentgonelikeabutterfly。
AfterRotterdamJunction，whichwassomefortyminutesfarther，MollyWoodsatbravelyupinthethroughcar，dwellingupontheunknown。ShethoughtthatshehadattaineditinOhio，onTuesdaymorning，andwrotealetteraboutittoBennington。OnWednesdayafternoonshefeltsure，andwrotealettermuchmorepicturesque。Butonthefollowingday，afterbreakfastatNorthPlatte，Nebraska，shewroteaverylongletterindeed，andtoldthemthatshehadseenablackpigonawhitepileofbuffalobones，catchingdropsofwaterintheairastheyfellfromtherailroadtank。Shealsowrotethattreeswereextraordinarilyscarce。Eachhourwestwardfromthepigconfirmedthisopinion，andwhensheleftthetrainatRockCreek，lateuponthatfourthnight，——inthosedaysthetrainswereslower，——sheknewthatshehadreallyattainedtheunknown，andsentanexpensivetelegramtosaythatshewasquitewell。
Atsixinthemorningthestagedroveawayintothesage-brush，withherasitsonlypassenger；andbysundownshehadpassedthroughsomeoftheprimitiveperilsoftheworld。Thesecondteam，virgintoharness，anddispleasedwiththisnovelty，triedtotakeitoff，andwentdowntothebottomofagullyonitseighthindlegs，whileMissWoodsatmuteandunflinchingbesidethedriver。Thereforehe，whenitwasover，andtheyontheproperroadagain，invitedherearnestlytobehiswifeduringmanyofthenextfifteenmiles，andtoldherofhissnugcabinandhishorsesandhismine。Thenshegotdownandrodeinside，IndependenceandGrandmotherStarkshininginhereye。AtPointofRocks，wheretheyhadsupperandhisdriveended，herfacedistractedhisheart，andhetoldheroncemoreabouthiscabin，andlamentablyhopedshewouldrememberhim。Sheansweredsweetlythatshewouldtry，andgavehimherhand。Afterall，hewasafranklookingboy，whohadpaidherthehighestcomplimentthataboyoramanforthatmatterknows；anditissaidthatMollyStark，inherday，wasnotaNewWoman。
Thenewdriverbanishedthefirstonefromthemaiden’smind。Hewasnotafrank-lookingboy，andhehadbeentakingwhiskey。Allnightlonghetookit，whilehispassenger，helplessandsleeplessinsidethelurchingstage，satasuprightasshepossiblycould；nordidthevoicesthatsheheardatDrybonereassureher。Sunrisefoundthewhitestagelurchingeternallyonacrossthealkali，withadriverandabottleonthebox，andapalegirlstaringoutattheplain，andknottinginherhandkerchiefsomeutterlydeadflowers。Theycametoariverwherethemanbungledovertheford。Twowheelssankdownoveranedge，andthecanvastoppledlikeadescendingkite。Theripplecamesuckingthroughtheupperspokes，andasshefelttheseatcareen，sheputoutherheadandtremulouslyaskedifanythingwaswrong。Butthedriverwasaddressinghisteamwithmuchlanguage，andalsowiththelash。
Thenatallriderappearedcloseagainsttheburiedaxles，andtookheroutofthestageonhishorsesosuddenlythatshescreamed。Shefeltsplashes，sawaswimmingflood，andfoundherselflifteddownupontheshore。Theridersaidsomethingtoheraboutcheeringup，anditsbeingallright，butherwitswerestock-still，soshedidnotspeakandthankhim。Afterfourdaysoftrainandthirtyhoursofstage，shewashavingalittletoomuchoftheunknownatonce。Thenthetallmangentlywithdrewleavinghertobecomeherselfagain。Shelimplyregardedtheriverpouringroundtheslantedstage，andanumberofhorsemenwithropes，whorightedthevehicle，andgotitquicklytodryland，anddisappearedatoncewithaherdofcattle，utteringlustyyells。