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。
Shesawthetallonedelayingbesidethedriver，andspeaking。Hespokesoquietlythatnotawordreachedher，untilofasuddenthedriverprotestedloudly。Themanhadthrownsomething，whichturnedouttobeabottle。Thistwistedloftilyanddivedintothestream。Hesaidsomethingmoretothedriver，thenputhishandonthesaddle-horn，lookedhalf-lingeringlyatthepassengeronthebank，droppedhisgraveeyesfromhers，andswinginguponhishorse，wasgonejustasthepassengeropenedhermouthandwithinefficientvoicemurmured，“Oh，thankyou！“athisdepartingback。
Thedriverdroveupnow，achastenedcreature。HehelpedMissWoodin，andinquiredafterherwelfarewithahanginghead；thenmeekashisowndrenchedhorses，heclimbedbacktohisreins，andnursedthestageontowardtheBowLegMountainsmuchasifithadbeenaperambulator。
AsforMissWood，shesatrecovering，andshewonderedwhatthemanonthehorsemustthinkofher。Sheknewthatshewasnotungrateful，andthatifhehadgivenheranopportunityshewouldhaveexplainedtohim。Ifhesupposedthatshedidnotappreciatehisact——Hereintothemidstofthesemeditationscameanabruptmemorythatshehadscreamed——shecouldnotbesurewhen。Sherehearsedtheadventurefromthebeginning，andfoundoneortwofurtheruncertainties——howithadallbeenwhileshewasonthehorse，forinstance。Itwasconfusingtodeterminepreciselywhatshehaddonewithherarms。Sheknewwhereoneofhisarmshadbeen。Andthehandkerchiefwiththeflowerswasgone。Shemadeafewrapiddivesinsearchofit。Hadshe，orhadshenot，seenhimputtingsomethinginhispocket？Andwhyhadshebehavedsounlikeherself？InafewmilesMissWoodentertainedsentimentsofmaidenlyresentmenttowardherrescuer，andofmaidenlyhopetoseehimagain。
Tothatrivercrossinghecameagain，alone，whenthedaysweregrowingshort。Thefordwasdrysand，andthestreamawindinglaneofshingle。Hefoundapool，——poolsalwayssurvivetheyearroundinthisstream，——andhavingwateredhispony，helunchednearthespottowhichhehadbornethefrightenedpassengerthatday。Wheretheflowingcurrenthadbeenhesat，regardingthenowextremelysafechannel。
“Shecert’nlywouldn’tneedtogripmesoclosethismawnin’，“hesaid，asheponderedoverhismeal。“IreckonitwillmightilyastonishherwhenItellherhowharmlessthetorrentislookin’。“Heheldouttohisponyasliceofbreadmattedwithsardines，whichtheponyexpertlyaccepted。“You’reaplumbpie-biteryouMonte，“hecontinued。Monterubbedhisnoseonhismaster’sshoulder。“Iwouldn’ttrustyouwithberriesandcream。
No，seh；notthoughyu’didrescueadrownin’lady。“
Presentlyhetightenedtheforwardcinch，gotinthesaddle，andtheponyfellintohiswisemechanicaljog；forhehadcomealongway，andwasgoingalongway，andheknewthisaswellasthemandid。
TousethelanguageofCattleLand，steershad“jumpedtoseventy-five。“Thiswasagreatandprosperousleapintheirvalue。Tohaveflourishedinthatgoldentimeyouneednotbedeadnow，norevenmiddle-aged；butitisWyomingmythologyalready——quiteasfabulousasthehigh-jumpingcow。Indeed，peoplegatheredtogetherandbehavedthemselvesmuchinthesamepleasantandimprobableway。JohnsonCounty，andNatrona，andConverse，andothers，tosaynothingoftheCheyenneClub，hadbeenlumpingoverthemoonforsomeweeks，allonaccountofsteers；andonthestrengthofthisvigorouspriceofseventy-five，theStantonBrothersweregivingabarbecueattheGooseEggoutfit，theirranchonBearCreek。Ofcoursethewholeneighborhoodwasbidden，andwouldcomefortymilestoaman；
somewouldcomefurther——theVirginianwascomingahundredandeighteen。Ithadstruckhim——rathersuddenly，asshallbemadeplain——thatheshouldliketoseehowtheyweregettingalongupthereonBearCreek。“They，“washowheputittohisacquaintances。Hisacquaintancesdidnotknowthathehadboughthimselfapairoftrousersandascarf，unnecessarilyexcellentforsuchageneralvisit。Theydidnotknowthatinthespring，twodaysaftertheadventurewiththestage，hehadlearnedaccidentallywhotheladyinthestagewas。Thishehadkepttohimself；nordidthecampevernoticethathehadceasedtosingthateightiethstanzahehadmadeabouttheABC——thestanzawhichwasnotprintable。Heeffaceditimperceptibly，givingtheboystheotherseventy-nineatjudiciousintervals。Theydreamedofnoguile，butmerelysawinhim，whetherfrequentingcamportown，thesamenotover-angeliccomradewhomtheyvaluedandcouldnotwhollyunderstand。
Allspringhehadriddentrail，workedatditchesduring，summer，andnowhehadjustfinishedwiththebeefround-up。Yesterday，whilehewasspendingalittlecomfortablemoneyattheDrybonehog-ranch，acasualtravellerfromthenorthgossipedofBearCreek，andthefencesupthere，andthefarmcrops，theWestfalls，andtheyoungschoolmarmfromVermont，forwhomtheTaylorshadbuiltacabinnextdoortotheirs。Thetravellerhadnotseenher，butMrs。Taylorandalltheladiesthoughttheworldofher，andLinMcLeanhadtoldhimshewas“awayupinG。“
ShewouldhaveplentyofpartnersatthisSwintonbarbecue。Greatboomforthecountry，wasn’tit，steersjumpingthatway？
TheVirginianheard，askingnoquestions；andlefttowninanhour，withthescarfandtrouserstiedinhisslickerbehindhissaddle。Afterlookinguponthefordagain，eventhoughitwasdryandnotatallthesameplace，hejourneyedinattentively。Whenyouhavebeenhardatworkformonthswithnotimetothink，ofcourseyouthinkagreatdealduringyourfirstemptydays。“Stepalong，youMontehawss！“hesaid，rousingaftersomewhile。HedisciplinedMonte，whoflattenedhisearsaffectedlyandsnorted。
“Why，yousurelyain’thinkin’ofyou’-selfasahero？Shewasn’treallya-drowndin’，youpie-biter。“Herestedhisseriousglanceuponthealkali。“She’snotlikelytohaveforgotthatmix-up，though。IguessI’llnotremindheraboutgrippin’me，andallthat。Shewasn’tthekindamanoughttojoshaboutsuchthings。
Shehadarightcleareye。“Thus，tallandlooseinthesaddle，didhejogalongthesixtymileswhichstilllaybetweenhimandthedance。
Twocampsintheopen，andtheVirginian’sMontehorse，untired，broughthimtotheSwintons’ingoodtimeforthebarbecue。Thehorsereceivedgoodfoodatlength，whilehisriderwaswelcomedwithgoodwhiskey。GOODwhiskey——forhadnotsteersjumpedtoseventy-five？
InsidetheGooseEggkitchenmanysmalldelicacieswerepreparing，andasteerwasroastingwholeoutside。Thebedofflameunderitshowedsteadilybrighteragainsttheduskthatwasbeginningtoveilthelowlands。Thebusyhostswentandcame，whilemenstoodandmenlaynearthefire-glow。Chalkeyewasthere，andNebrasky，andTrampas，andHoneyWiggin，withothers，enjoyingtheoccasion；butHoneyWigginwasenjoyinghimself:hehadanaudience；hewassittingupdiscoursingtoit。
“Hello！“hesaid，perceivingtheVirginian。“Soyou’vedroppedinforyourturn！Number——six，ain’the，boys？“
“Dependswho’sa-runnin’thecountin’，“saidtheVirginian，andstretchedhimselfdownamongtheaudience。
“I’vesawhimnumberonewhennobodyelsewasaround，“saidTrampas。
“Howfarawaywasyoustandin’whenyoubeheldthat？“inquiredtheloungingSoutherner。
“Well，boys，“saidWiggin，“IexpectitwillbeMissSchoolmarmsayswho’snumberonetonight。“
“Soshe’sarrivedinthishyehcountry？“observedtheVirginian，verycasually。
“Arrived！“saidTrampasagain。“Wherehaveyoubeengrazinglately？“
“Arightsmartwayfromthemules。“
“Nebraskyandtheboyswastellin’methey’dmissedyu’off-therange，“againinterposedWiggin。“Say，Nebrasky，whohaveyu’
offeredyourcanarytotheschoolmarmsaidyoumustn’tgiveher？“
Nebraskygrinnedwretchedly。
“Well，she’salady，andshe’ssquare，nottakin’aman’sgiftwhenshedon’ttaketheman。Butyou’doughttogetbackallthemlettersyu’wroteher。Yu’sureoughttoaskherforthemtell-tales。“
“Ah，pshaw，Honey！“protestedtheyouth。Itwaswellknownthathecouldnotwritehisname。
“Why，ifhereain’tBokayBaldy！“criedtheagileWiggin，stoopingtofreshprey。“Foundthemslippersyet，Baldy？Tellyu’
boys，thatwasturrublesadluckBaldyhad。Didyu’hearaboutthat？Baldy，yu’know，hecanstayonatamehorsemostaswellastheschoolmarm。Butjustyougivehimapairofyoungknittin’-needlesandseehimmake’emsweat！Heworkedanelegantpairofslipperswithpinkcabbageson’emforMissWood。“
“Ibought’ematMedicineBow，“blunderedBaldy。
“Soyu’did！“assentedtheskilfulcomedian。“Baldyhebought’em。AndontheroadtohercabinthereattheTaylors’hegotthinkin’theymightbetoobig，andhegotstudyin’whattodo。
Andhefixeduptotellherabouthisnotbein’sureofthesize，andhowshewastolethimknowiftheydroppedoffher，andhe’dexchange’’em，andwhenhegotrightnearherdoor，why，hecouldn’tfindhiscourage。Andsoheslipstheparcelunderthefenceandstartsserenadin’her。Butsheain’tinsidehercabinatall。She’satsuppernextdoorwiththeTaylors，andBaldysingin’’Lovehasconqweredprideandangwer’toalonehouse。
LinMcLeanwascomin’upbyTaylor’scorral，whereTaylor’sTexasbullwas。Well，itwasturrublesad。Baldy’spantsgottore，buthefellinsidethefence，andLindruvthebullbackandsomebodystolethemMedicineBowgaloshes。Areyougoin’toknithersomemore，Bokay？“
“Abouthalfthatain’tstraight，“Baldycommented，withmildness。
“Thehalfthatwastoreoffyerpants？Well，nevermind，Baldy；
Linwillgetlefttoo，sameasallofyu’。“
“Istheremany？“inquiredtheVirginian。Hewasstillstretchedonhisback，lookingupatthesky。
“Idon’tknowhowmanyshe’sbeenusedtowhereshewasraised，“
Wigginanswered。“Akidstage-drivercomefromPointofRocksonedayandwentbackthenext。Thentheforemanofthe76outfit，andthehorse-wranglerfromtheBar-Circle-L，andtwodeputymarshals，withpunchers，stringin’rightalong，——allgottheirtumble。OldJudgeBurragefromCheyennecomeupinAugustforahuntandstayedroundhereandneverhuntedatall。Therewasthathorsethief——awfulgood-lookin’。Taylorwantedtowarnherabouthim，butMrs。Taylorsaidshe’dlookafterherifitwasneeded。Mr。Horse-thiefgaveitupquickerthanmost；buttheschoolmarmcouldn’thaveknowedhehadaMrs。Horse-thiefcampedonPoisonSpidertillafterwards。Shewouldn’tgoridin’withhim。She’llgowithsome，takin’akidalong。“
“Bah！“saidTrampas。