set　places　for　twoblue…enamel　plate　and　cup；　with　plain；　substantial…looking　knives；　forks；　and　spoons。　He　went　outside；　to　return　presently　carrying　a　small　crock　of　butter。　Evidently　he　had　kept　the　butter　in　or　near　the　spring。　It　looked　dewy　and　cold　and　hard。　After　that　he　peeped　under　the　lid　of　the　pot　which　contained　the　biscuits。　The　other　pot　was　sizzling　and　smoking；　giving　forth　a　delicious　savory　odor　that　affected　Carley　most　agreeably。　The　coffee…pot　had　begun　to　steam。　With　a　long　fork　Glenn　turned　the　slices　of　ham　and　stood　a　moment　watching　them。　Next　he　placed　cans　of　three　sizes　upon　the　table；　and　these　Carley　conjectured　contained　sugar；　salt；　and　pepper。　Carley　might　not　have　been　present；　for　all　the　attention　he　paid　to　her。　Again　he　peeped　at　the　biscuits。　At　the　edge　of　the　hot　embers　he　placed　a　tin　plate；　upon　which　he　carefully　deposited　the　slices　of　ham。　Carley　had　not　needed　sight　of　them　to　know　she　was　hungry；　they　made　her　simply　ravenous。　That　done；　he　poured　the　pan　of　sliced　potatoes　into　the　pot。　Carley　judged　the　heat　of　that　pot　to　be　extreme。　Next　he　removed　the　lid　from　the　other　pot；　exposing　biscuits　slightly　browned；　and　evidently　satisfied　with　these；　he　removed　them　from　the　coals。　He　stirred　the　slices　of　potatoes　round　and　round；　he　emptied　two　heaping　tablespoonfuls　of　coffee　into　the　coffee…pot。
  〃Carley；〃　he　said；　at　last　turning　to　her　with　a　warm　smile；　〃out　here　in　the　West　the　cook　usually　yells；　'Come　and　get　it。'　Draw　up　your　stool。〃
  And　presently　Carley　found　herself　seated　across　the　crude　table　from　Glenn；　with　the　background　of　chinked　logs　in　her　sight；　and　the　smart　of　wood　smoke　in　her　eyes。　In　years　past　she　had　sat　with　him　in　the　soft；　subdued；　gold…green　shadows　of　the　Astor；　or　in　the　sumptuous　atmosphere　of　the　St。　Regis。　But　this　event　was　so　different；　so　striking；　that　she　felt　it　would　have　limitless　significance。　For　one　thing；　the　look　of　Glenn！　When　had　he　ever　seemed　like　this；　wonderfully　happy　to　have　her　there；　consciously　proud　of　this　dinner　he　had　prepared　in　half　an　hour；　strangely　studying　her　as　one　on　trial？　This　might　have　had　its　effect　upon　Carley's　reaction　to　the　situation；　making　it　sweet；　trenchant　with　meaning；　but　she　was　hungry　enough　and　the　dinner　was　good　enough　to　make　this　hour　memorable　on　that　score　alone。　She　ate　until　she　was　actually　ashamed　of　herself。　She　laughed　heartily；　she　talked；　she　made　love　to　Glenn。　Then　suddenly　an　idea　flashed　into　her　quick　mind。
  〃Glenn；　did　this　girl　Flo　teach　you　to　cook？〃　she　queried；　sharply。
  〃No。　I　always　was　handy　in　camp。　Then　out　here　I　had　the　luck　to　fall　in　with　an　old　fellow　who　was　a　wonderful　cook。　He　lived　with　me　for　a　while。　。　。　。　Why；　what　difference　would　it　have　madehad　Flo　taught　me？〃
  Carley　felt　the　heat　of　blood　in　her　face。　〃I　don't　know　that　it　would　have　made　a　difference。　OnlyI'm　glad　she　didn't　teach　you。　I'd　rather　no　girl　could　teach　you　what　I　couldn't。〃
  〃You　think　I'm　a　pretty　good　cook；　then？〃　he　asked。
  〃I've　enjoyed　this　dinner　more　than　any　I've　ever　eaten。〃
  〃Thanks；　Carley。　That'll　help　a　lot；〃　he　said；　gayly；　but　his　eyes　shone　with　earnest；　glad　light。　〃I　hoped　I'd　surprise　you。　I've　found　out　here　that　I　want　to　do　things　well。　The　West　stirs　something　in　a　man。　It　must　be　an　unwritten　law。　You　stand　or　fall　by　your　own　hands。　Back　East　you　know　meals　are　just　occasionsto　hurry　throughto　dress　forto　meet　somebodyto　eat　because　you　have　to　eat。　But　out　here　they　are　different。　I　don't　know　how。　In　the　city；　producers；　merchants；　waiters　serve　you　for　money。　The　meal　is　a　transaction。　It　has　no　significance。　It　is　money　that　keeps　you　from　starvation。　But　in　the　West　money　doesn't　mean　much。　You　must　work　to　live。〃
  Carley　leaned　her　elbows　on　the　table　and　gazed　at　him　curiously　and　admiringly。　〃Old　fellow；　you're　a　wonder。　I　can't　tell　you　how　proud　I　am　of　you。　That　you　could　come　West　weak　and　sick；　and　fight　your　way　to　health；　and　learn　to　be　self…sufficient！　It　is　a　splendid　achievement。　It　amazes　me。　I　don't　grasp　it。　I　want　to　think。　Nevertheless　I〃
  〃What？〃　he　queried；　as　she　hesitated。
  〃Oh；　never　mind　now；〃　she　replied；　hastily；　averting　her　eyes。
  The　day　was　far　spent　when　Carley　returned　to　the　Lodge…and　in　spite　of　the　discomfort　of　cold　and　sleet；　and　the　bitter　wind　that　beat　in　her　face　as　she　struggled　up　the　trailit　was　a　day　never　to　be　forgotten。　Nothing　had　been　wanting　in　Glenn's　attention　or　affection。　He　had　been　comrade；　lover；　all　she　craved　for。　And　but　for　his　few　singular　words　about　work　and　children　there　had　been　no　serious　talk。　Only　a　play　day　in　his　canyon　and　his　cabin！　Yet　had　she　appeared　at　her　best？　Something　vague　and　perplexing　knocked　at　the　gate　of　her　consciousness。
  CHAPTER　IV
  Two　warm　sunny　days　in　early　May　inclined　Mr。　Hutter　to　the　opinion　that　pleasant　spring　weather　was　at　hand　and　that　it　would　be　a　propitious　time　to　climb　up　on　the　desert　to　look　after　his　sheep　interests。　Glenn；　of　course；　would　accompany　him。
  〃Carley　and　I　will　go　too；〃　asserted　Flo。
  〃Reckon　that'll　be　good；〃　said　Hutter；　with　approving　nod。
  His　wife　also　agreed　that　it　would　be　fine　for　Carley　to　see　the　beautiful　desert　country　round　Sunset　Peak。　But　Glenn　looked　dubious。
  〃Carley；　it'll　be　rather　hard；〃　he　said。　〃You're　soft；　and　riding　and　lying　out　will　stove　you　up。　You　ought　to　break　in　gradually。〃
  〃I　rode　ten　miles　today；〃　rejoined　Carley。　〃And　didn't　mind　itmuch。〃　This　was　a　little　deviation　from　stern　veracity。
  〃Shore　Carley's　well　and　strong；〃　protested　Flo。　〃She'll　get　sore；　but　that　won't　kill　her。〃
  Glenn　eyed　Flo　with　rather　penetrating　glance。　〃I　might　drive　Carley　round　about　in　the　car；〃　he　said。
  〃But　you　can't　drive　over　those　lava　flats；　or　go　round；　either。　We'd　have　to　send　horses　in　some　cases　miles　to　meet　you。　It's　horseback　if　you　go　at　all。〃
  〃Shore　we'll　go　horseback；〃　spoke　up　Flo。　〃Carley　has　got　it　all　over　that　Spencer　girl　who　was　here　last　summer。〃
  〃I　think　so；　too。　I　am　sure　I　hope　so。　Because　you　remember　what　the　ride　to　Long　Valley　did　to　Miss　Spencer；〃　rejoined　Glenn。
  〃What？〃　inquired　Carley。
  〃Bad　cold；　peeled　nose；　skinned　shin；　saddle　sores。　She　was　in　bed　two　days。　She　didn't　show　much　pep　the　rest　of　her　stay　here；　and　she　never　got　on　another　horse。〃
  〃Oh；　is　that　all；　Glenn？〃　returned　Carley；　in　feigned　surprise。　〃Why；　I　imagined　from　your　tone　that　Miss　Spencer's　ride　must　have　occasioned　her　discomfort。　。　。　。　See　here；　Glenn。　I　may　be　a　tenderfoot；　but　I'm　no　mollycoddle。〃
  〃My　dear；　I　surrender；〃　replied　Glenn；　with　a　laugh。　〃Really；　I'm　delighted。　But　if　anything　happensdon't　you　blame　me。　I'm　quite　sure　that　a　long　horseback　ride；　in　spring；　on　the　desert；　will　show　you　a　good　many　things　about　yourself。〃
  That　was　how　Carley　came　to　find　herself；　the　afternoon　of　the　next　day；　astride　a　self…willed　and　unmanageable　little　mustang；　riding　in　the　rear　of　her　friends；　on　the　way　through　a　cedar　forest　toward　a　place　called　Deep　Lake。
  Carley　had　not　been　able　yet；　during　the　several　hours　of　their　journey；　to　take　any　pleasure　in　the　scenery　or　in　her　mount。　For　in　the　first　place　there　was　nothing　to　see　but　scrubby　little　gnarled　cedars　and　drab…looking　rocks；　and　in　the　second　this　Indian　pony　she　rode　had　discovered　she　was　not　an　adept　horsewoman　and　had　proceeded　to　take　advantage　of　the　fact。　It　did　not　help　Carley's　predicament　to　remember　that　Glenn　had　decidedly　advised　her　against　riding　this　particular　mustang。　To　be　sure；　Flo　had　approved　of　Carley's　choice；　and　Mr。　Hutter；　with　a　hearty　laugh；　had　fallen　in　line：　〃Shore。　Let　her　ride　one　of　the　broncs；　if　she　wants。〃　So　this　animal　she　bestrode　must　have　been　a　bronc；　for　it　did　not　take　him　long　to　elicit　from　Carley　a　muttered；　〃I　don't　know　what　bronc　means；　but　it　sounds　like　this　pony　acts。〃
  Carley　had　inquired　the　animal's　name　from　the　young　herder　who　had　saddled　him　for　her。
  〃Wal；　I　reckon　he　ain't　got　much　of　a　name；〃　replied　the　lad；　with　a　grin；　as　he　scratched　his　head。　〃For　us　boys　always　called　him　Spillbeans。〃
  〃Humph！　What　a　beautiful　cognomen！〃　ejaculated　Carley；　〃But　according　to　Shakespeare　any　name　will　serve。　I'll　ride　him　oror〃
  So　far　there　had　not　really　been　any　necessity　for　the　completion　of　that　sentence。　But　five　miles　of　riding　up　into　the　cedar　forest　had　convinced　Carley　that　she　might　not　have　much　farther　to　go。　Spillbeans　had　ambled　along　well　enough　until　he　reached　level　ground　where　a　long　bleached　grass　waved　in　the　wind。　Here　he　manifested　hunger；　then　a　contrary　nature；　next　insubordination；　and　finally　direct　hostility。　Carley　had　urged；　pulled；　and　commanded　in　vain。　Then　when　she　gave　Spillbeans　a　kick　in　the　flank　he　jumped　stiff　legged；　propelling　her　up　out　of　the　saddle；　and　while　she　was　descending　he　made　the　queer　jump　again；　coming　up　to　meet　her。　The　jolt　she　got　seemed　to　dislocate　every　bone　in　her　body。　Likewise　it　hurt。　Moreover；　along　with　her　idea　of　what　a　spectacle　she　must　have　presented；　it　quickly　decided　Carley　that　Spillbeans　was　a　horse　that　was　not　to　be　opposed。　Whenever　he　wanted　a　mouthful　of　grass　he　stopped　to　get　it。　Therefore　Carley　was　always　in　the　rear；　a　fac