Reynolds rode rapidly down the trail, turning once to wave his hand to Glen, who was watching him before the cabin door.  He was very happy, for he believed that he had won the heart of the purest, sweetest, and most beautiful girl in the whole world.  He sang snatches of songs as he rode along, and at times laughed aloud in boyish glee, much to Sconda’s astonishment.  Life was bright and rosy to him on this fine summer morning, and the future looked most promising.  He could hardly believe that he was the same person who had entered the country but a few weeks before, and who had travelled over that same trail with Frontier Samson.  He was hoping to find the old prospector at Big Draw; who would be anxious to hear of his adventures.

About an hour later Glen bade her father good-by.  She was all ready to start for home.

“Don’t stay here long, daddy,” she pleaded.  “Come as soon as you can, for I shall be lonely without you.”

“And will you really miss me?” Weston asked.

“Certainly I shall miss you.  Life is not worth living when you are not at home.”

“Not even when Reynolds is present?”

Glen blushed furiously, and her father smiled, a sad smile, which Glen was quick to notice.  Throwing her arms impulsively about his neck, she kissed his bronzed cheek.

“I love you dearly, daddy,” she murmured.  “But because I love him does not lessen my love for you.”

“I know it, dear, I know it,” and Weston’s voice was husky as he held his daughter close.  “I am glad to know that you are happy, and I have every reason to believe that Reynolds is worthy of your love.  Your confidence means very much to me.  But, there, now, you had better be off.  Natsu will look well after you.  I was forced to send Sconda with Reynolds, as Natsu is not to be trusted at Big Draw.  There are some unscrupulous fellows at the mining camp who might fill him with bad whiskey, and when he is half drunk he is liable to talk too much.”

Glen enjoyed the ride over the long crooked trail, and her spirits, which had been somewhat depressed at the parting from her father and Reynolds, revived.  There was nothing which thrilled and stimulated her so much as riding on Midnight through the great wilderness.  Her lithe, supple body swayed in a rhythmical motion as the horse sped on his way.  Riding was one of the few attractions which made the northland tolerable, and she wondered what she would do outside to replace it.

“I shall take you with me, old boy,” she confided, as she affectionately patted Midnight’s neck.  “It would not do to leave you behind.  My, what a great time we shall have upon the level roads!”

Then she fell to thinking about the joy of visiting different lands, and seeing strange sights.  But she always associated her travels with Reynolds.  She pictured him by her side as they went from place to place, eager and delighted at everything they beheld.  It was certainly a pleasant dreamland in which she was living on this beautiful morning.  Not a shadow dimmed her vision.  All was rosy and fair, and like another speeding on his way to Big Draw, she was surrounded by the halo of romance.