That night as she lay awake listening to the roar of the wind in the pines a strange premonition—­like a mysterious voice—–­came to her with the assurance that Slone was on her trail.

On the following day Creech appeared to have cast off the brooding mood.  Still, he was not talkative.  He applied himself to constant watching from the rim.

Lucy began to feel rested.  That long trip with Creech had made her thin and hard and strong.  She spent the hours under the shade of a cedar on the rim that protected her from sun and wind.  The wind, particularly, was hard to stand.  It blew a gale out of the west, a dry, odorous, steady rush that roared through the pine-tops and flattened the long, white grass.  This day Creech had to build up a barrier of rock round his camp-fire, to keep it from blowing away.  And there was a constant danger of firing the grass.

Once Lucy asked Creech what would happen in that case.

“Wal, I reckon the grass would burn back even ag’in thet wind,” replied Creech.  “I’d hate to see fire in the woods now before the rains come.  It’s been the longest, dryest spell I ever lived through.  But fer thet my hosses—­ This hyar’s a west wind, an’ it’s blowin’ harder every day.  It’ll fetch the rains.”

Next day about noon, when both wind and heat were high, Lucy was awakened from a doze.  Creech was standing near her.  When he turned his long gaze away from the canyon he was smiling.  It was a smile at once triumphant and sad.

“Joel’s comin’ with the hosses!”

Lucy jumped up, trembling and agitated.  “Oh! . . .  Where?  Where?”

Creech pointed carefully with bent hand, like an Indian, and Lucy either could not get the direction or see far enough.

“Right down along the base of thet red wall.  A line of hosses.  Jest like a few crawlin’ ants’ . . .  An’ now they’re creepin’ out of sight.”

“Oh, I can’t see them!” cried Lucy.  “Are you sure?”

“Positive an’ sartin,” he replied.  “Joel’s comin’.  He’ll be up hyar before long.  I reckon we’d jest as well let him come.  Fer there’s water an’ grass hyar.  An’ down below grass is scarce.”

It seemed an age to Lucy, waiting there, until she did see horses zigzagging the ridges below.  They disappeared, and then it was another age before they reappeared close under the bulge of wall.  She thrilled at sight of Sage King and Sarchedon.  She got only a glimpse of them.  They must pass round under her to climb a split in the wall, and up a long draw that reached level ground back in the forest.  But they were near, and Lucy tried to wait.  Creech showed eagerness at first, and then went on with his camp-fire duties.  While in camp he always cooked a midday meal.

Lucy saw the horses first.  She screamed out.  Creech jumped up in alarm.

Joel Creech, mounted on Sage King, and leading Sarchedon, was coming at a gallop.  The other horses were following.