Summary

On a hot, dry, dusty day, a group of travelers consisting of the unnamed narrator and two men, Jim and Jo, was wandering the wasteland in New Zealand. Jo was on a horse, leading the group. His blood-spotted handkerchief was around his neck, and he was silent, which was different from the normal state of him singing to pass the time.

The travelers were hungry, so Jo asked Jim about the store he had heard of. Jim told the group that he knew the owner of the store, who was generous and had a beautiful woman. After some time wandering, the narrator fell asleep and dreamed of her mother scolding her. Jim woke the narrator up, and he told her that they had arrived at the store.

As the travelers approached the storefront, the woman appeared with a rifle, claiming that she had...