"It's a queer house," said the head guide, "and that's the fact. There ain't a place in Californy I wouldn't ruther stop at."
"I s'pose that's Yates's wife," said the man who had first reached the house. "As often as I've passed here, I never seed her afore."
"'Tisn't often she shows herself," replied the leader. "But will you go and speak to her?" he added, turning to the gentleman.
"Certainly; of course she will permit us to stay."
He went into the house, but the lady was not visible. He opened the door of an inner room, and there she stood, wringing her hands in wild distress. She turned at the sound of his footstep, and demanded, angrily:
"What do you wish more? I have done all that I can for your friend."
"I have come to urge you to give us one night's lodging," he said; "it seems impossible for us to go on—"
"You must," she said, interrupting him passionately; "you must!"
"This is very singular," he said, so startled by her manner that he was almost inclined to believe her insane. "In the name of humanity, I ask—"