CHAPTER XXII
Fortunately, Runyon knew what to do in that hour of earth’s desolation and his own and Sylvia’s peril.
He sprang from his horse and drew his bridle-rein over his arm; and then he laid a firm hand on the bridle of Sylvia’s horse. His own animal he could trust in such an emergency; but the other had seemed to lose in height and he knew that it was trembling. It might make a bolt for it at any moment.
“Keep your seat,” he shouted to Sylvia, and she realized that he was leading both horses away from the road. She caught glimpses of his wraith-like figure as the whirling dust-cloud that enveloped them thinned occasionally.
She knew that he had found a clump of mesquite after a faltering progress of perhaps fifty yards. Their progress was checked, then, and she knew he was at the hitching straps, and that he was tethering the animals to the trees. The powdered dust and sand were stinging her face, and the cold wind was chilling her; yet she felt a strange elation as she realized that she was here alone with Runyon, and that he was managing the situation with deftness and assurance.
She felt his hand groping for her then, and, leaning forward, she was borne to the ground. He guided her to a little depression and made her understand that she was to sit down. He had removed his saddle-blanket and spread it on the earth, forming a rug for her. “The rebozo?” he cried in her ear.
“It’s fastened to the pommel,” she called back.
She could neither see nor hear him; but soon he was touching her on the shoulders. The rebozo was flung out on the wind so that it unfolded, and he was spreading it about her.
She caught his hand and drew him close so that she could make herself heard. “There’s room under it for two,” she said. She did not release his hand until he had sat down by her. Together they drew the rebozo about them like a little tent.
Immediately they were transformed into two sheltered and undismayed Arabs. The rebozo was pinioned behind them and under their feet. The finest dust could not penetrate its warp and woof. The wind was as a mighty hand, intent upon bearing them to earth, but it could not harm them.