“Because an excited cowboy fired his revolver in the air, and the bullets struck a section of rock which required some such shock to dislodge it.”
“But how did that affect you?”
“I happened to be lying on the very ledge you spoke of, and—oh, dash it all! I secured my limp then and there.”
“Did the fall disturb a rattlesnake?”
“It may have disturbed a dozen rattlesnakes, for all that I can tell. But what an extraordinary thing to say! Did you know that a rattler lived in that cleft?”
“No. I was just thinking of the Gulch and its inhabitants. Perhaps my wits were wandering.... Come, Derry. Our half-hour is not gone, but we can talk on the way. Send a boy for my carriage. Do you want your hat and coat?”
She rose suddenly, and drew a light wrap of silvery tissue around her shoulders. Power stood up, and faced her. He had never seen her looking so ethereally beautiful, not even on the night, now so long ago, when he parted from her before taking that disastrous journey to Sacramento.
“Do you really think I ought to come with you to Mrs. Van Ralten’s?” he said.
“Of course. Why not? You are invited.”
“But——”