Night fell, and soon after supper the tired girl, for she was tired, sank to sleep in a few minutes.
She awoke once in the night, to hear an owl hooting in the trees not far away, and a coyote yelping a short distance from camp.
But she banished all thought with an effort of her will, and went to sleep again, awakening only when the sun had risen.
“I hope you rested well last night, Miss Fallon?”
“I enjoyed a good night’s rest, thank you.”
“A ride of a little over thirty miles, and you will be in your new home to-night.”
“Home! Do not desecrate the name, for it will be a prison, not a home to me,” she said bitterly.
“Breakfast is ready for you.”
She ate it, her spirits returned, and once more she mounted for the ride.
Toward noon they began to climb the range she had seen from far across the river, and soon after the chief halted for dinner.