At that moment the horse gave a violent lunge, then came to a standstill, quivering and snorting with fright. Wilfred's groping arm found the saddle empty. "I didn't have to climb down," announced her uncertain voice from a distance. It came seemingly from the level of the plain. "You've fallen--you are hurt!" he exclaimed, but he could not go to her because the horse refused to budge from the spot and he dared not loosen his hold. "Well, I'm a little warmer, anyway!" Her voice approached slowly. "That was quick exercise; I didn't know I was going to do it till I was down. Lit on my feet, anyhow. Why don't you come to meet me?" "This miserable beast won't move a foot. Come and hold him, Lahoma, while I examine in front, to find out what's scared him." "All right. Where are you? Can you find my hand?" "Can't I!" retorted Wilfred, clasping it in a tight grasp. "Gracious, how wet we are!" she panted, "and blown about. And frozen." "And scolded," he added plaintively. "But, Wilfred, it never entered my mind that I was the little girl. Would I have brought up the subject if I'd known the truth? I never would. That's why I felt you took advantage ... a man ought to bring up that subject himself even if I AM a girl out West and--" "But Lahoma--" "And not another word do I want you to say about it. EVER. At least, tonight. PLEASE, Wilfred! So I can think about it. I'll hold the horse--you go on and find out what's the matter. "Besides, you said--you KNOW you said, when we were strolling--that--that I didn't understand such matters. And that you'd tell me when it was TIME...." "It's time now, Lahoma, time for you to be somebody's sweetheart--and you said--you KNOW you said, when we were strolling--that I'd fill the bill for you." "But I brought up the subject myself, and I mean to close it, right short off, for it's a man's subject. Oh, how trembly this horse is!" "But, Lahoma!" "Well, what is it?" "I just wanted to say your name." He started away. "It sounds good to me." "Yes, it stands for Oklahoma." "It stands for much more than that!" he called. "Yes," she persisted in misunderstanding him, "something big and grand." "Not so big," he cried, now at some distance, "but what there's room for more than Brick and Bill in the cove!" If she answered, the wind drowned her words. With extended arms he groped along the trail with exceeding caution. Suddenly his foot touched an object which on examination proved to be a human body, a gaping wound in its breast. "Found anything?" called Lahoma, her voice shivering. He rose quickly and almost stumbled over another object. It was a second body, stiffened in death. "I'll be there in a minute," he called, his voice grave and steady. After a brief pause he added--"I've found one of the horses--it's dead." "Oh, oh!" she exclaimed. "They've driven it to death." Wilfred had found a bullet hole behind its ear, but he said nothing.