But darkness was coming on apace. To their relief they soon entered the clearing, and reached the bank of the stream, where they halted a few minutes. The horses pricked up their ears. "Do you think the ford is dangerous now, Edith?" "It is usually quite safe at this season, unless there has been a cloudburst. The horses know the ford, and are used to crossing. Papa gives them the rein, and they have always brought him safely through. We had better place our luggage on the seat," she said, "and keep our feet up. Tuck your skirts up, or you'll get a drenching." Then she leaned forward, and called each horse by name. In a moment they were in the river, with the water up to the horses' shoulders. They felt the carriage swing with the current, and felt the team struggling with the force of the waters. Then Esther called to the horses, in tones that showed no fear, "Well done, Rocket! On, Star, on!" It seemed hours to her before the faithful animals were once more on the shore, and safe. "Were you frightened, Miss Bright?" asked Edith. "Just a little. I never forded a stream before. But how nobly the horses behaved!" "Yes. It must be a hard struggle for them, though." In about five minutes, they stopped before a house, tied their team, and knocked at the door. A refined-looking young woman received them. "Why, Esther Bright!" she exclaimed, with a little shriek, clasping Esther in her arms. "Why, Grace Gale! Bless your heart! Where in the world did you come from? Grace, this is my friend, Miss Edith Clayton. She is ill, and I am taking her to see Dr. Brown in Carlisle. We are seeking the hospitality of this house overnight." Before she was through speaking, Grace Gale was half carrying Edith into the house. "Come right in, come right in!" she said. "I'm delighted! Tickled to death to see some one I know!" She ushered them into a room guiltless of carpet, meagerly furnished, but immaculately clean. Then she excused herself to send some one to attend to the horses, and to tell her landlady she would entertain two guests over night. She soon returned. "But how did _you_ happen to come so far from civilization, Esther?" she questioned. "Oh, a combination of circumstances; but chiefly through Mrs. Clayton, whom I met in England. What brought you out here?" "I came for restoration of health," she answered, laughing merrily, as though it were all a joke. "I don't look very sickly now, do I? I had had double pneumonia, and my physician ordered me to leave Boston, and go to a dry climate. So I came to Arizona. I happened to meet the superintendent of education. He needed teachers. So I came here, just for the fun of the thing." "And has it been fun?", asked Esther, joining in her friend's laughter. "Fun? There have been so many funny things I have laughed myself into stitches. For example, my landlady refuses to let me have any extra bedding for to-night."