"No, young man," said she, "I ain't engaged, but I told ma I bet I would be before I got to Californy." By this time my protector had returned; but, seeing a woman, and a young woman at that, in his seat, he coolly ignored my imploring looks and passed out into the next car. "I'm going on the platform to smoke," he whispered. "Be _you_ engaged?" continued my new companion. "No, miss," I stammered. "Ain't that lucky?" she giggled. "Who knows but what we may make up our minds to hitch horses afore we get to Californy!" and she eyed me all over without a bit of bashfulness, and seemed to admire me. My goodness! this was worse than Alvira Slimmens! "But I'm only going a few hours farther, and I'm not a marrying man, and I'm bound for the Indian country," I murmured. She remained silent a few moments, and I stole a side-glance at her. She was a sharp-looking girl; her hair was cut short, and in the morocco belt about her waist I saw the glitter of a small revolver. Before I had finished these observations she turned suddenly toward me, and her black eyes rested fully on me as she asked: "Stranger, do you believe in love at first sight?" "No--no, indeed, miss; not for worlds!" I murmured, startled. "Well, I _do_," said she; "and mebbe you will, yet." "I--I don't believe in anything of the kind," I reiterated, getting as far as possible into my corner of the seat. "La! you needn't be bashful," she went on, laughing; "I ain't a-going to scourge you. Thar's room enough for both of us." She subsided again, and again broke out: "Bound for the Injun country, are you? So'm I. Whar do you get off?" "I thought you said you were going to California?" I remarked, more and more alarmed. Then that girl with the revolver winked at me slyly. "I _am_ going there--in the course of time; but I'm going by easy stages. I ain't in no hurry. I told ma I'd be married by the time I got there, and I mean to keep my word I may be six months going, yer see." Another silence, during which I mutely wondered how long it would take Buffalo Bill to smoke his pipe. "Don't believe in love at first sight! Sho!" resumed my companion. "You ain't got much spunk, you ain't! Why, last week a girl and a fellow got acquainted in this very car--this very seat, for all I know--and afore they reached Lone Tree Station they was _engaged_. There happened to be a clergyman going out to San Francisco on the train, and he married 'em afore sunset, he did. When I heerd of that, I said to myself, 'Sally Spitfire, why don't _you_ fix up and travel, too? Who knows what may happen?'" Unmerciful fates! had I fled from civilization only to fall a prey to a female like this? It looked like it. There wasn't much fooling about this damsel's love-making. Cold chills ran down my spine. My eye avoided hers; I bit my nails and looked out of the window.