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That's how they met John Henderson； John Gillispie； and John Waite。
And a week later they were putting up a shanty together for common use；
which overlapped each of their reservations； and satisfied the law with its
sociable subterfuge。
The life wasn't bad； Henderson decided； and he adopted all the ways of
the country in an astonishingly short space of time。 There was a freedom
about it all which was certainly complete。 The three alternated in the night
watch。 Once a week one of them went to town for provisions。 They were
not good at the making of bread； so they contented themselves with hot
cakes。 Then there was salt pork for a staple； and prunes。 They slept in
straw…lined bunks； with warm blankets for a covering。 They made a point
of bringing reading…matter back from town every week； and there were
always cards to fall back on； and Waite sang songs for them with natural
dramatic talent。
Nevertheless； in spite of their content… ment； none of them was sorry
when the opportunity offered for going to town。 There was always a bit of
stirring gossip to be picked up； and now and then there was a 〃show〃 at
the 〃opera…house；〃 in which； it is almost unnecessary to say； no opera had
ever been sung。 Then there was the hotel； at which one not only got good
fare； but a chat with the three daughters of Jim O'Neal； the proprietor
girls with the acci… dent of two Irish parents； who were； not… withstanding；
as typically American as they well could be。 A half…hour's talk with these
cheerful young women was all the more to be desired for the reason that
within riding distance of the three Johns' ranch there were only two other
women。 One was Minerva Fitch； who had gone out from Michigan
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A Mountain Woman
accompanied by an oil…stove and a knowl… edge of the English grammar；
with the intention of teaching school； but who had been unable to carry
these good intentions into execution for the reason that there were no
children to teach； at least； none but Bow…legged Joe。 He was a sad little
fellow； who looked like a prairie…dog； and who had very much the same
sort of an outlook on life。 The other woman was the brisk and efficient
wife of Mr。 Bill Deems； of 〃Missourah。〃 Mr。 Deems had never in his life
done any… thing； not even so much as bring in a basket of buffalo chips to
supply the scanty fire。 That is to say； he had done nothing strictly
utilitarian。 Yet he filled his place。 He was the most accomplished story…
teller in the whole valley； and this accomplishment of his was held in as
high esteem as the improvisa… tions of a Welsh minstrel were among his
reverencing people。 His wife alone depre… cated his skill； and interrupted
his spirited narratives with sarcastic allusions concerning the empty
cupboard； and the 〃state of her back；〃 to which； as she confided to any
who would listen； 〃there was not a rag fit to wear。〃
These two ladies had not； as may be surmised； any particular attraction
for John Henderson。 Truth to tell； Henderson had not come West with the
intention of lik… ing women； but rather with a determina… tion to see and
think as little of them as possible。 Yet even the most confirmed
misogynist must admit that it is a good thing to see a woman now and then；
and for this reason Henderson found it amusing to converse with the
amiable Misses O'Neal。 At twenty…five one cannot be unyielding in one's
avoidance of the sex。
Henderson； with his pony at a fine lope； was on his way to town one
day； in that comfortable frame of mind adduced by an absence of any ideas
whatever； when he suddenly became conscious of a shiver that seemed to
run from his legs to the pony； and back again。 The animal gave a startled
leap； and lifted his ears。 There was a stir… ring in the coarse grasses； the
sky； which a moment before had been like sapphire； dulled with an
indescribable grayness。
Then came a little singing afar off； as if from a distant convocation of
cicadæ；； and before Henderson could guess what it meant； a cloud of
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A Mountain Woman
dust was upon him； blinding and bewildering； pricking with sharp particles
at eyes and nostrils。 The pony was an ugly fellow； and when Henderson
felt him put his forefeet together； he knew what that meant； and braced
himself for the struggle。 But it was useless； he had not yet acquired the
knack of staying on the back of a bucking bronco； and the next moment he
was on the ground； and around him whirled that saffron chaos of dust。 The
temperature lowered every moment。 Henderson in… stinctively felt that
this was but the begin… ning of the storm。 He picked himself up without
useless regrets for his pony； and made his way on。
The saffron hue turned to blackness； and then out of the murk shot a
living green ball of fire； and ploughed into the earth。 Then sheets of water；
that seemed to come simultaneously from earth and sky； swept the prairie；
and in the midst of it struggled Henderson； weak as a little child； half
bereft of sense by the strange numbness of head and dullness of eye。
Another of those green balls fell and burst； as it actually appeared to him；
before his horrified eyes； and the bellow and blare of the explosion made
him cry out in a madness of fright and physical pain。 In the illumination he
had seen a cabin only a few feet in front of him； and toward it he made
frantically； with an ani… mal's instinctive desire for shelter。
The door did not yield at once to his pressure； and in the panic of his
fear he threw his weight against it。 There was a cry from within； a fall； and
Henderson flung himself in the cabin and closed the door。
In the dusk of the storm he saw a woman half prostrate。 It was she
whom he had pushed from the door。 He caught the hook in its staple； and
turned to raise her。 She was not trembling as much as he； but； like himself；
she was dizzy with the shock of the lightning。 In the midst of all the
clamor Henderson heard a shrill crying； and looking toward the side of the
room； he dimly perceived three tiny forms crouched in one of the bunks。
The woman took the smallest of the children in her arms； and kissed and
soothed it； and Henderson； after he had thrown a blanket at the bottom of
the door to keep o