ever　suggested　to　him；　as　if　she　filled　out　her　own　shadow。
  She　pushed　him　away　and　shot　past　him　out　into　the　rain。
  〃Now　for　it；　Fred；〃　she　called　back　exultantly。　　The　rain
  was　pouring　steadily　down　through　the　dying　gray　twilight；
  and　muddy　streams　were　spouting　and　foaming　over　the
  cliff。
  Fred　caught　her　and　held　her　back。　　〃Keep　behind　me；
  Thea。　　I　don't　know　about　the　path。　　It　may　be　gone　alto…
  gether。　　Can't　tell　what　there　is　under　this　water。〃
  But　the　path　was　older　than　the　white　man's　Arizona。
  The　rush　of　water　had　washed　away　the　dust　and　stones
  that　lay　on　the　surface；　but　the　rock　skeleton　of　the　Indian
  trail　was　there；　ready　for　the　foot。　　Where　the　streams
  poured　down　through　gullies；　there　was　always　a　cedar　or
  a　PINON　to　cling　to。　　By　wading　and　slipping　and　climbing；
  they　got　along。　　As　they　neared　the　head　of　the　canyon；
  where　the　path　lifted　and　rose　in　steep　loops　to　the　surface
  of　the　plateau；　the　climb　was　more　difficult。　　The　earth
  above　had　broken　away　and　washed　down　over　the　trail；
  bringing　rocks　and　bushes　and　even　young　trees　with　it。
  The　last　ghost　of　daylight　was　dying　and　there　was　no　time
  to　lose。　　The　canyon　behind　them　was　already　black。
  〃We've　got　to　go　right　through　the　top　of　this　pine　tree；
  Thea。　　No　time　to　hunt　a　way　around。　　Give　me　your　hand。〃
  After　they　had　crashed　through　the　mass　of　branches；　Fred
  stopped　abruptly。　　〃Gosh；　what　a　hole！　　Can　you　jump　it？
  Wait　a　minute。〃
  He　cleared　the　washout；　slipped　on　the　wet　rock　at　the
  farther　side；　and　caught　himself　just　in　time　to　escape　a
  tumble。　　〃If　I　could　only　find　something　to　hold　to；　I　could
  give　you　a　hand。　　It's　so　cursed　dark；　and　there　are　no
  trees　here　where　they're　needed。　　Here's　something；　it's　a
  root。　　It　will　hold　all　right。〃　　He　braced　himself　on　the　rock；
  gripped　the　crooked　root　with　one　hand　and　swung　himself
  across　toward　Thea；　holding　out　his　arm。　　〃Good　jump！　　I
  must　say　you　don't　lose　your　nerve　in　a　tight　place。　　Can
  you　keep　at　it　a　little　longer？　　We're　almost　out。　　Have　to
  make　that　next　ledge。　　Put　your　foot　on　my　knee　and　catch
  something　to　pull　by。〃
  Thea　went　up　over　his　shoulder。　　〃It's　hard　ground　up
  here；〃　she　panted。　　〃Did　I　wrench　your　arm　when　I　slipped
  then？　　It　was　a　cactus　I　grabbed；　and　it　startled　me。〃
  〃Now；　one　more　pull　and　we're　on　the　level。〃
  They　emerged　gasping　upon　the　black　plateau。　　In　the
  last　five　minutes　the　darkness　had　solidified　and　it　seemed
  as　if　the　skies　were　pouring　black　water。　　They　could　not
  see　where　the　sky　ended　or　the　plain　began。　　The　light　at
  the　ranch　house　burned　a　steady　spark　through　the　rain。
  Fred　drew　Thea's　arm　through　his　and　they　struck　off
  toward　the　light。　　They　could　not　see　each　other；　and　the
  rain　at　their　backs　seemed　to　drive　them　along。　　They　kept
  laughing　as　they　stumbled　over　tufts　of　grass　or　stepped
  into　slippery　pools。　　They　were　delighted　with　each　other
  and　with　the　adventure　which　lay　behind　them。
  〃I　can't　even　see　the　whites　of　your　eyes；　Thea。　　But　I'd
  know　who　was　here　stepping　out　with　me；　anywhere。　　Part
  coyote　you　are；　by　the　feel　of　you。　　When　you　make　up　your
  mind　to　jump；　you　jump！　　My　gracious；　what's　the　matter
  with　your　hand？〃
  〃Cactus　spines。　　Didn't　I　tell　you　when　I　grabbed　the
  cactus？　　I　thought　it　was　a　root。　　Are　we　going　straight？〃
  〃I　don't　know。　　Somewhere　near　it；　I　think。　　I'm　very
  comfortable；　aren't　you？　　You're　warm；　except　your
  cheeks。　　How　funny　they　are　when　they're　wet。　　Still；　you
  always　feel　like　you。　　I　like　this。　　I　could　walk　to　Flagstaff。
  It's　fun；　not　being　able　to　see　anything。　　I　feel　surer　of　you
  when　I　can't　see　you。　　Will　you　run　away　with　me？〃
  Thea　laughed。　　〃I　won't　run　far　to…night。　　I'll　think
  about　it。　　Look；　Fred；　there's　somebody　coming。〃
  〃Henry；　with　his　lantern。　　Good　enough！　　Halloo！　　Hallo
  oo！〃　Fred　shouted。
  The　moving　light　bobbed　toward　them。　　In　half　an　hour
  Thea　was　in　her　big　feather　bed；　drinking　hot　lentil　soup；
  and　almost　before　the　soup　was　swallowed　she　was　asleep。
  VIII
  ON　the　first　day　of　September　Fred　Ottenburg　and　Thea
  Kronborg　left　Flagstaff　by　the　east…bound　express。
  As　the　bright　morning　advanced；　they　sat　alone　on　the
  rear　platform　of　the　observation　car；　watching　the　yellow
  miles　unfold　and　disappear。　　With　complete　content　they
  saw　the　brilliant；　empty　country　flash　by。　　They　were
  tired　of　the　desert　and　the　dead　races；　of　a　world　without
  change　or　ideas。　　Fred　said　he　was　glad　to　sit　back　and　let
  the　Santa　Fe　do　the　work　for　a　while。
  〃And　where　are　we　going；　anyhow？〃　he　added。
  〃To　Chicago；　I　suppose。　　Where　else　would　we　be
  going？〃　　Thea　hunted　for　a　handkerchief　in　her　hand…
  bag。
  〃I　wasn't　sure；　so　I　had　the　trunks　checked　to　Albu…
  querque。　　We　can　recheck　there　to　Chicago；　if　you　like。
  Why　Chicago？　　You'll　never　go　back　to　Bowers。　　Why
  wouldn't　this　be　a　good　time　to　make　a　run　for　it？　　We
  could　take　the　southern　branch　at　Albuquerque；　down　to
  El　Paso；　and　then　over　into　Mexico。　　We　are　exceptionally
  free。　　Nobody　waiting　for　us　anywhere。〃
  Thea　sighted　along　the　steel　rails　that　quivered　in　the
  light　behind　them。　　〃I　don't　see　why　I　couldn't　marry　you
  in　Chicago；　as　well　as　any　place；〃　she　brought　out　with
  some　embarrassment。
  Fred　took　the　handbag　out　of　her　nervous　clasp　and
  swung　it　about　on　his　finger。　　〃You've　no　particular　love
  for　that　spot；　have　you？　　Besides；　as　I've　told　you；　my
  family　would　make　a　row。　　They　are　an　excitable　lot。　　They
  discuss　and　argue　everlastingly。　　The　only　way　I　can　ever
  put　anything　through　is　to　go　ahead；　and　convince　them
  afterward。〃
  〃Yes；　I　understand。　　I　don't　mind　that。　　I　don't　want　to
  marry　your　family。　　I'm　sure　you　wouldn't　want　to　marry
  mine。　　But　I　don't　see　why　we　have　to　go　so　far。〃
  〃When　we　get　to　Winslow；　you　look　about　the　freight
  yards　and　you'll　probably　see　several　yellow　cars　with
  my　name　on　them。　　That's　why；　my　dear。　　When　your
  visiting…card　is　on　every　beer　bottle；　you　can't　do　things
  quietly。　　Things　get　into　the　papers。〃　　As　he　watched　her
  troubled　expression；　he　grew　anxious。　　He　leaned　forward
  on　his　camp…chair；　and　kept　twirling　the　handbag　between
  his　knees。　　〃Here's　a　suggestion；　Thea；〃　he　said　presently。
  〃Dismiss　it　if　you　don't　like　it：　suppose　we　go　down　to
  Mexico　on　the　chance。　　You've　never　seen　anything　like
  Mexico　City；　it　will　be　a　lark　for　you；　anyhow。　　If　you
  change　your　mind；　and　don't　want　to　marry　me；　you　can
  go　back　to　Chicago；　and　I'll　take　a　steamer　from　Vera
  Cruz　and　go　up　to　New　York。　　When　I　get　to　Chicago；
  you'll　be　at　work；　and　nobody　will　ever　be　the　wiser。　　No
  reason　why　we　shouldn't　both　travel　in　Mexico；　is　there？
  You'll　be　traveling　alone。　　I'll　merely　tell　you　the　right
  places　to　stop；　and　come　to　take　you　driving。　　I　won't　put
  any　pressure　on　you。　　Have　I　ever？〃　　He　swung　the　bag
  toward　her　and　looked　up　under　her　hat。
  〃No；　you　haven't；〃　she　murmured。　　She　was　thinking
  that　her　own　position　might　be　less　difficult　if　he　had　used
  what　he　called　pressure。　　He　clearly　wished　her　to　take　the
  responsibility。
  〃You　have　your　own　future　in　the　back　of　your　mind　all
  the　time；〃　Fred　began；　〃and　I　have　it　in　mine。　　I'm　not
  going　to　try　to　carry　you　off；　as　I　might　another　girl。　　If　you
  wanted　to　quit　me；　I　couldn't　hold　you；　no　matter　how
  many　times　you　had　married　me。　　I　don't　want　to　over…
  persuade　you。　　But　I'd　like　mighty　well　to　get　you　down　to
  that　jolly　old　city；　where　everything　would　please　you；　and
  give　myself　a　chance。　　Then；　if　you　thought　you　could　have
  a　better　time　with　me　than　without　me；　I'd　try　to　grab　you
  before　you　changed　your　mind。　　You　are　not　a　sentimental
  person。〃
  Thea　drew　her　veil　down　over　her　face。　　〃I　think　I　am；　a
  little；　about　you；〃　she　said　quietly。　　Fred's　irony　somehow
  hurt　her。
  〃What's　at　the　bottom　of　your　mind；