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With grey dawn she was up and about her work that she might get an early start. Bud was all for going with her, but she would not have it so.

“I’ll have trouble enough getting near,” she told him, “the best I can do. Another stranger would make them wilder still.”

The boy caught her hand as she swung up on Buckskin.

“Be careful, Sis,” he said, “look sharp on every side.”

He had never forgotten that stretched rope.

Neither had Nance, but she walked bravely in a faith which made her serenely bold.

“‘Commit thy way unto the Lord,’” she said smiling, “‘Trust also in Him.’ Don’t you fret—nor let Mammy, if you can help it. I’ll be back soon as I can.”

Then she was gone down across the flats with Buckskin on the lope, one hand feeling carefully for the package she had tied behind the saddle. This contained a goodly piece of boiled corn beef and two slices of her mother’s bread, fresh baked the day before. She was going armed with bribery.

The whole Nameless Valley between its great escarpments was fresh and cool with shadow, for the sun was not yet above Mystery ridge and the rimrock that marked the way to the cañon.