Against that dark mass of the mountainside, she could not make out the two
travelers clearly, so she shaded her eyes and peered up, high up. The slope
was so sheer that if one of the four figures lost footing it would come
crashing to her very feet. When they saw her and shouted down the sound
fell as clearly as if they had called from the cabin, yet they had a good
half hour's labor between that greeting and the moment they came out on the
level before Kate. From the instant they called she remained in motionless,
deep thought, and when they came now into full view, she cried out
joyously: "Buck, oh Buck!" and ran towards them. Even the burros stopped
and the men stood statue-like; it is rarely enough that one finds a human
being in those mountains, almost an act of Providence that lead to a house,
and a miracle when the trail crosses the path of a friend. The prospectors
came out of their daze with a shout and rushed to meet her. Each of them
had her by a hand, wringing it; they talked all together in a storm of
words.
"Kate, I'm dreamin'!--Dear old Buck!--Have you forgotten me?--Lee Haines! I
should say not.
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