Zane Grey

“ It took an hour of steady riding to reach the ascent to the plateau, and here, with the beginning of rough and smooth and shadowed trail, the work of the escort began. The line lengthened out and each man kept to the several women assigned to him. Shefford had three, and one of them was the girl he loved. She rode as if the world and time and life were naught to her. ”

“ It was her fate that had drawn him; and now it was her agony, her innocence, her beauty, that bound him for all time. Patience and cunning and toil, passion and blood, the unquenchable spirit of a man to save—these were nothing to give—life itself were little, could he but free her. ”

“ Shefford resolved to remain in Stonebridge and ingratiate himself deeper into the regard of the Mormons. He would find work there, if the sealed wives were not returned to the hidden village. In case the women went back to the valley Shefford meant to resume his old duty of driving Withers's pack-trains. Wanting that opportunity, he would find some other work, some excuse to take him there. In due time he would reveal to Fay Larkin that he knew her. How the thought thrilled him! She might deny, might persist in her fear, might fight to keep her secret. ”

“ Not by revengefully seeking the Mormon who had ruined Fay Larkin and blindly dealing a wild justice could he help this unfortunate girl. This fierce, newborn strength and passion must be tempered by reason, lest he become merely elemental, a man answering wholly to primitive impulses. ”

“ Shefford related the incident which had occurred at Red Lake and that now seemed again to come forward fatefully.
"You insinuate he had evil intent toward the Indian girl?" queried Kane.
"I insinuate nothing. I merely state what led to my acting as I did."
"Principles of religion, sir?"
"No. A man's principles."
Withers interposed in his blunt way, "Bishop, did you ever see Glen Naspa?"
"No."
"She's the prettiest Navajo in the country. Willetts was after her, that's all."
"My dear man, I can't believe that of a Christian missionary. We've known Willetts for years. He's a man of influence. ”

“ Nas Ta Bega, what are they up to?"
"They will steal what they can."
"Withers says Shadd is friendly with the Mormons."
"Yes, and with the missionary, too."
"With Willetts?"
"I saw them talk together—strong talk."
"Strange. But maybe it's not so strange. Shadd is known well in Monticello and Bluff. He spends money there. They are afraid of him, but he's welcome just the same. Perhaps everybody knows him. It'd be like him to ride into Kayenta. But, Nas Ta Bega, I've got to look out for him, because Withers says he's after me."
"Bi Nai wears a scar that is proof," said the Indian. ”

“ Bad job to ride down Stonebridge way! It's out of creation. There's only six men in the party, with a poor lot of horses. Really, government officers or not, they're not safe. And they've taken a hunch."
"Have they left already?" inquired Shefford.
"Were packed an hour ago. I didn't see them go, but somebody said they went. Took the trail for Bluff, which sure is the only trail they could take, unless they wanted to go to Colorado by way of Kayenta. That might have been the safest trail."
"Joe, what might happen to them?" asked Shefford, quietly, with eyes on the Mormon. ”

“ It's not the first time I've known a missionary to do this sort of thing. Nor is it the first time for Willetts. Bishop Kane, I live among the Indians. I see a lot I never speak of. My work is to trade with the Indians, that's all. But I'll not have Willetts or any other damned hypocrite run down my friend here. John Shefford is the finest young man that ever came to me in the desert. And he's got to be put right before you all or I'll not set foot in Stonebridge again.... Willetts was after Glen Naspa. ”