26o THE ADVENTURES OF A NATURE GUIDE 



knows college and business life and her own mind, 

 and apparently she knows how to walk and enjoy 

 it. Undoubtedly she will make good in her ambi- 

 tions to succeed out of doors." 



This homesteader had seen twenty-seven sum- 

 mers and life had agreed with her. Her hair was 

 red, and so, too, were her cheeks. She was five 

 feet five, and weighed about one hundred and 

 twenty. She had walked down to the village this 

 November afternoon from her cabin four miles 

 away, to get the week's accumulated mail and a 

 few provisions. Darkness was already settling 

 down over the pine-purpled mountains when she 

 stopped to make a call. But she was not afraid 

 of the dark — rather, she enjoyed night walks and 

 walks in all weather. 



"It is too late for you to think of going home 

 to-night," said Mrs. Pond when her caller began 

 adjusting her shoulder pack. "It will be dark be- 

 fore you can reach the canon. Stay with us and 

 go to Mrs. Samuel's card party." 



"No," was the reply, "I must get home." 



Then Mr. Pond came in to offer hospitality and 

 advice and to enter objections against her going. 

 He remarked that bears had been recently seen near 

 the canon. 



"Well, I'll certainly start at once," said the 

 homesteader, smiling; "I have been wishing I 

 might see a bear." 



And off she started alone through the snow. 



