The stars began to blink out of the blue, and the gold paled somewhat, and yet twilight lingered.

It seemed long across that flat, but really was short.

Coming to a thin line of trees that led down over a slope to a deeper but still isolated patch of woods, Dale dismounted and tied his horse.

When the girls got off he haltered their horses also.
"Stick close to me an' put your feet down easy," he whispered.

How tall and dark he loomed in the fading light! Helen thrilled, as she had often of late, at the strange, potential force of the man.