The wind was at Helen's back and seemed to be growing stronger.

Dale and Roy were ahead, traveling at a good trot, with the pack-animals bunched before them.
Helen and Bo had enough to do to keep up.
The first hour's ride brought little change in weather or scenery, but it gave Helen an inkling of what she must endure if they kept that up all day.

She began to welcome the places where the horses walked, but she disliked the levels.

As for the descents, she hated those.

Ranger would not go down slowly and the shake-up she received was unpleasant.
Moreover, the spirited black horse insisted on jumping the ditches and washes.