It was still some time before nightfall, but the sun had dropped out of sight fully an hour ago and now the western mountains were blackening against a sky whose thin, clear blue grew yellow towards evening.
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 .-- Don't pay any attention to him.