Attheheadheplacedtheneatsackofherbelongings。Forhisownhemadeashelterwithcrossedpolesandasheetofcanvasbeyondthefirstpines。Hebuiltthefirewhereitssmokewouldfloatoutwardfromthetreesandthetent，andnearithestoodthecookingthingsandhisprovisions，andmadethisfirstsupperreadyinthetwilight。Hehadbroughtmuchwithhim；butfortenminuteshefished，catchingtroutenough。Whenatlengthshecameridingoverthestreamathiscall，therewasnothingforhertodobutsitandeatatthetablehehadlaid。Theysattogether，watchingthelastofthetwilightandthegentleoncomingofthedusk。Thefinalafter-glowofdayleftthesky，andthroughthepurplewhichfolloweditcameslowlythefirststars，brightandwideapart。Theywatchedthespacesbetweenthemfinwithmorestars，whilenearthemtheflamesandembersoftheirfiregrewbrighter。Thenhesenthertothetentwhilehecleanedthedishesandvisitedthehorsestoseethattheydidnotstrayfromthepasture。Somewhileafterthedarknesswasfullycome，herejoinedher。Allhadbeenashehadseenitinhisthoughtsbeforehand:thepineswiththesettingsunuponthem，thesinkingcamp-fire，andnowthesoundofthewaterasitflowedmurmuringbytheshoresoftheisland。
Thetentopenedtotheeast，andfromittheywatchedtogethertheirfirstsunrise。Inhisthoughtshehadseenthismorningbeforehandalso:thewaking，thegentlesoundofthewatermurmuringceaselessly，thegrowingday，thevisionofthestream，thesensethattheworldwasshutawayfarfromthem。Sodiditallhappen，exceptthathewhisperedtoheragain:-“Betterthanmydreams。“
Theysawthesunlightbeginuponahilltop；andpresentlycamethesunitself，andlakesofwarmthflowedintotheair，slowlyfillingthegreensolitude。Alongtheislandshorestheripplescaughtflashesfromthesun。
“Iamgoingintothestream，“hesaidtoher；andrising，heleftherinthetent。Thiswashissideoftheisland，hehadtoldherlastnight；theotherwashers，wherehehadmadeaplaceforhertobathe。Whenhewasgone，shefoundit，walkingthroughthetreesandrockstothewater’sedge。Andso，withtheislandbetweenthem，thetwobathedinthecoldstream。Whenhecameback，hefoundheralreadybusyattheircamp。Thebluesmokeofthefirewasfloatingoutfromthetrees，loiteringundispersedinthequietair，andshewasgettingtheirbreakfast。Shehadbeenabletoforestallhimbecausehehaddelayedlongathisdressing，notwillingtoreturntoherunshaven。Shelookedathiseyesthatwereclearasthewaterhehadleapedinto，andathissoftsilkneckerchief，knottedwithcare。
“Donotletusevergoawayfromhere！“shecried，andrantohimashecame。Theysatlongtogetheratbreakfast，breathingthemorningbreathoftheearththatwasfragrantwithwoodlandmoistureandwiththepines。Afterthemealhecouldnotpreventherhelpinghimmakeeverythingclean。Then，byallcustomsofmountainjourneys，itwastimetheyshouldbreakcampandbemovingbeforetheheatoftheday。Butfirst，theydelayedfornoreason，savethatinthesehourstheysolovedtodonothing。Andnext，whenwithsomeenergyhegotuponhisfeetanddeclaredhemustgoanddrivethehorsesin，sheasked，Why？Woulditnotbewellforhimtofishhere，thattheymightbesureoftroutattheirnooning？Andthoughheknewthatwheretheyshouldstopfornoon，troutwouldbeassureashere，hetookthischanceformoredelay。
Shewentwithhimtohisfishingrock，andsatwatchinghim。Therockwastall，higherthanhisheadwhenhestood。Itjuttedouthalfwayacrossthestream，andthewaterflowedrounditinquickfoam，andfellintoapool。Hecaughtseveralfish；butthesunwasgettinghigh，andafteratimeitwasplainthefishhadceasedtorise。
Yetstillhestoodcastinginsilence，whileshesatbyandwatchedhim。Acrossthestream，thehorseswanderedorlaydownintheirpasture。Atlengthhesaidwithhalfasighthatperhapstheyoughttogo。
“Ought？“sherepeatedsoftly。
“Ifwearetogetanywhereto-day，“heanswered。
“Needwegetanywhere？“sheasked。
Herquestionsentdelightthroughhimlikeaflood。“Thenyoudonotwanttomovecampto-day？“saidhe。
Sheshookherhead。
Atthishelaiddownhisrodandcameandsatbyher。“Iamverygladweshallnotgotilltomorrow，“hemurmured。
“Notto-morrow，“shesaid。“Nornextday。Noranydayuntilwemust。“Andshestretchedherhandsouttotheislandandthestreamexclaiming，“Nothingcansurpassthis！“
Hetookherinhisarms。“YoufeelaboutitthewayIdo，“healmostwhispered。“Icouldnothavehopedthere’dbetwoofustocaresomuch。“
Presently，whiletheyremainedwithoutspeakingbythepool，camealittlewildanimalswimmingroundtherockfromabove。Ithadnotseenthem，norsuspectedtheirpresence。Theyheldthemselvesstill，watchingitsalertheadcrossthroughthewavesquicklyandcomedownthroughthepool，andsoswimtotheotherside。
Thereitcameoutonasmallstretchofsand，turneditsgrayheadanditspointedblacknosethiswayandthat，neverseeingthem，andthenrolleduponitsbackinthewarmdrysand。Afteraminuteofrolling，itgotonitsfeetagain，shookitsfur，andtrottedaway。
Thenthebridegroomhusbandopenedhisshyheartdeepdown。
“Iamlikethatfellow，“hesaiddreamily。“Ihaveoftendonethesame。“Andstretchingslowlyhisarmsandlegs，helayfulllengthuponhisback，lettinghisheadrestuponher。“IfIcouldtalkhisanimallanguage，Icouldtalktohim，“hepursued。“Andhewouldsaytome:’Comeandrollonthesands。Where’stheuseoffretting？What’sthegaininbeingaman？Comerollonthesandswithme。’That’swhathewouldsay。“TheVirginianpaused。
“But，“hecontinued，“thetroubleis，Iamresponsible。Ifthatcouldonlybeforgotforeverbyyouandme！“Againhepausedandwenton，alwaysdreamily。“OftenwhenIhavecampedhere，ithasmademewanttobecometheground，becomethewater，becomethetrees，mixwiththewholething。Notknowmyselffromit。Neverunmixagain。Whyisthat？“hedemanded，lookingather。“Whatisit？Youdon’tknow，norIdon’t。Iwonderwouldeverybodyfeelthatwayhere？“
“Ithinknoteverybody，“sheanswered。
“No；noneexcepttheoneswhounderstandthingstheycan’tputwordsto。Butyoudid！“Heputupahandandtouchedhersoftly。
“Youunderstoodaboutthisplace。Andthat’swhatmakesit——makesyouandmeaswearenow——betterthanmydreams。Andmydreamswereprettygood。“
Hesighedwithsupremequietandhappiness，andseemedtostretchhislengthclosertotheearth。Andsohelay，andtalkedtoherashehadnevertalkedtoanyone，noteventohimself。Thusshelearnedsecretsofhisheartnewtoher:hisvisitshere，whattheyweretohim，andwhyhehadchosenitfortheirbridalcamp。
“WhatIdidnotknowatall，“hesaid，“wasthewayamancanbepiningfor——forthis——andneverguesswhatisthematterwithhim。“
Thenhehadfinishedtalking，stillhelayextendedandserene；
andshelookeddownathimandthewonderfulchangethathadcomeoverhim，likeasunrise。Wasthisdreamyboythemanoftwodaysago？Itseemedadistanceimmeasurable；yetitwastwodaysonlysincethatweddingevewhenshehadshrunkfromhimashestoodfierceandimplacable。Shecouldlookbackatthatdarkhournow，althoughshecouldnotspeakofit。Shehadseendestructionlikesharpsteelglitteringinhiseyes。Werethesethesameeyes？Wasthisyouthwithhisblackheadofhairinherlapthecreaturewithwhommendidnottrifle，whosehandknewhowtodealdeath？
Wherehadthemanmeltedawaytointhisboy？Forasshelookedathim，hemighthavebeennoolderthannineteento-day。Notevenattheirfirstmeeting——thatnightwhenhisfreakishspiritwasuppermost——hadhelookedsoyoung。Thischangetheirhoursupontheislandhadwrought，fillinghisfacewithinnocence。
Byandbytheymadetheirnooning。Intheafternoonshewouldhaveexploredthenearerwoodswithhim，orwalkedupthestream。
Butsincethiswastobetheircampduringseveraldays，hemadeitmorecomplete。Hefashionedaroughbenchandatable；aroundtheirtenthebuiltatallwind-breakforbettershelterincaseofstorm；andforthefirehegatheredandcutmuchwood，andpileditup。Sotheywereprovidedfor，andsoforsixdaysandnightstheystayed，findingnodayornightlongenough。
Oncehishedgeofboughsdidthemgoodservice，fortheyhadanafternoonoffuriousstorm。Thewindrockedthepinesandransackedtheisland，thesunwentout，theblackcloudsrattled，andwhiteboltsoflightningfellcloseby。Theshowerbrokethroughthepinebranchesandpoureduponthetent。Buthehadremovedeverythinginsidefromwhereitcouldtouchthecanvasandsoleadthewaterthrough，andtherainranoffintotheditchhehaddugroundthetent。Whiletheysatwithin，lookingoutupontheboundingfloodsandthewhitelightning，shesawhimglanceatherapprehensively，andatoncesheansweredhisglance。
“Iamnotafraid，“shesaid。“Ifaflameshouldconsumeustogethernow，whatwoulditmatter？“
Andsotheysatwatchingthestormtillitwasover，hewithhisfacechangedbyhertoaboy’s，andsheleavenedwithhim。
Whenatlasttheywerecompelledtoleavetheisland，orseenomoreofthemountains，itwasnotafinalparting。Theywouldcomebackforthelastnightbeforetheirjourneyended。
Furthermore，theypromisedeachotherliketwochildrentocomehereeveryyearupontheirweddingday，andliketwochildrentheybelievedthatthiswouldbepossible。Butinafteryearstheydidcome，morethanonce，tokeeptheirweddingdayupontheisland，anduponeachnewvisitwereabletosaytoeachother，“Betterthanourdreams。“
Forthirtydaysbythelightofthesunandthecamp-firelighttheysawnofacesexcepttheirown；andwhentheyweresilentitwasallstillness，unlessthewindpassedamongthepines，orsomeflowingwaterwasnearthem。Sometimesateveningtheycameuponelk，orblack-taileddeer，feedingoutinthehighparksofthemountains；andoncefromtheedgeofsomeconcealingtimberheshowedherabear，sittingwithanoldlogliftedinitspaws。
Sheforbadehimtokillthebear，oranycreaturethattheydidnotrequire。Hetookherupwardbytrailandcanyon，throughtheunfootedwoodsandalongdwindlingstreamstotheirheadwaiters，lakeslyingnearthesummitoftherange，fulloftrout，withmeadowsoflonggrassandathousandflowers，andabovethesethepinnaclesofrockandsnow。
Theymadetheircampsinmanyplaces，delayingseveraldayshere，andonenightthere，exploringthehighsolitudestogether，andsinkingdeepintheirromance。Sometimeswhenhewasatworkwiththeirhorses，orintentoncastinghisbrownhackleforafish，shewouldwatchhimwitheyesthatwerefulleroflovethanofunderstanding。Perhapsshenevercamewhollytounderstandhim；
butinhercompleteloveforhimshefoundenough。Helovedherwithhiswholeman’spower。Shehadlistenedtohimtellherinwordsoftransport，“Icouldenjoydying“；yetshelovedhimmorethanthat。Hehadcometoherfromasmokingpistol，abletobidherfarewell——andshecouldnotlethimgo。Atthelastwhite-hotedgeofordeal，itwasshewhorenounced，andhewhohadhisway。
Neverthelessshefoundmuchmorethanenough，inspiteofthesighthatnowandagainbreathedthroughherhappinesswhenshewouldwatchhimwitheyesfulleroflovethanofunderstanding。
Theycouldnotspeakofthatgrimweddingeveforalongwhileafter；butthemountainsbroughtthemtogetheruponallelseintheworldandtheirownlives。Attheendtheylovedeachotherdoublymorethanatthebeginning，becauseoftheseaddedconfidenceswhichtheyexchangedandshared。Itwasanewblisstohertoknowaman’stalkandthoughts，tobegivensomuchofhim；andtohimitwasablissstillgreatertomeltfromthatreservehislonelylifehadbredinhim。Heneverwouldhaveguessedsomuchhadbeenstoredawayinhim，unexpressedtillnow。TheydidnotwanttogotoVermontandleavethesemountains，butthedaycamewhentheyhadtoturntheirbacksupontheirdream。Sotheycameoutintotheplainsoncemore，wellestablishedintheirfamiliarity，withonlythejourneystilllyingbetweenthemselvesandBennington。
“Ifyoucould，“shesaid，laughing。“Ifonlyyoucouldridehomelikethis。“
“WithMonteandmysix-shooter？“heasked。“Toyourmother？“
“Idon’tthinkmothercouldresistthewayyoulookonahorse。
Buthesaid“Itthiswayshe’sfearing，Iwillcome。“
“Ihavemadeonediscovery，“shesaid。“YouarefonderofgoodclothesthanIam。“
Hegrinned。“Icert’nlylike’em。Butdon’ttellmyfriends。Theywouldsayitwasmarriage。WhenyouseewhatIhavegotforBennington’sspecialbenefit，you——why，you’lljusttrustyourhusbandmorethanever。“
Sheundoubtedlydid。Afterhehadputononeparticularsuit，shearoseandkissedhimwherehestoodinit。
“Benningtonwillbesorrowful，“hesaid。“Nowild-westshow，afterall。Andnoready-madeguy，either。“Andhelookedathimselfintheglasswithunbiddenpleasure。
“Howdidyouchoosethat？“sheasked。“Howdidyouknowthathomespunwasexactlythethingforyou？“
