The difficulties of her journey were over; the rancho lay scarcely two miles away; she had achieved the most important part of her task in the appointed time; but she hesitated.

What had she come for?
She tried to recall Poindexter's words, even her own enthusiasm, but in vain.

She was going to take possession of her husband's property, she knew, that was all.

But the means she had taken seemed now so exaggerated and mysterious for that simple end, that she began to dread an impending something, or some vague danger she had not considered, that she was rushing blindly to meet.

Full of this strange feeling, she almost mechanically stopped her horse as she entered the cross-road.
From this momentary hesitation a singular sound aroused her.