Reality Against Dreams

Belding turned away and drew Nell with him. In another second she and
Mercedes were clasped in each other's arms. Then followed a time of
joyful greetings all round.

The Yaqui stood leaning against a tree watching the welcoming home of
the lost. No one seemed to think of him, until Belding, ever mindful
of the needs of horses, put a hand on Blanco Diablo and called to Yaqui
to bring the others. They led the string of whites down to the barn,
freed them of wet and dusty saddles and packs, and turned them loose in
the alfalfa, now breast-high. Diablo found his old spirit; Blanco Sol
tossed his head and whistled his satisfaction; White Woman pranced to
and fro; and presently they all settled down to quiet grazing. How
good it was for Belding to see those white shapes against the rich
background of green! His eyes glistened. It was a sight he had never
expected to see again. He lingered there many moments when he wanted
to hurry back to his rangers.

At last he tore himself away from watching Blanco Diablo and returned
to the house. It was only to find that he might have spared himself
the hurry. Jim and Ladd were lying on the beds that had not held them
for so many months. Their slumber seemed as deep and quiet as death.
Curiously Belding gazed down upon them. They had removed only boots and
chaps. Their clothes were in tatters. Jim appeared little more than
skin and bones, a long shape, dark and hard as iron. Ladd's appearance
shocked Belding. The ranger looked an old man, blasted, shriveled,
starved. Yet his gaunt face, though terrible in its records of
tortures, had something fine and noble, even beautiful to Belding, in
its strength, its victory.