Herguestsreportedanarduousridedownthemountain，withonlyoneincidenttolendexcitement。OnthedescenttheyhadfalleninwithSheriffHaweandseveralofhisdeputies，whowereconsiderablyundertheinfluenceofdrinkandverygreatlyenragedbytheescapeoftheMexicangirlBonita。Hawehadusedinsultinglanguagetotheladiesand，accordingtoAmbrose，wouldhaveinconveniencedthepartyonsomepretextorotherifhehadnotbeensharplysilencedbythecowboys。
Madeline\'sguestsweretwodaysinrecoveringfromthehardride。
Onthethirddaytheyleisurelybegantopreparefordeparture。
ThisperiodwasdoublytryingforMadeline。Shehadherownphysicalneedofrest，and，moreover，hadtofaceamentalconflictthatcouldscarcelybepostponedfurther。HersisterandfriendswerekindlyandearnestlypersistentintheirentreatiesthatshegobackEastwiththem。Shedesiredtogo。
Itwasnotgoingthatmattered；itwashowandwhenandunderwhatcircumstancesshewastoreturnthatrousedinherdisturbingemotion。BeforeshewentEastshewantedtohavefixedinmindherfuturerelationtotheranchandtheWest。