Woods seized the arm of the girl, and the two helpless women hurried
toward their rude home, each to relate to the other a scene of distress,
and each to wonder what the wide future had in store for them.

They held each other by the hand, and talked in the open door of the
cabin. Then they went in and ate a simple meal of milk and berries, and
lay down and slept the sleep of sorrow.

At the early light they awoke. Almost the first words that Gretchen spoke
were: "Let us face life and be fearless. I have faith. My father had
faith, and my mother lived by faith. It was faith that led them across the
sea. Their faith seemed to be unfulfilled, but it will be fulfilled in me.
I feel it. Mother, let trouble pass. We belong to the family of God."

"You are a comfort to me, Gretchen. I can not see my way--it is covered."

"But you can trust your Guide, mother, and the end of trust _is_ peace."

"What are we to do, Gretchen?"

"I will go to Walla Walla and seek the advice of Mrs. Spaulding."

"Gretchen, don't you think that the schoolmaster is a good man?"

"Yes, I am sure that he is."

"I am. Let us go to him and follow his advice. We will go together."

They agreed to make the visit on the following day in the morning, before
school.

Gretchen told her foster-mother the story of the Indian pony.

"Where is he now?" asked Mrs. Woods.

"I left him in the clearing. I will go and find him."

"I will go with you," said Mrs. Woods.

The two went out together. They came to the clearing--a place of waving
grass, surrounded with gigantic trees, in whose tops were great nests of
birds. The pony was not there.

"He has gone to the next clearing," said Gretchen.

They passed through a strip of wood to another clearing. But the pony was
not there.

As they were returning, a little black animal crossed their path.

Mrs. Woods said, "Hold!" then called out in a kindly voice, "Roll over."
The little animal rolled head over heels in a very comical way, then ran
quickly into the thick bushes. It was the last time that Mrs. Woods ever
saw little Roll Over, and Gretchen never saw the pony again. The latter
probably found a herd of horses and wandered away with them. It was a time
of such confusion and distress that the matter did not awaken the interest
of the Indians at that time.

That evening they talked of plans for the future.

"Let us seek work in one of the missionary stations," said Gretchen, "or
let us find a home among the Indians themselves. I want to become a
teacher among them, and I know that they would treat you well."

Mrs. Woods's views on these matters were changing, but something of her
old distrust and prejudice remained despite her good resolutions.

"Foxes and geese were never made to hold conference meetings together. You
can't make one man out of another if you try."

"But, mother, your English ancestors once wandered about in sheep-skins,
and worshiped the oaks; the whole English race, and the German race, were
made what they are by teachers--teachers who gave themselves to a cause
almost two thousand years ago."

"Yes, I suppose that is so. But, Gretchen, I want your heart; I never
thought that you would give it to the Injuns. I ought not to be so ruled
by my affections; but, if I do scold you, there is something in you that
draws my heart toward you all the time. I believe in helping others;
something good in the future always comes of it. If men would be good to
each other, Heaven would be good to the world. It is the things done here
in this world that are out of order, and I never was on very good terms
with myself even, not to say much of the world. But you have helped me,
Gretchen, and hymns have helped me. I want you to be charitable toward my
feelins', Gretchen, when I grow old, and I pray that you will always be
true to me."

"I shall always be true to you, whatever I may be called to do. I shall
not leave you until you give