Amos turns away from Josette and speaks as if to himself, although his words are clearly meant to be overheard.
"I had thought to seek my fortune in the Northwest Territory. A new land, where a man could raise himself as high as two skilled hands and a strong back could allow. But it is a dangerous place, full of wild animals, trackless wilderness, and savage men of all races. The journey there alone costs many lives, to the ravages of disease, the violence of brigands, or simply to the losing of one's way and the torture of starvation. It is no fate for a refined lady."
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Following the arroyo, Reverend Trask feels a cold wind, and feels a few drops of rain strike his skin. Precipitation is rare in this land, it seems, but when it occurs, it is often sudden and heavy.
As a downpour fills the arroyo with swiftly rushing water, Trask is able to direct the horse to the side gracefully, avoiding the danger of his steed being swept into the flood. With great care, he is able to continue exploring the area without hazard, save for being wet.
The somewhat uncomfortable journey is not without its reward. Reverend Trask discovers a sheet of paper, carried this way by the water, upon which are written the words
meet me at midnight near the giant cactus on the night of the full moon. (This would happen to be this evening, unless another month was meant.) The handwriting is most likely that of a lady.
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Miss Winters and Mister Forbes ascend on their mounts, slowly but surely, until an unexpected heavy rain strikes.
Frightened by a bolt of lightning that strikes closely, with a great roar of thunder that echoes through the valley below, Miss Winters' horse throws her to the ground and runs off madly up the slope.
The falls twists her ankle badly. She is not able to walk without great effort. Forbes is able to lift her unto his own steed, so that the two may ride together.
Her senses unaffected, and perhaps even sharpened, by the pain of the injury, Miss Winters is able to detect a sheet of paper, blown here by the wind, which proves to be a crudely drawn map of the flat land below, with several large cacti indicated, one of which is marked with an X.
