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settler and his gal； them standing out open and free with their breech…
loaders； and us hiking out for camp like whipped curs！〃
The young man was impatient； but he compelled himself to speak
calmly。 〃As I never got around the spur of the mountain before you
fellows were in full retreat； I object to being classed with the whipped curs；
and you'll bear that in mind； Mizzoo。 You saw the girl all right； didn't
you？〃
〃You bet I did； and as soon as I see her； I knowed it was the same I'd
came across on the trail； seven year ago。 I'd have knowed it from her
daddy； of course； but there wasn't no mistaking HER。 Her daddy give it to
us plain that if he ever catched one of us inside his cove he'd kill us like so
many coyotes； and I reckon he would。 Well； he's got as much right to his
claim as anybody elsethis land don't belong to nobody； and there he's
been a…squatting considerable longer than we've laid out this ranch。 He
was in the right of it； but what I admire was his being able to hold his
rights。 Lots of folks has rights but they ain't man enough to hold 'em。 And
if von could have seen that gal； her eyes like two big burning suns； and her
mouth closed like a steel…trap； and her hand as steady on that trigger as the
mountain rock behind her！ Lord； Bill！ what a trembly； knock…kneed；
meaching sort of a husband she's a…going to fashion to her hand； one of
these days！ But PRETTY？ None more so。 And a…going all to waste out
here in the desert！〃
They rode on for some time in silence； save for the intermittent
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chuckling of the cattleman as visions of his companions' pale faces and
scurrying forms rose before his mind。
〃And now about that child； seven years ago；〃 the young man said；
when the last hoarse sound of mirth had died away。
〃Why； yes； me and the boys was bringing about two thousand head up
to Abiline when we come on to this same pardner and another man
walking the trail； with a little gal coming behind 'em on her pony。 And it
was this same gal。 I reckon she was seven or eight year old； then。 Well； sir；
I just thought as I looked at her； that I never seen a prettier sight in this
world and I reckon I ain't； for when I looked at the same gal the other day；
the gun she was holding up to her eye sort of dazzled me so I couldn't take
stock of all her good points。 But seeing that little gal out there in the plains
it was like hearing an old…fashioned hymn at the country meeting…house
and knowing a big basket dinner was to follow。 I can't express it more
deep than that。 We went into camp that evening； and all of us got pretty
soft and mellow； what from the unusualness of the meeting； and we asked
the old codger if we could all come over to his camp and shake hands with
the galhe'd drawed back from us about a mile； he was that skeered to be
sociable。 So after considerable haggling and jawing； he said we could； and
here we come； just about sundown； all of us looking sheepish enough to be
carved for mutton； but everlasting determined to take that gal by the paw。〃
〃Well？〃 said the young man who had often heard this story； but had
never been treated to the sequel； 〃what happened then； Mizzoo？ You
always stop at the same place。 Didn't you shake hands with her？〃
The other ruminated in deep silence for some time； then rejoined； 〃I
don't know how it isa fellow can talk about the worst devilment in
creation with a free rein； and no words hot enough to blister his tongue；
but let him run up against something simple like that； and the bottom of
his lungs seems to fall out。 I guess they ain't no more to be told。 That was
all there was to it； though I might add that the next day we come along by
old Whisky Simeon's joint that sets out on the sand…hills； you know； and
we put spurs to our bronks and went whooping by； with old Whisky Sim a…
staring and a…hollering after us like he thought we was crazy。 I don't know
as I had missed a drunk before for five year； when the materials was
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ready…found for its making。 And I ain't never forgot the little kid with the
brown hair and the eyes that seen to your bottom layer； like a water…witch
a…penetrating the ground with a glance； seeing through dirt and clay and
rocks to what water they is。〃
Mizzoo relapsed into meditative silence； and the young man； in
sympathy with his mood； kept at his side； no longer asking questions。
Darkness came on and the hour grew late but few words were exchanged
as they rode the weary miles that marked the limit of the range。 There
were the usual incidents of such work； each bringing its customary
comments。 The midnight luncheon beside a small fire； over which the
coffee steamed； roused something like cheerful conversation which；
however； flickered and flared uncertainly like the bonfire。 On the whole
the young man was unwontedly reserved； and the other； perceiving it； fell
back contentedly on his own resourcespleasant memories and rank
tobacco。
〃Guess I'll leave you now；〃 remarked the young man； when the fire
had died away。
〃Yes； better turn in； for you're most uncommon dull you know；〃
Mizzoo replied frankly。 〃'Twould be just about as much company for me if
you'd hike out and leave me your picture to carry along。〃
Instead of taking the direction toward the river； the young man set out
at a gallop for the distant mountain range which； in the gloom； seemed not
far away。 After an hour's hard riding； he reached it。 His impatience bad
made that hour seem almost interminable； yet it had not been long enough
to furnish him with any clear reason for having come。 If； as Mizzoo had
declared； he needed sleep； he would surely not think of finding it near the
cove from which his companions had been warned under penalty of death。
If drawn by longing for another glimpse of the girl of the cove he could
not expect to see her an hour or two after midnight。 Yet here he was；
attracted； and still urged on； by impulses he did not attempt to resist。
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CHAPTER X
THE FLAG OF TRUCE
Earliest dawn found the young man seated composedly upon one of
the flattened outcroppings of the bill of stone that lay like an island
between the outer plain and the sheltered cove。 As yet； there was no sign
of life within the coveboth the dugout and the cabin of cedar logs were
as silent and as void of movement as the rocks behind them。 The young
man watched first one； then the other； as tireless and vigilant as if he had
not been awake for twenty…four hours。
It was the dugout that first started from its night's repose。 Before the
sun showed itself over the rim of the prairie； long before its rays darted
over the distant mountain…crest； the door was thrown away from the casing；
and a great uncouth man； strong as a giant； and wild of aspect as a savage；
strode forth； gun in hand； his eyes sweeping the landscape in quick
flashing glances。 Almost instantly he discovered the figure perched on the
granite block overlooking his retreat。 He raised his gun to his shoulder。
The young man fell sidewise behind the rocks and a bullet clipped the
edge of his barricade。 Remaining supine； he fastened his handkerchief to
the end of his whip and waved it above the rampart。 Having thus
manifested his peaceful intent； he rose； still holding the flag of truce above
his head； and remained motionless。 Brick Willock stared at him for a
moment in hostile indecision； then strode forward。 At the same time； an
old man； thin； tall and white…haired； issued from the dugout evidently
attracted by the gunshot； and soon after； the cabin door opened； and the
girl of the cove looked