Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/50

 from the main road and took the faint trail which led up Bitter Creek.

They rode until they saw two tepees showing white through the willows.

" We're in luck to catch them home at this hour," said Teeters, as they heard a faint tinkle from the corrals on the other side of the creek. " They've got the sheep inside must be cutting out. Yes," as they forded and drew closer, "there's Kate at the dodge gate."

The corral was a crude affair, built at the minimum of expense, of crooked cottonwood poles, willow sticks and brush interlaced. It was divided into three sections,with a chute running from the larger division into two smaller ones.

Kate was standing at the "dodge gate " at the end of the chute separating the sheep as they came through by throwing the gate to and fro, thus sending each into the division in which it belonged. It was work which required intense concentration, a trained eye and quick brain, and even Disston and Teeters, who knew nothing of sheep, could appreciate the remarkable skill with which the girl performed the task.

"Let 'em come. Uncle Joe ! " she called in her clear confident voice.

Mormon Joe flapped a grain sack over the backs of the sheep and having started a leader the rest went through the chute on the run.

When the last one was through Kate's aching arm dropped limply to her side and she called in a tired but jubilant voice:

"I don't believe I've made a single mistake this time."

Mormon Joe's expression was not too friendly when he saw strangers but it changed upon recognizing Teeters.

" Maybe you don't remember this here gent," said that