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 that the girl did not see him until he came swinging at a trot straight down from the crest of a little swell fairly upon her. At sight of him her eyes widened in terror, and she tried to put Tige into a run. The stubborn little brute took two or three stiff-legged plunges, then stopped and whinnied a welcome to his master as Original slipped swiftly alongside and brought the other horse to a halt with hand at the bit.

The man said nothing for a minute. He contented himself with looking with a quizzical pucker about his eyes into the girl's face. Overnight terror of wandering had left its stamp there, but the fighting spirit of her strove mightily to hang up the emblems of defiance in eyes and cheeks.

"Sorta takin' the morning air, I reckon," Original said with a broad smile. No answer.

"They 's not many wagon tracks hereabouts an' the country 's fair to middlin' safe for anybody who don't find herself wishful to meet up with strangers." Original seemed to be talking more to Tige than to the girl; there was an impersonal quality in his speech. "Yes, ma'am, this here 's called Cattle Kate's country—here round Crazy Squaw. You 've heard