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Page 12
"Well, I thought you were a man," he said; "at least, you appeared to be a
human being, and not a wild animal. I hadn't seen anything but wild
animals for six hours, and very few of those; so I followed you."
The girl was silent. She was not reassured. It did not seem to her that
her question was directly answered. The young man was playing with her.
"What right had you to follow me?" she demanded fiercely.
"Well, now that you put it in that light, I'm not sure that I had any
right at all, unless it may be the claim that every human being has upon
all creation."
His arms were folded now across his broad brown flannel chest, and the
pistols gleamed in his belt below like fine ornaments. He wore a
philosophical expression, and looked at his companion as if she were a new
specimen of the human kind, and he was studying her variety, quite
impersonally, it is true, but interestedly. There was something in his
look that angered the girl.
"What do you want?" She had never heard of the divine claims of all the
human family. Her one instinct at present was fear.
An expression that was almost bitter flitted over the young man's face, as
of an unpleasant memory forgotten for the instant.
"It really wasn't of much consequence when you think of it," he said with
a shrug of his fine shoulders. "I was merely lost, and was wanting to
inquire where I was--and possibly the way to somewhere. But I don't know
as 'twas worth the trouble."
The girl was puzzled. She had never seen a man like this before. He was
not like her wild, reckless brother, nor any of his associates.
"This is Montana," she said, "or was, when I started," she added with
sudden thought.
"Yes? Well, it was Montana when I started, too; but it's as likely to be
the Desert of Sahara as anything else. I'm sure I've come far enough, and
found it barren enough."
"I never heard of that place," said the girl seriously; "is it in Canada?"
"I believe not," said the man with sudden gravity; "at least, not that I
know of. When I went to school, it was generally located somewhere in
Africa."
"I never went to school," said the girl wistfully; "but--" with a sudden
resolve--"I'll go now."
"Do!" said the man. "I'll go with you. Let's start at once; for, now that
I think of it, I haven't had anything to eat for over a day, and there
might be something in that line near a schoolhouse. Do you know the way?"
"No," said the girl, slowly studying him--she began to feel he was making
fun of her; "but I can give you something to eat."
"Thank you!" said the man. "I assure you I shall appreciate anything from
hardtack to bisque ice-cream."
"I haven't any of those," said the girl, "but there are plenty of beans
left; and, if you will get some wood for a fire, I'll make some coffee."
"Agreed," said the man. "That sounds better than anything I've heard for
forty-eight hours."
The girl watched him as he strode away to find wood, and frowned for an
instant; but his face was perfectly sober, and she turned to the business
of getting breakfast. For a little her fears were allayed. At least, he
would do her no immediate harm. Of course she might fly from him now
while his back was turned; but then of course he would pursue her again,
and she had little chance of getting away. Besides, he was hungry. She
could not leave him without something to eat.
"We can't make coffee without water," she said as he came back with a
bundle of sticks.
He whistled.
"Could you inform me where to look for water?" he asked.
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