He did not reply. Presently he looked up to the man who had brought her to the shanty, and said, “The axle's strained, but it's safe for five or six miles more of this road. I'll put the wheel on easily.” He paused, and without glancing at her, continued, “You might send her on by the cart.” “Pray don't trouble yourselves,” interrupted the young girl, with a pink uprising in her cheeks; “I shall be quite satisfied with the buggy as it stands. Send her on in the cart, indeed! Really, they were a rude set--ALL of them.” Without taking the slightest notice of her remark, the man replied gravely to the young mechanic, “Yes, but we'll be wanting the cart before it can get back from taking her.” “Her” again. “I assure you the buggy will serve perfectly well--if this--gentleman--will only be kind enough to put on the wheel again,” she returned hotly. The young mechanic at once set to work. The young girl walked apart silently until the wheel was restored to its axle. But to her surprise a different horse was led forward to be harnessed. “We thought your horse wasn't safe in case of another accident,” said the first man, with the same smileless consideration. “This one wouldn't cut up if he was harnessed to an earthquake or a worse driver than you've got.” It occurred to her instantly that the more obvious remedy of sending another driver had been already discussed and rejected by them. Yet, when her own driver appeared a moment afterwards, she ascended to her seat with some dignity and a slight increase of color. “I am very much obliged to you all,” she said, without glancing at the young inventor. “Don't mention it, miss.” “Good afternoon.” “Good afternoon.” They all took off their hats with the same formal gravity as the horse moved forward, but turned back to their work again before she was out of the field. CHAPTER II The ranch of Major Randolph lay on a rich falda of the Coast Range, and overlooked the great wheat plains that the young girl had just left. The house of wood and adobe, buried to its first story in rose-trees and passion vines, was large and commodious. Yet it contained only the major, his wife, her son and daughter, and the few occasional visitors from San Francisco whom he entertained, and she tolerated.