"Not at all," replied Shorty Smith politely. "It ain't often we're favored by the company of wimmen folks." "Those are fine-looking calves you've got there," observed the girl. "Pretty fair," replied Shorty Smith, assisting the animal to its feet. The visitor stepped to one side while he dragged it into the shed and closed the door, fastening it with the peg. Then Long Bill proceeded to throw another victim with as much coolness as though Hope had not been there with her quiet eyes taking in every detail. Old Peter had not uttered a word since his first involuntary exclamation, and though visibly agitated, proceeded in a mechanical manner to assist with the branding, but he kept his head down and his eyes obstinately averted from the girl's. Nearly a dozen had been branded, and only one, besides the last victim already thrown to the ground, remained in the corral. Hope's whole attention was apparently taken up with the branding, which she watched with great interest. Old Peter gradually regained his equilibrium, while Long Bill and Shorty Smith had begun to congratulate themselves that their spectator was most innocent and harmless. Yet as Hope moved quietly back to her position beside the rude stable building she not only observed the three men intent upon the branding, but noted the approach of a large cow which had appeared from the right-hand coulee about the time she left her hiding-place in the brush. If the men had not been so busy they would undoubtedly have seen this particular cow coming on steadily toward the corral, now but a rod distant. They would have noticed, too, the girl's hand leave her side like a flash and remove the large, smooth peg from where Shorty Smith had hastily inserted it in the building. They would have seen the stable door open slowly by its own weight, and then the peg quickly replaced. What they did notice was that Miss Hathaway came very near to them, so close that she leaned over old Peter's shoulders to observe the smoking, steaming operation. For a moment she stood there quietly, then all at once exclaimed in some surprise: "Why, your calves are all out!" Instantly the greatest consternation reigned, then old Peter hobbled to his feet with an oath. "Every blamed one," said Shorty Smith. "How 'n blazes did that happen?" "I reckon you didn't put that peg in right," drawled Long Bill. "Look!" screamed old Peter, pointing at the large cow that had come nearer and had picked out from the assortment of calves one of which it claimed absolute possession. It was at this unfortunate moment that Livingston, quite unobserved, rode into Peter's basin. "I'll help you drive them in," volunteered Hope, instantly mounting her horse and riding into their midst. Then a queer thing followed. Old Peter, with a cat-like motion, sprang toward her and covered her with a six-shooter. "Git off'n my place, you she-devil!" he cried, his face livid with rage and fear.