“Poor old baby Mauchacho,” said Bess, tenderly; “I wish there was room to crowd you in here, too.” The horse replied with a knowing wriggle of his ear, as if to say he “wished so, too.” “Here, here, James, cheer up,” said the sister, giving him a vigorous shake. “Don’t you know that behind the clouds is still the blue sky?” He was looking nearly as lowery as the rain-clouds, and even West came from his reverie, asking what was the trouble. “You see,” said James, “this will delay us nearly two days in rounding up the beef for that shipment, and I doubt if the men can have them at Selish in time.” Young Fletcher had proved his mettle on the ranch. “Oh, well, Jim! I’ll help, and I think we can manage all O. K.” answered Henry West, optimistically. “Here, Bess, sit down awhile,” he added, quickly drawing off his mackinaw and spreading it on the bed of pine needles. The girl could offer no remonstrance, as he gently placed her on the coat. “Do you think I can be comfortable here while I know you will get cold? You’ll surely be ill!” She started to rise, but as he placed her on the seat again he assured her that when he grew cold he would ask for the coat. So she sat with her hands clasped about her knees, and her chin buried against them; her soft, liquid eyes gazing longingly across the rain-dashed landscape. The men, too, grew silent, and the time dragged. Bess gave a sigh and made a tentative effort to rise, but a gentle, restraining hand on her shoulder told her that though the man at her side was silent, he was still solicitous. James, becoming weary of standing, seated himself with his back pressed tight against that of his sister. How the thoughts began chasing each other through the girl’s brain! Little incidents of her girlhood days, or perhaps some memory of happy companionship at school would cause her to smile. Then, again, a sigh at some memory came unconsciously from her lips; and once, as she recalled a humorous episode, a little ripple of laughter escaped her. “Enjoying yourself, Bess?” asked James, irritably, at her jocular outburst. “I wish this infernal rain would let up so we could get home some time today,” he added. “It seems to be letting up some now,” said West. “If you’ll let me take the mackinaw, please, I’ll go out and take a look over the hills and see how much longer we shall have to wait.” When West had gone out into the rain, Bess asked her brother what time of day it was. “We’ve been here two infernal hours,” he said, “and it is nearly noon. I wish we had some lunch, for we’ll all be mighty hungry before we reach the ranch.” “Please, James, don’t be cross. That won’t drive the rain away, and it only makes us feel more uncomfortable. Ah! Here comes the weather man! I can tell by the looks of his face that there is soon to be a rainbow!” cried the girl, joyfully, as West re-entered the shelter. “Yes, the clouds are lifting, and it will soon be safe to start. I fear you’ll suffer from the mud, Miss Bess.”