The merciless hound of the law, who had dismounted, shuffled his feet uneasily and looked down to see if his badge was showing. "Er--he didn't mention it." In the panic which seized him he could not frame the words in which to tell her, and he felt an illogical wrath at Bowers--the coward--for not coming with him. For a moment he considered resigning, then walked over to where her horse was feeding to collect himself while her wondering gaze followed him. Lingle ran his hand along the horse's neck, the hair of which was stiff with dried sweat, lifted the saddle blanket and looked at its legs, where streaks of lather had hardened. He regarded her keenly as he turned to her. "You been smokin' up your horse, I notice." "I ran a coyote for two miles this morning--emptied my magazine at him and then didn't get him." The truth shining in her clear eyes was unmistakable. Lingle broke off a handful of sagebrush and used it as a makeshift currycomb, while Kate, a little surprised at the action, picked up the bridle reins when he had finished the gratuitous grooming and started the sheep moving. "I'll feed back to camp slowly. Don't wait for me--you and the herder eat supper." "Anything I can do, ma'am?" "Oh, no, thank you." Bowers met the deputy at the door of the cook tent, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Did she beller?" Lingle sat down morosely and removed his spurs before answering. "I didn't tell her." "What!" Bowers fairly jumped at him. "What's the matter?" "She might as well eat her supper, mightn't she?" defiantly. "Do you know what I think?" Bowers pointed a spoon at him accusingly. "I think your nerve failed you. All I got to say is--you're a devil of an officer." "Maybe you'd like to tell her," sneeringly. "I shore ain't afraid to!" bristling. "I don't like to listen to a female's snifflin', and I say so, but when it comes to bein' _afraid_ of one of 'em--" Bowers banged the pan of biscuits on the table to emphasize the small esteem in which he held women. "What fer a looker is she?" he demanded. "You'd better eat your supper before she gets here." "Bad as that?" "Worse," grimly. "I ain't got educated words enough to describe her." They had eaten by the light of the lantern, when they heard Kate coming. She lifted the flap of the tent and smiled her friendly smile upon them. "Goodness, but I'm glad I don't have to cook supper! I haven't had anything warm since morning." Bowers stood with the broom in his hand, staring, while Kate removed her cap and jacket. Then he cast an evil look upon the deputy, a look which said, "You liar!" As she made to get the food from the stove he interposed hastily: "You set down, Ma'am." Lingle gave him a look which was equally significant, a jeering look which said ironically, "Woman hater!" Bowers colored with pleasure when she lauded his "cowpuncher potatoes" and exclaimed over the biscuits.