“Well, that’s nat’ral,” said the renegade, with another grin.
“I should think so.”
“I s’pose you told her that it would be all right—that the chances were that she would be taken back to the station ’fore long, hey?”
“Yes, I did tell her so,” Kate said, puzzled at the odd manner of her father.
“Now, see how good I am at guessing. I ought to set up to onc’t for a Great Medicine Man,” and the renegade laughed, discordantly.
Kate cast a searching glance into her father’s face, but she found nothing there to aid her in guessing the meaning of his strange conduct.
“Have you any thing else to say to me?” and Kate made a movement as if to pass the renegade and proceed on her course.
“Hold on, gal!” cried Kendrick, hastily. “I’ve got a heap to say to you. Jist foller me off a piece, whar we’ll be out of ear-shot of any skulker, and then I’ll talk to you like a Dutch uncle,” and again the renegade laughed discordantly.
With a mind ill at ease Kate followed her father. His manner boded danger. Yet she could not imagine in what shape that danger would come.
The renegade led the way toward the wood.