“And look there,” said one; “there has been some serious disturbance of that outcrop,” pointing in the direction of the spring; “the lower part has distinctly subsided.” He spoke with a certain authority, and dominance of position, and was evidently the superior, as he was the elder of the two, although both were roughly dressed.
“Yes, it does kinder look as if it had lost its holt, like the ledge yonder.”
“And you see I am right; the movement was from east to west,” continued the elder man.
The girl could not comprehend what they said, and even thought them a little silly. But she advanced towards them; at which they stopped short, staring at her. With feminine instinct she addressed the more important one:—
“Ye ain't passed no wagon nor team goin' on, hev ye?”
“What sort of wagon?” said the man.
“Em'grant wagon, two yaller hosses. Old man—my dad—drivin'.” She added the latter kinship as a protecting influence against strangers, in spite of her previous independence.
The men glanced at each other.
“How long ago?”
The girl suddenly remembered that she had slept two hours.