"Which accounts for you terrorizing our cows an' calves," she retorted. "An' for trying to start a stampede."
Antonio stiffened at this, but did nothing because Hopalong was watching him.
"You ought to be ashamed of yoreself!" she cried, her eyes flashing and deep color surging into her cheeks. "You had no right to treat them calves that way, or to start a stampede!"
"I didn't try to start no stampede, honest," he replied, fascinated by the color playing across her face.
"You did!" she insisted, vehemently. "You may think it's funny to scare calves, but it ain't!"
"I was in a hurry," he replied, apologetically. "I shore didn't think nothing about th' calves. They was over on us an' I had to drive 'em back before I went on."
"You have no right to drive 'em back," she retorted. "They have every right to graze where th' grass is good an' where they can get water. They can't live without water."
"They shore can't," he replied in swift accord, as if the needs of cattle had never before crossed his mind. "But they can get it at th' river."
"You have no right to drive 'em away from it!"
"I ain't going to argue none with you, Miss," he responded. "My orders are to drive 'em back, which I'll do."