She only gurgled and stretched out her hand to Jed. He sniffed the tiny fingers with a tremendous snort which made the little girl laugh aloud. She was evidently used to both horses and men.
“Aren’t you ashamed of yourself, Jed,” Scott pleaded. “Why don’t you take her on like a good fellow?” But Jed was not reconciled and snorted loudly every time the little hand was extended in his direction.
It was rather exasperating to have to walk and carry a baby with a perfectly good horse trailing along behind, but there was nothing else to do, and the strange procession started for Dawson’s. Scott continued to watch for the trail of the sheep and the child amused herself by reaching out to tickle Jed’s nose whenever he came within reach. Jed seemed to rather enjoy the game and was fast getting over his scare. The child had seemed light as a feather when Scott first picked her up, but she soon began to get heavy, and he had to shift her frequently from one arm to the other. He was not sorry when the smoke of Dawson’s cabin showed about a quarter of a mile ahead. All attempts at conversation with the child had proven fruitless. She only smiled and laughed when he spoke to her.
He had just turned a crook in the trail which brought him in sight of the cabin when he saw a woman run wildly from the gate and start toward him. It was Mrs. Dawson half wild with fright. Scott pointed her out to the child who promptly proved her identity.
“Hurry up, muvver,” she called to the already flying figure, “I want to show you something.”
“Oh, darling,” Mrs. Dawson cried as she snatched the child from Scott’s aching arms, “where have you been? Mother has been almost wild about you.”
The child only struggled in her mother’s arms. “Look, muvver, look,” she exclaimed excitedly, and reached once more for Jed’s nose. She squealed with delight at the gentle snort.
Her mother snatched her up again and held her fast. “Oh, Mr. Burton,” she cried, “where did you find her?”
“Asleep under a clump of bushes about two miles down the lookout trail,” Scott explained.
“Two miles! I sent her in to take a nap. I supposed she was asleep, but when I went in the house a little while ago I could not find her. I have run myself half to death looking for her. It is the first time she has ever run away and I was almost frantic.”