"Don't breathe a word," said the voice.
"Breathe a word? Sure I ain't breathin' at all."
Then the startled Mike turned slowly and saw Hal who had watched him for some time in silence.
"Why, Hal, my son; why God bless you," said the astonished cowman as he caught the boy's strong hand in his huge paw, and the men looked in each other's eyes with the silent affection that men feel but cannot express.
"It's good to feel the grip of your hand once more, Mike," said the boy. "How is Wah-na-gi?"
"Wah-na-gi is it?" The secret of Hal's wife had been confined to McCloud and Wah-na-gi. Mike was in ignorance of all complications in Hal's domestic affairs.
"Wah-na-gi? Sure you stayed away long enough for a dozen fellers to have run off with her, and small blame to her, you scamp. It's awful good you've got to be to me, boy. I ain't sure as I'll let you have her."
"You?" said the boy, smiling.
"You got to show me, son, for I'm her——"
He stopped suddenly confronted with the realization that Hal did not, could not know.