"Oh, I see!" Hope's exclamation came involuntarily. "What do you want to get for him and how much money do you want for it?"
"Well, you see, he needs considerable. Ain't got nothin' comfortable over there; nothin' to eat, wear—nothin' at all."
"All right," replied the girl in her cool, even tone. "I'll see that he is supplied with everything, but will attend to the matter myself. Good-evening!" She rode past them rapidly, and they, outwitted in their little scheme for whisky-money, rode on their way toward old Peter's basin.
Sydney's horse stood outside of Harris'. He left a group of men who were waiting the call for supper, and came out in the road to meet the girl when she rode up.
"I have been waiting for you," he said.
"And I have been over to camp and around the cattle with Jim," she replied.
"Then come on and ride back up the road with me a ways, I want to see you," said Carter, picking up the bridle reins from the ground.
"But Louisa——" she demurred.
"Louisa's all right," he answered. "I've had her out for a ride, and now she's gone in the house with that breed girl—Mary, I think she called her. So you see she's in excellent hands."
Hope turned her horse about and rode away with him silently.