"I don't know nothin' about it," said the boy, looking up from his last bite of pie; then giving a deep sigh he reluctantly moved away from the table.
"Well, I can guarantee that you're happy," said Hope, "and that is a positive demonstration of the truth of William's observation. But now we must go," she said, rising abruptly and picking up her hat from the corner of the tent.
"You haven't been here a half hour yet, Hopie, but I suppose I must be thankful for small favors," deplored Carter.
"I've had my supper,—a nice one, too,—and that's what I came for, Syd, dear," said the girl. "And if I may, I will come again, until you and dear old Jim both get tired of me."
"Get tired—fiddlesticks!" exclaimed McCullen, while Sydney laughed a little, and left the tent to saddle her horse. The breed boy followed him; then Livingston, too, was about to leave when McCullen stopped him.
"Just stay in here by the fire and talk to Hopie till we get your horses," he said, abruptly leaving them together.
The girl drew nearer the stove.
"It's quite chilly out this evening," she remarked.
"That is the beauty of the nights in this northern country," he replied, coming near to her.
"Why, we're alone," she observed. "I wonder where William went!"