Archie pointed laughingly towards the stock-whip Etheldene carried. He never for a moment imagined it was in the girl's power to use or manage such an instrument.
"That is a pretty toy, Miss Winslow," he said.
"Toy, do you call it, sir?" said this young Diana, pouting prettily. "It is only a lady's whip, for the thong is but ten feet long. But listen."
It flew from her hands as she spoke, and the sound made every animal within hearing raise head and sniff the air.
"Well," said Archie, "I hope you won't run into any danger."
"Oh," she exclaimed, "danger is fun!" And she laughed right merrily, and looked as full of life and beauty as a bird in spring-time.
Etheldene was tall and well-developed for her age, for girls in this strange land very soon grow out of their childhood.
Archie had called her Diana in his own mind, and before the day was over she certainly had given proof that she well merited the title.
New herds had arrived, and had for one purpose or another to be headed into the stock yards. This is a task of no little difficulty, and to-day being warm these cattle appeared unusually fidgety. Twos and threes frequently stampeded from the mob, and went determinedly dashing back towards the creek and forest, so there was plenty of opportunities for anyone to show off his horsemanship. Once during a chase like this Archie was surprised to see Etheldene riding neck and neck for a time with a furious bull. He trembled for her safety as he dashed onwards to her assistance. But crack, crack, crack went the brave girl's whip; she punished the runaway most unmercifully, and had succeeded in turning him ere her Northumbrian cavalier rode up. A moment more and the bull was tearing back towards the herd he had left, a stockman or two following close behind.
"I was frightened for you," said Archie.