He glanced at her bed on the floor. “I can’t say I blame you any. This has been a rough trip; but we’ll go up and bring down the outfit, and then we men can sleep in the tent and let you have the bunk—you’ll be comfortable to-night.”
“Oh, I don’t mind sleeping on the floor,” she replied; “but I want to get back. I don’t want to meet those women. Another thing, you’d better use Mr. Norcross at the Springs instead of leaving him here with Tony.”
“Why so?”
“Well, he isn’t quite well enough to run the risk. It’s a long way from here to a doctor.”
“He ’pears to be on deck this morning. Besides, I haven’t anything in the office to offer him.”
“Then send him up to Meeker. Landon needs help, and he’s a better forester than Tony, anyway.”
“How about Cliff? He may make trouble.”
Her face darkened. “Cliff will reach him if he wants to—no matter where he is. And then, too, Landon likes Mr. Norcross and will see that he is not abused.”
McFarlane ruminated over her suggestion, well knowing that she was planning this change in order that she might have Norcross a little nearer, a little more accessible.
“I don’t know but you’re right. Landon is almost as good a hustler as Tony, and a much better forester. I thought of sending Norcross up there at first, but he told me that Frank and his gang had it in for him. Of course, he’s only nominally in the service; but I want him to begin right.”