Sillett met Jeff's glance with a simple bow, and the inevitable remark, "Hurt yourself?"
Jeff explained. While describing his misadventure he decided that Bud could not be a party to the father's crime. Sillett asked for permission to examine the wounded leg Presently he asked Jeff to stand up.
"Oh, Dad!" protested Bud.
Jeff obeyed, glad to discover that he could stand upon the injured foot.
"Same thing happened to me once," Sillett remarked. "The tight boot caused more than half the trouble. Sit down, Mr.----?"
"Wells. Jefferson Wells."
"Thank you. My name is--of no service to you. And this is my daughter- -Sarah. Run away, Sadie."
Jeff, watching the daughter, thought her confusion the prettiest thing he had ever seen.
"You are a cowboy, I presume?" said Sillett, as Bud disappeared. Not waiting for Jeff's answer, he went on fluently: "I'm sure I can trust you; you have an honest face, sir. I'm collecting certain plants and butterflies, but--I have other reasons for camping out. My daughter has played the boy, because a boy is safe in these wild hills; an unprotected girl might be molested. We will do what we can for you. You, I am sure, will respect this confidence."
Sillett played his trumps boldly, not knowing that he was speaking to a deputy-sheriff. Jeff said nothing. Sillett, after asking if the horse had been fed and watered, followed his daughter into the hut. Jeff groaned to himself. "Mighty soon I'll be wishing I'd never been born!"