After supper, he called Dan aside and told him about the loss, saying in conclusion, “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have left the herd so long; but if I don’t find the heifer, I’ll pay for it.”
“You must keep a sharper eye on them these days,” replied Dan. “The flies drive ’em crazy. But don’t worry, boy, she’ll turn up all right to-morrow.”
Dan’s hopeful prophecy, however, did not come true. The animal never did turn up. Fred’s real troubles had begun.
Chapter XI
MOUNTAIN FUN
“AREN’T these mountain pictures wonderful?” exclaimed Fred, as Alta galloped up to meet him on Saturday afternoon. “I just marvel at them.”
“They certainly are pictures,” she responded, “pictures of many moods, always changing, yet always interesting; I never get tired looking at them.”
“Do you know what the mountains always are to me?” he asked.
“No; what?”
“A challenge to climb. I’d like to scale those craggy old peaks yonder and look out over the world.”
“So should I,” she responded; “but I’d enjoy more roaming among those green foothills. They remind me so much of the wooded hills near my old Ohio home.”