She stood quietly watching him go, her arm thrown carelessly over Eagle’s lowered head, her hair fanned by the gentle breeze, eyes bright with the excitement.
The old mountaineer paused in wonder as he came upon her. His bearded lips were parted slightly, his eyes widened with astonishment. He hesitated, then thinking he might slip away unnoticed, was about to go, when she turned her head and saw him.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, in a half-startled tone.
“How do you do, Miss?” he said gently; “don’t be frightened. It’s just accident that I happened on you this way. What brings you to these parts?”
“Why,—we were just hunting chickens,” she returned, still a little nervous.
“I see, I see,” he spoke calmly. “Air ye from down the valley?”
“Yes, I live at Morgan’s ranch.”
Two shots from Fred’s gun broke in.
“Your partner seems to be gettin’ ’em,” said Uncle Dave. “I hope he won’t kill the mother bird. The young uns need her a spell yet to teach ’em more sense. Hev ye been in this valley long?”
“Just a few years,” replied Alta, more at ease. “My uncle brought me here from Ohio.”