“For what?”
“For the compliment you just paid me.”
“Why, I didn’t——”
“Didn’t mean it?” returned she playfully. “Then I’ll take back my thanks.”
They had come to the forks of the trail. For a moment before parting they sat there in the twilight talking. As they did so, Fred glanced up to see some shadowy forms on horseback stealing through an opening in the grove of trees just to the eastward.
“What’s that?” he whispered.
She looked in the direction he was pointing.
“Isn’t it a band of Indians?” she asked.
“But why are they skulking about here, I wonder? It looks like mischief to me. Come, Alta, I’m going to see you safely home.”
“Very well.”