The man’s face never relaxed a muscle, but there was a dryness in the tone of his reply.

“Guess some bussock of a feller got monkeyin’ with a gun an’ didn’t know a heap.”

Rosebud favored him with a little knowing smile. They were still amidst the broken woodlands, and she was quick to observe her companion’s swift-moving eyes as they flashed this way and that in their ceaseless watchfulness.

“I’m not to be cheated. Some one shot at you who meant—business.”

“Guess I ain’t aware jest how he figgered, Rosie.” A smile accompanied Seth’s words this time.

“Well, who did it?”

“I never seen him; so I can’t rightly say.” 256

“But you guess?”

“I ain’t good at guessin’.”

The girl laughed.