He said, pleasantly: "You have all kinds of courage. Did you bring a shot-gun?"
"Yes."
"Do you know how to load and fire it?"
"The clerk in the shop instructed me."
"You are the pluckiest girl I ever laid eyes on.... You camped here all alone last night, I suppose?"
"Yes."
"How about it?" he asked, smilingly. "Were you afraid?"[286]
She coloured, cast a swift glance at him, saw that his attitude was perfectly respectful and sympathetic, and said:
"Yes, I was horribly afraid."
"Did anything annoy you?"