Howbeit, glancing sideways at the slumber-
ing savagery of the man beside him, and his
wounded hand, he did not care to show his
lack of confidence. He contented himself
with that equally feeble resource of weak
humanity in such cases — good-natured in-
difference. " All right," he said carelessly;
" I '11 see what can be done. But are you
quite sure you are fit to go home alone?
Shall I accompany you?" As McKinsti-y
waived the suggestion with a gesture, he
added lightly, as if to conclude the inter-



csESsr. 65

view, " I '11 report progress to you from time
to time, if you like."

" To me," emphasized McKinstry ; " not
over thar," indicating the ranch. " But
p'rhaps you would n't mind my ridin' by
and lookin' in at the school-room winder onct
in a while? Ah — you would " he added,
with the first deepening of color he had
shown. " Well, never mind."

" You see it might disti-act the children
from their lessons," explained the master
gently, who had however contemplated with
some concern the infinite delight which a
glimpse of McKinstry's fiery and fatuous
face at the window would awaken in Johnny
Filgee's infant breast.
" Well, no matter ! " returned McKinstry
slowly. "Ye don't keer, I s'pose, to come
over to the hotel and take suthin' ? A julep
or a smash ? "

" I should n't think of keeping you a mo-
ment longer from Mrs. McKinstry," said
the master, looking at his companion's
wounded hand. " Thank you all the same.
Good-by."

They shook hands, McKinstry transfer-
ring his rifle to the hollow of his elbow
to offer his unwounded left. The master



66 csEsar.
