صفحة 416 من 439

"Yep. I swam along the far bank, so that he couldn't get at me,

and crossed into the aspens. He got another chance as I was

crossing, but he had to take it on the fly, and missed."

The cattleman surveyed the hillside cautiously through the front

window. "I reckon he's pulled his freight, most likely. But we'll

stay cooped for a while, on the chance. You're the luckiest cuss

I ever did see. More lives than a cat."

Howard laid his revolver down within reach, and proceeded to

light a fire in the stove, from which rose presently the pleasant

odors of aromatic coffee and fried ham and eggs.

"Come and get it, Steve," said Howard, by way of announcing

breakfast. "No, you don't. I'll take the window seat, and at that

we'll have the curtain drawn."

They were just finishing breakfast when Siegfried cantered up.

"You bane ready, Steve?" he called in.