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"Help it! Why, it ain't reasonable. Of course you'll ride."

"Of course I won't."

She set off briskly, almost jauntily, despite her tired feet and

aching limbs.

"Well, if that don't beat--" He broke off to laugh at the

situation. After she had gone twenty steps he called after her in

a voice that did not suppress its chuckle: "You ain't going the

right direction, Miss Kinney."

She whirled round on him in anger. How dared he laugh at her?

"Which is the right way?" she choked.

"North by west is about it."

She was almost reduced to stamping her foot.

Without condescending to ask more definite instructions she

struck off at haphazard, and by chance guessed right. There was

nothing for it but to pursue. Wherefore the man pursued. The

horse at his heels hampered his stride, but he caught up with her

soon.

"Somebody's acting mighty foolish," he said.

She said nothing very eloquently.

"If I need punishing, ma'am, don't punish yourself, but me. You

ain't able to walk and that's a fact."