tolerably good country," he said gravely, and then glanced at the
stranger. "Nothing wrong at the ranch, I hope, Miss Nellie?"

"No,", said the girl. "We have, however, heard that Jack is seriously
ill, and I rode over because the spotted steer has broken away, and I
found the trail led into the Somasco valley. It was one of the beasts
father was sending down to sell."

Alton became suddenly intent. "Then it has not gone far. I saw its
trail an hour ago," he said. "Well, we must head the beast off before
it gets into the thick timber under the range, and there's no time to
lose. I'll be ready in two minutes. Would you like to follow with
Charley, Miss Deringham?"

The time had scarcely been exceeded when he led a horse out of the
stable, held his hand out for Miss Townshead to mount by, and then
swung himself to the saddle. Then he and the girl swung across the
clearing at a gallop, and Alice Deringham endeavoured to assure herself
that she was not angry. It appeared that her angling was of
considerably less importance than the capture of the steer.

It was possibly for this reason that she was unusually gracious to
Seaforth, who came along just then, and though evidently in some haste,
stopped to talk to her; while when she had promised to accompany him to
witness the chase, and he strode away towards the stable, her father
sauntered out of the house and glanced in her direction whimsically.

"It occurs to me that one of us is responsible for some irregularity in
the work upon this ranch, and that the beast it a trifle uncertain in
his moods," said he.