Miss Townshead glanced at him sharply. "What do you wish to do?" she
said.

"Wash up," said Alton simply. "I don't know how you fix these things
in England, but this is a good Canadian custom. Stir around, Charley."

"But," said the girl, "you don't know where the things are."

"Well," said Alton, smiling, "I figure I can find them."

He laid the cups and dishes on the tray, gave it to Seaforth, and
disappeared down a passage carrying the kettle, but not before Miss
Townshead had noticed that while his comrade, who had apparently been
used to the smoother side of life in England, displayed some
awkwardness, everything the big rancher did seemed appropriate, and,
because removing plates is not a man's task, she wondered at it. They
came back presently, and by that time the girl, who had opened some of
the packages, held a roll of fabric upon her knee.

"If you can find a splash anywhere I'll forfeit a dollar. Charley's
good at mopping up," said Alton gravely. "I'm afraid that stuff's a
little wet, but it was the Cayuse's fault. He started in kicking and
burst the rope, you see."

"It would have been wetter if it had gone into the lake," said Seaforth.

"The lake?" said the girl.

Seaforth nodded. "Yes," he said. "It was on the Tyee trail the pony
commenced kicking."