seated themselves on the step, and Mrs. Matthews coming from the
house joined the group.

"We've just naturally got to find somebody to stay with them
sheep, Dad," said the son; "there ain't nobody there to-night, and
as near as I can make out there's three ewes and their lambs
missing. There ain't a bit of use in us trying to depend on Pete."

"I'll ride over on Bear Creek to-morrow, and see if I can get that
fellow Buck told us about," returned the father.

"You find it hard to get help on the ranch?" inquired the
stranger.

"Yes, sir, we do," answered Old Matt. "We had a good 'nough man
'till about a month ago; since then we've been gettin' along the
best we could. But with some a stayin' out on the range, an' not
comin' in, an' the wolves a gettin' into the corral at night,
we'll lose mighty nigh all the profits this year. The worst of it
is, there ain't much show to get a man; unless that one over on
Bear Creek will come. I reckon, though, he'll be like the rest."
He sat staring gloomily into the night.

"Is the work so difficult?" Mr. Howitt asked.

"Difficult, no; there ain't nothing to do but tendin' to the
sheep. The man has to stay at the ranch of nights, though."

Mr. Howitt was wondering what staying at the ranch nights could
have to do with the difficulty, when, up from the valley below,