hate t' tell yuh. But the old man's son and me, we disagreed, and one of his
eyes swelled some; so did mine, a little." He stood head and shoulders above
Eagle Creek, and he smiled down upon him engagingly. Eagle Creek capitulated
before the smile.

"Well, I ain't got any sons--that I know of," he grinned. "So I guess yuh
can consider yourself a Cross L man till further notice."

"Why, sure!" The teeth gleamed again briefly. "That's what I've been telling
you right along. Where's old Wooden Shoes? He's responsible for me being
here."

"Gone to Chinook. He'll be back in a day or two." Eagle Creek shifted his
feet awkwardly. "Say"--he glanced uneasily behind him--"yuh don't want t'
let it get around that yuh sort of-- hired me--see?"

"Of course not," Rowdy assured him. "I was only joshing. If you don't want
me, just tell me to hit the sod."

"You stay right where you're at!" commanded Eagle Creek with returned
confidence in himself and his authority. Of a truth, this self-assured,
straight-limbed young man had rather dazed him. "Take your bed and war-bag
up to the bunk-house and make yourself t' home till the boys get back,
and--say, where'd yuh git that pack-horse?"

The laugh went out of Rowdy's tawny eyes. The question hit a spot that was
becoming sore. "I borrowed him this morning from Mr. Rodway," he said
evenly. "I'm to take him back to-day. I stopped there last night."

"Oh!" Eagle Creek coughed apologetically, and said no word, while Rowdy led