"I don't know--" she said--and then the tears came in earnest and
she turned her head, sobbing. Hale helplessly reached over and
patted her on the shoulder, but she shrank away from him.

"Go away!" she said, digging her fist into her eyes until her face
was calm again.

They had reached the spot on the river where he had seen her
first, and beyond, the smoke of the cabin was rising above the
undergrowth.

"Lordy!" she said, "but I do git lonesome over hyeh."

"Wouldn't you like to go over to the Gap with me sometimes?"

Straightway her face was a ray of sunlight.

"Would--I like--to--go--over--"

She stopped suddenly and pulled in her horse, but Hale had heard
nothing.

"Hello!" shouted a voice from the bushes, and Devil Judd Tolliver
issued from them with an axe on his shoulder. "I heerd you'd come
back an' I'm glad to see ye." He came down to the road and shook
Hale's hand heartily.

"Whut you been cryin' about?" he added, turning his hawk-like eyes
on the little girl.