ectly
afterward, and won't come too early."

"I should say not," cried Priscilla, much to Hannah's amusement as they
galloped away. "Supper is to be an experiment for us, and we don't want
any guests."

They rode south through the hills to Elk Creek Valley, where the pink and
blue of the blossoms were fading a little in the August sun. It would be
a golden Valley soon, Virginia said--yellow with sunflowers and
golden-rod. Then they climbed the foot-hills to the mesa, and rode eagerly
toward their newly-acquired cabin in the southwest corner.

"I feel exactly like the owner," confided Virginia, urging Pedro forward
toward their goal. "I'm wondering if anything has happened since my trip
to town."

Apparently nothing had happened. The cabin was slumbering peacefully in
the August sunshine. Watch and King, however, were wide awake. They came
bounding around the corner of the house, ready to guard their mistress'
property from all intruders. But in their superior dog wisdom they soon
remembered that these young ladies were the friends who a few days before
had made their mistress happy, and they gave the Vigilantes a royal
welcome--both for Jean and for themselves.

Virginia considered matters for a moment before dismounting.

"I think I'll leave Pedro's bridle on," she said. "Then he won't stray
far, and the others will keep near him. We'll unsaddle and put the things
on the porch. Then that will be done. It's three o'clock now," she
continued, consulting her watch, "and I don't think it would be a bad plan
to get settled and consider supper, do you?"

No, they did not, they told her, as they dismounted. Virginia, with Pedro
unsaddled and eager to feed, proudly watched Vivian as she tugged at
Siwash's saddle-straps, and took off his bridle. It was some time since
Vivian had asked assistance. Her heart might be beating fearfully
inside--it probably was--when Siwash shook his head impatiently and
stamped a foot; but only an instinctive backward movement proved that the
fear was still there.

"Vivian's making new roots every day," Virginia said to herself, "and deep
ones, too." And she smiled encouragingly into Vivian's blue eyes, as, the
horses freed, they carried the saddles, blankets, and bridles to the
porch.

Jean MacDonald was right. The cabin door would not lock. Three Vigilantes
looked somewhat askance at one another when this fact was made known,
though the fourth seemed not to consider it at all. The cot