pe. Indeed,
their language grew so unpleasant that at last Tish hammered sharply on
a rock with the handle of her revolver.

"Please remember," she said, "that you are in the presence of ladies!"

They jeered at her, but she handled the situation with her usual
generalship.

"Lizzie," she said calmly, "get the tin basin that is hanging to my
saddle, and fill it with the water from that snowbank. On the occasion
of any more unseemly language, pour it over the offender without mercy."

It became necessary to do it, I regret to state. They had not yet
learned that Tish always carries out her threats. It was the one who we
felt was the leader who offended, and I did as I had been requested to.
But Aggie, ever tender-hearted, feared that it would give the man a
severe cold, and got Tish's permission to pour a little blackberry
cordial down his throat.

Far from this kindness having a salubrious effect, it had the contrary.
They all fell to bad language again, and, realizing that they wished the
cordial, and our supply being limited, we were compelled to abandon the
treatment.

It had been an uncomfortable night, and I confess to a feeling of relief
when "the rift of dawn" broke the early skies.

We were, Tish calculated, some forty miles from breakfast, and Aggie's
diet for some days had been light at the best, even the mountain-lion
broth having been more stimulating than staying. We therefore
investigated the camp, and found behind a large stone some flour,
baking-powder, and bacon. With this equipment and a frying-pan or two we
were able to make some very fair pancakes--or flapjacks, as they are
called in the West.

Tish civilly invited the girl to eat with us, but she refused curtly,
although, on turning once, I saw her eyeing us with famished eyes. I
think, however, that on seeing us going about the homely task of getting
breakfast, she realized that we were not the desperate creatures she had
fancied during the night, but three gentlewomen on a holiday--simple
tourists, indeed.

"I wish," she said at last almost wistfully--"I wish that I could
understand it all. I seem to be all mixed up. You don't suppose I want
to be here, do you?"

But Tish was not in a mood to make concessions. "As for what you want,"
she said, "how are we to know that? You are here, aren't you?--here as
a result of your own cold-heartedness. Had you remained true to the very
estimable young man you jilted you would not now be in this