me, you started the row before I spoke, even."

"I do _not_ permit you." Clearly, my lady could be haughty enough to
satisfy the most fastidious.

"Well," I sighed, "I will go my way. I'm a lover of peace, myself; but
since you proclaim war, war it must be. I'm not so ungallant as to oppose
a lady's wishes. Is that gate down there locked?"

"Figuratively, it's _always_ locked against the Carletons," she said.

"But I want to go through it _literally_," I retorted. And she just looked
at me from under those lashes, and never answered.

"Well, the air grows chill in King's Highway," I shivered mockingly. "If
ever I find you on Bay State soil, Miss King, I shall take much pleasure
in teaching you the proper way to treat an enemy."

"I shall be greatly diverted, no doubt," was the scornful reply of
her--and just then an old lady came to the door, and I lifted my hand
grandly in a precise military salute and rode away, wondering which of us
had had the best of it.

The gate wasn't locked, and as for taking a drink at the creek, I forgot
that I was thirsty. I jogged along toward home, and wondered why Frosty
had not told me that King had a daughter. Also, I wondered at her
animosity. It never occurred to me that her father, unlike my dad, had
probably harped on the Carletons until she had come to think we were in
league with the Old Boy himself. Her dad's game leg would no doubt argue
strongly against us, and keep the feud green in her heart--supposing she
had one.

On the whole, I was glad I had traveled King's Highway. I had discovered a
brand-new enemy--and so far in my life enemies had been so scarce as to be
a positive diversion. And it was novel and interesting to be so thoroughly
hated by a girl. No reason to dodge _her_ net. I rather congratulated
myself on knowing one girl who positively refused to smile on demand. She
hadn't, once. I got to wondering, that night, if she had dimples. I meant
to find out.

CHAPTER V.

Into the Lion's Mouth.

Perry Potter, when he had read the foreman's note, asked how long since
I left camp; when I told him that I was there at daylight, he looked at me
queerly and walked off without a word. I didn't say anything, either.

I stayed at the ranch overnight, intending to start back the next morning.
The round-up would be west of where I had left them, according to the
foreman--or wagon-boss, as he is called. Logically, then, I should take
the trail that led through K