g with us as soon as grandpap comes, which'll be
right soon, I reckon. We-all don't see stranger folks much up yere, an'
he'll be plumb glad thet ye drapped in." She tossed a morsel of meat to
the expectant Mike; then added shyly, "An' so be I."

"Well, I certainly 'drapped,'" laughed Donald. "It looked as though all
the dogs south of the Mason-Dixon line had gathered to give Mike and me
a warm, if not cordial, welcome, so we didn't stop to knock before
coming in."

"Lucky fer ye thet yo' struck a cabin whar the latch string air allus
out," she answered, her silver laughter echoing his. "I hadn't a' ought
ter hev been so skeered, but I warn't payin' no attention ter all the
barkin', fer I jest allowed thet the dawgs hed treed a coon, er somep'n.
Yo' see they haint exactly fond o' strangers, an' they be powerful
fierce. I reckon they'd hev gobbled Mike right up."

Donald glanced affectionately at the wiry mass of bone and sinew which
went to make the police dog every inch a warrior, and doubted it. The
child had finished her task, and started the stew to heating again over
the fire, and now she turned, swept back the mass of curls from her
heated face with a graceful motion of her shapely arm, and stood
regarding him with frank curiosity. Donald had no intention of
remaining longer, or accepting the hospitable invitation, but there
was a touch of romance in the adventure, and a strong appeal in the
girl herself, which caused him to hesitate, and linger to ask a few
questions about the neighborhood and her life. When he did regretfully
pick up his cap and rifle, and call the dog, who turned protestingly
from her-who-dispensed-savory-pieces-of-meat, he found that he had
suffered the fate of all who hesitate, for a glance through the window
showed him that, although the glowing, iridescent reflection from the
western sky still lingered in the mountain top, embroidering its edge
with gold, it was fast fading, and already Night had spread her dusky
mantle over the eastern slope. Already darkness had blotted out the
lower reaches.

CHAPTER II

ENTER BIG JERRY

As Donald stopped, uncertain, there came the sound of measured, heavy
footfalls on the beaten dirt path outside the cabin. The girl's face
lighted up joyfully; she hopped to the door, flung it open, and a
slightly stooping, but gigantic, form stepped in out of the darkness,
caught her up in his huge arms and submitted with a quizzical smile
while she pull