fle in
his stirrups, whirling the rope about his head. It shot forward
presently, uncoiling in a curve, and then the man swung backwards,
wheeling his horse, and there was a crash as the steer went down amidst
the fern.

"That should take a good deal of the friskiness out of it," said
Seaforth. "We'll go across and join them. There's a way over
somewhere."

The steer was roped to a tree when they came up with the pair, and
Seaforth noticed with some inward amusement the way in which the two
girls glanced at each other, and the contrast between them. Miss
Deringham was almost too serene, and, he fancied, might have stepped
out of a picture. Miss Townshead's cheeks were crimson, her skirt was
rent, and, though she had evidently found opportunity to effect some
alteration, loose wisps of hair still hung about her shoulders. They
were, however, of a fine silky brown, and it seemed to Seaforth, might
have been arranged in a more unbecoming fashion.

"I wonder if I might venture to congratulate you. We seldom witness
horsemanship of this description in England," said Miss Deringham, with
an inflection in her voice which Seaforth guessed the meaning of, and
seemed to bring a slightly warmer tinge into the already carmine cheeks
of the girl.

Still, she looked at the speaker with a little smile. "There is a
difference between the two countries, and the scarcity of dollars in
this one explains a good deal," she said.

Alton glanced at both of them with a slightly bewildered expression.
"Of course!" said he. "The thing's quite simple. That steer is worth
so many dollars to Miss Townshead's father, and he couldn't afford to
lose them."

Alice Deringham turned aside with a just perceptible gesture of
impatience, which Seaforth noticed and fancied he understood, though it
was not apparent to the others, and while she rode on with him, Alton
appeared thoughtful as he did something to his bridle. When he had
finished it he saw that his companion was smiling at him.

"It seems to me there are a good many things I don't know," said he.

"Of course," said the girl lightly. "Still, I don't think I would
worry over them if I were you. They are very trivial!"

Alton nodded sagely, and odd fragments of his conversation reached Miss
Deringham. "We'll send someone back for the steer," he said. "Jack's
no better?"

"No," said the girl, with a little quiver in her voice. "I am afraid
the work is too hard for him up