kness was
best. "There certainly were occasions when your recollections were
somewhat realistic."

Alton groaned, and his face was a study of consternation. "Lord, what
brutes we are," he said. "There was the trouble over the Bluebird
claim down in Washington. Did I talk about that?"

Seaforth crossed over and sat down on the arm of his comrade's chair.
His expression was somewhat whimsical, but there was a suggestion of
tenderness in his eyes, for he saw the direction in which Alton's
thoughts were tending, and that he should speak of such matters to him
betokened the closeness of the bond between them.

"I don't think you need worry about it, Harry." he said.

"No?" said Alton sternly. "Are those the things you would like a
dainty English lady who knows nothing of what we have to do now and
then to hear?"

Seaforth smiled again as he said, "Miss Deringham struck me as an
especially sensible young woman. Now you need not get savage, for I am
speaking respectfully, but I fancy that Miss Deringham knows almost as
much about the ins and outs of life as many bush ranchers of seventy.
Young women brought up as she has been in the old country not
infrequently do, and as it happened you mentioned nothing about that
last affair in the bush; while though one or two incidents were
somewhat startling, there are, I fancy, girls in the old country who
would be rather inclined to look with approval on--the type of man she
might have reason for supposing you to be. In any case, there was no
word of any other woman."

Alton drew in his breath. "No," he said simply. "Thank God, there
never was another."

Seaforth's expression perplexed his comrade, and his voice was a trifle
strained. "Yes," he said. "That is a good deal to be thankful for,
Harry."

Alton looked at him thoughtfully in silence for a space. Then he said,
"I never asked you any questions about the old country, Charley, and I
don't mean to now, but I have fancied now and then that you brought out
some trouble along with you."

Seaforth glanced down at his comrade, smiling curiously. "I may tell
you some time--but not now. You do well to be thankful, Harry, and do
you believe that any woman would think the worse of you because you cut
down the man who meant to take your life, you big, great-natured fool?"

Alton sighed. "Well," he said very slowly, "perhaps it is better over,
because that and other things would have to be told; but though I had