n if their mothers were with them. Coyotes would
get them."

"Oh, dear! Don't you think, Mr. Brown, that that man is quite certain
to get back sometime to-day?"

"I don't see how he can stay away much longer. He knows mighty well he
has my horse, too. He might come along any time."

For a while they ate in silence.

"Miss Janet," he said suddenly, "I don't think you had better start out
alone again. When he gets back with my horse and I am free of this
place, I can show you the road and see that you are all right. I would
feel more satisfied that way."

"Well, then, couldn't I be of some assistance--if I stay?"

"Oh, that is n't necessary. I 'll get along somehow. I don't suppose,
though, that you 'd care to sit here alone at the shack; so maybe you
'd better come along with me. And if you want to drop behind once in a
while and help a lamb out, why, of course you can. You seem to be
pretty handy with them."

This plan was adopted. When breakfast was over he let down the bars;
the sheep poured forth; Shep sprang to life and barked orders right and
left. The crowding multitude spread out on the prairie in grazing
order, and when Shep had executed certain commands necessary to get
them headed in the right direction, the trio of caretakers began their
slow progress through the day. Shep, subject to orders, followed at
Steve's heels; Janet walked at his right hand; thus they wandered along
in the desultory manner of the sheep-herder, standing a while, sitting
down a while, advancing now and then as the flock grazed farther away.

"There's number one," Steve remarked casually.

[Illustration: "There's number one," Steve remarked casually]

They had ascended, almost imperceptibly, one of those slow rises or
folds in the prairie from which more distant objects, if there are any,
come into view. Janet had just been taking her bearings; ahead of them
there had now come to sight the long file of trees which marked the
course of Comanche Creek; looking back she could still see the shack,
quite plainly, on its knoll. As he spoke, and pointed, her eyes
followed the new direction, off to the left. A sheep had fallen out of
the flock; she was now standing some distance behind. From the way she
nosed in the grass without advancing, it was evident what had taken
place.

"Well, good-bye," said Janet. Then, feeling suddenly that these words
had too serious a sound, she added, "But I suppose I will catch up w