l. And his only change in
conduct towards his friend the enemy consisted in doing it all more
industriously, making threats with one end of himself and waving a
welcome with the other. But no sound came from the other side of the
shack. The intruder did not stand forth and show himself. The herder
wondered that his approach had not been discovered. In the meantime
the ewe, which he had absent-mindedly let go of, had made her escape
and was again mingling with the multitude which was now running
pell-mell into the corral. It seemed strange that the person behind
the shack did not step forth. Being now free of the ewe (who had in no
wise thwarted Justice by her act), he proceeded to investigate his
home. And when he reached the corner of the shack he saw--a Woman.

A Woman. At a sheep-shack. She had his tin stew-pan on the fire and
was bending over it, sampling the contents. On the ground was a
strange sight--two pieces of pie, two peaches, half a chicken,
sandwiches,--some with ham and some with jam,--pickles and cheese. And
the coffee-pot under full steam. The large-hearted and healthy Lena
had put all this into the package rolled into the slicker. It was
partly this that had made Janet's burden so heavy.

The man's jaw dropped, as almost did the lamb; but catching himself in
time he hugged it closer with unconscious strength. The woman replaced
the cover on the stew-pan, straightened up, and spoke.

"Good-evening," she said. This in a tone of positive welcome (possibly
a little overdone).

"How do you do," he replied.

"I have just been making use of your fire-hole. And your coffee-pot.
You see I was--I was--"

"Oh, that's all right. That's all right. Just make yourself right at
home. Are the men folks gone somewhere?" He cast his eyes about.

"There are no--no men folks. You see I was just coming along by
myself--alone--without anybody--any men folks." These words nearly
choked her. But immediately she added, with the most brightening
smile, "I was _so_ frightened by your dog. He scared me so."

Having said this, she dropped her eyes to the stew-pan, the contents of
which seemed to need attention just at that moment.

"Oh, he won't bite. Anyway, he won't bite you. He knows ladies."

"I am so afraid of them," she said, her eyes still occupied.

She needed a moment to recover her courage, thinking rapidly. And as
for the man, he thought nothing whatever; he just looked. She was