but I reckon they can come down a notch. We'll
come out on top--don't yuh worry none about _that_."

"I'm not worrying at all, William. I did not expect to have everything
come just as we wanted it; that, so far, has not been my experience in
business--or in love." The last two words, if one might judge from the
direction of his glance, were meant as pure sympathy.

Billy colored a little under the brown. "The calf-crop is running
kinda short," he announced hurriedly. "A lot uh cows died off last
winter, and I noticed a good many uh that young stock we shipped in
laid 'em down. I was hoping we wouldn't have to take any more jolts
this season--but maybe I've got more nerves than sense on this land
business. I sure do hate to see old Brown cutting in the way he's
doing--but if he just runs what cattle he can keep under fence, it
won't hurt us none."

"He's fencing a large tract, William--a very large tract. It takes
in--"

"Oh, let up, Dilly! I don't want to know how big it is--not right now.
I'm willing to take my dose uh bad medicine when it's time for it--but
I ain't none greedy about swallowing the whole bottle at once! I feel
as if I'd got enough down me to do for a while."

"You are wiser than most people," Dill observed dryly.

"Oh, sure. Say, if I don't see Flora--I'm going to hike back to camp
pretty quick--you tell her I'm going to try and pull in close enough
to take in that dance at Hardup, the Fourth. I heard there was going
to be one. We can't get through by then, and I may not show up at the
ranch, but I'll sure be at the dance. I--I'm in a hurry, and I've
got to go right now." Which he did, and his going savored strongly of
flight.

Dill, looking after him queerly, turned and saw Mama Joy standing in
the doorway. With eyes that betrayed her secret she, too, was looking
after Billy.

"There is something more I wanted to say to William," explained Dill
quite unnecessarily, and went striding down the path after him. When
he reached the stable, however, he did not have anything in particular
to say--or if he had, he refrained from disturbing Billy, who was
stretched out upon a pile of hay in one of the stalls.

"My hoss ain't through eating, yet," said Billy, lifting his head
like a turtle. "I'm going, pretty soon. I sure do love a pile uh fresh
hay."

Their eyes met understandingly, and Dill shook his head.

"Too bad--too bad!" he said gravely.

CHAPTER XVI.

_Self-defense_.

The w