g to life with the
warmth of a little friendship, and how pleasant it was, withal.

"Just as you say," Andy agreed, not trying to hide his admiration. "I
guess nobody's got a better right to holler for silence. But--say, you
sure delivered the goods, old boy! You musta read about it, you fellows;
about the American puncher that went over the line and rode one of
their crack bulls all round the ring, and then--" He stopped and looked
apologetically at Miguel, in whose dark eyes there flashed a warning
light. "I clean forgot," he confessed impulsively. "This meeting you
here unexpectedly, like this, has kinda got me rattled, I guess. But--I
never saw yuh before in my life," he declared emphatically. "I don't
know a darn thing about--anything that ever happened in an alley in
the city of--oh, come on, old-timer; let's talk about the weather, or
something safe!"

After that the boys of the Flying U behaved very much as do children
who have quarreled foolishly and are trying shamefacedly to re-establish
friendly relations without the preliminary indignity of open repentance.
They avoided meeting the velvet-eyed glances of Miguel, and at the same
time they were plainly anxious to include him in their talk as if that
had been their habit from the first. A difficult situation to meet, even
with the fine aplomb of the Happy Family to ease the awkwardness.

Later Miguel went unobtrusively down to the creek after his chaps; he
did not get them, just then, but he stood for a long time hidden behind
the willow-fringe, watching Pink and Irish feverishly combing out
certain corkscrew ringlets, and dampening their combs in the creek to
facilitate the process of straightening certain patches of rebellious
frizzes. Miguel did not laugh aloud, as Big Medicine had done. He stood
until he wearied of the sight, then lifted his shoulders in the gesture
which may mean anything, smiled and went his way.

Not until dusk did Andy get a private word with him. When he did find
him alone, he pumped Miguel's hand up and down and afterward clutched at
the manger for support, and came near strangling. Miguel leaned beside
him and smiled to himself.

"Good team work, old boy," Andy gasped at length, in a whisper. "Best I
ever saw in m'life, impromptu on the spot, like that. I saw you had the
makings in you, soon as I caught your eye. And the whole, blame bunch
fell for it--woo-oof!" He laid his face down again upon his folded arms
and shook in all