the Goose Egg kitchen many small delicacies were preparing, and
a steer was roasting whole outside. The bed of flame under it showed
steadily brighter against the dusk that was beginning to veil the
lowlands. The busy hosts went and came, while men stood and men lay near
the fire-glow. Chalkeye was there, and Nebrasky, and Trampas, and
Honey Wiggin, with others, enjoying the occasion; but Honey Wiggin was
enjoying himself: he had an audience; he was sitting up discoursing to
it.

"Hello!" he said, perceiving the Virginian. "So you've dropped in for
your turn! Number--six, ain't he, boys?"

"Depends who's a-runnin' the countin'," said the Virginian, and
stretched himself down among the audience.

"I've saw him number one when nobody else was around," said Trampas.

"How far away was you standin' when you beheld that?" inquired the
lounging Southerner.

"Well, boys," said Wiggin, "I expect it will be Miss Schoolmarm says
who's number one to-night."

"So she's arrived in this hyeh country?" observed the Virginian, very
casually.

"Arrived!" said Trampas again. "Where have you been grazing lately?"

"A right smart way from the mules."

"Nebrasky and the boys was tellin' me they'd missed yu' off the range,"
again interposed Wiggin. "Say, Nebrasky, who have yu' offered your
canary to the schoolmarm said you mustn't give her?"

Nebrasky grinned wretchedly.

"Well, she's a lady, and she's square, not takin' a man's gift when she
don't take the man. But you'd ought to get back all them letters yu'
wrote her. Yu' sure ought to ask her for them tell-tales."

"Ah, pshaw, Honey!" protested the youth. It was well known that he could
not write his name.

"Why, if here ain't Bokay Baldy!" cried the agile Wiggin, stooping to
fresh prey. "Found them slippers yet, Baldy? Tell yu' boys, that was
turruble sad luck Baldy had. Did yu' hear about that? Baldy, yu' know,
he can stay on a tame horse most as well as the schoolmarm. But just you
give him a pair of young knittin'-needles and see him make 'em sweat!
He worked an elegant pair of slippers with pink cabbages on 'em for Miss
Wood."

"I bought 'em at Medicine Bow," blundered Baldy.

"So yu' did!" assented the skilful comedian. "Baldy he bought 'em. And
on the road to her cabin there at the Taylors' he got thinkin' they
might be too big, and he got studyin' what to do. And he fixed up to
tell her about his not bein' sure of the size, and how she was to let
him know if t