ion that presented, feeling a safety among them he could not feel
at the "house" among a lot of women. Of course, his defection from
duty entailed endless conflicts between himself and Aunt Sally, but
since this resulted in nothing worse to the delinquent than a loss of
some dainty food, he could put up with it. He was away now, bunking in
Marty's room, and Wun Lung sat alone, too afraid to go to bed, yet too
uneasy to enjoy the beauty of the night. His sharp, black eyes peered
here and there and everywhere, about the place; and when Jessica came
running to him, in her noiseless moccasins, he jumped so high that his
queue flew out at a right angle from his head, and he screeched:

"Oh, mly flathe's, mly flathe's!"

Lady Jess laughed aloud.

"No, good Wun Lung. Not your fathers, nor even any of your relatives,
but only me. Having had supper, the next thing for our dear Mr. Sharp
is a bed and sleep. Come help me make it ready."

The Chinaman rose with alacrity, and soon had collected the bed linen,
towels and bucket of water, suggesting that Jessica should bring a
lighted candle.

"Oh! we don't need a light, Wun Lung. It's as bright as day with the
shutters open, and we must be quick, anyway, for the dear man has been
ill and is tired."

The room was the same that Mr. Hale had found so delightful during his
own visit to the ranch, and the girl threw the shutters wide, to let
in the fresh air and moonlight while they arranged the place for
occupancy. She left the bed making to the longer and stronger arms of
her assistant, but herself attended to the pitchers and toilet things;
and while so engaged, with her back toward the open windows, was
suddenly startled by an ear-piercing shriek from the Chinaman.

Shriek? Not one, but many; prolonged, reiterated, till the whole house
seemed in an uproar; and facing swiftly about, to learn the cause and
still the clamor, Jessica found her lately expressed desire completely
gratified. For there, clearly distinct in the moonlight, not ten paces
from the window whence she gazed, was the phantom horse and rider!

CHAPTER XVII.

THE CACTUS HEDGE

The shrieks ended by Wun Lung's throwing himself face downward on the
floor, but they had roused the whole household, even the sleeping
children. Those in the room below had rushed to the stairs, wondering
what could possibly have happened to the Chinaman, whose outcries
these certainly were. The little lads had sprang from th