imself delighting in this
smooth, silent rush over the white sands. In answer to Josephine's
question, he gave a bare outline of his adventures in the three days
of his absence from the mountains.

"I was a-hankerin' arter experience," he concluded, "an' aimin' to
make my everlastin' fortin. I been doin' pretty peart, so fer."

"You've certainly had more than your share of experience in the time,"
Josephine agreed; "though I don't know about the fortune."

"Started right-smack off at the rate of more'n seventy-five thousand
dollars a year," Zeke rejoined, complacently. He laughed joyously at
the bewildered face the girl turned to him.

"I done figured hit out las' night, not havin' much of anythin' to do
on thet-thar raft, 'cept to stick." He gave an account of the capture
of the negro outlaw, for which he had received a reward. "I'm only
a-jokin', of course," he went on with new seriousness. "I hain't
pinin' fer no foolishness. All I want is enough so's not to be
hog-pore. An' I got a chance to learn somethin', an' to make
somethin', an', arter all, go right on livin' in my own country. An'
that's what Plutiny wants, too. An' I'll have enough to buy her
straighteners, if she wants 'em, by cracky!"

"Oh--straighteners?" Josephine repeated, mystified. Vague memories of
a visit to a hospital suggested an explanation. "Then, this person you
speak of, Plutina, is deformed?"

"Deformed!" For an instant, Zeke could only repeat the word,
helplessly.

"A curvature of the spine, I suppose," Josephine continued, without
interest. She had her eyes on the ribbon of sand now, and guessed
nothing as to her companion's disturbance, until his voice came in a
burst of protest that made her jump.

"Plutiny--deformed!" he exclaimed, harshly. Then, his voice softened
wonderfully, though it shook with the tensity of his feeling. "Why,
Plutiny's better'n anybody else in all the world--she is, an' she
looks hit. Plutiny--deformed! Why, my Plutiny's straight as thet-thar
young pine tree atop Bull Head Mounting. An' she's as easy an'
graceful to bend an' move as the alders along Thunder Branch. There
hain't nary other woman in all the world to ekal my Plutiny.
Plutiny--deformed! Why, mum, you-all talk plumb foolish."

The girl was too astonished before this outburst to take offense.

"But you spoke about straighteners for her," she protested.

Zeke stared for a moment, then grinned understandingly.

"Thet's what we-uns call 'em,"