ead down on Andy's
shoulder. "And I want my Doctor Dell and my--cat! She's lonesome for
me. And I forgot to take the string off her tail and maybe it ain't
comfortable any more!"

"We're going to hit the trail, old-timer, just as soon as we get outside
of a little grub." Andy's voice was so tender that Miss Allen gulped
back a sob of sympathy. "You take this stick and finish roasting the
meat, and then see what you think of rabbit-hams. I hear you've been a
real old cowpuncher, Buck. The way you took care of Miss Allen proves
you're the goods, all right. Not quite so close, or you'll burn it,
Buck. That's better. I'll go get another stick and roast the back."

The Kid, squatting on his heels by the fire, watched gravely the
rabbit-leg on the two prongs of the willow stick he held. He glanced
across at Miss Allen and smiled his Little Doctor smile.

"He's my pal," he announced. "I bet if I stayed we could round up all
them cattle our own selves. And I bet he can find your horse, too.
He--he's 'customed to this country. I'd a found your horse today, all
right--but I guess Andy could find him quicker. Us punchers'll take
care of you, all right." The rabbit-leg sagged to the coals and began to
scorch, and the Kid lifted it startled and was grateful when Miss Allen
did not seem to have seen the accident.

"I'd a killed a rabbit for you," he explained, "only I didn't have no
gun or no matches so I couldn't. When I'm ten my Daddy Chip is going to
give me a gun. And then if you get lost I can take care of you like
Andy can. I'll be ten next week, I guess." He turned as Andy came back
slicing off the branches of a willow the size of his thumb.

"Say, old-timer, where's the rest of the bunch?" he inquired casually.
"Did you git your cattle rounded up?"

"Not yet." Andy sharpened the prongs of his stick and carefully impaled
the back of the rabbit.

"Well, I'll help you out. But I guess I better go home first--I guess
Doctor Dell might need me, maybe."

"I know she does, Buck." Andy's voice had a peculiar, shaky sound that
the Kid did not understand. "She needs you right bad. We'll hit the high
places right away quick."

Since Andy had gone at daybreak and brought the horses over into
this canyon, his statement was a literal one. They ate hurriedly and
started--and Miss Allen insisted that Andy was all turned around, and
that they were going in exactly the wrong direction, and blushed and
was silent when Andy, turning h