proud to
play the match game with you watchin'. But Bill says you're goin' to
caddie for his team an' coach 'em on the fine points. An' I want to ask,
all respectful, if thet's fair an' square?"

"Monty, that is for you to say," replied Madeline. "It was my
suggestion. But if you object in the least, of course we shall withdraw.
It seems fair to me, because you have learned the game; you are expert,
and I understand the other boys have no chance with you. Then you have
coached Link. I think it would be sportsmanlike of you to accept the
handicap."

"Aw, a handicap! Thet was what Bill was drivin' at. Why didn't he say
so? Every time Bill comes to a word thet's pie to us old golfers he jest
stumbles. Miss Majesty, you've made it all clear as print. An' I may
say with becomin' modesty thet you wasn't mistaken none about me
bein' sportsmanlike. Me an' Link was born thet way. An' we accept the
handicap. Lackin' thet handicap, I reckon Link an' me would have no
ambish to play our most be-ootiful game. An' thankin' you, Miss Majesty,
an' all your friends, I want to add thet if Bill's outfit couldn't beat
us before, they've got a swell chanct now, with you ladies a-watchin' me
an' Link."

Monty had seemed to expand with pride as he delivered this speech,
and at the end he bowed low and turned away. He joined the group round
Stillwell. Once more there was animated discussion and argument and
expostulation. One of the cowboys came for Castleton and led him away to
exploit upon ground rules.

It seemed to Madeline that the game never would begin. She strolled on
the rim of the mesa, arm in arm with Edith Wayne, and while Edith
talked she looked out over the gray valley leading to the rugged black
mountains and the vast red wastes. In the foreground on the gray slope
she saw cattle in movement and cowboys riding to and fro. She thought
of Stewart. Then Boyd Harvey came for them, saying all details had
been arranged. Stillwell met them half-way, and this cool, dry, old
cattleman, whose face and manner scarcely changed at the announcement of
a cattle-raid, now showed extreme agitation.

"Wal, Miss Majesty, we've gone an' made a foozle right at the start," he
said, dejectedly.

"A foozle? But the game has not yet begun," replied Madeline.

"A bad start, I mean. It's amazin' bad, an' we're licked already."

"What in the world is wrong?"

She wanted to laugh, but Stillwell's distress restrained her.

"Wal, it's this way. Th