The Eagle's Heart

student just entering upon a vacation. His grace and dignity of bearing set him apart from the rough workmen with whom he ate

f minute craft on the broad ocean as they came slowly up the curve to the East and fell away down the slope to the West. To all of these Harold applied during the days that followed, but received no offer which seemed to promise so well as that of Mr. Pratt, so he waited. At last

get some help, but Jinnie she said she'd bring 'em along fer fifty cents a day, an' she's

ng the stranger shar

young fellow a

it," replied the girl promptly. "I don'

er, ef we can come to terms. We ain't got any mo

hat pony and saddle over to me when we

er sunbonnet as if in challenge. "That's my pony, and nobo

eyes, but her teeth were very white, and her lips a vivid pink. She had her father's humoro

. "Well, I'll take the ne

sight, you don't. That's my horse, an' no suc

u ride him?"

oolish. "I'm goi

he girl, "and I do

ster, you an' me has got to get down to a mon

l, throw your duds into that hind wagon. We've got to camp

tch the team the girl came ar

at's you

e instantl

es w

it go a

u got no o

ut the wind b

t wa

N. Ha

rible cute,

I wouldn't be wor

ourself with hard work, by

been going

tin' fer a real workin' man. I tell ye what I thi

wizened little woman, so humped by labor and chills and fever that she se

heard the girl say, and that ended all furth

unches of dry grass as came within their reach, and at their heels rode Harold on an old black mare, his clear voice urging the herd forward. At noon and again at night Pratt halted the wagons beside the road and while the women

s became very valuable around the camp fire. He was quick and cheerful

can ride my hors

I guess I'll hang o

outdone, chirped shrilly: "You c

girl in her growing friendliness, as well as to ple

ed and reared, but Harold dropped off instantly and renewed his petting and soothing. It was not long before the pony allowed him to mount, and nothing remained but to teach him to endure the saddle and the bridle. This was done b

o him and stay with him till he gets sick o' pi

sted'; I want him taught that

old mounted him. A day or two later the colt worked under the saddle like an old horse. Thereafter it was a matter of making him a horse of finished education. He was taught not to trot, but to go directly from the walk to the "lope." He a

learned of a man who had been with the Indians. "You see," he said, "an Injun can't afford to have a horse that will

wilder and the sky brighter. The grass came on swiftly, and crocuses and dandelions broke from the sod on the sunny side of smooth hills. The cranes, with their splendid challenging cries, swept in

and grimy. But the sunshine soon warmed his back and dried up the mud under his feet. Each day the way grew drier and the flowers more abundant. Each day signs of the wild life thickened. Antlers of elk, horns of the buffalo, crates of bones set around shallow water holes, and especially the ever-thicke

he talked but little, the family were fond of him, but considered him a "singular critter." He had lost his pallor. His skin was a clear brown, and being dressed in rough clothing, wide hat, and gauntlet gl

lver. He shot at everything which offered a taking mark, and became so expe

ce in a while just fer to be aigged on fer to try again. First you know, you'll be obliged fer to shoot standin

be just as good a shot as anyb

wear out your gun a-doin'

and his gun and walked away to some ridge, there to sit while the yellow light faded out of the sky. He was as happy as one of his restless nature could

me effect upon her, for she was at that age when propinquity makes sentiment inevitable. She could scarcely keep her eyes from him during hours in camp, and on the

and dry. She was scrawny and flat-chested, but agile as a boy when occasion demanded. She was fearless, too, of man or beast, and once when her father became cr

traight up to him: "Dad, you co

r words and all their meaning; then he said: "All right, Jinnie,

n reply, and seized him by

e. "Jinnie, gal," he kept saying, "I'm liable to get dry before m

I'll bring the hull crick in fer y

ennie came over to the wag

they call whisky out yer, and consequence is he can't eat any grub for two days or more. Doggone it, it makes me huffy, it plum does. Mam has put up with it fer twenty

n the bottom of the hinder wagon. Mose smoked his pipe out an

m to eat. "Come, Paw, a gill or two o' cawfee will do ye good," she said. "Cawfee is a great heatoner," she said to Mose. "When

ly. "I do reckon I made a pl

every man in sight up, just fer to show you could swi

lick a hearty bedbug, but when I git red liquor into my insides I'm a terror to near neighbou

head again. A plummer fool you never see," said

this vituperation. "Well, Mam, we'll try again. I thin

o encourage him at the right moment. "It's sixty-

miled. "That so, Mam? Wal,

e after breakfast

they put up with in men-folks. 'Pears like they air finer built, someway." After a pause he sa

p. I'm not drinkin'