The Settler a Novel

ed her. However, she still dubiously eyed the "sheep," which were pawing the high heavens in beliance of their pacific character, until, catching the humorous twinkle in Carter's eye, she saw that he was gauging her courage. Then she stepped in. As they felt her weight the ponies plunged out and raced off down the trail; but Carter's arm eased her back to her seat, and when, flushed and just a little trembling, she was able to look back Lone Tree lay far behind, its grain-sheds looking for all the world like red Noah's arks on a yellow carpet. Over them, but beyond the horizon, hung a black smudge, mark of a distant freight-train. Wondering if one ever lost sight of things in this country of distances, she turned back to the ponies, which had now found a legitimate outlet for their energies, and were knocking off the miles at ten to the hour. Carter drew a loose rein, but she noticed that even when talking he kept the team in the tail of his eye. "Yes," he answered her question, "that Devil horsewill bear watching, and Death, the mare, is just about as sudden. Why did I name her that?" He twinkled down upon her. "You mightn't feel complimented if I told." "Well?if I must," he drawled when she pressed the question. "You see there's two things that can get away with a right smart man?death and woman. So, being a female?there! I told you that you wouldn't be complimented.'' "Oh, I don't mind," she laughed. "Like curses, slights on my sex come ... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.