.

But Bob's blue eyes, while attractive enough in his brown face, would
preclude any idea that he might have Indian blood. Betty, on the
other hand, as the boy said, was as brown as an Indian, and her dark
eyes and heavy straight dark hair, which she now wore in a thick
braid down her back, would have enabled her to play the part of
Minnehaha, or that of a pretty Gypsy lass, with little trouble. Her
khaki riding suit was very becoming, and to-day she had knotted a
scarlet tie under the trim little collar that further emphasized her
vivid coloring and the smooth tan of her cheeks. Although the sun was
hot, she would not bother with a hat, and Bob, too, was bareheaded.
They looked what they were--a healthy, happy, wide-awake American boy
and girl and ready for either adventure or service, or a mixture of
both, and reasonably sure to call whatever might befall them "fun".

"Why don't we go to that north section Dave Thorne is always talking
about?" suggested Bob. "He is forever harping on the subject of a
fire there, and I'd like to look it over."

"But it must be five miles from here," said Betty doubtfully. "Can we
get back in time for dinner?"

"If we can't, we'll get some one of the Chinese cooks to give us a
lunch," returned Bob confidently. "Let's go, Betty. I know the way,
because I studied the map Uncle Dick had out on the table night
before last. The north section is shut off from the others, and it's
backed up against the furthest end of that perfect forest of derricks
we saw the first time we went to Uncle Dick's wells--remember? I
think that is what worries Dave--some of those small holders have
tempers like porcupines and they always think some one is infringing
on their rights. Let one of 'em get mad and take it out on Dave, and
there might be a four-alarm fire without much trouble."

"Do you know what I miss more than anything else?" asked Betty, when
the horses' heads were turned and they were on their way to the north
section. "You'll never guess--ice-cream soda! I haven't had one for
weeks--not since we left Chicago."

"And I guess it will be some more weeks before you get another," said
Bob. "Ice doesn't seem to be known out here, does it? Did you see how
the butter swam about under that hot kitchen lamp last night? We used
to think the Peabodys were stingy because they wouldn't use butter,
but I'd rather have none than have it so soft."

They reached the north section and found Dave Thorne dire