med Miss Drew had sent some one to
bring her ignominiously back home.

"Jack, Jack," Olive's gentle voice called. "Won't you please slow down a
little? Your horse is faster than mine and my poor beast is tired
already."

Jacqueline waited, but she stared at Olive reproachfully. "I did not
think you would come to try to make me go back home, Olive," Jack
exclaimed. "I thought you knew that when I said I intended to do a
thing, I would do it, in spite of all the Miss Ruth Drews and Mr. Jim
Colters in the world."

Olive knew that Jack was behaving abominably but she could not help
feeling the deepest admiration for her. To Olive, Jack's courage and
high spirit were glorious. Olive was so shy and frightened; she had
borne so much ill treatment from the time she was a little girl that her
nature was almost crushed and she could only contend with people when
she was driven to the last limit of patience. But when Olive made up her
mind to a step, she had the Indian's power of endurance.

"I only came to go along to the round-up with you, Jack," Olive replied
quietly.

Jack flushed. She was fairly sure of being able to bear her own burdens,
but she did hate getting other people into trouble. "You are awfully
sweet, Olive dear, but do go back home," Jack urged. "Jim and Cousin
Ruth will both be furiously angry with us and there is no reason why you
should have any of the blame. You know you will hate this old round-up
and be dreadfully frightened, and that you are only coming on my
account."

Olive shook her head. "Never mind, Jack," she answered, "I have come
with you now so I would have to get my share of the scolding and I am
not going to have you go to that place alone." Olive kept her horse just
behind Jack's and the two girls rode for a short time in silence. By
and by Jack sighed.

"What's the matter, Jack?" Olive asked quickly.

Jack laughed wickedly. "Oh, it is not that I have repented of my evil
deed, Olive," she returned. "It is only that I am so dreadfully hungry.
I sneaked off this morning without a bit of food. I know we can get some
lunch at the mess-wagons, or perhaps we may find some one we know at the
round-up. But the question with me is, how am I ever going to live until
then?"

Olive silently produced two rolls with slices of bacon between them.

"I stole them on my way to the stable," she announced happily. "I knew
you hadn't eaten anything and I didn't dare to wait."

The two girls ate their