girl. "We have, however, heard that Jack is seriously
ill, and I rode over because the spotted steer has broken away, and I
found the trail led into the Somasco valley. It was one of the beasts
father was sending down to sell."

Alton became suddenly intent. "Then it has not gone far. I saw its
trail an hour ago," he said. "Well, we must head the beast off before
it gets into the thick timber under the range, and there's no time to
lose. I'll be ready in two minutes. Would you like to follow with
Charley, Miss Deringham?"

The time had scarcely been exceeded when he led a horse out of the
stable, held his hand out for Miss Townshead to mount by, and then
swung himself to the saddle. Then he and the girl swung across the
clearing at a gallop, and Alice Deringham endeavoured to assure herself
that she was not angry. It appeared that her angling was of
considerably less importance than the capture of the steer.

It was possibly for this reason that she was unusually gracious to
Seaforth, who came along just then, and though evidently in some haste,
stopped to talk to her; while when she had promised to accompany him to
witness the chase, and he strode away towards the stable, her father
sauntered out of the house and glanced in her direction whimsically.

"It occurs to me that one of us is responsible for some irregularity in
the work upon this ranch, and that the beast it a trifle uncertain in
his moods," said he.

"It is," said his daughter, "a little difficult to understand you."

Deringham pointed to the two mounted figures just entering the brush,
and the girl fancied that something had ruffled him. He could be
unpleasant when that happened.

"Alton of Somasco is a somewhat busy man, but both he and his partner
seem to have suspended their energies this morning," he said. "No
doubt wild-beast taming has its fascination, but one might fancy it was
apt to prove a somewhat disconcerting and perilous amusement."

"Yes?" said the girl in a tone of languid inquiry.

Deringham nodded. "One can never tell when the beast may revert to his
primitive instincts, and do something unpleasant," he said. "This one
is also evidently of somewhat uncertain temperament. We are told that
Una had a lion, but the effect of the story would have been diminished
if it had been recorded that the king of the forest divided his
allegiance."

Miss Deringham was now convinced that her father was not pleased. "I
have not n