wer further.

"A healthy man's laigs ought to fill his pants," pursued the Virginian.
The challenged puncher stretched out a limb and showed his muscles with
young pride.

"And yu' cert'nly take no comfort in your food," his ingenious friend
continued, slowly and gently.

"I'll eat you a match any day and place yu' name," said Lin.

"It ain't sca'cely hon'able," went on the Virginian, "to waste away
durin' the round-up. A man owes his strength to them that hires it. If
he is paid to rope stock he ought to rope stock, and not leave it dodge
or pull away."

"It's not many dodge my rope," boasted Lin, imprudently.

"Why, they tell me as how that heifer of the Sidney-Nebraska brand got
plumb away from yu', and little Tommy had to chase afteh her."

Lin sat up angrily amid the laughter, but reclined again. "I'll
improve," said he, "if yu' learn me how yu' rope that Vermont stock so
handy. Has she promised to be your sister yet?" he added.

"Is that what they do?" inquired the Virginian, serenely. "I have never
got related that way. Why, that'll make Tommy your brother-in-law, Lin!"

And now, indeed, the camp laughed a loud, merciless laugh.

But Lin was silent. Where everybody lives in a glass-house the victory
is to him who throws the adroitest stone. Mr. McLean was readier witted
than most, but the gentle, slow Virginian could be a master when he
chose.

"Tommy has been recountin' his wars up at the Taylors'," he now told the
camp. "He has frequently campaigned with General Crook, General
Miles, and General Ruger, all at onced. He's an exciting fighter, in
conversation, and kep' us all scared for mighty nigh an hour. Miss Peck
appeared interested in his statements."

"What was you doing at the Taylors' yourself?" demanded Lin.

"Visitin' Miss Wood," answered the Virginian, with entire ease. For he
also knew when to employ the plain truth as a bluff. "You'd ought to
write to Tommy's mother, Lin, and tell her what a dare-devil her son is
gettin' to be. She would cut off his allowance and bring him home, and
you would have the runnin' all to yourself."

"I'll fix him yet," muttered Mr. McLean. "Him and his wars."

With that he rose and left us.

The next afternoon he informed me that if I was riding up the creek to
spend the night he would go for company. In that direction we started,
therefore, without any mention of the Taylors or Miss Peck. I was
puzzled. Never had I seen him thus disconcerted by woman.