pet cow and
we ran on Wolf about five miles north of here, heading west and going
strong. He had picked up a wagon trail I made last week going for
adobe."

"Where is he now?" asked Roger.

"Oh, we left him herding the cow. We'll pick him up on the way back.
Let's get started. Lord, but you've grown, Felicia! Come here and let me
look at you."

Big brother and little sister looked at each other attentively in the
firelight. Dick Preble was still red headed and freckled, with only a
vague resemblance to his sisters.

"Four years since we left you, little Felicia. Charley, she looks just
as you did at her age, only not so tall. I don't see how Aunt Mary could
have been such a fool as to have sent her a week ahead of time."

"Aunt Mary never managed anything correctly in her life, bless her
heart," replied the older sister. "Help hitch up, Dicky. We're only five
miles from home, Mr. Moore."

They were ready for the trail in a few minutes. Felicia delayed the
start by refusing to be separated from Charley and finally Charley's
horse was hitched to the tailboard of the wagon and Charley mounted the
high wagon seat. Felicia, established between Roger and her sister, was
in a state of great excitement and at first monopolized the
conversation. But after a time, she quieted down and by the time they
overtook Ernest, she was asleep, her head against Roger's arm, her hand
clasping one of Charley's. Nor did the greetings waken her.

"Well, Ern, old chap, how's the North Pole?" called Roger.

"You go to thunder!" replied Ernest with a laugh. He tied the cow in the
place of Charley's pony and mounting the pony rode ahead with Preble.

Roger wanted a number of questions answered. Where had the Prebles gone
after leaving Eagle's Wing and what had they done in the interim, were
his opening queries.

"We went to a little town, near St. Louis," answered Charley, "and
Father did well. Dick and I both went to college. What in the world are
you doing out here, Mr. Moore?"

"For heaven's sake don't 'mister' me, old friends and neighbors as we
are. Why, we lived on your old farm till Father and Mother died!"

"Did you indeed? And what brought you out here? Mining?"

"No, some experimenting in irrigating for the government."

"Heaven send that you're successful!" exclaimed the girl. "Dick is going
to get some alfalfa in this winter, and I know that our well won't take
care of it. But he _will_ go ahead."

"Felicia is startl