n
funny 'bout ther eyes an' face? What in ther world's got hold of ye; air
ye sick, gal?"

She was not very ill, she said. Indeed, she had never felt better
physically, but----

The old man was fumbling through the saddle-bags in search of birds or
other game. Wade could not suppress a smile because of the comical
expression upon the face of the disappointed old man.

"This is ther durndest hunt I ever heerd 'bout in these hills," said
Peter. "A half-day out, an' no game."

"We haven't fired a gun," replied Wade, "therefore have no game." The
old man looked at Wade, then at his daughter. His disappointed
expression was at once superseded by one of anxiety. Indeed, he looked
very sorrowful. "But ye fired one good shot," he said sternly. "An ef ye
intend ter be foolin', I want ter warn ye ter be a-lookin' out. Fun
shots don't go in this hyar kintry." He appeared to be greatly agitated
now, but when he learned the real circumstances he softened, and his
eyes gave forth a tender expression. "Git down," he said, "chuck is put
nigh ready. I'll put yer hoss up'n feed him, an' we'll have a old time
talk 'bout everything, from ther days o' Goliath till ther days o'
corn-huskin',--'bout which ye know mighty little, I reckon, ef I don't
miss my guess a long way, by lookin' at ye."

Old Peter refrained from remarking just at this time anything touching
upon the actions of Al Thompson, but many strange and peculiar thoughts
were romping pell-mell through his heavy brain.

CHAPTER V

Dining at the home of a farmer was quite a new and novel experience to
Wade, as there was no similarity to dining in a fashionable restaurant
on a fashionable street in a large city. This was an experience in his
life that he often thought of afterward. At one end of the table sat
Peter Judson, to his right sat Mrs. Judson. In one corner of the stuffy
little cabin dining-room sat a gray old cat on its haunches, appearing
in every respect to be quite angry because it had been made to wait
until the second table when it had been accustomed to eating with the
family. Wade watched the cat, for it very often "licked its chops."
Beside him lay Rover, the furry-headed dog, Nora's pet.

Jack was just as awkward at that table as the girl would have been had
she been sitting down at a table in the greatest hotel in New York City.
His manners and table etiquette were so entirely different that his
actions did not seem at all right or natural. He s