airley to his daughter, but looking at the squaw, "that she'll be
huntin' the woods off and on, and kinder looking after the last pit near
the Madronos; ye'll give her grub and licker ez she likes. Well, d'ye
hear, Flip? Are ye moonin' agin with yer secrets? What's gone with ye?"

If the child were dreaming, it was a delicious dream. Her magnetic eyes
were suffused by a strange light, as though the eye itself had blushed;
her full pulse showed itself more in the rounding outline of her cheek
than in any deepening of color; indeed, if there was any heightening of
tint, it was in her freckles, which fairly glistened like tiny spangles.
Her eyes were downcast, her shoulders slightly bent, but her voice was
low and clear and thoughtful as ever.

"One o' the big pines above the Madrono pit has blown over into the
run," she said. "It's choked up the water, and it's risin' fast. Like ez
not it's pourin' over into the pit by this time."

The old man rose with a fretful cry. "And why in blames didn't you say
so first?" he screamed, catching up his axe and rushing to the door.

"Ye didn't give me a chance," said Flip, raising her eyes for the first
time. With an impatient imprecation, Fairley darted by her and rushed
into the wood. In an instant she had shut the door and bolted it. In
the same instant the squaw arose, dashed the long hair not only from her
eyes, but from her head, tore away her shawl and blanket, and revealed
the square shoulders of Lance Harriott! Flip remained leaning against
the door; but the young man in rising dropped the bandaged papoose,
which rolled from his lap into the fire. Flip, with a cry, sprang toward
it; but Lance caught her by the waist with one arm, as with the other he
dragged the bundle from the flames.

"Don't be alarmed," he said, gayly, "it's only--"

"What?" said Flip, trying to disengage herself.

"My coat and trousers."

Flip laughed, which encouraged Lance to another attempt to kiss her. She
evaded it by diving her head into his waistcoat, and saying, "There's
father."

"But he's gone to clear away that tree?" suggested Lance.

One of Flip's significant silences followed.

"Oh, I see," he laughed. "That was a plan to get him away! Ah!" She had
released herself.

"Why did you come like that?" she said, pointing to his wig and blanket.

"To see if you'd know me," he responded.

"No," said Flip, dropping her eyes. "It's to keep other people from
knowing you. You're hidin' a