crop of
alfalfa grass, which grows in fullest abundance in late August and is
the color of amethyst. No human being was in sight but Carlos, who was
playing with a rough, gray-furred animal that looked like a cross and
overgrown puppy. It was the baby wolf Carlos had found in the woods on
the day he deserted Jack at the gold mine. The boy had desired to
introduce it as a member of the caravan family, but, as it had not been
found a cheerful traveling companion, Jim had shipped it home to the
rancho and the cowboys had been amusing themselves with it. It growled
and snapped and bit at everybody who came within reach of its chain, but
in queer, silent Carlos it recognized a master spirit in the kinship of
the wilderness and played with the boy in a perfectly tame and friendly
way, as though he were its big brother.

"Come here, Carlos," Jack cried, "and please tell me what has become of
everybody. There doesn't seem to be a soul around the place except you."

"I was told to stay near you," Carlos answered obediently. "Miss Jean
said they were just homesick for a sight of the ranch and were going for
a little walk. They would be back before you could miss them, for the
two ladies from Rainbow Lodge are coming to see you. They should have
come before so long a time."

"How did the girls and Mr. Kent get away without my knowing?" Jack
demanded wrathfully.

"By the trail that leads from the back door," Carlos returned calmly,
and then as Jack seemed to have no more questions to ask, he returned to
playing with his wolf dog.

Jack's face clouded and she sighed mournfully.

"How beastly selfish of everybody to leave me alone!" she thought
angrily. "Ruth and Jim would be awfully cross if they knew. Of course
Mrs. Harmon and Elizabeth are nice and sympathetic, but I don't feel as
though I wanted to see them to-day. Beth isn't half so difficult as she
used to be and is ever so much stronger, but she will talk about our
accident all the time and Mrs. Harmon looks like she wanted to cry every
time she glances at me. Oh, dear me, how I do hate to be pitied--it is
almost the hardest thing I have to bear! I wonder if I ever will get
used to it." And Jack put her thin hands, from which the brown strength
had faded, over her flushed cheeks. "Anyhow, I am glad Jim has promised
to wait a little longer before he sells any part of our ranch to the
Harmons, though he says Mr. Harmon has offered him more money if we will
make up our mi