matter with this place? I feel as if something horrible was just ready
to jump out at us all. I--I want my back against something solid, all
the time, so that nothing can creep up behind. Nothing," she added
desperately, "could happen to Frank between here and the turn-off at
the ford, could it? Lone saw him turn into our trail over an hour ago,
he said."

Sorry, his fingers thrust into his overalls pockets, his thumbs hooked
over the waistband, spat into the sand beside the path. "Well, he
started off with a cracked doubletree," he said slowly. "He mighta
busted 'er pullin' through that sand hollow. She was wired up pretty
good, though, and there was more wire in the rig. I don't know of
anything else that'd be liable to happen, unless----"

"Unless what?" Lorraine prompted sharply. "There's too much that isn't
talked about, on this ranch. What else could happen?"

Sorry edged away from her. "Well--I dunno as anything would be liable
to happen," he said uncomfortably. "'Tain't likely him 'n' Brit'd both
have accidents--not right hand-runnin'."

"_Accidents?_" Lorraine felt her throat squeeze together. "Sorry, you
don't mean--Sawtooth accidents?" she blurted.

She surprised a grunt out of Sorry, who looked over his shoulder as if
he feared eavesdroppers. "Where'd you git that idee?" he demanded. "I
dunno what you mean. Ain't that yore dad callin' yuh?"

Lorraine ignored the hint. "You _do_ know what I mean. Why did you
say they wouldn't both be likely to have accidents hand-running? And
why don't you _do_ something? Why does everyone just keep still and
let things happen, and not say a word? If there's any chance of Frank
having an--an _accident_, I should think you'd be out looking after
him, and not standing there with your hands in your pockets just
waiting to see if he shows up or if he doesn't show up. You're all
just like these rabbits out in the sage. You'll hide under a bush and
wait until you're almost stepped on before you so much as wiggle an
ear! I'm getting good and tired of this meek business!"

"We-ell," Sorry drawled amiably as she went past him, "playin'
rabbit-under-a-bush mebby don't look purty, but it's dern good life
insurance."

"A coward's policy," Lorraine taunted him over her shoulder, and went
to see what her father wanted. When he, too, wanted to know why Lone
had come and gone again in such a hurry, Lorraine felt all the courage
go out of her at once. Thei