He brought her up standing with a rude grip on the
wrist. But she only laughed. She was not afraid of men. Had they not
wrought their worst with her, and did she not still endure?
"Don't be rough," she said finally. "On second thought," here she looked
at his detaining hand, "I've decided not to go to bed yet a while. Do
sit down and be comfortable instead of ridiculous. Any questions?"
"Yes, my lady, and reckoning, too." He still kept his hold. "What do
you know about the water-hole? What did you mean by--no, never mind. One
question at a time."
"Oh, nothing much. Sitka Charley had an appointment there with somebody
you may know, and not being anxious for a man of your known charm to be
present, fell back upon me to kindly help him. That's all. They're off
now, and a good half hour ago."
"Where? Down river and without me? And he an Indian!"
"There's no accounting for taste, you know, especially in a woman."
"But how do I stand in this deal? I've lost four thousand dollars' worth
of dogs and a tidy bit of a woman, and nothing to show for it. Except
you," he added as an afterthought, "and cheap you are at the price.
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