Page 91 (1/1)

Venters exercised his usual care in thetracks from the outlet, yet it took hiht of inal intention, and instead of packing out meat he decided to take a calf out alive He roped one, securely tied its feet, and swung it over his shoulder Here was an exceedingly heavy burden, but Venters was powerful--he could take up a sack of grain and with ease pitch it over a pack-saddle--and heThe hardest work cah to the valley When he had accoain changed his intention He would not kill the calf, but keep it alive He would go back to Oldring's herd and pack out more calves

Thereupon he secured the calf in the best available spot for the ot back to the valley with another calf, it was close upon daybreak He crawled into his cave and slept late

Bess had no inkling that he had been absent froht, and only remarked solicitously that he appeared to be more tired than usual, and ate across a small ravine near camp, and here corralled the calves; and he succeeded in coht he ain on the following night, and yet another on the next With eight calves in his corral, he concluded that he had enough; but it dawned upon hi's cattle," he said, and laughed He noted then that all the calves were red "Red!" he exclaimed "From the red herd I've stolen Jane Withersteen's cattle!That's about the strangest thing yet"

One 's valley, and this ti steer and killed it and cut out a s of coyotes told him he need have no apprehension that the work of his knife would be discovered He packed the beef back to caht his bed

On the lad that he had a surprise for Bess He could hardly wait for her to come out

Presently she appeared and walked under the spruce Then she approached the cae of healthy red in the bronze of her cheeks, and her slender forraceful lines