The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-02
CHAPTER III,

He awokc with the aroma OF the woods still
stepping his senses. His first instinct was that
OF all young animals; he seized u few of the
young. tender green leaves OF the vt1'Ja bHeRd
vine thai crcpt over his messy pillow and ate
them, being rewarded by n half bcrrylikc flavor
that seemed to sootho the cravings OF his APP
petite. Tho lUnsuor Of sleep being still upon
him. he lGzly watched the quivcring Of sun
beam that was caught in the canopying boughs
above. Then he dOzet alain. lowering be-
tween sleeping and waking he became con
sciOus OF II slight movement among the dead
leaves on tho bank beside the hollow in which
he lay. The movement appeared h be intrlli-
gent and directed toward his revolver which
glittered on the bank Amused at this evident
return Of his larcenious friend OF the previous
day he lay perfectly still. Tho movement and
rustic continued. bat II now seemed long and
undulaing. Lance's eyes suddenly became
sot; he was intensely, keenly awake. 1t was
not a snake, but the hand Of u human arm
half hidden in the moss. cropping for the
weapon. In that flash OF perez ption he saw
that it was small. barc. and deeply :reckIcd. In
an instant he graspcd it firmly and rose to his
feet. dragging to his own level as he did 80 tho
struggling figure Of u young girl.
Leave mog go" she said. more ashamed than
frightened.
LANCE IOphtu NJ neT. ono WIS scarcely moro
than fifteen. slight and lithe. with u boyish
fairness Of breast and back. Her flushed face
and bare throat wore absolutely poppered with
minute brown ir'ckes, like grains of spent
gunpowdrr. Her eyes. which were large and
gray. presented the singular spectacle Of being
also freck ed at Toast they were shot through
in pupil AMI cornea with tiny spots ike pow
dercd allspicc. Her hair was even more re-
markable in its tawny. decrskin color. full OF
lighter shades. and blcachcd to the faintest Of
blondes on tho crown OF her head. rs ii by the
action Of the sun. She had evidently outgrown
her dross, which was made for n smaller child
and the too brief skirt disclosed Il baro
frecked AMI sandy desert Of shUpely limb, for
which the dnrned stockings were equally too
scant, Lance let his grasp slip from her thin
wrist to her hand and then with u good -hu-
mored gesture tossed 1t lightly back to her.
She did not retreat. but continued looking
ut him in half-surly embarrassment.
amt n bit frightened" she said. I'm
not going to run away-don't you fenr"
Glad to hear It," said Lance. with unmis-
taxable satisfaction. but why did you 20 for
my revolver Z"
She flushed again. and was silent. Presently
she began to kick tho earth vt tho roots OF the
tree, and said rs IL cOnlldentially to her foot
| wanted to get hold of it before you did"
." You did and why p
20. you know why"
Every tooth in Ianco's head showed that he
did, perfectly. But he was dlscrcetly silent.
= didn't know what you wero hiding there
for" she went on. still addressing the tree.
and" looking ut him sideways under her
white lashes. " didn't see your face"
This subtle compliment was the first sugges-
ton Of her artiul seX. 1t actually sent the
into tkn ~,
! moment confused him. Ho coughod. So
| sou thought you'd treuDo on to that iX-shootel
| Of mine until You saw my hand 7"
She nodded. Then she picked up broken
| hazel branch, lifted it into tho sman of her
| back. threw her tanned bOrO arms over the
! unds Of IT, and expanded her chest and heI
! b.crps at the Same moment. This simple ne
vion wis supposed to convey an impression al
once ot ease and muscular force
| Perhaps you'd like TO tnko it now said
| Lance. handing hur tho pistol.
| I've scon six shooters before now" said the
| girl, ovHdng the preferred weapon and it's sug-
| gcstion, - Dad has one and my brother had tive
| derringers before no was half as biz as mo-"
| She stopped to observe in hor companion the
effect Of this capacity N her family to beal
arms, Lance only regarded her nmusodly
| Presently sho again spoke abruptly:
| What made you cat that grass, Just now p
| "Grassl" echoed Lance.
Yes there, pointing to the perba bupnd.
! Lance laughed. 3" was hungry Look. - hc