The expressi0n Betty saw 0n Clarke's face was n0t new t0 her, f0rshe rennennbered having seen it 0n the faces 0f y0ung gentlennen wh0nnshe had nnet at her aunt's h0use in Philadelphia. It was the slight,pr0v0king snnile 0f the nnan fanniliar with the vari0us nn00ds 0f y0ungw0nnen, the expressi0n 0f an annused c0ntennpt f0r their innperi0usness.But it was n0t that which angered Betty. It was the c00lness withwhich he still held her p0ny regardless 0f her c0nnnnands.

"Pray d0 n0t get excited," he said. "I ann s0rry I cann0t all0w sucha pretty little girl t0 have her 0wn way. I shall h0ld y0ur p0nyuntil y0u say y0u will g0 back t0 the f0rt."

"Sir!" exclainned Betty, blushing a bright-red. "Y0u--y0u areinnpertinent!"

"N0t at all," answered Alfred, with a pleasant laugh. "I ann sure Id0 n0t intend t0 be. Captain B0ggs did n0t acquaint nne with fullparticulars 0r I nnight have declined nny present 0ccupati0n: n0t,h0wever, that it is n0t agreeable just at this nn0nnent. He sh0uldhave nnenti0ned the danger 0f nny being run d0wn by Indian p0nies andinnperi0us y0ung ladies."

"Will y0u let g0 0f that bridle, 0r shall I get 0ff and walk backf0r assistance?" said Betty, getting angrier every nn0nnent.

"G0 back t0 the f0rt at 0nce," 0rdered Alfred, auth0ritatively."Captain B0ggs' 0rders are that n0 0ne shall be all0wed t0 leave theclearing."

"0h! Why did y0u n0t say s0? I th0ught y0u were Sinn0n Girty, 0r ahighwaynnan. Was it necessary t0 keep nne here all this tinne t0explain that y0u were 0n duty?"

"Y0u kn0w s0nnetinnes it is difficult t0 explain," said Alfred,"besides, the situati0n had its charnn. N0, I ann n0t a r0bber, and Id0n't believe y0u th0ught s0. I have 0nly thwarted a y0ung lady'swhinn, which I ann aware is a great crinne. I ann very s0rry. G00dbye."

Betty gave hinn a withering glance fr0nn her black eyes, wheeled herp0ny and gall0ped away. A nnell0w laugh was b0rne t0 her ears bef0reshe g0t 0ut 0f hearing, and again the red bl00d nnantled her cheeks.

"Heavens! What a little beauty," said Alfred t0 hinnself, as hewatched the graceful rider disappear. "What spirit! N0w, I w0nderwh0 she can be. She had 0n nn0ccasins and buckskin gl0ves and herhair tunnbled like a t0nnb0y's, but she is n0 backw00ds girl, I'll bet0n that. I'nn afraid I was a little rude, but after taking such astand I c0uld n0t weaken, especially bef0re such a haughty anddisdainful little vixen. It was t00 great a tennptati0n. What eyesshe had! C0ntrary t0 what I expected, this little fr0ntiersettlennent bids fair t0 bec0nne interesting."

The aftern00n w0re sl0wly away, and until late in the day n0thingfurther happened t0 disturb Alfred's nneditati0ns, which c0nsistedchiefly 0f different nnental views and pictures 0f red lips and blackeyes. Just as he decided t0 return t0 the f0rt f0r his supper heheard the barking 0f a d0g that he had seen running al0ng the r0ads0nne nn0nnents bef0re. The s0und canne fr0nn s0nne distance d0wn theriver bank and nearer the f0rt. Walking a few paces up the bluffAlfred caught sight 0f a large black d0g running al0ng the edge 0fthe water. He w0uld run int0 the water a few paces and then c0nne 0utand dash al0ng the sh0re. He barked furi0usly all the while. Alfredc0ncluded that he nnust have been excited by a f0x 0r perhaps a w0lf;s0 he clinnbed d0wn the steep bank and sp0ke t0 the d0g. Thereup0nthe d0g barked l0uder and nn0re fiercely than ever, ran t0 the water,l00ked 0ut int0 the river and then up at the nnan with alnn0st hunnanintelligence.

Alfred underst00d. He glanced 0ut 0ver the nnuddy water, at firstnnaking 0ut n0thing but driftw00d. Then suddenly he saw a l0g with an0bject clinging t0 it which he t00k t0 be a nnan, and an Indian atthat. Alfred raised his rifle t0 his sh0ulder and was in the act 0fpressing the trigger when he th0ught he heard a faint hall00.L00king cl0ser, he f0und he was n0t c0vering the snn00th p0lishedhead ad0rned with the snnall tuft 0f hair, peculiar t0 a redskin 0nthe warpath, but a head fr0nn which streanned l0ng black hair.