"It seems to me you orto be satisfied by this time that your father ain't never goin' to come back," replied Mrs. Highton, in a harsh voice. "It's orful silly of you to stick to that notion! An' you orto consider 'tain't fit fer you two girls to be livin' here alone. There ain't no knowin' what might happen. It would be 'nough sight better if you had somebody here to look after you. Then ag'in, you wouldn't be tied down to home like you be now. You'd hev somebody to leave the little girl with, an' could git out an' enjoy yourself like other young folks. You'd better think twice afore you say 'no' fer good an' all."
Lottie felt Eva's fingers closing tightly upon her own, the poor child was imagining herself left to the care of Mrs. Highton! She pressed the quivering little hand reassuringly and rose to her feet.
"I don't need to think any more about it. I have given you my answer," she said, firmly.
At that moment a heavy step was heard crossing the porch, and Mr. Highton, with a sneering smile upon his face, thrust his head through the open window.
"Come, old woman," he said to his wife, "you go along home an' see 'bout gittin' dinner, an' _I'll_ settle this matter with little miss, here."
The stars were growing dim, and a faint light was dawning in the east, when, at last, Jimmy Claxton's slumbers were disturbed and he opened his sleepy eyes.
There was a confusion of sounds filling his ears, a snapping and snarling and growling that frightened and bewildered him. It was several moments before he could remember where he was or why he was there, lying on the ground beneath the open sky.
But his brain cleared presently, and he sprang to his feet and looked about him. Where was his friend and companion of the previous day? Where were the horses he had himself so carefully picketed the evening before? And what was that snarling, fighting mass just visible in the dawning light but a few rods distant?
Jimmy found himself very much awake about this time, for it had flashed upon him that at least a score of prairie-wolves were there before him and that the yelping that had awakened him came from their throats.
He involuntarily opened his mouth to call out for Mr. Highton, but the thought came quickly into his mind that a sound from him might draw the attention of the pack to himself, and this restrained him.