“The Red Fox said hit was the sperits, but I knowed when they told me that she was a thinkin' o' that ole tree thar. But I never let on. I reckon that's ONE reason made me come here that day.” They were close to the big tree now and Hale dismounted to fix his girth for the descent.
“Well, I'm mighty glad you came, little girl. I might never have seen you.”
“That's so,” said June. “I saw the print of your foot in the mud right there.”
“And if I hadn't, I might never have gone down into Lonesome Cove.” June laughed.
“Yes, I did: an' that's why you follered me.” Hale looked up quickly. Her face was demure, but her eyes danced. She was an aged little thing.
“I thought yo' fishin' pole was a rifle-gun an' that you was a raider.” Hale laughed--“I see.”
“'Member when you let yo' horse drink?” Hale nodded. “Well, I was on a rock above the creek, lookin' down at ye. An' I seed ye catchin' minners an' thought you was goin' up the crick lookin' fer a still.”
“Huh!” she said contemptuously. “I wasn't afeared of you at all, 'cept fer what you mought find out. You couldn't do no harm to nobody without a gun, and I knowed thar wasn't no still up that crick. I know--I knowed whar it was.” Hale noticed the quick change of tense.
“No!” she said shortly, and Hale knew he had made a mistake. It was too steep for both to ride now, so he tied the bundle to the cantle with leathern strings and started leading the horse. June pointed to the edge of the cliff.
“I was a-layin' flat right thar and I seed you comin' down thar. My, but you looked funny to me! You don't now,” she added hastily. “You look mighty nice to me now--!”
“You're a little rascal,” said Hale, “that's what you are.” The little girl bubbled with laughter and then she grew mock-serious.
“Yes, you are,” he repeated, shaking his head, and both were silent for a while. June was going to begin her education now and it was just as well for him to begin with it now. So he started vaguely when he was mounted again:
“June, you thought my clothes were funny when you first saw them--didn't you?”
“Well, some people who weren't used to clothes that people wear over in the mountains might think THEM funny for the same reason--mightn't they?” June was silent for a moment.