Yet he watched her himself with hisbig hard blue
eyes.
White wagons stood outagainst the woodland; fires
were twinkling; smoke was rising. Well, the soldiers will do it for you, if they
happen to comealong, said Dunn, just as bluntly. The other men made no comment, and
presently they rose, to setabout their tasks.
Pruitt had lately joined the little
caravan.
She knew his nameand the names of all the Hudnall
party. Perhaps such hope dominated her watching there. Ivebeen six months at this
hide-huntin an I know what Im talkinabout.
There dawned in Millys mind an aversion forthis
hide-hunting. Theres athousand times as many buffalo down on the Red. Now, Hudnall,
listen, responded Dunn, curtly. His outfit issomewhere in this neck of the
woods.
Will all the hunters go to the same
place?
Every thought augmented something vague and deep
thatbaffled her.
He appeared to be a short, broad man, and what
littleof his face was visible was bright red. Therell be hell along the Red River
thissummer. Then farther down he espieda huge brown object lying inert. Thehorses
plunged in at a trot, splashing high. But from that moment she decided to keep both
eyes andears open. Wal, son, he said to Tom, I aint hankerin afterskinnin
hides.
Milly did not analyze the vague hope that mounted
in her breast.
Theywas celebratin their arrival in town, an I
couldnt take toogreat stock in their talk. Theplace appeared pleasant and sheltered.
Tom watched and listened with more than his usual attentiveness. Jettstarted his
team out toward the road. She felt, however,that she need not worry any more on this
score, while Mrs. Tom saw that this wasa paramount issue with Sally.
He led on until nearly dark and halted at a
lowplace where grass appeared abundant. Yet more than beforeshe felt his sympathy.