“Glad you took the trouble to watch for me, Jacky,” he retorted quickly, with an attempt at his usual lightness of manner.  “I appreciate the honor.”

“Nothing of the sort.  I was looking for uncle.  The mail brought a letter from Calford.  Dawson, the cattle buyer of the Western Railway Company, wants to see him.  The Home Government are buying largely.  He is commissioned to purchase 30,000 head of prime beeves.  Come along, tea’s ready.”

Bill seated himself at the table and Jacky poured out the tea.  She was dressed for the saddle.

“Where is Dawson now?” asked Bill.

“Calford.  Guess he’ll wait right there for uncle.”

Suddenly a look of relief passed across the man’s face.

“This is Wednesday.  At six o’clock the mail-cart goes back to town.  Send some one down to the saloon at once, and John will be able to go in to-night.”

As Bill spoke his eyes encountered a direct and steady glance from the girl.  There was much meaning in that mute exchange.  For answer Jacky rose and rang a bell sharply.

“Send a hand down to the settlement to find my uncle.  Ask him to come up at once.  There is an important letter awaiting him,” she said, to the old servant who answered the summons.

“Bill, what’s up?” she went on, when the retainer had departed.

“Lots.  Look here, Jacky, we mustn’t be long over tea.  We must both be out of the house when your uncle returns.  He may not want to go into town to-night.  Anyway, I don’t want to give him the chance of asking any questions until we have had a long talk.  He’s losing to Lablache again.”

“Ah!  I don’t want anything to eat.  Whenever you are ready, Bill, I am.”

Bunning-Ford drank his tea and rose from the table.  The girl followed his example.

There was something very strong and resolute in the brisk, ready-for-emergency ways of this girl.  There was nothing of the ultra-feminine dependence and weakness of her sex about her.  And yet her hardiness detracted in no way from her womanly charm; rather was that complex abstract enhanced by her wonderful self-reliance.  There are those who decry independence in women, but surely only such must come from those whose nature is largely composed of hectoring selfishness.  There was a resolute set of the mouth as Jacky sent word to the stables to have her horse brought round.  She asked no questions of her companion, as, waiting for compliance with her orders, she drew on her stout buckskin gauntlets.  She understood this man well enough to be aware that his suggestion was based upon necessity.  “Lord” Bill rarely interfered with anything or anybody, but when such an occasion arose his words carried a deal of weight with those who knew him.

A few minutes later and they were both riding slowly down the avenue of pines leading from the house.  The direction in which they were moving was away from the settlement, down towards where the great level flat of the muskeg began.  At the end of the avenue they turned directly to the southeast, leaving the township behind them.  The prairie was soft and springy.  There was still a keen touch of winter in the fresh spring air.  The afternoon sun was shining coldly athwart the direction of their route.