The girl was puzzled.  She had never seen a man like this before.  He was not like her wild, reckless brother, nor any of his associates.

“This is Montana,” she said, “or was, when I started,” she added with sudden thought.

“Yes?  Well, it was Montana when I started, too; but it’s as likely to be the Desert of Sahara as anything else.  I’m sure I’ve come far enough, and found it barren enough.”

“I never heard of that place,” said the girl seriously; “is it in Canada?”

“I believe not,” said the man with sudden gravity; “at least, not that I know of.  When I went to school, it was generally located somewhere in Africa.”

“I never went to school,” said the girl wistfully; “but—­” with a sudden resolve—­“I’ll go now.”

“Do!” said the man.  “I’ll go with you.  Let’s start at once; for, now that I think of it, I haven’t had anything to eat for over a day, and there might be something in that line near a schoolhouse.  Do you know the way?”

“No,” said the girl, slowly studying him—­she began to feel he was making fun of her; “but I can give you something to eat.”

“Thank you!” said the man.  “I assure you I shall appreciate anything from hardtack to bisque ice-cream.”

“I haven’t any of those,” said the girl, “but there are plenty of beans left; and, if you will get some wood for a fire, I’ll make some coffee.”

“Agreed,” said the man.  “That sounds better than anything I’ve heard for forty-eight hours.”

The girl watched him as he strode away to find wood, and frowned for an instant; but his face was perfectly sober, and she turned to the business of getting breakfast.  For a little her fears were allayed.  At least, he would do her no immediate harm.  Of course she might fly from him now while his back was turned; but then of course he would pursue her again, and she had little chance of getting away.  Besides, he was hungry.  She could not leave him without something to eat.

“We can’t make coffee without water,” she said as he came back with a bundle of sticks.

He whistled.

“Could you inform me where to look for water?” he asked.

She looked into his face, and saw how worn and gray he was about his eyes; and a sudden compassion came upon her.

“You’d better eat something first,” she said, “and then we’ll go and hunt for water.  There’s sure to be some in the valley.  We’ll cook some meat.”

She took the sticks from him, and made the fire in a businesslike way.  He watched her, and wondered at her grace.  Who was she, and how had she wandered out into this waste place?  Her face was both beautiful and interesting.  She would make a fine study if he were not so weary of all human nature, and especially woman.  He sighed as he thought again of himself.

The girl caught the sound, and, turning with the quickness of a wild creature, caught the sadness in his face.  It seemed to drive away much of her fear and resentment.  A half-flicker of a smile came to her lips as their eyes met.  It seemed to recognize a comradeship in sorrow.  But her face hardened again almost at once into disapproval as he answered her look.