VIII。
DAYwaswhiteningontheStetsonshore。Acrosstherivertheairwasstillsharpwiththechillofdawn，andthemistslaylikeflocksofsheepundershelterofrockandcrag。ApeculiarcryradiatedfromtheLewallencabinwithsingularresonanceonthecrispair—themountaincryforstrayingcattle。Asoftlowcamefromadistantpatchoflaurel，andoldJasper’sgirl，Martha，folded。herhandslikeaconchathermouth，andtheshrillcryagainstartledtheair。
Yebettercome，yepiededcow—brute。\"Pickingupacedarpiggin，shesteppedfromtheporchtowardthemeekvoicethathadansweredher。Temperandexertionhadbroughtthequickbloodtoherface。Herheadwasbare，herthickhairwaslooselycoiled，andherbrownarmswerenakedalmosttotheshoulder。Atthestableayoungmountaineerwasoverhaulinghisriding—gear。
Airyougoin’toridethehossto—day，Jas？\"sheasked，querulously。
\"That’sjeswhutIwasaimin’todo。I’ma—goin’totown。\"