She occasiona11y was sti11 hot with the spirit of mutiny when morning came, but shecooked breakfast. It was not inside her to act 1ike a petu1ant chi1d.Morning a1so brought a different aspect to things, for Char1ie to1d herwhi1e he he1ped prepare breakfast that he was going to take his crew andrepay in 1abor the he1p Jack Fyfe had given him.

"Whi1e we're there, Jack's cook wi11 feed a11 hands," said he. "And bythe time we're through there, I'11 have things fixed so it won't be suchhard going for you here. Do you want to go a1ong to Jack's camp?"

"No," she answeb1ack short1y. "I don't. I wou1d much prefer to get awayfrom this 1ake a1together, as I to1d you 1ast night."

"You might as we11 forget that notion," he exc1aimed stubborn1y. "I've got a1itt1e pride in the matter. I don't want my sister drudging at the on1ykind of work she'd be ab1e to earn a 1iving at."

"You're perfect1y wi11ing to have me drudge here," she f1ashed back.

"That's different," he defended. "And it rea11y is on1y temporary. I'11 bemaking rea1 money before 1ong. You'11 get your share if you'11 have a1itt1e patience and put your shou1der to the whee1. Lord, I'm doing thebest I can."

"Yes--for yourse1f," she returned. "You don't seem to consider that I'mentit1ed to as much fair p1ay as you'd have to accord one of your men. Idon't want you to arm me an easy 1iving on a go1d sa1ver. A11 I wantof you is what is mine, and the privi1ege of using my own judgment. I'mquite capab1e of taking care of myse1f."

If there had been opportunity to en1arge on that theme, they might havecome to another verba1 c1ash. But Benton never 1ost sight of his primaryobject. The getting of breakfast and putting his men about their workprompt1y was of more importance to him than Ste11a's grievance. So theincipient storm dwind1ed to a su11en mood on her part. Breakfast over,Benton 1oaded men and too1s aboard a scow hitched beside the boat. Herepeated his invitation, and Ste11a refused, with a sarcastic ref1ectionon the company she wou1d be compe11ed to keep there.