"Come a little closer, will you, Alec?"
Alec went nearer, and his father lowered his voice. "I want to talk to
you confidentially, son. You'll take good care of your mother and the
twins?"
"Yes, Dad."
Mr. Simpson grinned nervously, and Alec sensed that he too had given way
to the general excitement. His father spoke again, "I know I can depend
on you."
"Yes, you can."
"Pete and I are going as light as possible, with only a little food,"
Mr. Simpson said. "The important thing is to get the claims staked. Nor
do I want your mother out there until there is a good house ready for
her. I want it to seem like home when she comes. But we'll need one
wagon and some tools as soon as possible after the land is ours. If we
take Pete's, his father and mother can move into ours until we send for
that too. Now, after this crowd gets out of here, your mother and the
twins will be all right, and I won't be afraid to leave them alone.
Think you can bring Pete's wagon up when I send for you?"
"Oh, yes. I can handle the team."
"Good. Of course I'll send someone to show you the way. Now--What in
tarnation is that sister of yours up to?"
Hands clasped around and chin resting on her knees, Cindy was looking
intently at a big and battle-scarred old cat that had strayed into the
camp. With his tail curled around his paws, the cat stared back at the
girl. Presently he rose, walked over to her, and began to rub himself
against her legs. Cindy stroked him and continued to watch closely. Jed
Simpson chuckled.
"What does she find so interesting about that old cat?" he asked.
Alec grinned. "I think she's looking at its eyes," he replied.
"Why look at a cat's eyes?" Mr. Simpson demanded.
"Remember what Granny Bevers said about good luck following us if we
would beware a man with cat's eyes? Cindy thought she saw such a man in
camp."