Before Cameron's unsympathetic silence, however, all her
sprightly attempts came to abject failure.
"What's the matter with you?" at length she asked. "Don't you want to
see me home?"
"What?" said Cameron, abruptly, for his thoughts were far away. "Oh,
nonsense! Of course! Why not? But we shall certainly be caught in the
storm. Let us hurry. Here, let me take your arm."
His manner was brusque, almost rude.
"Oh, I guess I can get along," replied Mandy, catching off her hat and
gathering up her skirt over her shoulders, "but we'll have to hustle,
for I'd hate to have you get, wet." Her imperturbable good humour and
her solicitude for him rebuked Cameron for his abruptness.
"I hope you will not get wet," he said.
"Oh, don't you worry about me. I ain't salt nor sugar, but I forgot
all about your bein' sick." And with laboured breath poor Mandy hurried
through the growing darkness with Cameron keeping close by her side.
"We won't be long now," she panted, as they turned from the side line
towards their own gate.
As if in reply to her words there sounded from behind the fence and
close to their side a long loud howl. Cameron gave a start.
"Great Caesar! What dog is that?" he exclaimed.
"Oh," said Mandy coolly, "guess it's MacKenzie's Carlo."
Immediately there rose from the fence on the other side an answering
howl, followed by a full chorus of howls and yelps mingled with a
bawling of calves and the ringing of cow bells, as if a dozen curs or
more were in full cry after a herd of cattle.
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