Yet, as he bethought himself of the apparent hopelessness of all this, he set his teeth in a mental protest near akin to anger.

He shifted in his seat and choked in his throat a sound that was half a groan.

Presently he rose, and excusing himself, went out to join Buford at the corral.
"Come," said the latter, "and I'll show you around over our improvements while we are waitin' for a bite to eat.

We are goin' to have a great place here some day.

Besides our own land, Miss Beauchamp and our servant have a quarter-section each adjoinin' us on the west.
If ever this land comes to be worth anything at all, we ought to grow into something worth while." "Yes," said Franklin, "it will make you rich," and as they walked about he pointed out with Western enthusiasm the merits of the country round-about.
The "bite to eat" was in time duly announced by a loud, sonorous note that arose swelling upon the air.