I was struck with the way that, as she reached the door, she passed her hands rapidly over the heads of the others as if counting them, picked up the baby, reversed it, shook out its clothes, and returned it to the inside, without even looking at it.

The act was evidently automatic and habitual.
I repeated my question timidly.
Yes, it WAS Johnson's, but he had just gone to King's Mills.

I replied, hurriedly, that I knew it,--that I had met him beyond the canyon.

As I had lost my way and couldn't get to Sonora to-night, he had been good enough to say that I might stay there until morning.

My voice was slightly raised for the benefit of Mr.Johnson's "old woman," who, I had no doubt, was inspecting me furtively from some corner.
The girl drew the children away, except the boy.