And there was Dade. He often watched Dade while they were working
together on the bunkhouse in the days following the incident of the
ambush by Taggart. The feeling that came over him at these times was
indescribable and disquieting, as was his emotion whenever Dade smiled
at him. He had never experienced the deep, stirring spirit of
comradeship, the unselfish affection which sometimes unites the hearts
of men; he had had no "chum" during his youth. But this feeling that
came over him whenever he looked at Dade was strangely like that which
he had for his horse, Blackleg. It was deeper, perhaps, and disturbed
him more, yet it was the same. At the same time, it was different.
But he could not tell why. He liked to have Dade around him, and one
day when the latter went to Lazette on some errand for Betty he felt
queerly depressed and lonesome. That same night when Dade drove into
the ranchhouse yard Calumet had smiled at him, and a little later when
Dade had told Betty about it he had added:
"When I seen him grin at me that cordial, I come near fallin' off my
horse. I was that flustered! Why, Betty, he's comin' around! The
durn cuss likes me!"
"Do you like him?" inquired Betty.
"Sure. Why, shucks! There ain't nothin' wrong with him exceptin' his
grouch. When he works that off so's it won't come back any more he'll
be plumb man, an' don't you forget it!"
There was no mistaking Calumet's feeling toward Bob.
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