t," said the boy. "See that right eye hole?
That's what I aimed at."

The laugh was on Bud.

"All right, kiddie," he laughed. "You're on. We'd be in a dickens of a
fix if that ole cow hadn't left two eye holes when she died."

So it was that Dick had made great progress in the rudiments of a
cow-puncher's life, and it exactly suited him, but, in the meanwhile,
Stella was teaching him to read, and telling him the story of the rise
and grandeur of his own country, and of the lands that lay beyond the
seas.

So it was that Dick was unconsciously getting a better education than if
he had gone to school, for he had a mind for the absorption of all sorts
of knowledge like a sponge, and once a thing was told him he never
forgot it.

The morning of the count he had started onto the range with the other
boys, but as there would be great confusion, and perhaps danger of a
stampede, Ted sent him back to camp.

"Run on back, Dick," Ted said kindly. "I'm afraid that pony of yours
isn't quick enough to get out of the way if these dogies should take it
into their heads to act ugly."

Dick never thought of rebelling when Ted spoke, for he knew that Ted was
boss, and that he knew what was good for him.

"All right, Ted," he said. "Would it be any harm if I took a ride away
from the camp?"

"Of course not, Dick," answered Ted kindly. He felt a little sore at
himself for sending the boy away, but he knew that it was for the best.
There would be plenty of time and many occasions for Dick to run into
danger when he grew up.

Dick went back to camp, which was deserted save for Bill McCall, the
cook, who was asleep under the chuck wagon, and Mrs. Graham, who was
lying down in her tent.

Dick buckled on his belt and holster, and, mounting his pony Spraddle,
set out for a long ride across the prairie.

In the boot of his saddle rested his little Remington, a present from
Stella. He was going to look for an antelope, and he thought how proud
Ted would be if he brought one back with him.

He knew how hard it was to get close enough to an antelope to shoot it,
but he had just enough gameness to think that he could get one if he
came within range of it.

Anyhow, there were coyotes and jack rabbits.

He rode across the prairie at a smart gallop, occasionally changing his
course to chase a jack rabbit, which generally disappeared over a rise
in the ground like a streak of gray dust, and was seen no more.

At noon he stopped for