pointed out was that of a tall and slender man who was
climbing the slope to the southeast. He carried a long rifle over his
shoulder and a cartridge belt was conspicuously displayed about his
waist.

While the boys arranged their food on the table cloth, the man
approached warily. When he came into the valley in which the camp was
situated he turned away to the right as if about to circle the tents and
the fire. Tommy stood up with a great slice of bread in one hand and a
cup of coffee in the other and waved both at the stranger.

"Come on in!" he shouted. "The eating's fine!"

At this invitation the stranger came forward to the fire and stood for a
moment without speaking, gazing at the boys with eyes strained to their
utmost in an effort to make them look piercing.

"Thank you very much for the invitation!" replied the stranger, "I've
had a long walk today and I'm both hungry and tired! My name is
Katz--Joseph J. Katz, and I'm in business in a small way in Denver."

"I bought a burro at Green River," Katz went on, "but lost him twenty
miles to the south. He got his foot in a prairie dog's hole or something
of that kind and broke his leg so I had to shoot him."

"And you've been walking ever since?"

"Indeed I have!" was the reply. "And I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to
extend your hospitality until morning. I have a friend who will be along
sometime tomorrow with a couple of light tents and a couple of burro
loads of provisions."

"Then you're going to camp in the mountains, I take it?"

"Yes," was the reply. "We're going farther in and take a rest and look
for a good sheep valley while we do so."

"You're welcome to remain here until your friend comes in!" answered
Will. "We have plenty of provisions."

"Then you are thinking of remaining in the mountains for some time?"
asked the stranger. "In that case we may meet often."

"I hope so," replied Will. "We are boys from Detroit having a little
vacation from the hills and it will be all the pleasanter if we have
congenial company. But sit down and eat. You must be hungry."

Kata fell to with an appetite and Tommy saw that his plate was
replenished as soon as it was emptied. While he was eating Sandy and
Will arose from the cloth, excused themselves and passed into one of the
tents, where Sandy stood regarding his companion with accusing eyes.

"Say," the boy asked, "are you getting to be such a liar that you just
can't tell the truth?"

"What's the