ast. Several streams had to be crossed, the country in many places
was rough, and there was no stage line to help them. All this, however,
had been discounted before the boys left the city of Chicago, and what
they encountered was only what was expected, and only that for which
they were prepared.

Word having been sent in advance of their expected arrival, the first
act of the youths was to look around for the man or men who were to meet
and conduct them to the ranch. A few people were moving about the long,
low platform, several in the uniform of United States infantry and
cavalry, while a couple of Indians in blankets, untidy and sullen,
surveyed them with scowls. Few passengers were in the habit of leaving
the train at this point, so that some curiosity on the part of the
loungers was natural. Perhaps the agent at the station suspected them of
being runaways whose heads had been turned by stories of wild adventure,
and who had set out to annihilate the aborigines of the West; but if
such a fancy came to the man, it must have vanished when he noticed
their intelligent appearance and the completeness of their outfit. Boys
who start on such whimsical careers are never rightly prepared, and have
no conception of the absurdity of their schemes until it is forced upon
them by sad and woeful experience.

"Are you looking for any one?" asked the agent; respectfully.

"Yes, sir," replied Jack Dudley; "we are on our way to a ranch which
lies to the eastward of Camp Brown, not far from Wind River."

"May I ask your errand thither?"

"My father is part owner of the ranch, and we wish to visit it for a few
weeks."

"Ah, you are the young men that Hank Hazletine was asking about
yesterday. He has charge of Bowman's ranch."

"That's the place. What has become of Mr. Hazletine?"

"I think he is over at the fort, and will soon be here. He brought a
couple of horses for you to ride. Ah, here he comes now."

The boys saw the man at the same moment. He was walking rapidly from the
direction of the fort, and looking curiously at the youths, who surveyed
him with interest as he approached. He was full-bearded, tall, and as
straight as an arrow, dressed in cowboy costume, and the picture of
rugged strength and activity. His manner was that of a man who, having
made a mistake as to the hour of the arrival of the train, was doing his
best to make up for lost time.

Stepping upon the long, low platform, he walked toward the lads,