his
Winchester in his left hand, while he extended his right in salutation.

"Howdy?" he said, heartily, as he took the hand of Fred Greenwood, who
advanced several paces to meet him. "I reckon you're the younkers I'm
waiting for."

"If you are Hank Hazletine, you are the man."

"That's the name I gin'rally go by; which one of you is Jack Dudley?"

"I am," replied that young gentleman.

"Then t'other one is Fred Greenwood, eh?" he asked, turning toward the
younger.

"You have our names right."

"Glad to know it; I got your letter and looked for you yesterday; have
been loafing 'round here since then."

"We were not sure of the exact time of our arrival and missed it by
twenty-four hours," said Jack; "I hope it caused you no inconvenience."

"Not at all--not at all. Wal, I s'pose you're ready to start for the
ranch, younkers?"

"We are at your disposal; we have quite a long ride before us."

"We have; it'll take us two or three days to git there, if all goes
well."

"Suppose all doesn't go well?" remarked Fred.

"We shall be longer on the road; and if it goes too bad we'll never git
there; but I ain't looking for anything like that. Where's your
baggage?"

Jack pointed to the two plump valises lying on the platform, near the
little building.

"That and what we have on us and in our hands make up our worldly
possessions."

"That's good," said Hazletine. "I was afeard you might bring a load of
trunks, which we'd had a purty time getting to the ranch; but there
won't be any trouble in managing them; I'll be right back."

He turned away, and soon reappeared, mounted on a fine, wiry pony, and
leading on either side a tough little animal, saddled and bridled and
ready for the boys.

"There ain't any better animals in Wyoming or Colorado," he explained;
"they can travel fast and fur a long time. We'll strap on that stuff and
be off."

There was no trouble in securing the baggage to the rear of the saddles,
when Jack and Fred swung themselves upon the backs of the ponies,
adjusted their Winchesters across the saddles in front, following the
suggestions of Hazletine, and announced themselves ready to set out on
the long ride northward. The animals struck into an easy canter, and a
few minutes later all signs of civilization were left behind them.

The boys were in buoyant spirits. There was just enough coolness in the
air to make the exercise invigorating. Here and there a few snowy flecks
dotted the b