o be able to hold our own in case of an
argument up there."

"Oh, Mr. Brewster! Do you mean there is likely to be a fight, and
_shooting_?" cried Barbara, horrified at the very idea.

"Not so that you-all can notice it--if we get there first. But let those
claim-jumpers camp on our grounds first, and we-all may have to use
gun-persuasion to move them on to safer ground."

"Dear me, I think it is going to be more fun than a movie-picture play
in the filming!" exclaimed Eleanor, her eyes shining with excitement.

"I hope we won't have the same kind of gun-play that we see in the
wild-west films," hinted Anne Stewart, hitherto a listener.

"Would you rather remain here, Anne?" asked Barbara, with an eager
expression as if to say: "'I hope you do--then I will stay with you.'"

"I should say _no_! I wouldn't miss the picnic we are going to have,
to-morrow, for anything in Colorado!" declared Anne, emphatically.

Mrs. Brewster laughed at the young teacher's vehement tones, and then
turned to her husband with a suggestion.

"Sam, what do you think of sending Jeb on before, in the morning, to
tell Rattle-Snake Mike he must act as guide and cook for us while we are
on the mountain? He is the cleverest Indian anywhere about, you know."

"Just the thing, Mary! Ah'm mighty glad you-all thought of it. Jeb can
ride on whiles we-all branch off at Bear Forks for the Old Indian Trail.
Then Mike and Jeb can catch up with us."

"I don't know about that, Sam," returned Mrs. Brewster, thoughtfully.
"I'd rather see Jeb start from here about four o'clock, so Mike and he
can meet us at five-thirty at the school-house."

"You must have some good reason for that," ventured Polly.

"Yes, Mike may hear about this claim and leave his cabin early, so as to
act as guide to strangers who will be glad to pay him any price just to
get him and his wonderful scouting experience."

"Right as usual, Mary! Ah'll run out, right now, and tell Jeb he'd
better get to bed if he has to be up before four," exclaimed Mr.
Brewster, starting for the bedroom over the barn where he knew Jeb would
be.

"And we had better go to bed, too, so we can be up and have breakfast
out of the way before the horses are brought to the door," suggested
Mrs. Brewster, leading the way to the front door to look at the night
sky.

"Why, it isn't eight o'clock," complained Barbara.

"No, but even that leaves us less than eight hours' sleep. After such
exciting days as we