great confidence in you."
Jasper was not a little gratified by this assurance.
"I will try not to disappoint your expectations," he said, earnestly.
"I don't think you will."
"When do you want me to start?"
"To-morrow."
"I'll be ready," said Jasper, briskly.
"You can go a part of the way by rail, but only a part. It is a frontier
town, and you may have to ride horseback a part of the way. That I must
leave to your judgment."
"All the better," said Jasper.
"I see you don't mind roughing it," said Mr. Fitch.
"No; that's the best part of it."
"Well, you may go home now and make preparations. To-morrow morning come
to the office for instructions and money. One thing only I suggest
now--take as little baggage as possible. It would only be in your way."
"All right, sir. I've got a small knapsack that will hold all I want to
carry."
"Good! Be here to-morrow at nine o'clock."
At the appointed hour Jasper received his instructions and a certain sum
of money. He had provided himself with a belt, into which he put the
money to guard against possible robbery, carrying only a few dollars in
a pocket-book for outward show.
In explanation of these precautions it must be stated that the events
which I am describing took place some years since, when Kansas was more
sparsely settled and life less secure than at present.
He received his instructions, and set out on his journey, secretly
envied by other clerks who had been longer in the office than himself,
but who had not been complimented by having a similar trust reposed in
them.
We will follow him and see how he fares.
CHAPTER XXXV.
AN INDIAN MAIDEN.
From the information afforded by his employer Jasper was led to expect a
somewhat adventurous journey. He was not to be disappointed. As long as
he was in the well-settled part of the country he encountered no
difficulties nor adventures worth recording. Plattville, as already
stated, was a frontier town, and there was a large tract of almost
uninhabited country between it and the nearest settlement.
Late in the afternoon of the fourth day Jasper found himself standing on
the bank of a river which must be crossed. There was no boat in sight,
and he was puzzled what to do. While he was considering, a young Indian
girl glided by in a canoe. She handled the paddle dexterously and as one
who had been long accustomed to the exercise, though she did not look
more than twelve years of age.
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