's my pastor; my pastor. Biggest church, greatest crowds in the
city. Well what would Sarah and the girls say!" He stood there
gasping and shaking with laughter, until Old Matt, finding the
ridiculous side of the situation, joined in with a guffaw that
fairly drowned the sound of the little man's merriment.

When they finally moved on again, the Doctor said, "And you never
knew? The papers were always full, always. His real name is--"

"Stop!" Old Matt spoke so suddenly and in such a tone that the
other jumped in alarm. "I ain't a meanin' no harm, Doc; but you
oughtn't to tell his name, and--anyway I don't want to know.
Preacher or no preacher, he's a man, he is, and that's what counts
in this here country. If Dad had wanted us to know about himself,
I reckon he'd a told us, and I don't want to hear it until he's
ready."

The Doctor stopped short again, "Right, sir; right. Daniel has his
reasons, of course. I forgot. That savage at the Postoffice tried
to interrogate me; tried to draw me. I was close; on guard you
see. Fellow in the wagon tried; still on guard. You caught me.
Blast it all, I like you! Fine specimen that boy of yours; fine!"

When they reached the top of the ridge the stranger looked over
the hills with exclamations of delight, "Grand, sir; grand! Wish
Sarah and the girls could see. Don't wonder Daniel staid. That
Hollow down there you say; way down there? Mutton--Mutton Hollow?
Daniel lives there? Blast it all; come on, man; come on."

As they drew near the house, Pete came slowly up the Old Trail and
met them at the gate.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

OLD FRIENDS.

After supper Young Matt guided the stranger down the trail to the
sheep ranch in Mutton Hollow.

When they reached the edge of the clearing, the mountaineer
stopped. "Yonder's the cabin, sir, an' Dad is there, as you can
see by the smoke. I don't reckon you'll need me any more now, an'
I'll go back. We'll be mighty glad to see you on the ridge any
time, sir. Any friend of Dad's is mighty welcome in this
neighborhood."

"Thank you; thank you; very thoughtful; very thoughtful, indeed;
fine spirit, fine. I shall see you again when Daniel and I have
had it out. Blast it all; what is he doing here? Good night, young
man; good-night." He started forward impetuously. Matt turned back
toward home.

The dog barked as Dr. Coughlan approached the cabin, and the
shepherd came to the open door. He had been washing the supper
dishes. His co