iew with Steve the
next day, he fell asleep and forgot his troubles.

CHAPTER III.

JACK'S RESOLUTION.

Jack could hardly get up the next morning, he was so stiff and bruised
from the beating his uncle had given him, but he was not the kind of
boy to moan and groan in bed. He dragged himself up and dressed, and
after washing and dipping his head into cool water in the back yard, he
felt better, and soon got to work, lighting the fire and getting the
things ready for breakfast. He rather dreaded meeting his Uncle Mat,
but although the man looked surly enough, he did not allude to the
occurrence of the previous evening, and after breakfast, to Jack's
relief, he left the house. The day seemed longer than usual, but Jack
finished his work at last, and hastened away to the place where he and
Steve had arranged to meet.

His cousin was already waiting there, lying on the ground, lazily
watching his horse quietly grazing the herbage near. He hailed Jack
heartily.

'Well! how did you get on last night?'

'Very badly, Steve,' returned the boy, and related how he had been
treated. Great was Steve's indignation when he heard what had taken
place and looked at Jack's bruised back.

'Poor little lad!' he said pityingly. 'He has been hard on you, I can
see. He licked me once in a rage, an' I wouldn't stay a day longer in
his house, for I hadn't done wrong. I saw him to-day, an' we had a
terrible row over you. I gave him a piece o' my mind about the way he
was keepin' you from your folks under false pretences.'

'Steve!' cried Jack suddenly, a ray of joy crossing his face, 'I've got
a plan in my head. You ran away from home, an' why shouldn't _I_?'

'Aye! but I was a big fellow over sixteen, an' you're but a little un,
not much more than a baby yet,' returned Steve.

'But I shouldn't be afraid to try,' declared Jack stoutly. 'I might
get lifts from folks goin' along the road.'

'You're right there,' exclaimed Steve. 'It isn't such a bad idea after
all. You're a plucky boy, for I never thought as you had the grit to
make a bolt on it. If you're sure you aren't frightened to go so far
alone, I do believe as I might be able to help you a bit on your way.'

'Could you, Steve?' cried Jack. 'Oh! do tell me how.'

'Well! There's a waggon here now belongin' to some miners who are on
their way to the "Rockies" to prospect. I know one o' them, an' it
would be a grand scheme if he would let you go along wit