the doorway. Seeing him, as she thought,
neglecting his work, she seized him by the arm, and pulling him back
roughly into the kitchen, said angrily, 'You lazy imp, the moment my
back's turned you leave the washin'! I thought your uncle had taught
you a lesson two nights ago; an', mark you, I'll give you another
hidin' as you'll remember if I catch you shirkin' your work.'

But Jack cared nothing for her threatening words now. In the one
glimpse he had got through the doorway he had seen Steve galloping
past, and waving in his hand the red handkerchief of success.

Hope sprang high in the boy's heart, and with a bright smile on his
face he set to work once more at the dirty floor, scrubbing with a
will. Nothing put him out again that day. He carried pail after pail
of water through the hot sun without a sigh, although it blistered his
hands, for there was a great thought of joy to cheer him on: 'The last
time for her!'

When he met Steve in the evening he heard the waggon was to start at
daybreak, and Jeff Ralston, the miner, was willing to take him as far
as the mountains if he were there in time, but on no consideration
would he wait one moment for him.

'I'll be there, never fear!' exclaimed Jack joyfully.

'This Jeff seems a rough, good-natured fellow,' went on Steve, 'an'
he'll be kind to you, I guess, if he don't get drunk. He's like my
father when he's drunk: he ain't no use at all; but there isn't much to
drink on the prairie, so I expect you'll be all right.'

Jack was quite grateful enough to please Steve, although the little boy
did not know that his kind-hearted cousin had given the miner some of
his own hard-earned dollars to secure his goodwill towards the youthful
traveller.

'You'd better get home an' to bed now,' said Steve at last, 'or you'll
miss getting up in time. I hope you'll get through safe, Jack, an'
perhaps I'll come an' look you up myself some day.'

'Good-bye, Steve; I won't ever forget you, an' I'll tell Father an'
Mother how you helped me off to see them,' said Jack gratefully, and
after an affectionate farewell the cousins parted.

Jack went to bed directly he got into the house, but never a wink of
sleep did he get. He lay quite still for hours, until the deep
breathing through the thin partitions told him that the rest of the
family were slumbering soundly. Then he arose and dressed himself.
Making no noise, and carrying his boots and a blanket which was his own
prop