of the way; but though he's got his head screwed on right, an' he
has plenty of pluck, I doubt if he'll ever get as far as Cochetopa
Creek.'

'He's bound to go,' said Steve, 'an' I leave him now in _your_ trust,
Jeff.'

Steve could not help laying a slight emphasis on the _your_, when
speaking to Jeff, for there was no doubt his face had fallen
considerably when he perceived that Lem Adams was Jeff's mate. He had
known _two_ men were going, but Jeff Ralston was the only one he had
seen the day before, when he went over to the camp to negotiate on
Jack's behalf.

He had not thought of asking the other man's name, and now he was sorry
enough to find that Lem was one of Jack's companions. Some months
before, Steve had seen a good deal of Lem Adams in a mining town, and
disliked him intensely, having found him a bad, untrustworthy man. Lem
hated Steve, too, and the scowl on his face was not pleasant to see, as
he looked at the young cowboy.

Jack had jumped out of the back of the waggon upon Steve's arrival, and
now the latter pulled his horse round to where the boy stood, and
leaning from his saddle, he whispered, so that the others could not
hear, 'Look out as you don't vex that black-lookin' fellow. He's a
mean chap, and hates me, so I'm feared as he'll plague ye if he gets
the chance; but Jeff'll see as ye ain't bullied, if he don't get drunk.
Take this, lad; it may be useful; but don't let on as you have it.' He
slipped a small paper packet into Jack's hand, and shook his head
warningly to stop his words of thanks.

Then calling out, 'Good-bye, Jack. Keep a good heart up, an' good luck
go with you!' he put spurs to his horse and galloped away.

Jack stood gazing after him until he was lost to sight in a cloud of
dust; then, holding the packet tight in his hand, he remounted the
waggon, and they moved on once more over the dusty road.

It was August, and the hot sun poured down its relentless rays on the
prairie schooner and its occupants travelling slowly on; but Jack never
grumbled. He was happy enough, knowing that he had started out on his
long journey; and what cared he for the heat when he found himself
moving along the same road over which his dear father and mother had
travelled before?

But to return for a time to Longview. Jack's absence from his uncle's
house was not noticed until breakfast-time. When he was first missed,
the Byrnes concluded he had gone to look for the cow, as there was no