find her strong and well. She ought to be proud of
her son, for it's a plucky thing for such a child to attempt a journey
like this.'

'Come and look at him,' said the lady, rising and leading the way into
the other room, while her husband followed her.

'Poor little Jack!' she said softly, 'and poor mother! How thankful
she will be to see him again, after such a long separation! Fancy,
Tom, if it had been our own little laddie!'

Her heart went out to the sleeping boy, and bending down, she kissed
him lightly on the forehead. Jack stirred uneasily in his sleep and
muttered, 'Mother.'

The word brought tears to Mrs. Stuart's eyes as she turned again to her
husband, saying, 'Do you hear that, Tom? His thoughts are with her by
day, and he dreams of her at night. It is most touching.'

'He is certainly a devoted little chap to his mother,' said Mr. Stuart.
'I wonder what the children will think of him?'

'They will be delighted to have a playfellow, and I expect they will
never tire of listening to his adventures. We must leave him now till
to-morrow;' and with another tuck in of the blanket round the boy, they
left him still undisturbed for the night.

CHAPTER X.

JACK'S VISIT AT SWIFT CREEK RANCH.

The next morning Jack felt someone shaking him gently, and murmured
drowsily, 'I'm so sleepy, Pedro. It can't be time to get up yet;' and
then he opened his eyes to find Mr. Stuart standing by the sofa.

Jack woke up thoroughly at the sight of him, and remembering where he
must be, jumped up, exclaiming, 'Am I very late, sir?'

'No, my boy; but we have all finished breakfast, and as I felt sure you
must be ravenous after your long fast, I thought it wiser to wake you
up. You'll like to have a wash and a brush, and then come into the
kitchen.'

'Thank you, sir,' said Jack, following him, and after a good wash in a
big basin of clear creek water, he felt quite refreshed and terribly
hungry.

'There's the kitchen,' said Mr. Stuart, pointing to a door; 'find your
way in there and they'll give you your breakfast. I must go to the
corral.'

Jack walked to the house and knocked shyly at the door before entering.
Mrs. Stuart opened it and gave him a welcome.

'Come in, come in, Jack,' she said; 'I hope you are quite rested. I
saw you last night, but you were so tired and fast asleep, we decided
not to wake you up. We are very glad to see you here, and when you
have had your breakfast, you must mak