him?"

"Depend upon all of us for that, mum," replied Buffle.

"Thank you," said she, and departed as suddenly as she had entered,
leaving the men staring stupidly at each other.

"Wonder how she got here from the crossin'?" finally remarked one.

"Ef she came alone, she's got a black ride back," said another. "It's
nigh onto fourteen miles to that crossin'."

"An' she orten't to be travelin' at all," said little Muggy, the
smallest man of the party. "I'm a family man--or I wuz once--an' I tell
yer she ort to be where she ken keep quiet, an' wait for what's comin'
soon."

The men glanced at each other significantly, but without any of the
levity which usually follows such an announcement in more cultured
circles.

"This game's up, boys," said Buffle, rising suddenly. "The stage don't
reach the crossin' till noon, an' she is goin' to hev this shanty to
stay in till daylight, anyhow. You fellers had better git, right away."

Saying which, Buffle hurried out to look for Mrs. Berryn. He soon
overtook her, and awkwardly said:

"Mum!"

She stopped.

"Yer don't need to start till after daylight to reach that stage, mum,
an' you'd better come back and rest yerself in my shanty till mornin'."

"I am very much obliged, sir," she replied, "but--"

"Don't be afeard, mum," said Buffle, hastily. "We're rough, but a lady's
as safe here as she'd be among her family. Ye'll have the cabin all to
yerself, an' I'll leave a revolver with yer to make yer feel better."

"You are very kind, sir, but--it will take me some time to get back."

"Horse lame, p'r'aps?"

"No, sir; the truth is, I walked."

"Good God!" ejaculated Buffle; "I'll kill any scoundrel of a
station-agent that'll let a woman take such a walk as this. I'll take
you back on a good horse before noon to-morrow, and I'll put a hole
through that rascal right before your eyes, mum."

Mrs. Berryn shuddered, at sight of which Buffle mentally consigned his
eyes to a locality boasting a superheated atmosphere, for talking so
roughly to a lady.

"Don't harm him, Mr. Buffle," said she. "He knew nothing about it. I
asked him the road to Fat Pocket Gulch, and he pointed it out. He did
not know but what I had a horse or a carriage. Unfortunately, the stage
was robbed the day before yesterday, and all my money was taken, or I
should not have walked here, I assure you. My passage is paid to San
Francisco, and the driver told me that if I wished to come down here,
the n