Left on the Prairie

nd 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 rathe

shed his work at last, and hastened away to the

the ground, lazily watching his horse quietly g

id you get o

had been treated. Great was Steve's indignation when he he

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

ossing his face, 'I've got a plan in my head.

en, an' you're but a little un, not muc

eclared Jack stoutly. 'I might get li

oy, for I never thought as you had the grit to make a bolt on it. If you're sure you aren't f

?' cried Jack. 'O

ir way to the "Rockies" to prospect. I know one o' them, an' it would be

ute they want to go, an' I promise I won't give 'em

t they're somewhere on the Cochetopa Creek, but I reckon if you do get that far as you'll find 'em. I'll see the miner to-morrow. He's campin' t'other side o' the village. I guess he w

s arms round the cowboy's neck and hugging him. 'I t

t woman gets wind o' our plans, it'll be all up, for she ain't goin' to give up a slavey like

on Jack's behalf, and if the man agreed to let the boy go with him to the mountains, Steve was

ontemplating for a little child. Jack had no notion of the distance it was to his parents' new home, and

in her eyes, and being in a state of anxious excitement himself over the result of Steve's mission, he made some tr

kily for him, Mrs. Byrne came in from the garden at that moment and met him at 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 angril

glimpse he had got through the doorway he had seen Steve gallop

rubbing with a will. Nothing put him out again that day. He carried pail after pail of water through the hot sun without

and Jeff Ralston, the miner, was willing to take him as far as the mountains if

ever fear!' excla

u, I guess, if he don't get drunk. He's like my father when he's drunk: he ain't no use

d not know that his kind-hearted cousin had given the miner some of his ow

you'll miss getting up in time. I hope you'll get through safe

r an' Mother how you helped me off to see them,' said Jack gra

s 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 o

UT OF HIS

orses tethered near by long ropes. Close up under the waggons he saw the figures of two men sleeping on the ground, and not wishing to

the ground, and was not sorry to see a nice fire of sticks burning near him. A man was putting a kettle o

ou the young un as Steve Byrne came to inquire about? You wan

to my father. He's way over in the San

om here, an' you'll have to cross the "Rockies," too. Say, Lem,' he called out, 'here's an e

companion, who had been looking after

st listen to me, boy! A kid like you can never travel so far.

ng back for no one. If you won't take me I'll go on an' walk. My father s

as sure as my name's Jeff

atiently. 'I'd better harness up the team whi

me oatmeal porridge. Here, kid, go to the w

ook here! Ye're a sharp lad, an' I'm glad I promised Steve Byrne as I'd do my best for you. All the same, I'm a bit afraid as to how Le

nd one of his escort inclined to be so friendly, and ho

hat he intended to take 'the kid' along, he only received a disapproving 'Humph' in return. Jack, distrusting t