Left on the Prairie

in the middle of the day, the nights were terribly cold, and Jack was glad enough to have the extra sheepskins to tuck round him which Pedro brought out f

for in the autumn, all along the mountain creeks, the leaves of the oak-scrub turn a brilli

ting, and its rays were spreading along the edge of the peaks, making it look as i

n. 'Ain't that a grand sight? D'ye know wh

ehow. It's a grand long name as

hich in English means "Blood of Christ"; and folks say they gave the Range that name becau

gly at the gorgeous scene before them. 'Sangre de Christo, Bl

, Buena Vista (Good View), Rosita (Little Rose), and Rio Dolores (River of Sorrow); or Smith's Park, Taylor's Creek, Gibson's Peak, and Georgetown, and such-like? Mr. Stuart w

' in 'em,' said Jack. 'I never saw anythin' like them mountains at

had quite faded out of the sky, and then tur

g out the tent, when he saw Pedr

'He's coming across the prairie in the spring waggon. Let's make

ogs, and they soon had a

sly, 'd'you think he'll take

ou sadly, lad. I believe I couldn't part with you if I did

you and Se?or,' said Jack, 'but I

though I'd give a good deal to keep you. But now we must

waited there. The waggon soon rattled up to them, and Jack sto

ing it this cold weather? Hop

turned Pedro; 'and how a

red with surprise at Jack's quaint little figure dressed in his leather suit. As he drove up he had noticed what he thought was a young Mexican by Pedro (a

, but got lost on the prairie in that bad thunderstorm we had about a couple o' months back. When Se?or and I found him, he had an attack o' mountain f

e, my boy?' aske

se, sir,' answered

when I come back. I'm going to look at the shee

antly at him, and he felt hopeful he would help him. While the men inspected the sheep, Jack made himself useful by carrying all the small things out of t

E HIMSELF

I like to see a lad make himself of use of his own free will. It shows he likes to work, witho

his story in a simple way, from the time he first started out from L

as he listened and learned how f

and reach your parents living at a place nearly three hundred miles away? I'm astonished that y

but there was a hurt expression on his open face which conv

us journey alone; but your straightforward answers have satisfied me, and I will gladly give you all the assistance I can. I'll take you back with me to my ranch; b

could not but feel sorry at the thought of saying good-bye to Pedro and Se?or,

was quite touching to see the parting between the boy and his two friends. Over and over agai

long day,' said Pedro, 'and d

aid little Jack, half crying. 'Good-bye, Pedro; g

he sat down to his supper the evening after Jack's departure. For some days he kept looking around at times, half expecting to see the well-known little figure playing about. Se?or, t

enjoyed himself very much. It was a nice change to be borne so fast over the prairie, an

easting on the carcase of a dead beast. He got very exci

engers, and are more like vultures than eagles. They are nasty creatures, but so useful in ca

here were about thirty of them, and they had picked nearly every p

marked Mr. Stuart. 'That beast had not l

time they reached the door of the ranch-house, he was lying

husband, and the bright blaze of light that streamed from the house l

ely,' said his wife. 'How did

look here, in the waggon! I've got

ndle curled up and asked, 'W

rm when you hear his story. He's quite tired out, so

on a sofa near a stove, where a fire was crackling merrily. Mrs. Stuart brought a soft blanket, and

M INTO A NIC

le he was eating it, he told his wife Jack's story. It at once roused her sympathy, and she said, 'Brave

next spring,' returned Mr. Stuart. 'It's very late now, and no one is

e must do our best to make him happy, an

Englishman dubiously. 'From what he told me, she must have been very ill when she left

ressed. 'I can't bear to think of such a sad thing. I a

trust he will find her strong and well. She ought to be proud of her son

rising and leading the way into the oth

thankful she will be to see him again, after such a long se

down, she kissed him lightly on the forehead. Jack s

o her husband, saying, 'Do you hear that, Tom? His thoughts are wi

to his mother,' said Mr. Stuart. 'I won

istening to his adventures. We must leave him now till to-morrow;' and with another