horseback approaching the place where he was standin

red the presence of any one besides himself in the defile, the first imp

man could be doing among the foothills of the Rockies, so far from companions and civilization, was something he was unable to conjecture. The bundles on the backs of the horses indicated that it might be possible that he had come with a purpose not

from sight. As soon as the man turned the bend, however, he discovered Reuben before hi

?" demanded

," replied Reuben, laughing in a manner that serv

have told you that much," said th

Benton," acknowledg

discovered that apparently there was only one man approaching, Reuben's

doing here?"

g to g

id you c

a buffalo herd and my horse fell in a prairie-do

't alone,

N

as wit

for a little while, but then th

s with you befor

n Ba

o's

rapp

he? Well, has he e

es

he sell h

he trading-post and sometime

d he the on

laugh. "And he isn't here no

id you l

night to shoot one or two buffaloes. I got one and then I chased along after another, but

you can find it now

oke he glanced in the direction in which it seemed

," began the stranger, "t

ver been he

nd large in every way, threw back his head and emitted

I took in over one thousand beaver skins. I shot more than two hundred buffaloes. I

ain that the newcomer was a man of great physical strength, and his exploits, which he described in a loud voice, were not a

-handed and alone, and then, again, I've fought them when there were hundreds of them together. I thought at first I would go up along the Oregon this trip,

ntry out here?" inqu

giant, "but there aren't many who will dispute

hat's just what

are you plan

n. Then I suppose we'll start pretty soon for th

trespass on any

on, and a moment later the newcomer sa

Reuben. "I was just

e you got

e and some str

d the giant. "I'll do you a good turn even if I shan't l

oved the saddle from the horse he was riding. The pack-la

ere and help you with you

the pieces of buffalo meat had been cooked and the repast was ready, Reuben discovered how capable the giant was to "help" in disposing of the food which he had provided. Indeed, Rat wa

, the giant remarked: "Then you think

to look

en me a bite, now I'll take the pack off of one o' the ponies and let you saddle it, and then

ast I knew," l

ully adjusted his saddle to the pony of his companion they decided to leave the rem

g. "You asked me a spell ago did I own these streams out here where I'm trapping. I told you I didn't know as I did, but I likewis

to be any here, are t

here, ar

es

r fellow that was wit

trying to find ou

ill be here, too. Now, let me tell you that there isn't anybody in crea

stop it?" in

d down an ox. If anything happens to that fist, then I have got something else to fall back upon," and with a loud laugh the giant h

he explained had once been a bayonet, but by repeated filings had been reduced to it

"or, rather, that time when he was hugging me, do y

e it?" inqu

ce though when he doubled over, so I guess he didn't feel so b

mean by 'pr

s a doo

can't be any deader, ca

n him all to pieces, and couldn't find as much as a nail or a tooth left, I guess he would be deader t

t fe

t you were with-t

n Co

where you

es

rd o' Kit

uben eagerly. "I know

long

r not long before we left. Indee

were unnaturally small, contracted as he spoke,

do better not to go with a crow

of yours

d," suggested Reuben, "and that you wanted t

ference when I say it and when

the diff

upon his companion. "There are better men than you

a good many q

e by askin' 'em?" demanded

t y

ou mean by

not

had started, and still Reuben was unable to recognize any signs of the loc

ting toward a spot not far away, he excitedly d