Part 6 (1/2)
”Yes”
”Then we had better move on”
Joe akened, and leaped to his feet, looking rather bewildered
”I--I thought I'd take a little nap,” he staood while, haven't I?”
”About an hour and a half,” answered his cousin ”Here's your dinner,”
and he passed it over ”We've got to move on Those rascals are behind us”
”Behind us!”
”Don't get scared,” put in old Benson ”They are a good distance back
Darry discovered 'em from yonder p'int Eat what you want, and then it will be tih to start”
The repast was quickly disposed of by Joe, and soon they were in the saddle once reatly, and he said he would now be able to ride as far as anybody
On they went, the trail growing ained Here there was a stiff breeze that at tih to button their jackets tightly around them
If all ell Benson calculated that they could reach Hank Leeson's place with ease before dark This was the cabin of an old hunter and trapper as known from one end of the Territory to the other Asof this tale, Leeson's place enty h,” said the old scout ”But you boys couldn't do it If you tried it, you'd be so sore and stiff the next day you couldn't stand up”
CHAPTER VII
AT HANK LEESON'S CABIN
At first the boys were inclined to think that the old scout was mistaken--that they could ride as far as anybody But when, shortly after sunset, they calad to think that they would have to ride no more for the present
”I'm sore already,” whispered Darry to his cousin
”So am I--but I didn't want Benson to know it,” was the loer
”That last h”
Hank Leeson had seen the, and stood at the doorway of his cabin, rifle in hand He was a tall, thin ly sharp and shrewd When he recognized Sam Benson he dropped his firearlad ter see ye!” he said, shaking hands ”Salad to see you, Hank,” responded Benson, just as wars been with you?”
”Putty slow, to tell the truth” Leeson looked at the boys ”Two tenderfoots along, I see”
”Yes This is Joe Moore, brother to the captain up at the fort, and this is Darry Germain, his cousin Boys, this is Hank Leeson, the best trapper and all-around shot in these parts”
”Oh, come, don't be a-praisin' rip that ood as anybody, Sam” He looked the boys over ”Glad to know ye, lads I know Captain Moore downright well, and he's a good soldier”
”I've got news, Hank,” put in the old scout ”Joe fell in with Matt Gilroy's gang down near Buckwater Run”