ether. He won upon my
confidence, and I told him everything. He was very comfortably fixed
himself, he told me, and was glad he had fallen in with me, as he had
been afraid of being robbed on the journey. All went pleasantly for
three days, but on the morning of the fourth day when I awoke I found
myself alone. A little startled, I felt for my gold, which I carried in
a belt around my waist. It was gone, and so was my horse. Of course you
guess how it happened. My companion had robbed me during the night, and
left me in the woods utterly destitute."

"What was the name of your companion?" asked Obed quickly.

"He called himself Fletcher."

"I thought so!" exclaimed Obed, slapping his leg with emphasis. "We know
the gentleman a little ourselves."

CHAPTER IX.

A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE.

"You have not met Dick Fletcher?" said Ralph Granger in surprise.

"Yes, we only parted from him this morning."

"Did he rob you?"

"No, but he tried to."

Here Obed gave an account of Fletcher's searching his pockets during the
night.

"He thought I was sound asleep," he continued, "and so I was, but it
doesn't take much to wake me. When I gripped his throat, he concluded
he'd tackled the wrong man."

"Did you part company with him then?"

"No; he pretended he had been in search of matches, and I pretended to
believe it, but kept a good look-out. Last evening we stopped at the
Travellers' Rest, and Harry, here, overheard him and the landlord out in
the woods concocting a scheme to rob us, so I just told the gentleman
his room was better than his company, and he cleared out."

"I am afraid he will turn up again," said Granger apprehensively.

"We'll try to be ready for him," said Obed coolly, "but I don't mean to
borrow any trouble."

By this time their new acquaintance had satisfied his hunger. He turned
gratefully to Obed Stackpole.

"How can I thank you for your great kindness?" he said earnestly. "I
feel that you have saved my life."

"Tut, tut." said Obed, "I've only done as you would have done in my
place. Obed Stackpole isn't the man to let anyone go hungry when he has
enough and to spare. But finish your story, my friend. How long is it
since you parted company with that skunk, Fletcher?"

"I think it is only seven days, but it has seemed a month."

"And didn't you meet anybody humane enough to relieve your hunger?".

"Yes, during the first four days, but not for the last three. Part of
the time I