eme was the invention of the white man, who found a
willing partner in the vagrant Sioux, who burned with enmity toward the
youth. It was Tozer who made the mistake of supposing that the father of
Fred was half-owner of the ranch, and, therefore, presumably a rich man.
Tozer had formed the plan of the abduction while at Bowman's ranch, and
showed by his promptness that he had not allowed the grass to grow under
his feet.

These meditations occupied but a few minutes, when the cowman walked
toward Jack, who, seeing him approaching, advanced to meet him.
Hazletine felt that the change of conditions made it necessary to talk
more freely than heretofore with the boy.

"Hank, it seems to me we are throwing away time," said the youth, a
trifle impatiently.

"I'm not so sure of that, younker. I've news fur you."

The guide had a good memory, and he repeated, almost word for word, all
that had been said by Tozer and himself. Jack was astounded. His first
emotion was of profound gratitude and delight, for the interview seemed
to establish that Fred Greenwood was alive, and consequently within
reach of recovery.

"He's not dead!" exclaimed the happy lad; "thank Heaven for that! I
shall soon see him! It seems too good to be true."

"It isn't best to be sartin of anything in this world," remarked his
friend, with a gravity of expression that ought to have chilled the
ardor of Jack, but it did not. The tidings were too exhilarating for
that.

"Now, younker," added the man, "we've got more time on our hands than we
know what to do with. Come over by the fire and set down fur a while.
How's that appetite of yours?"

"I am beginning to feel hungry."

"I thought so," observed Hank, with a smile.

"But there's no hurry. I can wait a little while."

"You'll have to."

"Now tell me who this man Tozer is?"

"Wal, he's a reg'lar Motoza, except in blood. I run across him five
years ago in Arizona, where he had been in the stage-robbin' bus'ness.
Things got so hot he had to git out. I didn't hear anything more of him
till I was driving cattle in Montana, when I discovered he was one of
the worst rustlers in that part of the world. I'm sartin he has done a
good many things fur which he ought to hang, but he's more cunning in
his way than the Sioux, and has kept out of the penitentiary when anyone
else would have been doing a life-term. Bill is a great gambler, and has
made and lost fortunes, but he is always out of money and fi