to know it by
heart. Yes, or in America. I'd rather puzzle it all out, up in here,
than read anything else that we get in by mail.

"My dad was all over here in early days. Many a tale he told of the
placers and the road agents--yes, and of the Vigilantes, too, that
cleaned out the road agents and made it safe in here, to travel or
live."

"Was your father a Vigilante, sir?" asked Jesse.

"Well now, son," grinned Billy, "since you ask me, I more'n half believe
he was! But you couldn't get any of those old-time law-and-order men to
_admit_ they'd ever been Vigilantes. They kept it mighty secret. Of
course, when the courts got in, they disbanded. But they'd busted up the
old Henry Plummer's gang and hung about twenty of the road agents, by
that time. They was some active--both sides."

At last the party, after a week of steady horse work, pitched their
little camp about mid-afternoon at the crest of a little promontory from
which they commanded a marvelous view of the great valley of the Three
Forks. On either hand lay a beautiful river, the Gallatin at their feet,
a little town not far, the Jefferson but a little way.

"I know where this is!" exclaimed John. "I know----"

"Not a word, John!" commanded Uncle Dick. "Enjoy yourselves now, in
looking at this valley. After we've taken care of the horses and made
camp, I'll see how much you know."

CHAPTER XXIII

SUNSET ON THE OLD RANGE

They completed their camp on the high point which they had reached.
Billy brought in Nigger's panniers full of wood for the cooking fire,
and they had water in the desert bag which always was part of their camp
equipment, so they needed not seek a more convenient spot; nor would
they have exchanged this for any other.

"We've seen many a view, fellows," said John, as the three stood near
the edge of the little promontory almost in the village, "but of them
all, in any country, all up this river, and all the way north to Kadiak
Island, or to the Arctic Circle--nothing that touches this."

They had hurriedly finished their evening meal. Their robes were spread
on the ground, their guns and rod cases lay at the saddles or against
the panniers. Their maps, journals, and books lay on the robes before
them. But they all turned to take in the beauties of the summer sunset
now unfolding its vast screen of vivid coloring in the West. Thence they
looked, first up one valley and then another, not so much changed, in
spite of the oc