drew quickly back in a half-grin.

"Ashby's after Johnson," presently he said with a savage little laugh.
"Nick, he was watchin' that greaser . . . Took him ten minutes to saddle
up--Johnson has ten minutes' start"--He broke off abruptly and ended
impatiently with: "Oh, Lord, they'll never get him! He's a wonder on the
road--you've got to take your hat off to the damn cuss!" And with a dig
at the other's ribs that was half-playful, half-serious, he was off in
pursuit of Ashby.

A moment later the miners began to pile in for school, whooping and
yelling, their feet covered with snow. Sonora led with an armful of
wood, which he deposited on the floor beside the stove; then came
Handsome Charlie and Happy Halliday, together with Old Steady and Bill
Crow, who immediately dropped on all fours and began to play leap-frog.

"Boys gatherin' for school," observed Trinidad, hurriedly opening the
door; and while the men proceeded to flock in, he got into his jacket
which lay on a chair beside the teacher's desk.

"Here, Trin, here's the book!" cried out Happy Halliday; and the book,
which was securely tied in a red cotton handkerchief, went flying
through the air.

In those few words the signal was given; the fun was on in earnest.
Instantly the miners--veritable school-boys they were, so genuine was
their merriment--braced themselves for a catch of the book, which had
landed safely in Trinidad's hands. Now it was aimed at Sonora, who
caught it on the fly; from Sonora it travelled to Old Steady, who sent
it whizzing over to Handsome. Now the Deputy made ready to receive it;
but instead it landed once more in Sonora's hands amidst cheers of "Come
on, Sonora! Whoopee! Whoop!"

"Sh-sh-sh, boys!" warned the Deputy as Sonora was about to send the book
on another expedition through the air; "here comes the noo scholar from
Watson's."

An ominous hush fell upon the room. One could have heard a pin drop as
the school settled itself down with anticipatory grins that said, "What
won't we do to Bucking Billy!" Therefore, there was not an eye that was
not upon the new pupil when with dinner-pail swinging on one arm and the
other holding tightly onto a small slate, he slowly advanced towards
them.

"Did you ever play Lame Soldier, m' friend?" was Sonora's greeting,
while the miners crowded around them.

"No," replied the big, raw-boned, gullible-looking fellow with a grin.

"We'll play it after school; you'll be the stirrup," promi