ou had done everything that fell to
your share."

"Everything but locking up this door, sir, and here are the keys," cried
the American, holding up a leather bag, in which he jingled the hammer
and a few of the big nails within.

"That's right," cried the doctor. "Now then," he shouted, "every one
tighten his mustang's girths a hole or two, and sling his rifle across
his back before mounting. Got your revolvers, boys?"

"Yes, father--yes, sir!" came in response, and the next minute
half-a-dozen rough-looking wiry cobs were being unhitched and led out
through the low doorway, to stand champing their big bits, fidgeting to
be mounted and given their heads for a canter.

"Every one see that his bag and blanket are all right," cried the
doctor; and then Griggs' voice was heard.

"Some one take my nag's rein," he said. "Will you, Squire Chris?"

For answer the boy reached out and took hold of the strap, casting his
eye over the sturdy little steed, which seemed too small to carry so
tall a man as its rider.

Chris noted that there was the long hide lasso-rope curled up and
hanging in its place by the saddle-bow, and that the saddle-bags were in
their places, carefully strapped on, so that a tin bucket, which was
also hung behind, should rest on one and not prove a nuisance to horse
or rider.

Ned was close to his companion, and he said--

"I say, it would have been much better if we had kept to our old idea
and had, say, three light mule-carts. What a lot of these odds and ends
we could have stowed out of the way."

"I said so to old Griggs," replied Chris, and then he was silent.

"Well, what did he say?"

"Only grinned at first."

"Well, what then?"

"He said it would have taken so long and been so expensive, because we
should have had to send an army of men on first to make a road all the
way we were going."

"Which means he was laughing at you."

"Grinning, I call it. But I suppose he's right, because when you come
to think of it, there'll be no track, and a lot of our travelling will
be in and out among the mountains. There, that's the last door," said
Chris with a sigh, as there was a loud bang following the creaking of
hinges that had been rarely used. Directly after, Griggs' hammer came
into play, making the horses restive and back away from the noise to the
full extent of their reins.

"Yes," said Ned, with a sigh, "the last door. I say, Chris, now it has
come to it, don't you feel a b