"Now, isn't this glorious?" exclaimed Archie, pulling off his sombrero,
and holding open his jacket, to catch every breath of the fresh morning
air. "Let's go faster. Yip! yip!"

The horses understood that yell. They had heard it before; and, knowing
that it meant a race, they set off at the top of their speed. But the
race was not a long one; for the old buffalo hunter, fast as he was,
soon fell behind. The gray flew over the ground, as swiftly as a bird on
the wing, and, after allowing him a free rein for a short distance, to
show Archie how badly he could beat him, Frank stopped, and waited for
him to come up.

The four miles were quickly accomplished, and, presently, the boys drew
up at the door of Mr. Harris's farm-house, where they found Johnny
waiting to receive them.

"How are you, strangers?" cried Johnny. "Get down and make those posts
fast to your horses, and come in."

This was the way travelers were welcomed in that country, where every
house was a hotel, and every farmer ready, at all times, to feed and
shelter a stranger.

"How is the rifle-shot, this morning?" continued Johnny, as he shook
hands with the boys; "and what news has the champion horseman to
communicate?"

"I didn't claim to be the champion horseman," said Archie, quickly. "I
am not conceited enough to believe that I can beat you riding wild
horses, but I'll tell you what I can do, Johnny. In a fair race from
here to the mountains, I can leave you a quarter of a mile behind."

"Well, come in, and wait till I saddle my horse, and we'll see about
that," said Johnny. "Until you came here, I could beat any boy in the
settlement. I give in to Frank, but I can show that ugly old buffalo
hunter of yours a pretty pair of heels. Boys!" he added, suddenly, "my
day's fun is all knocked in the head. See there!"

The cousins looked in the direction indicated, and saw a horseman
approaching at a rapid gallop. He was mounted on a large iron-gray,
which looked enough like Roderick to have been his brother, sat as
straight as an arrow in his saddle, and managed his fiery charger with
an ease and dexterity that showed him to be an accomplished rider.

"That's _Colonel_ Arthur Vane--a neighbor with whom you are not yet
acquainted," said Johnny, with strong emphasis on the word colonel. "He
is from Kentucky. His father came to this country about six months
since, and bought the rancho adjoining your uncle's. Arthur remained
here long enough for Di