TRUDER

"FRIZZLE ME IF IT AIN'T KIDDIE OF THE CAMP!" CRIED KEARNEY

"I'VE GOT HIM, SURE; HE AIN'T GOIN' TER WRIGGLE AWAY"

KIDDIE REACHED FOR THE SQUARE OF PAPER

"LOOKS TO ME LIKE SHERIFF BLAGG," SAID KIDDIE

HE SPOKE TO THE CROWS IN THEIR OWN TONGUE

CHAPTER I

THE MYSTERIOUS SNIPER

"A pity Kiddie ain't here along of us, to help. He'd sure tell us if
thar's Injuns prowlin' around. My old eyes ain't just what they used
ter be for spottin' a crawlin' Redskin from afar. Now, Kiddie had eyes
like spy-glasses, hadn't he, Isa? As for his sense of hearin'--well, I
allow he c'd 'most hear the grass a-growin'."

Old Man Birkenshaw was peering searchingly through the dim light of the
early dawn, expecting at any moment to see the feathered head of a
stealthy Indian warrior moving among the deep shadows. From where he
lay on the dewy grass beside the crowded horse-corral, with his
repeating rifle across his arm, he searched into the darkness of the
larch woods and down the misty slopes to the thick line of bushes
bordering the hidden creek.

"Yes," he went on, speaking in a cautious undertone, "Kiddie was a
marvel."

"That's so," agreed the man stationed next to him, "a marvel for
scoutin', he was. Like a cat, too."

"A cat?"

"Yes," Isa Blagg nodded, "allus fell on his feet, didn't he? He allus
came out on top. I never knew such a one fer turnin' up right on the
spot whenever there was danger hangin' around."

"Wonder where he is now?" sighed Gideon Birkenshaw.

"Why, away in England, of course," drawled Isa. "In England without a
doubt, occupyin' that thar comfortable seat of his in the House of
Lords, wearin' a gold coronet an' a gold watch an' chain, an' a robe
trimmed round with ermine skins; livin' in the grand style with all
them high an' mighty aristocratic friends of his; never givin' a
thought ter this yer camp here in the wilds of Wyoming, or to Laramie
Peak, or to you, or to me."

"Mebbe so--mebbe so," mused Gideon. "I allow it's a long, long while
since I'd a letter from him--not since that time when he sent me the
Arab mare. Seems as if he'd clean forgotten me, though I never
reckoned as Kiddie would ever forget. He ain't that sort."

"Hullo!" Isa Blagg was suddenly alert. "What's that? Listen! D'ye
hear it, Gid--a horse gallopin' along the trail--comin' this way?
Listen!"

The two men lay perfectly still and silent. From afar they could hear
the unmistakable sound o