before the cabin could be occupied. But he had made
all his plans and measurements in anticipation; nothing had been
neglected.

Long before he had decided finally to return to the wilds--long ago, in
the irksome social life of London--he had dreamt of this possible cabin
hidden in the peaceful seclusion of the forest, where he could study the
ways of the birds and beasts, where he could live the life of a lonely
scout and trapper, hunting or fishing for his own food, cooking his own
meals, doing everything for himself without the help of servants. And
now his dream was coming true.

CHAPTER V

BLAZING THE TRAIL

The day after the arrival of his outfit was a Sunday, and he did no
unnecessary work. But on the Sunday afternoon he saddled one of the
prairie ponies and rode along the trail to Fort Laramie. Here he
presented his licence to the agent of the Pony Express Company and
asked to be engaged in the place of Jim Thurston, until Jim was able to
resume his job.

Kiddie's name was prominent in the records, his reputation as an
Express rider was not forgotten, and his request was readily granted.

"You'll start on Jim's western section five o'clock in the mornin',"
the agent intimated. "Thar's a dispatch--a very important Gov'ment
dispatch--comin' along. I'm givin' you the responsibility of carryin'
it to Drifting Smoke Crossing, where you'll transfer the mails to Roger
Picknoll. You'll find relay ponies waitin' as per usual at the stages
along the trail. And, say, you gotter be some keerful."

Kiddie smiled.

"D'you mean more'n ordinary careful?" he asked. "Isn't an Express
rider always careful?"

"You've hit it," nodded the agent. "I sure means more'n or'nary
keerful. Not only because of the dispatch. Nobody excep' the Gov'ment
keers a red cent 'bout that docyment. But thar's a gang o' road
agents--robbers an' horse thieves--at work along thar. They're liable
t' interfere with any rider, no matter who or what he may be, on the
chance of findin' valu'bles about him. Attacked a innercent, peaceful
traveller only last week, they did; robbed him, took his pony, an' left
him lyin' gagged an' bound an' senseless."

"Any idea who they are?" Kiddie inquired. "What's their partic'lar way
of workin'?"

"By all accounts they got a many ways," said the agent. "I dunno just
which report ter believe. One says they've the habit of disguisin'
theirselves as Red Injuns, another holds as they goes