s
feet; and then in the fewest possible words I told him what I
wanted of him,--to find if the pony I had ridden (Camp's or
Baldwin's) was in town and, if so, to learn where it was, and to
get the letters on the quiet from under the saddle-flap. I chose
this man, first, because I could trust him, and next, because I
had only one of the Cullens as an alternative, and if any of them
went sneaking round, it would be sure to attract attention. "The
moment you have the letters, put them in the station safe," I
ended, "and then get word to me."

"And where'll you be, Mr. Gordon?" asked the man.

"Is there any place about here that's a safe hiding spot for a
few hours?" I asked. "I want to stay till I'm sure those letters
are safe, and after that I'll steal on board the first train that
comes along."

"Then you'll want to be near here," said the man. "I'll tell you,
I've got just the place for you. The platform's boarded in all
round, but I noticed one plank that's loose at one end, right at
this nigh corner, and if you just pry it open enough to get in,
and then pull the board in place, they'll never find you."

"That will do," I said; "and when the letters are safe, come out
on the platform, walk up and down once, bang the door twice, and
then say, 'That way freight is late.' And if you get a chance,
tell one of the Cullens where I'm hidden."

I crossed the platform boldly, jumped down, and walked away. But
after going fifty feet I dropped down on my hands and knees and
crawled back. Inside of two minutes I was safely stowed away
under the platform, in about as neat a hiding-place as a man
could ask. In fact, if I had only had my wits enough about me to
borrow a revolver of the man, I could have made a pretty good
defence, even if discovered.

Underneath the platform was loose gravel, and, as an additional
precaution, I scooped out, close to the side-boarding, a trough
long enough for me to lie in. Then I got into the hole, shovelled
the sand over my legs, and piled the rest up in a heap close to
me, so that by a few sweeps of my arm I could cover my whole
body, leaving only my mouth and nose exposed, and those below the
level. That made me feel pretty safe, for, even if the cowboys
found the loose plank and crawled in, it would take uncommon good
eyesight, in the darkness, to find me. I had hollowed out my
living grave to fit, and if I could have smoked, I should have
been decidedly comfortable. Sleep I dared not