over ridges
above the snow line, across table lands, through forests of pine and
cedar and tumultuous mountain torrents, where he took his life in his
hands every time he made the venture.

The unerring marksmanship of Vose and his alertness reduced the danger
from the fierce grizzly bears and ravening mountain wolves to the
minimum, but the red men were an ever present peril. He had served as
the target of many a whizzing arrow and stealthy rifle shot, but thus
far had emerged with only a few insignificant hurts. He was ready at
the stated times to set out on his journey, and appeared indeed to
welcome the change in the existence which otherwise became tiresome
and monotonous. It mattered not that his friends often intimated that
he was starting on his last venture of that nature, for he believed
that his "time" had been set and it mattered naught what he did, since
it could not be changed.

Vose explained that the cause of his last delay was the old
one--Indians. They had pursued and pestered him so persistently that
he was compelled to hunt out a new trail, longer and more difficult
that the old one, and which came within a hair of landing him into the
very camp of his enemies. However, everything had turned out well, and
he brought with him the most prized cargo that ever arrived in New
Constantinople.

First of all, were the two casks of freight, which had suffered so
slight leakage, that Landlord Ortigies complimented the vigilance of
the messenger. Then he brought with him fully a hundred letters and
newspapers. Each citizen received one, and many had several. In every
instance, the grateful recipient paid Vose a dollar for his mail, so
that the reward was generous, including as it did a liberal honorarium
from the proprietor of the Heavenly Bower.

In addition to the mail and freight, there were a number of articles
to which no special reference is needed. In one package, however,
every one was deeply interested, and Nellie Dawson more than the
others. Unknown to the father, a goodly sum had been entrusted to
Adams, with which to purchase such articles as it was believed the
child needed. These included material for numerous new dresses of
gorgeous pattern, stockings, shoes, slippers, ribbons, hats and even
gloves, trinkets and playthings beyond enumeration.

When these were spread out before the little one, she clapped her
hands and danced with delight. She had never dreamed of or seen such
bewildering