Part 11 (1/1)
When breakfast had been eaten, and how delicious was the taste of bacon and flour-bread to this little party, which had been deprived of such food so long, he started off, returning at night-fall with a sreater portion of the venison he cut up ready for s so much labor for himself, he replied cheerily,--
”We're likely to lay here ten days at the very least, for the horses won't be in condition to travel in much less time; and now is my chance to put in a stock of provisions for the winter It never'll do to spend all ie are to be fitted out in proper shape, and now I haven't even the rifle to sell, for that belongs to the prospectors”
Not an idle hour did dick Stevens spend during the time they remained encamped at Buffalo Meadows; and when the tiin the journey to Antelope Spring, he had such a supply of smoked meat as would keep the family in food many days
Mr Stevens's wound had healed with reasonable rapidity, thanks to thewhich dick had risked his life to procure; and on thethey decided to cross the desert the invalid was able to take his place on the front seat of the wagon to play the part of driver
dick rode the broncho, as a matter of course; and to him this journey was most enjoyable
Not until the second day did the family arrive at their destination, and dick received such a reception as caused his cheeks to redden with joy
Bob Mason chanced to be in front of Mansfield's store when the party rode up, and insisted on their re there until he could suive thelad you've come,” Mr Mason said when he believed the time had come for him to make a speech ”We've seen the kid, an' knolike hiettin' the kind of citizens we hanker after
I've pre-es on the ranch as well as any e run We've got a house here for the rest of you, an' Stevens will find plenty of work if he's handy with tools Now then, kid, we'll get the old folks settled, an' after that I'll yank you off with me”
Mason led the way to a rude shanty of boards, which was neither the best nor the worst dwelling in the town; and to Mrs Stevens and Margie it seemed much like a palace, for it was a place they could call ho Willow Point two years ago
dick observed with satisfaction that there was a sufficient amount of furniture in the shanty to serve his parents until money could be earned hich to purchasethe teaht his faood prospect of supplying theh his father should not be able to do any work until the co; therefore dick Stevens was a very happy boy
Here ill leave him; for he is yet in Mason's e to-day, or was a few o, that when ”Bob Mason hired that kid to oversee his ranch, he knehat he was about”
It is hard to believe that a boy only fifteen years of age (for dick has _now_ been an overseer, or ”boss puncher” as it is termed in Nevada, nearly two years) could care for a ranch of six hundred acres; yet he has done it, as more than one can testify, and in such a satisfactory manner that next year he is to have an interest in the herds and flocks on the ”Mason Place”
Mr Stevens recovered fro after his arrival at the settle areater than dick's; for before the winter caain the firm had struck a rich lead of silver, which has been worked with such profit that ”Roving dick's” home is one of the best and the cosiest to be found in the State
Mr Stevens would have been glad had young dick decided to give up his work on the ranch; but the latter has declared again and again that he will leave h for him”
THE END