Alden told of the interrupted fray in St. Joe, when Brandley bumped into him, and instead of apologizing, added insulting words. “Can’t say that I blame you for being r’iled, but I should like to ask a favor of you.” “What is it?” “When that fight comes off, fix things so I can observe it. I know it’ll be a hummer.” Alden could not help smiling. “I’m sure I have no objection, but I don’t see much chance of obliging you. He has left here and isn’t likely to come back.” “But I can fix things so as to ride to the next station when the mail comes in from the east.” “Well, if you are in the neighborhood, I’ll give you a reserved seat.” “That’s the talk; I’ll do my best.” “You mustn’t forget that he is running away from me.” Cal swung the other leg over its mate and submerged a fly that was groping far beyond ordinary hydraulic range. Raising his hand he protested: “Hold on, pardner; young Brandley ain’t running away from you.” “How do you know he isn’t?” “I warn’t with him long, but long enough to see what kind of stuff he’s made of; he’s true blue and don’t you forget it. He’ll be waiting for you when you get to the next station and you can then have it out.” “I hope so, but I doubt it.” “He’ll never show the white feather, more than you will.” Inasmuch as Cal included Alden in this compliment, our young friend could make no objection to the same. CHAPTER XXII JETHRO’S SECRET AND WHAT FOLLOWED The day was crisp, clear and sunshiny, Alden strove to shake off the feelings that oppressed him. He knew he was not treating his hospitable friends right, for they had shown him every courtesy, as they would have done had he chosen to spend weeks at the mail station; Cal invited him to go on a hunting excursion after the midday meal. Ordinarily the youth would have accepted eagerly, but his mood forced him to decline. Inasmuch as he had had plenty of sleep, he could get no more. He strolled about the open space, pausing now and then to survey through his glasses the snowy peaks which towered far into the sky to the westward, or at the lower hills to the north, where the gnarled pine, the dwarfed cedar, the rushing torrents and the gorges made up one of the many wild regions which abound over thousands of square miles of area. Abundance of game was there always with the added spice of danger from the dusky hunters who preferred to bag the white invaders in preference to deer, antelope, buffalo, or mountain sheep. The location of the station shortened the view to the southeast from which Shagbark must come. There were too many obstacles and variations of the landscape to permit one to see far in that direction, but Alden continued to look, as the afternoon waned, yearning for the sight of the slow moving train.