What a fatality often attends small things! Jethro had no suspicion that the company in advance was the one from which the two visitors had come the night before. Alden did not aim to hide the fact from him, but simply omitted to mention it. Had Jethro known the meaning of this evening call, he would have forced his master to hear the momentous secret which the dusky youth had been carrying for weeks. And had that secret been revealed, Alden Payne would have made a most important change in his programme. Since it was not so to be, the two after the evening meal, cinched their saddle girths and rode out on the plain. They took a course almost due west. The camp fires of the other party twinkled like stars in the horizon, and the space was covered in less than half an hour, the horsemen riding at an easy gallop. As he drew near, Alden was struck by the resemblance of the camp to his own. The eight wagons were ranged in a similar circle and the emigrants seemed to number nearly the same. They had mules, however, in addition to oxen and horses. All were cropping the grass, while a small stream of icy water flowed within their convenient reach. The guards had not yet been placed, though such a precaution would not be long delayed, for it was unsupposable that any company of emigrants should have penetrated thus far on their journey to the Pacific without learning the lesson which Shagbark had impressed upon his charges from the day they crossed the Missouri. Little or no notice was taken of the two horsemen until they rode up to the nearest wagon. The animals were guided to one side where the big camp fire threw out its rays, which were reflected from the ponies and their riders. “I’ll stay on Jilk and wait fur you to come back,” said Jethro; “I doan’ think any ob dem folks keers ’bout seeing me.” Alden did not object, and had hardly swung out of the saddle to the ground, when two men came forward to greet him. One was unusually tall, the other of medium height and both wore heavy beards. The youth scanned them closely, in the partial obscurity, but neither was Mr. Chadwick. They cordially greeted the visitor and invited him to go forward and join in their meal. Most of the group were gathered around the “festal board,” which happened just then to be their blankets spread on the green grass. “I thank you,” replied Alden, “but my servant and myself partook just before leaving our own camp. This is really a business rather than a social call.” “In what way can we serve you?” “I have a letter which I shall be glad if you will hand to a member of your party.” Alden drew out his note book and took the folded paper from between the pages. “Perhaps it will be better if I give it to Mr. Chadwick and ask him to hand it to his nephew Ross Brandley. I owe a call to Mr. Chadwick.” The two men glanced in surprise at Alden. He of the shorter statue was about to reach out his hand to take the missive but refrained.