“Yes, sir,” answered Mr. Ficklin, shortly. “Well, when they do I want to ride one of the runs――one that will keep me hopping, too,” declared Billy. XIX DAVY MAKES ANOTHER CHANGE “Did you see my mother when you were back East, Dave?” asked Billy. “Yes.” “How’s she looking?” “Not extra good, Billy. She’s not very well, and she said if I came across you to tell you she’d like to see you as soon as she could.” “How are the girls?” “They’re all right.” “I’m sorry about ma,” mused Billy, soberly. “If she’s poorly I’m going home as straight as I can travel, you can bet on that.” “We can give you a job with the bull train, Billy,” proffered Charley Martin. “We’re short of men.” But Billy shook his head. “No, sir. I’m due at the Cody place in Salt Creek Valley.” “Well, Billy, in that case I’ll pass you through on the next stage, if there’s room,” volunteered Mr. Ficklin. “I can hang on somewhere,” asserted Billy. “The pass is the main thing. Never mind the room.” While they all were talking a new arrival halted near. It was an army ambulance――a wagon with black leather top, seats running around the inside, and four big black army mules as the team. It was bound west. A soldier in dusty blue uniform was the driver, and a corporal of infantry sat beside him, between his knees a Sharp’s carbine. From the rear of the ambulance another soldier briskly piled out. By his shoulder straps and the white stripes down his trouser-seams he was an officer; by the double bars on his shoulder straps a captain. He wore a revolver in holster. He walked over to the group and nodded. “Hello, Ben.” “How are you, captain.” And Mr. Ficklin arose to shake hands. “Gentlemen,” continued Mr. Ficklin, “I want to introduce Captain Brown.” “I believe I know the captain,” spoke Charley, also shaking hands. “Hello, Billy,” addressed the captain, catching sight of him. “What’s the matter? Been swimming?” “Yes,” laughed Billy. “The water’s a little cold up in the mountains, so I took my annual down here.” “Billy’s been at the diggin’s, captain,” vouchsafed Mr. Ficklin. “He brought down so much gold in his hide that he couldn’t travel till he’d washed it out.” Billy took their joking good-naturedly. That he was going home “broke” had not discouraged him at all. “I know one thing, gentlemen,” he declared. “I’m not a miner, but I had to learn. The plains for me after this. You’ll find me bobbing up again.” “Yes, you can’t keep Billy Cody down, that’s a fact,” agreed Mr. Ficklin. “Where are you bound, captain? Denver?” “No, sir. Laramie. I’ve just come through from Omaha. I hear you fellows are putting on a daily stage to Salt Lake to connect there with the line for San Francisco.” “Yes, sir. It’ll be running this month, and it’ll be a hummer. I’m on my way to inspect the stations now.” “This is my friend Dave Scott, captain,” introduced Billy, in his generous way. “He’s the youngest bull whacker on the trail.”