When the story was told, of how bravely he had run the gantlet, Landlord Larry went in to have a talk with him, but found that he had finished his supper and gone. It was a cold evening, and there was snow flying, so, looking over to the hill where the little shanty of old Huck was located, Landlord Larry saw a bright fire burning and at once went there. There sat old Huck enjoying his pipe and warming his feet before the fire in the clay chimney he had built. He had a canvas covering the doorway, to keep out the cold and snow, and seemed as contented as could be in his lone quarters. "Well old man, you seem happy," he said. "Why not?" "You brought in a valuable freight to-night, in money and registered letters." "I know it." "Do you know how much?" "Ther agent at W---- told me he thought about forty thousand, and so I made a rush, ter git through." "And did it grandly." "That's what I'm paid fer." "I have heard the story of your running the gantlet and surprising the road-agents." Old Huck laughed and replied: "Waal, I calkilate as how they was astonished. You see I seen the tracks on the trail, foot-tracks, and fresh ones, goin' on toward the Dead Line, and so I kinder felt sart'in o' a hold-up. When I come to ther pass I seen ther top o' a small tree wavin' and knowed somebody were up in it looking over t'other trees. "So I jist up with old drop-'em, and I let drive with a handful o' bullets I had dropped into ther shot-barrel, and I put a piece o' lead on t'other side o' trail, dropped ther ribbons and set my two puppies ter barking, as soon as I hed laid ther silk onter ther team and got 'em inter a run. "I tell yer, landlord, it were prime fun and no mistake, and as ther insiders helped with ther guns, you bet we waltzed through them scared road-agents in a way that crippled 'em; and we come in on time. "That's all thar is of ther story, boss," and old Huckleberry puffed away at his pipe again in the most unconcerned manner possible. Hardly had old Huckleberry finished his simple story of his brave act when a voice at the door said: "Ho, old gentleman, I have just heard at the hotel of your splendid work this afternoon and have come to congratulate you." "Come in, Pard Doc, and camp on that blanket thar before ther fire, I is glad to see yer, but I don't need no congratulations, for I hain't done nothing more than I oughter." "Well, old man, you saved the lives of your passengers, and a rich freight, I learn, and I know as well as any one how to appreciate what you did, for I have driven the trail, you remember." "I know it, and done it well." "I also praised old Huck, Doc, but he does not care to be thanked; but what is to be done about this attempted attack on the coach?" said Landlord Larry. "I'll go out so as ter git thar at daybreak, and see if thar can be any trail found. It is spittin' now, but not much, and I guess we can find if we done any harm in our fire and maybe track the varmints," said old Huck.