The crowd cheered wildly, the voices echoing down the canyon as he drove along, and now and then he would raise his hat to those who greeted him from their cabins and mines as he went along. Out of the valley he turned, swinging at a brisk trot along through canyons, over hills, up mountains, by the way of narrow passes and down again to the valleys. He reached the relay-station nearest Last Chance, and made known to the stock-tender the fate of old Huck. "You goes next, pard, for it won't be long afore Doctor Dick will come along and tell me that poor Hal Harding has gone under," said the sympathetic stock-tender. "Think so?" "Sure of it." "Why Doctor Dick?" "Waal, ef you gets kilt no other man in or out o' Last Chance will have ther grit to drive ther old death-trap, for thet hearse you is sittin' on is no more." "It is an unlucky old vehicle, I admit, pard; but I'll be going," and Harding drove on once more. He had not seen a soul at the Dead Line. All was as quiet at that dread spot as the forms of those who had lost their lives there. Only the stockmen at the station greeted him on the way, and at night he came to the halting-cabin a little ahead of time. He had the same story to tell at each one of the relay-stations, about the fate of old Huck, and an ominous shake of the head from those who listened convinced him that they expected him to be the next victim. The next morning he rolled into W---- a few minutes ahead of time, and the stage-agent seemed surprised to see a new man upon the box. He heard what Harding had to say of old Huck, listened to his report of his uneventful run, and received from him the way-bill of what he carried. "You have done well, Mr. Harding, and I hope we will hear no more of these attacks, so that you may escape, for, if they make a victim of you, I do not know who we can look to unless it be that fearless fellow, Doctor Dick." "And his practise, mining interests, and gambling occupy him so thoroughly that he will not drive again, sir, I am sure." "Not unless no other can be found, for he is just the man to step in then in open defiance of danger." "Yes, he is just what you say of him, sir." "Now, how is that poor passenger who was crazed by a shot from the road-agents?" "Aimlessly wandering about Last Chance, sir, harmless and to be pitied." "Well, I have received letters asking about him, and had to make a report of the circumstances. It will be upon your return trip that you will have to be watchful." "I will be, sir, never fear," was the cheery response. The news of the mysterious disappearance of the old driver soon spread about W----, and people gathered about the stage-office to have a look at the brave fellow who had, in the face of the past experience, brought the coach through. The agent had told Harding that if the mails had gone through nothing had been taken, for no freight had been sent and no passengers were along on that trip.