“It will be the making of us, Charley,” he remarked, as they went in to dinner a little later, after Doctor Dan had left the hotel. “Gentlemen, did you register?” called the clerk from behind the desk. “No,” replied Dick, turning back. “Then please do. It’s the law and we have to trouble you.” Dick took up the pen and was about to sign his name to the register when he suddenly gave a quick start. “What’s the matter?” asked Charley. “Look!” exclaimed Dick, pointing to the name written on the line above where he was about to write his own. The name, written in a bold, firm hand, was MARTIN MUDD. CHAPTER III. ABOUT THE STRANGE HEAD THAT CAME OVER THE ROCKS. “Strange!” whispered Charley, as Dick signed the register. “There could hardly be two with such a name.” Dick had told Charley all about his adventure, of course. “I don’t see how it can be the same man,” he said, “but we’ll soon find out. Do you know that gentleman?” he asked the clerk, pointing to the name. “Yes, I know him,” was the reply. “He came in by the westbound train this morning. He used to live here. Why do you ask?” “Because I met him in Washington only a few days ago. Is he in the hotel now?” “No,” replied the clerk. “He bought a horse and went off up into the mountains. He’s a mining prospector. If you should happen to meet him I advise you strongly to give him the cold shoulder. He’s a bad lot.” “Is he crazy?” asked Dick. “Not he!” exclaimed the clerk. “He’s a big liar, though, and a thief from way back, but he’s well educated and can talk almost as well as Doctor Dan.” “What about Doctor Dan?” asked Charley. “Is he all right?” “Yes, you can bank on him every time, even if he is an Indian. Queer feller, isn’t he? They say he’s got a lot of education, but an Injun’s an Injun wherever you strike him, that’s sure.” Having delivered himself of this sentiment the clerk wrote the room number after the boys’ names and Dick and Charley went in to dinner, which was much better than they expected to find. At one o’clock precisely the start was made, Doctor Dan appearing on the scene with the horses and mules. All the rest of the afternoon the ride continued. Their way led over a barren plain overgrown with sage brush and strewn with the white alkali of the country. High mountains rose in the far distance. Doctor Dan informed the boys that they skirted the edge of the Bad Lands. When night came on a halt was made and Doctor Dan put up the tents in the most expert manner, hobbling the horses and cooking a splendid supper of antelope steak and a sort of cornbread, which he rolled out on a flat stone and cooked in round balls among the hot ashes. After supper the boys rolled themselves up in their blankets and slept comfortably until morning, Doctor Dan going on guard.