XXV. An Elk Hunt 254 XXVI. Jack Rides a Wild Horse 263 XXVII. A Mysterious Cave 274 XXVIII. What the Cave Held 285 XXIX. Swiftfoot in New York 297 ILLUSTRATIONS "JACK COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CALF HAD NOT BEEN CHOKED TO DEATH." frontispiece "JACK CREPT UP PAST HUGH ... AND TOOK A CAREFUL AIM." 84 "THE ANIMAL LAUNCHED ITSELF FROM ITS PERCH FULL TOWARDS JACK." 130 "RAISED HIS RIFLE TO HIS SHOULDER AND FIRED." 256 JACK, THE YOUNG RANCHMAN CHAPTER I JACK DANVERS The door-bell rang, and from the library Jack heard the soft tread of Aunt Hannah, as she walked through the hall to answer it. There was a murmur of voices, and then Hannah's tones, loud and high pitched: "Guns! no indeedy, chile, ye can't leave 'em here. Not here, chile. Take 'em away. No, I don't keer if they is Mr. Sturgis'. Go 'way. I won't take 'em. Gib 'em to the policeman; ye can't get me to tetch 'em. Go 'way." "What is it, Hannah?" said Jack, as he went to the door. "Don't ye come here, honey. This man here, he's got some guns he wants to leave. Says they're for your Uncle Will. Don't ye go near 'em." "These are two rifles that Mr. Genez has been sighting. Mr. Sturgis told him to deliver them here to-day," said the messenger. "All right; give 'em to me," said Jack, as he took them; and the messenger ran down the steps. "Oh look out, honey, look out," said Aunt Hannah, shrinking away from Jack; "they'll go off and kill you, sure." "Pshaw, Hannah," said Jack, "what are you talking about? They wouldn't go off of themselves, and anyhow they ain't loaded." "There, what'd I tell ye?" cried Aunt Hannah. "Do be keerful. Many's the time I heard your grandpaw say them's the most dang'ous kind. He allus did say that it was the guns that wan't loaded that went off and killed folks. 'Deed he did." Jack took the guns up to his uncle's room, and put them on the bed, and went back to the library. He had hardly got there, and gone to the window to look out into the darkening street, when he heard the front door close and a quick, light footfall in the hall. "Oh, Uncle Will," he said, "is that you?" "Hello, Jack, are you there?" was the reply. "I want to speak to you," and a moment later Mr. Sturgis entered the room and stepped over to the fireplace. "Well, Jack," said he, "are you ready to start in to-morrow to be a cowboy?" "Yes, Uncle Will, I'm all ready," was the reply. "You're sure you don't want to back out now? You know," added Mr. Sturgis, "that you may see some rough times. Some days you will be wet and cold and hungry, and will wish that you were in a good house and by a warm fire, with a hot meal ready for you. It isn't all fun and play and good times out on the ranch."