"They'd stampede the cattle in seven counties. What would a drove of steers or a band of horses do if they saw one of them elephants coming at 'em, so's they couldn't tell which end was the tail? Or one of them long-necked giraffes? Why, those giraffes would starve out our way. There's no trees tall enough for 'em to eat their breakfast from." They went into the reptile house, and the snakes fascinated Roy. He paused before a glass box of rattlers. "There's something we've got out West," he said, "and we'd give a good deal not to have 'em. We lose lots of cattle from snake-bites--those ugly rattlers! I don't like to look at 'em! I nearly stepped on one once, and he stuck his fangs in my boot." "What did you do?" "Stepped on it and killed it. Come on; let's look at something more pleasant." They spent the rest of the day in the Park, and returned to the hotel that evening. For about a week nothing occurred. Mortimer De Royster took Roy for occasional pleasure trips, including one jaunt to Coney Island, where the boy from the ranch had his first glimpse of the ocean. The big waves, and the immense expanse of water, astonished him more than anything he had seen in New York. "I never knew there was so much water in the world," he said. "This would be fine out our way in time of drouth, when all the pastures dry up." "I'm afraid it would be worse than none at all," said Mr. De Royster. "It's salt, and it would kill the grass." "That's so. I didn't think about that." They went in bathing, and took in many amusements at the pleasure resort. It was quite late when they got back to the hotel, and De Royster did not go all the way with Roy, turning off to go to his own boarding house, which was about a mile from where Roy was stopping. "I'll see you to-morrow," called the jewelry salesman, as the two parted. "I guess the lawyer will have some word for us then." "There's a note for you," said the hotel clerk to Roy as the boy entered, and he handed over a sealed envelope. In the upper left hand corner was the printed name and address of the lawyer to whom De Royster had taken him. "Mr. Felix Ketchum must have some news for me," thought Roy, as he opened the note. It was a written request for him to call at a certain address that night, where he would receive some information that would be of service to him, and the communication was signed with Mr. Ketchum's name. A postscript stated that the lawyer would be there. "That's queer," thought the boy. "I wonder why he didn't have me call at his office? But perhaps he has to work secretly against Annister. I guess that's it." "When did this note come?" he asked the clerk. "Right after dinner." "Dinner?" "I mean the evening dinner--I suppose you call it supper out West," and the clerk smiled. "That's what we do. Who brought this?" "A boy. He said there was no answer. Hope it isn't bad news." "No; only a business matter. Can you tell me where the Bowery is?"