[Illustration: TOM PRESTON FOUND.] THE CAMP IN THE FOOT-HILLS OR _OSCAR ON HORSEBACK_ BY HARRY CASTLEMON AUTHOR OF “GUNBOAT SERIES,” “ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES,” “WAR SERIES,” ETC., ETC. [Illustration] PHILADELPHIA PORTER & COATES COPYRIGHT, 1893, BY PORTER & COATES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. AT THE COLONEL’S HEAD-QUARTERS, 1 II. OSCAR’S OUTFIT, 10 III. BIG THOMPSON, 20 IV. PICKING OUT A PONY, 27 V. LARAMIE PLAINS, 36 VI. A RIDE THROUGH THE SAGE-BRUSH, 48 VII. ANOTHER UNEXPECTED MEETING, 54 VIII. TOM PRESTON, 63 IX. TOM’S STORY, 71 X. TOM LEARNS SOMETHING, 79 XI. TOM BECOMES DESPERATE, 88 XII. OSCAR TALKS TO THE COLONEL, 97 XIII. OSCAR WRITES A NOTE, 107 XIV. LEFT IN THE SAGE-BRUSH, 116 XV. THE HUNTING PARTY, 126 XVI. A CHASE AND A CAPTIVE, 137 XVII. COURSING AND STILL-HUNTING, 149 XVIII. “CLIMB DOWN, PARD!” 160 XIX. THE STOLEN MULE, 173 XX. INSIDE THE DUG-OUT, 183 XXI. THE RANCHMAN SAYS SOMETHING, 193 XXII. THE CAMP IN THE FOOT-HILLS, 202 XXIII. HUNTING THE BIG HORN, 212 XXIV. A FREE FIGHT, 222 XXV. OSCAR DISCOVERS SOMETHING, 232 XXVI. THE RIVAL HUNTERS, 244 XXVII. BIG THOMPSON FOLLOWS A TRAIL, 256 XXVIII. “OLD EPHRAIM,” 269 XXIX. A LUCKY SHOT, 280