"I must hurry up," he remarked. "If the wagon traveled all night, it has reached the canyon ere this, and either Thompson has captured it, or Berghausen and the others have overcome him." He was naturally very anxious to know what had happened, and walked at his quickest pace, his heart beating wildly with anxiety. It was midday when he reached the calm and pleasant valley, passing in through the high rocks on either side, whose quaintly shaped forms seemed to resemble giant sentinels. Going direct to the cave, he found it empty. In vain he called to his mother. There was no answer. Alarmed and still more anxious than before, he proceeded to explore the valley. All at once he distinguished his mother's form seated on a fragment of rock. At her feet was the body of a man. One glance enabled Tommy to comprehend what had happened. Approaching her, he took her hand, saying: "Mother, it is all over now." She raised her tear-stained face to his. Then she lowered it once more, and cast her gaze sorrowfully upon the corpse, which was that of the bandit, Thompson. "We are alone in the world now," continued Tommy. "Smithers is dead, shot by Berghausen; Alice was killed by an Indian, but I will protect you." "He attacked the wagon," explained she. "He was killed at the first fire. His servant's body is down there"--pointing with her finger--"with the body of one of the travelers, who was killed." "Come away, mother," said Tommy. "I'll return and bury the bodies." * * * * * "What are we to do now?" demanded Tommy's mother. "The future seems such a blank to me. Oh! thank God that you are spared to me, Tommy." "Mother," said Tommy, "while I was burying the bodies, a man came along on horseback. He was looking for me. His name is Maj. Allston. He was Mr. Smithers' partner, and he gave me a roll of bills, which he said was Smithers' share of the profits of the game they played. It is over two thousand dollars. Let us go back to New York. We will start in business, and we shall not want." Mrs. Smithers drew him to her bosom, and embraced him tenderly. "God bless you, Tommy. I will live for your sake, but I had very dark thoughts in my mind just now--oh! so bad and wicked; may I be forgiven for them." The next day they went to the depot, and the swift locomotive conveyed two travel-stained passengers back to the East. They started in a little business, and Tommy, no longer the fool of the family, showed such industry and smartness that he prospered. The mother and son were very happy together, and soon the checkered and eventful past was forgotten. THE END. The ROUND THE WORLD LIBRARY will next contain a tale of the amusing pranks of "Mischievous Matt," No. 30, by Bracebridge Hemyng. Western Stories About BUFFALO BILL Red-blooded Adventure Stories for Men