Tom's New Acquaintance.
The stranger uncocked his gun, and, bringing the piece to an order arms, leaned upon it. He looked hard at Tom, but had nothing to say.
"I have been all over this country, but not a cent's worth of gold could I find in it," continued Tom, taking off his hat and drawing his hand across his forehead. "Somebody has duped you just the same as they duped me."
"Where's your gun?" asked the stranger.
"I left it in the bend up there," said Tom, anxious to hear the sound of the voice again. "I was so impatient to get to you that I left it up there. I haven't heard a stranger speak for three weeks."
"Where did you come from?"
"Wait till I get my breath and I will answer all your questions. I came from a pocket back here in the mountains, where I lost my horse. I wish you could have seen that animal, for I don't know what it was: long neck, long head, and a body that looked twice as big as my horse. And then how strong it was! It broke my lariat——"
"What color was it?" said the stranger, beginning to take a deep interest in what his guest had to say.
"I didn't see that it was any other color when compared with my horse. It looked just the same—a dark brown. It had a hump on its back——"
"The Red Ghost, by George!"
Tom started and looked at him in amazement.