"When do you want to start?" asked Mr. Hardy.
"To-morrow morning," was Jack's quick reply, and a load was lifted from his mind.
"Then I'll have a horse for you here at nine o'clock," Mr. Tevis's friend went on, as he handed back the rings and the card.
"Can't John and Nat go along?" inquired Jack, for he had mentioned his friends to Mr. Hardy.
"I suppose so," was the answer. "It will take longer if so many of us go, but I have no orders to keep your friends back if they want to accompany us. It's a wild trip, and has to be made on horseback."
"They'll want to go. None of us is a good rider, but we'll do our best"
"Very well, I'll have three horses."
"Do you think Mr. Tevis will have some news of my father?" asked
Jack, a note of anxiety coming into his voice.
"I shouldn't be surprised," was the cautious answer. "Mr. Tevis can generally be depended on to produce the goods. Now I'll leave you, as I have lots of work to do before morning. I'm glad I succeeded in arranging it for you,"
"So am I," exclaimed Jack, as he held out his hand and met that of
Mr. Hardy's in hearty clasp.