"There," exclaimed Oscar's companion, "your friend is caught! Those men are all swindlers, and they will cheat him out of his eye-teeth."
"He's no friend of mine," said Oscar.
"Why, you came up in the same post-cart, and went into the hotel together."
"That may be; but still he is not my friend. I am alone."
"You are?" exclaimed the cattle-dealer, who was really astonished. "Do you mean to say that you are going so far up the country all by yourself? You can't do it. You will need a first-class man for a companion and adviser. I know one—a brave fellow, a splendid rider, and a dead shot—who will be glad to go with you. I'll engage him if you say so."
"Not to-day," answered Oscar. "I shall need all the things of which you have spoken, but I say again that I'm in no hurry to get them."
"Well, think over what I have said, and let me know what you conclude to do, will you?" said the man, rising from his chair.
He was growing uneasy. Some of his friends had caught a pigeon that they were going to pluck, and he wanted to have a hand in the proceeding.
"Yes," said Oscar; "I'll think of it."