"Hulloa yourself!" bellowed Hippy Wingate. "Come in. The door's wide open."
An instant later a man stepped into the camp, a rifle slung under one arm, a revolver hanging from his belt in its holster. He was tall, gaunt and raw-boned, a typical Kentucky mountaineer, and, as he stood there surveying the Overland Riders from beneath his broad-brimmed hat, not a word was spoken on either side. The mountaineer was studying the members of the Overland party, and the Overland Riders were regarding him inquiringly.
"Why, where is—" began Emma Dean, but a gesture from Grace checked her. Not so with Washington Washington, however.
"Whar dat man?" he cried, referring to their first visitor.
A quick glance about the camp revealed to the amazed Overlanders that Jeremiah Long, the Mystery Man, had suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. No one had seen or heard him go. He had simply melted away.
CHAPTER III
HIPPY BOUNCES THE "SHEREEF"
Still the newcomer stood peering into the faces of the Overlanders. Hippy began talking to the man with his fingers in the deaf and dumb system. The stranger regarded him frowningly, then shifted his rifle into his right hand.
"Who be yuh?" demanded the man.