"Do we travel by stage?"
"Yes. One has been put on lately. When I went first, I traveled by wagon, and was a week on the road, maybe ten days. Now, if you travel at night, we can reach Custer City in forty-eight hours or thereabouts."
"I suppose the road is a lonely one?"
"You may say that. As far as Fort Laramie it is pretty well settled. There is a ranch about every twelve miles."
"Do you call that well settled?"
"Well," said Jim, "we call it so out here."
"I shouldn't think people would feel crowded, living at such distances."
"We like plenty of room, you see, Paul."
The next morning Paul and his new friend started for Custer City, and in due time arrived at the Black Hills metropolis without any adventures that need recording.