"Yes, he is just what you say of him, sir."
"Now, how is that poor passenger who was crazed by a shot from the road-agents?"
"Aimlessly wandering about Last Chance, sir, harmless and to be pitied."
"Well, I have received letters asking about him, and had to make a report of the circumstances. It will be upon your return trip that you will have to be watchful."
"I will be, sir, never fear," was the cheery response.
The news of the mysterious disappearance of the old driver soon spread about W——, and people gathered about the stage-office to have a look at the brave fellow who had, in the face of the past experience, brought the coach through.
The agent had told Harding that if the mails had gone through nothing had been taken, for no freight had been sent and no passengers were along on that trip.
As they had found nothing to take, the road-agents had doubtless visited their vengeance upon old Huck, especially to repay him for having run the gantlet on a former occasion.
There were passengers booked for Last Chance by stage, but when it became known that old Huck had been killed, as all supposed he must have been, they concluded they were in no great hurry to reach the mining-camps and could wait a while longer.
So Harding discovered that he would have to return with an empty coach, as far as passengers were concerned.