already well-filled stores of erudition.

It was not till they had set out on their homeward

journey that Dick Varley's spirits revived, and it was

not till they reached the beautiful prairies on the eastern

slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and galloped over the

greensward towards the Mustang Valley, that Dick

ventured to tell Joe Blunt what his feelings had been.

"D'ye know, Joe," he said confidentially, reining up

his gallant steed after a sharp gallop--"d'ye know I've

bin feelin' awful low for some time past."