"What's that?" exclaimed Ben. "Sounds like the Will o' the Wisp, but she hasn't been along the river for a long time."
"Let's go and see," said John. "Must be something doing to bring her down at this time."
The two boys mounted their horses, which stood already saddled, and galloped down to the landing. In a few minutes the boat steamed up out of the darkness, slowed down and made fast to a cottonwood stump.
Hardly had it come to a stop when a man made a running leap to the platform and dashed toward the boys, who were the only persons at the place.
"Where's all the people?" he cried excitedly. "Let me take that horse a minute, sonny."
"Up at Black Jack's," said John, sliding off Baldy's back without delay, for it was evident that the newcomer brought important news.
The stranger mounted and set off at a hard gallop for Main Street. Reaching the brightly lighted place, he jumped off and stumbled through the doorway into the centre of the room.
The fiddler stopped in the middle of a bar, the dancers, who were in the full swing of "all hands around," stood still in wonder, and every eye was fixed upon the intruder. He looked like the bearer of bad news.
His clothes showed that he had travelled far and fast, and his manner evidenced anything but peace of mind. For an instant all was still. Then Black Jack broke the silence: "Speak out, man! What's up?"