Instead of replying the stranger looked hard at Percy for a moment, and then, breaking into a smile which displayed a row of strong, white teeth, he stretched out his hand and said:
“How are you, Percy?”
For an instant we stared at him in astonishment, when, all at once, it flashed upon us who it was.
“Why, it’s Jack!” cried Percy. “It is you, isn’t it, Jack?”
“Yes; it’s me, all right,” replied Jack, forgetting his grammar for the moment. “And this is your English friend, Tom Swayne, of course.”
“Yes,” said I, shaking hands with him with great satisfaction; “and uncommonly glad I am to see you.”
“But, Jack,” Percy exclaimed, as the thought suddenly came into his head, “how did you know I had an English friend named Tom Swayne?”
At this question Jack, by way of reply, burst into a merry laugh, in which, to our surprise, the small man on the horse joined.
“Well, Mr. Harding,” said the latter, “I may as well turn round now and go back to Ogden. My part of the business is completed with the delivery of the goods. You might just give me a receipt for them, if you will.”
“All right, Jenkins,” replied Jack. And taking a pencil and a piece of paper from his pocket he wrote rapidly, and then went on: “Will this do? ‘Received of Hiram Jenkins one Percy Goodall and one Tom Swayne, in good condition. John Harding.’”