“Good-morning, gentlemen,” said the leader, heartily. “I’m glad to see you. Where’s the Doctor?”
“What doctor?” asked Jack, wondering.
“What doctor! Why, Doctor Hayden, of course. Don’t you belong to his party?”
“No sir,” replied Jack. “We don’t belong to any party. We are just travelling by ourselves.”
“Indeed!” said the gentleman, eying us as though he thought we were rather young to be doing anything of the sort. “I supposed you belonged to Doctor Hayden’s branch of the Geological Survey, which is coming up from Bozeman; we are expecting them any day. Which way are you travelling?”
“Why, we are not very particular, sir,” replied Jack, “but we want to get down to Bozeman pretty soon, that’s all. Can you tell us which is the best way?”
“You may follow down the Firehole, here,” responded the stranger, “or you may cut across country in that direction”—pointing eastward—“until you strike the Yellowstone, and follow that. By taking the latter course you would have the trail of the survey-party as a guide.”
“Thank you, sir. I think we’ll go by way of the Yellowstone, then. Should we strike due east from here?”
“Yes. Due east. Or you may bear north of east if you prefer; you will save a little time by doing so.”
“Then we will go north-east, as we wish to get to Bozeman as quickly as possible. Is there any danger from Indians on the way, sir?”