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The young traveller gazed out into this dismal country with a face of mingled repulsion and interest, which showed that the scene was new to him.

At intervals he drew from his pocket a bulky letter to which he referred, and on the margins of which he scribbled some notes.

Once from the back of his waist he produced something which one would hardly have expected to find in the possession of so mild-mannered a man.

It was a navy revolver of the largest size.

As he turned it slantwise to the light, the glint upon the rims of the copper shells within the drum showed that it was fully loaded.

He quickly restored it to his secret pocket, but not before it had been observed by a working man who had seated himself upon the adjoining bench.

"Hullo, mate!" said he. "You seem heeled and ready."

The young man smiled with an air of embarrassment.

"Yes," said he, "we need them sometimes in the place I come from."

"And where may that be?"

"I'm last from Chicago."

"A stranger in these parts?"

"Yes."

"You may find you need it here," said the workman.

"Ah! is that so?" The young man seemed interested.

"Have you heard nothing of doings hereabouts?"

"Nothing out of the way."

"Why, I thought the country was full of it. You'll hear quick enough. What made you come here?"

"I heard there was always work for a willing man."

"Are you a member of the union?"

"Sure."

"Then you'll get your job, I guess. Have you any friends?"

"Not yet; but I have the means of making them."

"How's that, then?"

"I am one of the Eminent Order of Freemen. There's no town without a lodge, and where there is a lodge I'll find my friends."