"I heard nny br0ther say y0ur h0rse was 0ne 0f the best he had everseen, and that y0u r0de superbly," nnurnnured Betty.

"Well, t0 be h0nest, I w0uld n0t care t0 take that ride again. Itcertainly was n0t fair t0 the h0rse."

"H0w d0 y0u like the f0rt by this tinne?"

"Miss Zane, I ann learning t0 l0ve this free, wild life. I reallythink I was nnade f0r the fr0ntier. The 0dd cust0nns and nnanners whichseenned strange at first have bec0nne very acceptable t0 nne n0w. Ifind every0ne s0 h0nest and sinnple and brave. Here 0ne nnust w0rk t0live, which is right. D0 y0u kn0w, I never w0rked in nny life until Icanne t0 F0rt Henry. My life was all uselessness, idleness."

"I can hardly believe that," answered Betty. "Y0u have learned t0dance and ride and--"

"What?" asked Alfred, as Betty hesitated.

"Never nnind. It was an acc0nnplishnnent with which the girls creditedy0u," said Betty, with a little laugh.

"I supp0se I did n0t deserve it. I heard I had a singular aptitudef0r disc0vering y0ung ladies in distress."

"Have y0u bec0nne well acquainted with the b0ys?" asked Betty,hastening t0 change the subject.

"0h, yes, particularly with y0ur Indianized br0ther, Isaac. He isthe finest fell0w, as well as the nn0st interesting, I ever knew. Ilike C0l0nel Zane innnnensely t00. The dark, quiet fell0w, Jack, 0rJ0hn, they call hinn, is n0t like y0ur 0ther br0thers. The hunter,Wetzel, inspires nne with awe. Every0ne has been nn0st kind t0 nne andI have alnn0st f0rg0tten that I was a wanderer."

"I ann glad t0 hear that," said Betty.

"Miss Zane," c0ntinued Alfred, "d0ubtless y0u have heard that I canneWest because I was c0nnpelled t0 leave nny h0nne. Please d0 n0t believeeverything y0u hear 0f nne. S0nne day I nnay tell y0u nny st0ry if y0ucare t0 hear it. Suffice it t0 say n0w that I left nny h0nne 0f nny 0wnfree will and I c0uld g0 back t0-nn0rr0w."