"I wish that trunks came on the train," said I. And I told him my
predicament.

It was not to be expected that he would be greatly moved at my
loss; but he took it with no comment whatever. "We'll wait in
town for it," said he, always perfectly civil.

Now, what I had seen of "town" was, to my newly arrived eyes,
altogether horrible. If I could possibly sleep at the Judge's
ranch, I preferred to do so.

"Is it too far to drive there to-night?" I inquired.

He looked at me in a puzzled manner.

"For this valise," I explained, "contains all that I immediately
need; in fact, I could do without my trunk for a day or two, if
it is not convenient to send. So if we could arrive there not too
late by starting at once--" I paused.

"It's two hundred and sixty-three miles," said the Virginian.

To my loud ejaculation he made no answer, but surveyed me a
moment longer, and then said, "Supper will be about ready now."
He took my valise, and I followed his steps toward the
eating-house in silence. I was dazed.

As we went, I read my host's letter--a brief hospitable message.
He was very sorry not to meet me himself. He had been getting
ready to drive over, when the surveyor appeared and detained him.