reproach," who met his death at last as he would have wished to meet it,
in that mad glorious dash that has made his name immortal, going down as
he had lived with his face to the foe. To these ardent young patriots the
place was holy ground, and their pulses leaped and their hearts swelled
as Melton pointed out the features of the field and narrated some of the
incidents of that awful, but magnificent, fight. It was with intense
reluctance that, warned by the gathering shadows, they tore themselves
away.

"Can't wait any longer now," said Melton as they retraced their steps to
the place where the horses were browsing; "but some day soon we'll come
down here early and spend the whole day. It won't be any too long to get
a clear idea of the fight and all that led up to it."

The mustangs, refreshed by the rest, and feeling too that they were on
the last stretch of their journey, needed no urging, and Melton gave them
their head.

"Must be pretty near your place now, I suppose," said Tom.

"Well, yes," answered Melton, with a twinkle in his eyes; "been traveling
on my lands for the last eight miles. House not more than five miles
ahead."

The boys gasped. It was something new to them to hear one speak as
carelessly of miles as a farmer back East would speak of acres. Now they
were getting some idea of what was meant when one spoke of the "boundless
West."

"Got to have room to stretch my arms without hitting anything," went on