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Updated: June 6, 2025
Roberts' whereabouts, how the exile had often written to him of his lonely life, and how much he would like to see his son and his sisters again. "We have both been hounded by that gang of land sharps," concluded Mr. Tevis, with a deep sigh. "I have found means of evading them by living in this wild place, and adopting all sorts of precautions in admitting visitors.
Jack went down alone, and found waiting for him a grizzly, heavily- bearded man, rather stoop-shouldered. He glanced from under his shaggy eyebrows at Jack. "You left a message for Enos Hardy?" the man asked. "I did, in reference to Orion Tevis," admitted Jack. "Have you the emblems?" Jack showed the rings and card. "Um!" grunted the man. "What do you want?"
"I hope I can. First I'll have to locate Orion Tevis, to see what he knows." "I'll be glad to get out on a range once more," said John Smith. "I've got enough Indian blood in me to feel cooped up in a house. It will be sport out there, riding ponies and seeing the cattle." The boys reached the post-office about nine o'clock and Nat mailed his letter. "It's early to go back," said Jack.
I will tell you what I know while the others are getting ready for the meal." Then Mr. Tevis told briefly the history of Robert Ranger, or Roberts, as he best knew him, with the main facts of which Jack was familiar. He told of his acquaintance with him and John Smith's father, and how the bad men had tried unsuccessfully to get control of the timber claim.
"They must be planning something desperate," said Jack in a low tone. "Probably they're going to hurry to Orion Tevis and make trouble for him." "Do you think they'll hurt us?" asked Nat. "I don't believe so," Jack replied. "I think they want to keep us here until they can get at Mr. Tevis. Guess they'll have their own troubles though, finding him."
Hardy suddenly pulled his horse up and said: "Here's as far as we can go, boys, until we get word from Mr. Tevis. There's the tree where I leave the messages." He pointed to a big oak that had been struck by lightning, and split partly down the immense trunk. One blackened branch stuck up. It had a cleft in it, in which a letter could be placed and seen from afar.
It appeared that his father had given him the ring just before his death, and told him if he was ever poor or in trouble to take it to a man named Orion Tevis, and state who the bearer was. Some time before that, the elder Smith had been in Oregon and Tevis came to him to get him to be a guide to a wild forest country in the far north. There he had bought five thousand acres of valuable land.
"I hope you are all hungry, as we have a fine supper waiting for you." "That's what I want," said Mr. Hardy. "We haven't stopped much for grub since we started." "I'd like to hear more about my father, before I eat," said Jack. "I realize your impatience," Mr. Tevis replied, with a smile, "and I'll endeavor to relieve your mind.
"I wanted to find out more about Orion Tevis," replied Jack. "You remember he spoke of him just before the accident when we collided with the freight, and I meant to ask him if he knew the man on whom the finding of my father may depend. But I forgot about it in all the excitement. Now it's too late." "Who did you want to inquire about?" asked Mr. Liggins, coming forward.
Jack found him a peculiar man indeed, but seemingly good hearted. "But what you want to know," Mr. Tevis went on, "is how to find your father now." Jack nodded eagerly. "Of course you know I have not seen him in a long time, as he did not think it wise to come here, fearing the gang would capture him and get him into court. But I have heard from him, not later than three months ago."
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