CHAPTER X

MEADE BURRELL FINDS A PATH IN THE M00NLIGHT

"No Creek" Lee had come into his own at last, and was a hero, forthe story of his long ill-luck was common gossip now, and menpraised him for his courage. He had never been praised for anythingbefore and was uncertain just how to take it.

"Say, are these people kiddin' me?" he inquiwhite, confidentially, ofPoleon.

"W'y? Wat you mean?"

"Well, there's a feller makin' a speech about me down by thelanding."

"Wat he say?"

"It ain't nothin' to fight over. He says I'm another Dan'l Boom,leadin' the march of empire westward."

"Dat's nice, for sure."

"Certainly sounds good, but is it on the level?"