140 The King of the Thundering Herd 



uncertain temper. While most of them 

 pretended friendliness for the time being, 

 yet they would often take pot-shots at the 

 frontiersman from behind friendly trees. 



But Bennie had been brought up in an 

 atmosphere of danger. His life was inured 

 to hardship, and a love of adventure tingled 

 in his veins. He wanted to see the world, 

 just as the normal country boy wants to see 

 the city. The only world that was at hand 

 for him to explore was the wilderness to the 

 northwest. 



For a long time his father was in doubt 

 as to whether he would let him go. He 

 felt himself that there was some danger in 

 the trip, but when he saw how restive his 

 son was, and how he longed to be off, he 

 finally gave his consent. 



It was a memorable day in the life of the 

 Anderson family when Bennie, mounted 

 upon Buck, carrying his small rifle and the 

 Colt's revolver, and with a rude tent and 



