CHAPTER III 

ON THE PLAINS 

The purchase of a buffalo robe, blankets, boots, and a Colt's revolver occupied but a short time, but the rifle was a much more difficult matter. 

"You can always rely upon a Colt," the miner said, "but rifles are different things; and as your life may often depend upon your shooting-iron carrying straight, you have got to be mighty careful about it. A gun that has got the name of being a good weapon will fetch four times as much as a new one." 

Denver was but a small place; there was no regular gunsmith's shop, but rifles and pistols were sold at almost every store in the town. In this quest Jerry was assisted by Pete Hoskings, who knew of several men who would be ready to dispose of their rifles. Some of these weapons were taken out into the country and tried at marks by the two men. They made what seemed to Tom wonderful shooting, but did not satisfy Hoskings. 

"I should like the youngster to have a first-rate piece," he said, "and I mean to get him one if I can. There are two of these would do if we can't get a better, but if there is a first-rate one to be had in this township I will have it." Suddenly he exclaimed, "I must have gone off my head, and be going downright foolish! Why, I know the very weapon. You remember Billy the scout?" 

"In course I do, everyone knew him. I heard he had gone down just before I got back here." 
What is a colt?
What is different from a revolver?
According to who?
Is a Colt reliable?
Are there any gun shops in Denver?
Where are guns sold?
Who is buying a gun?
Who is helping him?
Did Pete take him to stores to try out the guns?
Where did they go to try them out?
Was Pete pleased with them?
Why kind of gun did he want for his son?
Had he been forgetting something?
What?
Who could he get it from?
What city were they in?
Did he remember Billy?
Did a lot of people know him?
Where is he?
a revolver
 and a Colt's revolver
rifles
"but rifles are different things
the miner
 the miner said
yes
You can always rely upon a Colt
there was no regular gunsmith's shop there
there was no regular gunsmith's shop,
at almost every store in town
but rifles and pistols were sold at almost every store in the town
Jerry
In this quest Jerry was assisted by Pete Hoskings,
Pete Hoskings
 Jerry was assisted by Pete Hoskings,
Pete knew several men who who would be ready to dispose of their rifles
Jerry was assisted by Pete Hoskings, who knew of several men who would be ready to dispose of their rifles
out in the country
Some of these weapons were taken out into the country and tried at marks by the two men
no
but did not satisfy Hoskings.
a first-rate piece
I should like the youngster to have a first-rate piece
yes
, "I must have gone off my head, and be going downright foolish! Why, I know the very weapon. You remember Billy the scout?" 
where he could get the weapon
Why, I know the very weapon. You remember Billy the scout?" 
Billy the scout?
You remember Billy the scout?"
Denver
Denver was but a small place
yes
"In course I do, everyone knew him. I heard he had gone down just before I got back here."
yes
In course I do, everyone knew him
unknown
unknown