THE PROSPECTORS
"Well, for one, I don't want to be kept in suspense so long," Toby
began; "and I move we settle that question right away, Steve, by drawing
straws."
"After all, it had better be you who goes with Jack, Toby," the other
generously went on to say. "To tell you the truth I'm a little afraid
that heel of mine hasn't just given up the fight yet, and a very long
tramp just now might make it hurt again like sixty."
"No, that wouldn't be fair," urged Toby, doggedly. "You've got to take
your chance at it. If I do go I want to feel that I'm not cheating you
out of your opportunity. I like to have a clean conscience. Here, Jack,
you hold the straws. The one who gets the shorter stays behind; that's
understood. And Steve shall draw first, because I picked the straws."
Evidently, there could hardly be a more conscientious boy that Toby
Hopkins, for he was always looking out for the rights of the other
fellow. That was the main reason why Jack Winters had chosen him for one
of his closest chums. He knew he could depend on Toby to do the right
thing every time.
Well, Steve had the nerve deliberately to draw the short straw. He
grinned when he discovered what luck he had had, as though not so very
much displeased after all.
"That settles it right, Toby," he went on to say, pleasantly. "'Course
it'll seem like an everlastingly long time while I'm loafing here, but
my heel is going to have a fair chance to get well. Then I've got that
bully book, which I can enjoy if the weather gets real warm, so I won't
shiver at descriptions of the terrible times they had when nearly
freezing to death in the ice packs. Oh! don't look like you pitied me;
I'm just as well satisfied it worked out that way."
They did a good many things that afternoon. Jack got his camera in order
for further work, because, of course, he meant to carry it along with
him.
"Will you want to take the gun, too?" asked Steve, with a touch of
solicitude in his manner; for he rather counted on having the firearm
with him in camp, as a sort of protection that would serve to ease his
mind; because it would be a pretty lonely night of it.
"No, we'll leave that for you, Steve," said Jack, immediately, as though
all that had been settled in his mind.
"How about your meals?" Steve now asked. "If you expect to be gone over
night, it'll mean that three or four times you'll want to break your
fast. What sort of grub do you mean to carry along with you that doesn't
need cooking; for I take it you'll hardly expect to make a fire, for
fear of being discovered?"
"You're right about the fire part of it, Steve," Jack informed him; "as
for our food, I've arranged all that. You see, we fetched along a number
of things that will come in handy for such a trip. In the first place,
we'll carry a lot of sweet chocolate; that always sustains a fellow when
he's weak from hunger. Then there's that big hunk of fine dried beef,
which I'm particularly fond of, and can eat just as I cut it from the
strip."
"The Indians always used to carry pemmican along with them, to munch on
when going into the enemy's country where a fire would endanger their
lives," announced Toby. "And this modern dried beef is something like
the venison they smoked and cured until it was fairly black. They say a
redskin could travel all day on just a handful of maize or corn, and as
much pemmican; stopping to quench his thirst at some running stream or
spring."
"There are several other things we have with us that we can carry to
help out in the food line," Jack continued. "You must know that they
have malted milk that only needs water to make a splendid and nourishing
drink. Besides, there is desiccated egg in the shape of powder that is
the real thing preserved. I have also several tins of soup that I can
heat up day or night without a trace of fire."
"That's a queer thing, Jack," spoke up Toby; "tell us how the thing is
done, won't you please?"
Jack stepped over to the supply wagon and soon returned bearing one of
the tins in question, which Toby noticed now was a trifle more bulky
than others that he remembered seeing containing prepared soups.
"This is quite a clever idea," proceeded Jack. "You see, it consists of
really two cans, one inside the other. The narrow space between is
filled with unslacked lime. When you feel like having a meal, all you
have to do is to punch a hole close to the edge on top, and pour in some
cold water. This immediately makes the lime furiously hot, and in a
short time you can open the main can and your soup is almost scalding. I
tried one can at home, and it worked to a charm. My dad was quite
tickled with it, and said they never had such splendid things when he
was young and used to go off into the woods on camping or surveying
trips."
"Oh! I see we're not going to starve yet awhile, even if we can't have a
nice pot of coffee while on the job," laughed the pleased Toby, handling
the wonderfully self-heating can of vegetable soup almost reverently.
So the afternoon passed.
Jack had everything laid out, for, as he said, it might be well for them
to get an early start on the following morning, since they had quite a
tramp before them, and would want to take their time during the latter
half of the journey, when there might be more or less danger of
discovery.
"Of course," Jack assured them, "I don't expect to keep this sort of
thing up all the time we're here in camp. That would be making it too
much a matter of business. Once I've settled on what this Mr. Maurice is
doing, and managed to gather up all the evidence necessary, I shall put
him out of my mind; and after that we'll just enjoy ourselves to the
limit, as we deserve."
"Hurrah!" cried Toby; "and if ever any fellows had a better chance to
enjoy themselves I'd like to know it; with such a splendid tent for a
shelter, a jolly camp stove that keeps you warm in chilly or wet
weather; and ten days left that can all be filled with delight."
"Don't forget that we've another cause for rejoicing in the possession
of a most delightful stock of things to eat," interrupted Steve, sagely,
"as well as a real biscuit and flapjack _chef_ who's willing to lay
himself out to the limit for the good of his chums."
The rest of the day proved all that could be desired. It warmed up
considerably, too, although when the sun had set in a blaze of glory,
and evening began to steal softly upon the scene, there was a little
tang to the air that made the campfire, built outdoors, feel doubly
acceptable to them.
Nor were they disturbed at all during the night that followed. Moses,
being well looked after, found no opportunity to slip his tether, and
surprise them with a nocturnal visit. Doubtless it was not from lack of
trying that he failed to make a second attack upon the oat-sack in the
wagon, for fond memories of that other occasion must still linger with
him, to judge from the pitiful whinnies he gave vent to from time to
time throughout the night.
Once Toby awakened the other two by talking. He fancied he had heard
another of those strange booming sounds; but as Jack, who was a light
sleeper, declared he had caught no such dull crash, it was determined
that Toby must have been dreaming.
So morning found them.
Toby being the first to crawl out immediately announced that the signs
were all propitious.
"Going to be a fine day, Jack," he went on to say, "though I reckon
it'll warm up more or less along toward noon. But I'm so glad the rain
has gone that I'll willingly stand any amount of heat instead. Come, get
a move on you, Steve; I'm starting up the cooking fire, and you promised
us we would have a batch of flapjacks this morning, remember."
"I believe I did in a rash moment," blustered Steve, making his
appearance, clad in his wonderfully striped pajamas; "and as I always
try to keep my word I reckon I'm in for it."
"Oh! you'll have it easy enough while we're gone," Toby told him, "with
only one to look after. Perhaps now you'll be glad to see us come
trailing back home again some time tomorrow afternoon."
"No question about that, Toby," the other told him, as he commenced with
his customary early morning exercises, modeled somewhat after the type
of those in use in the army, and which were best calculated to take all
the stiffness and numbness out of his system, brought about by curling
up under his blanket.
There was really little to do save eat breakfast, since Jack had looked
after all necessary preparations on the previous afternoon. Steve did
not seem quite so hilarious as usual, Jack could not but notice. He
understood the reason why, and while he hated to think of leaving the
other behind, it was really necessary, since the camp must be guarded
during their absence.
Later on the pair prepared to sally forth. Steve allowed the breakfast
things to lie around, promising to look after them when he had seen the
last of his two departing chums. Toby had filled his pockets with
crackers and cheese, in addition to the amount of other things which he
was to carry as his share of the burden. It looked as though Toby did
not mean to starve to death during his absence from the fountain head of
supplies. But then Toby did not differ to any great extent from any
other wholesome boy with an appetite that knew no limit. Steve even
urged various other edibles upon the adventures until one would think
they were planning to be gone a whole week or more, instead of a scant
two days.
"I don't believe we've overlooked anything," asserted Toby, as they drew
up to make their start.
"Well, if we hang around here much longer we'll be having the entire
supply of grub shoved on us," laughed Jack, quite amused by Steve's
generosity; "so I guess we'd better say goodbye, and clear out while the
going is good. Take care of yourself, Steve, and have as easy a time as
you can. You'll get your chance to navigate after we come back again,
and must try the fishing with Toby here for a starter."
"So-long, fellows, and the best of luck go with you!" called out Steve,
as they launched upon their journey, Toby with a stout staff, and Jack
having his camera dangling over his shoulder by the strap.
He stood there watching them plunge into the depths of the woods. Every
time one of them glanced back Steve would wave his hat to show that he
still watched. There was a trace of regret in his manner, though he had
bravely tried to hide it from Jack's observing eye. Of course Steve
hated to see them go away to stay so long; it would be mighty lonely in
camp all by himself; and the coming of night could not be expected to
give him a great amount of cheer.
But then Steve was a sensible chap, capable of making the best of a bad
bargain. He would find plenty to do to amuse himself; and as a last
resort he had that entertaining volume, only one-quarter read up to now,
upon which he could depend to make the time pass. So after they had
vanished from his vision Steve turned around and proceeded to clean up
the breakfast things for a starter.