Part 6 (1/2)
”A sleeping-car is a great institution,” said Earl, as they turned in
”Why, a train like this is just aelse!”
Shortly after noon of the day following Chicago was reached Here they had a three hours' stop and spent the tireat Masonic Terand bird's-eye view of the entire city was to be seen, spread out far below the trip ard continued To tell of all the places stopped at would be i for nearly a week they sat at their cartaking in the sights of cities, towns, prairies, and es to cross and perilous turns toeach moment to be dashed to pieces In theof the thunder e-inspiring, so long was it kept up
But all journeys, long and short,the boys found themselves safe and sound in San Francisco, and on their way to the Palace Hotel The trip overland had brightened thereen as when they had started
They had just stepped from a Market Street car in front of the hotel when they saw a youth coely fa he wore
”Randy, who is that fellow?” questioned Earl, quickly, as he caught his brother by the elbow
”Why, if it isn't Fred Dobson!” burst froet away out here? Fred Dobson! Fred Dobson! Stop, ant to talk to you!” he called out, as the youth in question was on the point of hurrying off
CHAPTER VI
PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE
”Randy Portney!” came from the lips of the boy addressed, as he turned to stare at the person who had called out his name ”And Earl, too!
Where--where did you come from?”
”Froet away out here?”
”I--I cao,” stammered Fred Dobson, but he did not add that the train had been a freight, and that the stolen ride had been both uncomfortable and full of peril
”We met your father in Boston,” put in Earl ”He said if we should ever run across you to tell you to co back,” was the reply of the squire's son ”I came out here to make my fortune”
”I'm afraid you'll find it rather hard work,” ventured Randy, and he glanced at Fred's shabby suit Around Basco the youth had dressed better than any one else
”I've been playing in hard luck lately,” was the slangy reply ”But say, what are you two fellows doing out here?”
”We ca to take us to Alaska with hiold fields a fellow reads about in the daily papers?”
”Yes”
”I'd like to go there ood deal of o, Fred,” remarked Earl He rather liked the squire's son, in spite of his ays ”A fellowa year's provisions”
”So I've heard I wonder if I couldn't work my way up on one of the boats”
”I wouldn't advise you to go,” said Randy ”Why, you are not used to hard work, and they say work up there is of the hardest kind”