Part 10 (2/2)
Randy and Earl gazed about the to theone Who had taken them, and was there any chance of recovery?
”We should have looked after them,” said Earl, bitterly ”It was foolishness to leave the stuff, especially after Uncle Foster had warned us”
”I wonder if any of those uilty,” said Randy, as they started on another tour of the Juneau wharf ”I remember one felloith a red beard and a scar on his nose who looked at the stuff rather closely e came ashore”
”Let us start to et our outfits back If we don't, Uncle Foster will never forgive us”
”Yes, and we'll be in a pickle besides,” groaned the younger brother
”By the look of things in this settle outfits are rather scarce”
”Yes, I heard one obbled up several weeks ago and the storekeepers were awaiting new consignments from San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle”
With anxious hearts they walked around the wharf and along a side road, also piled high with ht Presently a man joined them It was Captain Zoss
”Well, whar's our packs?” he questioned, and looked glum when told of what had occurred ”By the boots, lads, we o to the mines without tools would be wuss nor a hen sittin' on a nest without eggs Been all over the dock, yer say?”
He paused an instant ”I'll s was stolen, like as not the thieves would want to git 'eht in quick order, eh?”
He was about to leave the near the entrance to a new store that was going up on the opposite side of the way It was the doctor who had so kindly come to Fred Dobson's assistance
”What's up?” he called out ”Looking for your traps? They're all right
I had the when you went off with the sick lad I knew they wouldn't be secure down on the wharf There are half a dozen quarrels on down there over lost and e”
Randy and Earl felt much relieved, and so did the captain They ran over to the new store, and sure enough, everything was there in a heap, alongside of the packs owned by the doctor They thanked the medical man for his kindness, and a short talk followed The doctor's nalishman who had practised for a year in Victoria He, too, was bound for the new gold fields, either forpurposes, or to set hi up there will need doctoring,” he explained ”And I a, a tooth”
”Thar'll be work for you,” said Captain Zoss, with a laugh ”But the wust disease up thar will be one ye can't touch nohow”
”Indeed! And what is that?” questioned Kenneth Barwaithe, with interest
”Starvation,” was the solemn reply
In order to relieve their uncle of further anxiety, Randy and Earl returned to where they had left Mr Portney They found him in earnest conversation with Fred Dobson The face of the squire's son was very red and his eyes were downcast
”I'll write holad Earl wrote from San Francisco My folks will at least know I am alive and well--that is, as well as a fellow can be as half starved to death,” he added ruefully
”And you ought to go home, lad--it's the proper place for you”
”Well, h around here to take me, Mr Portney”
Foster Portney's hand was in his pocket, and Earl and Randy saw him hand Fred a ten-dollar bill ”Pay h to do so,” he said, and the squire's son gave him a ready promise to that effect