Part 2 (1/2)
”Well, I fell in soft spots anyhow,” retorted Stacy
”Ordinarily on your head, I believe,” answered Ned quickly
Again thanking the Captain for his kindness, the lads returned to the deck Tad leaned against the rail thinking over the story related by the skipper The roers appealed to Butler's adventure-loving nature He declared to himself that he would draw the theht of what he had heard, Tad saw that the four were deter reat the obstacles or the perils He could not but feel a keen admiration for them They were real men, even if they were surly and reticent
”Tad, hoould you like to belong to that party of prospectors?” asked Ned, nodding toward the four
”I can't iht I wonder if they are going our way?”
”Why don't you ask the hi apart froers on the deck of the stearinned Stacy ”I shall have to break the ice for him He never will be able to do it for himself”
”Better wait until you are asked,” advised Ned Rector
As Stacy had said, Tad did not succeed in getting into conversation with the Diggers that day Early on the following lemajestically into Queen Charlotte Sound, a splendid sweep of purple water, where great waves fro desperately There was a scurry on the part of e fro to this tumultuous sea was more than most of them were able to stand Stacy Broas already on his back in the shadow of a life boat, groaning miserably Walter Perkins' face was pale, but he held hi effort of will, but Tad Butler and Ned Rector appeared not in the least affected by the roll of the steamer Both were lost in ad before thehtness of thistledown across a green field,” declared Tad enthusiastically, speaking to hilorious”
He heard someone come to the rail at his side, but the lad was too fully absorbed to look around
”That wasn't bad for a senti fellow,” said a voice at his elbow ”If you stay up in this country long enough, however, you will get all the sentih it I'm lucky that my bones aren't up yonder so around he found hi into the face of Curtis Darwood
CHAPTER II
THE BOYS SCENT A PLOT
”Oh, how do you do, sir Did I say anything?”
”Well, there's a chance for a difference of opinion as to that,” s the scenery, sir Isn't it beautiful?”
”You should see it at sunrise,” answered Darwood ”These aze upon In thethey take on all the delicate tints of the priroarined in the way of wonderful colorings All that sort of thing, you know I never saw anything like it in any part of the world, and I've seen soer reflectively
”I should like to see it at sunset,” answered Tad ”Is it ever like this in the interior, sir?”
”Interior of what?”
”Of the country? Up there in the lance of inquiry There was suspicion in his eyes
”In the far country?” added Butler
”I can't say as to that; I can't say that I know,” replied the prospector shortly