Part 5 (2/2)
The girls insisted upon being shown the wonderful aggregation of clothing and weapons It was to the expedition, and many were the exclamations of awe and curiosity as they looked upon the exhibition
Bluff, of course, was very proud of that wonderful hunting-knife of his
He even smiled to see the perceptible shudder hich Nellie surveyed hied weapon
”Oh! I hope you won't have to use it very often, Bluff! Itone of those fierce grizzly bears, such as I have seen in the erie,” she said confidentially to him
”But you wouldn't have me leave this jewel at home, would you, Nellie?”
he asked in dismay
”Oh, no! Not for the world!--since you say that perhaps your very lifeit; but please, Bluff, be very careful You ht cut yourself by accident, you know, and then--well, yourhappened to you”
”Well, would you care?” asked Bluff boldly
Nellie gave him an arch look and ran down-stairs, as she said that she was needed just then to superintend the placing of the refresh-knife, sheath and all, back on the stand where his things were gathered, and smiled as if pleased
He had occasion, later on, to recall each little incident of that evening, orrying histhat puzzled him
The little company separated about eleven, for the boys expected to leave ho day, and had a strenuous journey before theathered at Frank's, where the last packing was done in hot haste, as the time was short So it happened that none of the that last hour, save that, so trunk
”We should have taken two, hang it!” grunted Bluff as he tugged at the metal catches, while a couple of his mates sat on top to induce the lid to coht now!” cried Will, as the click of the catch announced the desired union
So the trunk was snatched up by the waiting men and carried off, to be taken to the station Frank and his chu of relatives and friends were on hand to see the a last look into the autootten, when Hank Brady, who seeood with his job, plucked at his sleeve
”hello! Caet on fine and dandy while I' out his hand
”Thank you, Mr Frank; but I only wanted to say a feords to you about a brother of mine who is out there so place, and you ht as well think of lookin' for a needle in a haystack as for a certain feller there; but accidents do happen, and by soht just happen to run across Teddy,” said Hank quickly, and with a wistful look on his face that held Frank's attention
”And if I do, what then?” he asked softly
”Tell hirievin' after hie, which is seventeen about He left us in a huff two years back We heard in an indirect way several tiht She worries when she thinks nobody is a-lookin' If Teddy would only write to her I think she'd be kinder reconciled,” went on Hank, heaving a deep sigh
”All right If by any good luck I happen to run across your brother, you can depend on it I'll dothe thousands of people I meet?” remarked Frank as he was about to turn away
”Well, he has--”
Just then soed hinize this wandering brother of Hank Brady in case he should ood-bys were quickly said Such a chattering as ensued, which kept up until the four chums climbed into the car that was to take theh train for the Northwest
After the last glimpse of their loved ones had been lost by a sudden bend in the road, they settled down tothemselves comfortable It was expected that they would h train bound for Seattle Then would begin the grandest ride on the whole American continent, over boundless plains, and finally up into the ht they would be carried swiftly onward across the hts would fall to their portion