Part 8 (1/2)
It was not until the ed Randy to broach the subject next his heart Foster Portney listened patiently to all Randy had to say and also gave ear to Fred's pleadings But his face did not brighten up into anything like an encouraging look
”No, Dobson, I can't take you,” was his reply ”In the first place, Earl and Randy are all the corub stake, as we ter--pay their way, that ht You are a , it is o back
Besides this, you do not look strong, and, I believe, you have never done any real hard work, and that won't do for Alaska Only those who kno to rough it stand any shohatever of getting along there My advice to you is, to go back where you belong”
As may be surmised, this plain speech did not suit Fred Dobson at all, and he felt more than ill at ease for the reracefully he arose to go
”I don't suppose I'll see you again for a long while,” he said, as he held out his hand to Earl and to Randy ”Well, good luck to you, anyway”
Randy caught Earl by the arave it a little pinch ”How are you off for cash, Fred?” he asked, in a low tone
”Oh, I've got a little money with me,” answered Fred, quietly, but did not add that the sum-total of his fortune amounted to exactly sixty-five cents
”Perhaps we can help you a little,” put in Earl, who understood the pinch Randy had given hiood--”
”Will you let erly
”Yes”
”And I'll let you have two more,” added Randy, and the amounts were passed over on the spot, and Fred thanked them very profusely A few minutes later he had thanked Foster Portney for the supper, bade all good-by, and was gone
”Not a half bad boy,” was the comment of Mr Portney ”His one fault is, I reckon, that he has been allowed to have his oay too long
Roughing it out here will ets into bad co to write to his folks and let them knohere he is,” said Earl; and the letter was penned and mailed before he went to bed
The three were on their way early on the followingto complete the purchase of their outfits, for all must be packed up and on the stea stored on board of the _Golden Hope_
The first purchases , woollen blankets, rubber sleeping-bags, a large piece of oiled canvas, and several lynx-skin robes
”Now for our tools hich to cut down trees, build boats, and the like,” said Foster Portney ”Remember, we are al purposes they purchased a good whip-saw, a cross-cut saw, a jack plane, and a draw knife, a large and a small axe, a hammer, brace and bits, six pounds of assorted nails, several pounds of oaku, and some pitch To this outfit was added fifty yards of three-quarter-inch rope
”Don't ant some canvas for sail?” asked Randy, as intensely interested, and who felt so out to play at Robinson Crusoe
”No, the other bits of canvas will do for that,” responded Foster Portney ”Now for the caood-sized water kettle, a frying-pan, broiler, bean pot, tintins, three tin plates and cups, three sets of knives and forks, coffee pot and strainer, salt and pepper shakers, and a strong paper-fibre water pail
”That about ends that,” he said, when each article bought had been carefully scrutinized to see that it was perfect ”Now for food and medicines, and then we'll be about done”
The food list ri to live as plain as we did up in Maine, or plainer”
The list consisted of the following: A hundred pounds of flour, with baking-powder, twenty pounds of smoked ham and bacon, two dozen cans of toetables, a small sack of potatoes, a dozen cans of condensed ar, ten pounds of salt, twenty pounds of coffee, a sack of beans, pepper and other spices, and mustard To these were added a few cans of fruit by way of delicacies
The food packed, theystore and procured a small family chest of various medicines, and added to this several bottles of liquor, which, however, were to be used only for medicinal purposes, for none of the party were drinkers
Foster Portney already had a serviceable pistol, and he now procured for this weapon a sufficient supply of cartridges He also bought a pistol for Randy and a shot-gun for Earl ”The gun will be the a-pot, and that is e shall want”
”Won't ant a fishi+ng-line or two?” asked Earl ”I have one in my trunk, but it is not of much account”