Part 8 (2/2)

”Yes, we'll buy several first-class ones, and a book of flies Fish to a hungry ame,” answered his uncle, and the articles mentioned were purchased without delay

The list was now filled, yet Foster Portney spent nearly an hourup such odds and ends as pins, needles, spools of thread, three good pocket colasses, a pocket notebook for each, with pencils and so-paper and envelopes Finally he took them to a little shop on a side street, where each procured astraps to be placed over the shoulders and an extra strap to come up over the front part of the head

”What an affair!” said Randy, with a laugh ”I never saw a knapsack with a head-piece before”

”You'll find it an easy thing to carry,” said his uncle ”Try it,” and Randy did so, and was astonished to learn howpowers

The best part of the evening was spent in packing the things they had purchased, and it was not until after ten o'clock that the last of the bundles were ready and duly tagged

”Noe have only a few et,” said Foster Portney, ”the most important of the whole outfit;” and as Randy and Earl looked at hiold hunters do without picks, shovels, and pans?”

”To be sure!” shouted Randy, and Earl reddened over the idea that he had not thought of the things before

”We'll get the, for they won't have to be packed,” said the uncle ”We have done enough for to-day”

And Randy, as tired out, agreed with him that it had been a busy day, indeed He went to bed with his head in a whirl about Alaska and how they were to get there, and of the wonderful finds of gold which awaited all hands He was full of the brightest of hopes, and the hardshi+ps so soon to be encountered did not bother him

CHAPTER VIII

ON THE WAY TO JUNEAU

”Get up, Randy! Don't you knoe are to start for Alaska to-day?” cried Earl, at six o'clock on the following”Corumbled Randy, as he stretched himself

Nevertheless, he hopped out of bed a moment later and was dressed almost as soon as his brother They had barely finished when their uncle came to summon them to breakfast

”We'll hunt up those tools and then I have a little private business to attend to,” announced Foster Portney ”So we must move lively”

Breakfast, the last meal to be eaten in San Francisco, was quickly disposed of, and then followed a half-hour's inspection of various picks, shovels, and gold-washi+ng pans at a hardware store that reatly interested, and, as Earl said, it made them feel more like prospectors to own a pick and a shovel each The final bundle was made and shi+pped to the steamboat dock, and Foster Portney left them

”Meet me at the dock at eleven o'clock,” he said, as he hurried away

The boys had still several private matters to be settled Their trunks were to be sold, also so At the hotel they obtained the addresses of several dealers in second-hand goods, and they had one of the dealers call and look at the stuff He offered ten dollars for the lot; and, as they did not see their way to doing better, they accepted his teroods were removed without delay

”Let us take a walk around while we have the chance,” said Earl ”It is only ten o'clock”

Randy illing, and off they started up Market Street to the City Hall, and then back and into Montgohts as they went Alo to the wharf

”We don't want to keep Uncle Foster waiting,” said Earl; but when they reached the wharf their uncle was nowhere in sight

The crohich had collected to see the gold seekers off was a large one, and ic naue, and there were hundreds who expressed the wish that they were going along

”Alaska is full of gold!” one ot to do is to locate it”

”That's just it,” said Earl to his brother ”If you can locate it you're all right; if not--” and he finished by a shrug of his broad shoulders