With coats off and collars loosened the two boys filled their lungs
with the tonic air, for, in spite of the heat, a certain dryness
seemed to give life and vigor to the atmosphere.
"There it is, Alan," exclaimed Ned finally, pointing away to the
north and the distant mountains, "beyond those peaks and somewhere
under that sapphire sky is our land of promise. We'll be in it in a
few days."
The brilliant sky, the exhilarating air and the new life about them
filled both boys with enthusiasm.
"Whoopee!" almost shouted Alan finally, throwing out his arms as if
to embrace his friend. "All we need is an Indian or two and I guess
we'd be out West for sure."
"You may not be so anxious to see them before we start back,"
remarked Ned. "Anyway, I promise you enough of them in this
country."
With the departure of the train, the two boys became the center of
some attention. Strangers were not plentiful in Clarkeville, and
when the news spread that a special car was standing behind the
freight shed on the far side of the tracks there was an instant rush
of idlers in that direction.
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