Life lay ahead of him, life with its thrill and adventure,
and at his side was the friend of all friends to seek it with him. He
thrust out his hands.
"God bless you, Andy," he cried. "You're the gamest pal that ever
lived!"
A moment later Duggan pointed to a clump of timber half a mile ahead.
"It's past dinner-time," he said. "There's wood. If you've got any
bacon aboard, I move we eat."
An hour later Andy was demonstrating that his appetite was as voracious
as ever. Before describing more of his own activities, he insisted that
Keith recite his adventures from the night "he killed that old skunk,
Kirkstone."
It was two o'clock when they resumed their journey. An hour later they
struck the Little Fork and until seven traveled up the stream. They
were deep in the lap of the mountains when they camped for the night.
After supper, smoking his pipe, Duggan stretched himself out
comfortably with his back to a tree.
"Good thing you come along when you did, Johnny," he said. "I been
waitin' in that valley ten days, an' the eats was about gone when you
hove in sight. Meant to hike back to the cabin for supplies tomorrow or
next day. Gawd, ain't this the life! An' we're goin' to find gold,
Johnny, we're goin' to find it!"
"We've got all our lives to--to find it in," said Keith.
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