“It’s sure some little ways off,” chipped in Bill, “but distance doesn’t count; what we wants is the yellow butter, hey Buddie?”
“That’s what we’re after; other folks have found it and we stand as good a chance as they did. Are you with me, Bill?”
“It sounds to me, Jack, but I’ll go with youse to Ilasker on your hunch even if we have to walk back.”
“Good!” ejaculated Jack; “I guessed you would from the start. And so you see all of this six-gun practice is tommyrot, for the men of the frozen north are different from those of the burnt-up south, for whether they are Americans, French-Canadians, Indians or half-breeds, they are all white men—white at heart—and you’ll never have any use for a side arm up there.”
“It must be a orful nice country, but if you don’t mind I’m going to tote mine along just the same.”
“Then it’s all settled, is it, Bill?”
“I’m right there, pal o’ mine, every time.”
The boys struck hands and their new adventure was on.
CHAPTER II
HO! FOR THE GOLD COUNTRY!
“Now that I’ve declared myself in on this game I wants to know something about how it is supposed to be played,” said Bill, who, having once thrown his pet scheme overboard went into the new one heart and soul. “How big a country is this here Ilasker and to what part do we hike?”