“I will leave the hotel here to join the expedition at ten o’clock to-morrow morning. If you want to go, let me hear from you early in the day. Think it over, Mrs. Bertram, and rest assured if you agree I’ll take good care of him and return him safe and sound when the expedition is over.”
He bade them good-night and was gone without another word, leaving Mrs. Bertram in tears, her husband anxious and silent, and Will excited and undecided over the strange proposition he had made.
“It seems like Providence, father,” he said finally, after an oppressive silence. “With what I got to-day, the two months’ wages will support you for a long time, and you won’t have to work so hard. Besides, if there’s any extra money to earn, I will not miss it. Why, at the stores here I couldn’t earn half the amount, and I get my living free.”
“We will have to think and talk it over, Will,” replied Mr. Bertram, gravely, and at a motion Mrs. Bertram followed him into the next apartment.
Will could hear the low, serious sound of their voices in earnest consultation, even after they had softly closed the door connecting the two rooms.
He took up a book and tried to read, but the exciting thoughts that would come about the expedition distracted his mind completely.
“I hope they’ll let me go,” he breathed fervently. “It’s even better than the ocean. Hello, what is that?”
There had come a quick, metallic tap at the window, and Will fixed his eyes in its direction.
“It’s the wind, I guess,” he finally decided. “No, there it is again.”
Will arose, put on his cap, and, walking to the door, opened it, stepped outside, and looked searchingly around.