And seated under a stately elm that grew by the roadside, Oliver related all there was in his mind.

Gus Gregory was deeply interested.

“I hope you’ll succeed,” he said. “My, how I wish I was going along! Nothing would suit me better.”

“And nothing would suit me better than to have you,” replied Oliver; “but that can’t be thought of.”

“Which way are you going?”

“By the way of Panama.”

“It will cost quite a bit.”

“Something less than a hundred dollars.”

“That is quite a sum, but not so much as I thought. Have you got your ticket yet?”