The matter was talked over, and it was decided that the pair should start early the following morning. They had a good stout sleigh belonging to Mr. Paxton, and one of the best teams the camp afforded. As the Gannett camp was thirty miles away, and the snow in some spots was unusually deep, they were to take some provisions with them, and make the trip a two-days' one.
"I don't want you young fellows to starbe on de way," said old Jeff. "So I dun cooked you a fust-class dinnah an' put it in de basket." And he brought it out to them and saw it stowed away safely in the back of the sleigh.
Some of the men had relatives working at the other camp, and the young lumbermen carried a number of letters in addition to the order Mr. Paxton gave them. There were also two saws to carry and two iron camp kettles; so the sleigh was well loaded when they started off.
"This is going to be just the finest ride that ever was," said Dale enthusiastically, as he cracked the whip. "I couldn't think of anything better."
"If we don't get stuck in a snowdrift," returned Owen. "The drifts must be pretty deep between the hills."
"We'll have to stick to high ground then."
"That isn't always so easy."
"Barton said the road was open."
"He was over it ten days ago. Since that time we have had some pretty heavy winds, and a light fall of snow in the bargain."
"Well, we'll pull through somehow," said Dale confidently.