“Yes, Dave can climb well enough,” answered the uncle. He hesitated a moment. “This is news to me and I scarcely know what to say, Mr. Washington. Do you think the lad could do the work you wish of him?”
“I think so—after I have given him a few lessons. To be sure I should prefer an experienced hand, but he looks as if he might learn quickly.”
“I’ll do my best,” put in Dave, and then he added: “What does the work pay? Or perhaps you’d like to find out what I am worth first.”
“I gave my other helper six shillings a day and his board, and also a horse when the animal was needed,” answered Washington. “I will give you the same if you do the work properly.”
“I’ll take you up—if Uncle Joe will let me,” answered Dave, quickly. It was the first chance he had ever had of earning money away from home.
“You wish the lad for six weeks,” questioned Joseph Morris.
“Yes, if he proves willing and obliging, and he looks as if he would.”
“Then I don’t know but that you might try it, Dave. That will give our horses one less to carry, and you could stay at Denton’s until you fell in with some other folks coming out our way, if you didn’t want to come on alone.”
“I wouldn’t be afraid to come on alone, if I had a horse and my rifle.”
“It would be better to wait, for the snow might waylay you,” put in Aaron Crosby.