But scarcely were the words out of his mouth when the door opened and in came an old friend named Silas Haskins, a former gold miner.
"I got to go to Husted to-morrow, so I came over to-night to say 'so long,'" he said in explanation of his call.
Cordially the boys made him welcome, and the time passed quickly when they had led Silas round to talking about his adventures in the far West.
When at last the gold miner rose to go he said:
"I brung some presents for you. They'll be useful in the West."
And from his pockets Silas drew forth two fine big jackknives and two long pieces of thong.
"They're both the same, so you won't need to quarrel about 'em," he smiled as he handed their presents to each.
The boys were deeply touched by such evidence of friendship from their aged friend and were profuse in their thanks when he again put his hands in his pockets and produced two little bags made of buckskin and attached to a stout strip of the same strong material.
"I don't know how you're intending to carry your money," he began, "but——"
"Why in our pockets," interrupted Larry.