"Thirty dollars a day."
"Thirty dollars a day!" exclaimed Fred.
"Yes, and if you don't want it say so," snapped the clerk. "There are plenty that do."
"Oh, we'll take it," said Mr. Baxter quickly. "That's cheap, according to some prices they're asking," he added. "When ordinary meals are five dollars each, the cost of living soon runs up."
"But if our expenses are going to be so high, how can we stand it until we discover the——" began Jerry.
"Hush!" interrupted Mr. Baxter. "Don't say a word about what we're after. There are too many rascals in this locality. I'll manage about the expenses."
"But meals at five dollars each!"
"Don't worry. We'll not pay that long. The prices are high because there is a big crowd just in off the steamer, and the dealers want to make hay while the sun shines. Things will go down in a day or so, when the miners begin to travel into the interior."
"But won't it cost a lot to buy our provisions at that rate?"
"It would if we had to buy them, but I brought them along with me. We will have to buy very little. The principal things we will need are dogs, sledges and guides for a certain distance. We will stay here a day or so until I can arrange about them, and then we will start for the interior."