“I have.”
“We must be all right then, now,” continued Ned. “I began to think yesterday that we were going to tramp along till the heat and thirst were too much for us, and we had to lie down and die. I say, I shouldn’t have liked that.”
“And you’ll never find any one who would. Bother the old gold! It would have been horrid. Better have gone on weeding in the plantation.”
“Ever so much; but do you think the place marked in the plan is over yonder?”
Ned pointed at the beautiful amethystine mountains, but Chris shook his head.
“Don’t look like the place; but never mind that now. Let’s see about breakfast.”
The boys rose as if animated by one spirit, and stood looking round.
“What about a fire?” said Ned dismally.
“No wood,” replied Chris, with a groan, and his voice made his father start, look sharply round, and spring to his feet.
“Ah, boys!” he cried. “How long have you been awake?”