“No one. I only came to that conclusion.”
“Then you thought wrong, sir, and perhaps it was what you had made up your mind to yourself.”
“Oh no, Griggs. We have decided quite the contrary. If there is any drawing back it will be on your side.”
“That’s right then, sir. When do we start?”
“As soon as we have settled our affairs and bought the necessary stores.”
“But we shall try and find a purchaser for the plantation—of course, at a reasonable price,” said Bourne. “Just about the value of what we have put into the place, the building and the tools.”
“If we wait for that, gentlemen,” said Griggs, “we shall never get off. But you try.”
“Yes, we will try,” said the doctor. “Of course it will be amongst the settlers a few miles round.”
This was decided upon, and the doctor and Bourne rode off that morning, making a tour of about thirty miles from plantation to plantation, before they returned, tired out, to the evening meal, and found Griggs busy with Wilton and the boys just finishing up the task of thoroughly cleaning and oiling the firearms.
“Back again, then?” said Griggs. “Will you want my hammer and spikes, gentlemen?”