“Come, young sirs,” he said, “you must learn to see the sun rise regularly out here in the West. Sit down, and let’s have breakfast. I’ve a lot to do ready for starting to-morrow.”
“I’m sorry I am so late,” I said. “I could not sleep last night.”
“Why? Let’s look at you. Not ill?”
“Oh, no,” I said, beginning on my breakfast to try and overtake Esau.
“No,” he said, “you’re not ill, or you couldn’t eat like that. Why couldn’t you sleep?”
“I was thinking so much of what you said about the difficulties before us. I never thought of them before.”
“Oh!” he said, looking at me curiously. “Well, I’m glad of it. But don’t worry yourself. The troubles will not come all at once. You can fight them one at a time, and get over them, I dare say.”
“Then you think we shall be able to get up to Fort Elk somehow?”
“If you make up your minds to it, and say you will do it. That’s the way. There, make a good breakfast, and then perhaps you can help me a bit. I want to finish buying a few things that one can’t get up the country. By the way, you will have to leave those chests of yours up at one of the settlements.”
“Leave our chests?” said Esau, staring.