"You will pardon me, Harrie, but it may not be best for us to read aloud or talk to any great extent here. There may be those about whose motives are not friendly."
Thinking this suggestion a wise one, Harrie and Ronie willingly followed their companion to a more retired place, where the three spent fully five minutes looking over the lengthy missive together before one of them spoke. Then Ronie said:
"Well, what do you think of it, Jack?"
"That it is a grand opportunity for two such adventure-loving fellows as you are to embrace. But I would not advise less daring and energetic youths to think of it for a moment."
"So you think there is likely to be some dangerous experiences attached to the journey?"
"It has all of that appearance, though you may come out of it without a scratch. Colonel Marchand, unless I have misjudged him, is just such a man as would throw all thought of hazard to the wind if the prize was worth striving for."
"You do not believe he would lead any one into needless danger, Jack?"
"Certainly not; he is too good a soldier for that, and you know he made an honorable record in our recent war with Spain."
"I judge, then, you think the people we should be likely to fall among might be a dangerous element," said Ronie.
"That is just what I meant. The inhabitants of the interior of the country where he would have you go are treacherous and dangerous, if they happen to take a dislike to you; and that they are more prone to dislike than to like has been my experience."