“Good old Dad,” said Bob, giving him a hug. “But what brought Della?”
“Oh, the same means,” answered his father.
“No, Dad. You know what I mean. Was it love for her straying brother?”
“Well, now, Bob, you’ll have to form your own opinion,” said Mr. Temple, eyes a-twinkle.
Della who had been standing close to Frank, her hands clasped in his, looked calmly at Bob.
“Marjie wanted to come, too, you know, Bob,” she said. “But her mother wouldn’t let her. She sent you a message.”
“Huh.”
Big Bob blushed, and let the conversation drop. Nevertheless, at the first opportunity he got his sister to one side, and, snatching the letter she tendered him, went off by himself to read it.
There was room for Mr. Hampton and the boys on the launch, and in a canoe towed behind, and so, after a short rest, a start downstream was made at once. Thorwaldsson and the others set off with them, but soon fell behind amid a gay waving of farewells. Mr. Hampton was to make arrangements for their reception at the next post and at Edmonton. The launch would be sent back for them when the post was reached.
At Edmonton, a thriving city which in the comparatively few years of its existence has grown to the proportions of a metropolis, the boys got their first taste of the publicity which was to pursue them across the continent, reaching its height on their arrival in New York. For word of their coming had gotten out, and hosts of reporters awaited them, representing the great newspapers and news-gathering syndicates of not only North America but of Europe, too.