“As a matter of fact, my recollection of my own youth actuated me in giving you this chance. I know what a boy wants. I was denied it myself, and I mean you shall have better luck.”
Turning abruptly, he walked away. The boys were silent. When he was out of earshot, Frank said earnestly:
“Jack, your father is a prince.”
“I never heard him talk quite so freely of his own youth before,” said Jack, thoughtfully. “I want to know more about it.”
Without further explanation, he, too, set off in his father’s wake.
CHAPTER VII—THE EXPEDITION GETS UNDER WAY
With the coming of the first warm weather, delightful and interesting though their stay at the monastery had proven to be, the boys were eager to get under way upon the last stage of their hunt for the Enchanted City. Don Ernesto and Mr. Hampton, though less enthusiastic on the surface, were no whit less desirous to be moving on than the boys.
Father Felipe, reluctant to part with them, for they had enlivened the placid hours of life in the lonely monastery immeasurably, nevertheless saw that it would be useless any longer to interpose objections to their departure.