“Has he really returned from the Klondike?” asked Ruth.
“I believe he has. But whether he has money or is as poor as when he started off to seek his fortune, I don’t know. Time will tell. But I am glad the sun is out. It would have been rather gloomy to start in the rain.”
“If it had not rained those men never would have gotten our jewel box!” declared Agnes. “It was only because we were confused by the umbrella in the hard shower that they dared take it.”
“Don’t think about it!” advised Mr. Howbridge.
They reached the Bluebird, to find Neale waiting for them with smiling face.
“I only wish we could start under gasoline instead of mule power!” he cried gayly.
“Time enough for that!” said Mr. Howbridge, with a smile. “Is Hank on hand?”
“He’s bringing out the hee-haws now,” said Neale, pointing down the towpath, while Dot and Tess laughed at his descriptive name for the mules.
The driver was leading them from the stable where they had taken shelter from the downpour, and they were soon hitched to the long towing rope.
“It ’minds me of the time I came from Scotland,” murmured Mrs. MacCall as she went up the “bridge,” as the gangplank of a canal boat is sometimes called.