"I must confess that the thing wasn't altogether voluntary. I'm afraid we were rather gluttonous when we got the chance."
He smiled, but Millicent's eyes were full of compassion.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked softly.
"No; I think it was a serious disappointment for Harding, and I was very sorry for him at first."
"So am I," Millicent responded. "It must have been very hard, after leaving his wife alone and badly provided for and risking everything on his success. But why did you say you were sorry for him? Aren't you sorry now?"
"Though we didn't find what we were looking for, we found something else which Harding seems firmly convinced is quite as valuable. Of course, he's a bit of an optimist, but it looks as if he were right this time. Anyway, I'm plunging on his scheme."
"You mean you will stake all you have on it?"
"Yes," Blake answered with a humorous twinkle. "It's true that what I have doesn't amount to much, but I'm throwing in what I should like to get—and that's a great deal."
Millicent noticed his expression suddenly grow serious.
"Tell me about your adventures up in that wilderness," she begged.