“All the more fun,” grinned Alex. “They help to make excitement, Gloomy Gus.”
“There will be no mystery this time. No one would want to join a trip like the one we are going to take,” Clay said.
“You’ll see,” Case said darkly.
“Let’s get back to our trip,” said the cheerful Alex. “What will we want to take with us?”
“First we will want to stock up with all the food we can carry, for food prices will be high in Alaska. Our guns are all right, but we had ought to have some warmer clothing and heavier blankets. Our heaviest expense, however, will be a new motor for the Rambler.”
“A new motor for the Rambler?” cried Case, in dismay. “Why, what’s wrong with our dear little motors? They have carried us thousands of miles without a hitch.”
“That’s just the trouble. They have about worn out their lives in faithful service for us. I have gone over them carefully this winter and I find that the cylinders have worn thin while the working parts are almost gone. Aside from that we could not carry enough gasoline for the trip and I do not expect we will find much, if any, gasoline on the Yukon.”
“Then what are we going to do?” demanded Alex, anxiously.
“I wish we could put in a wood engine and save the expense for fuel, but a steam engine which would do our work would be too heavy for the Rambler. The next best thing is a kerosene engine. They are not much heavier than a gas, and I feel sure we can get kerosene on the Yukon. It always follows closely the movements of civilized man. Well, what do you say? Shall we have a new motor or not?”
His companions recognized the wisdom of his arguments and gave ready assent, although they hated the idea of parting with their loyal little friends.