“All right,” said Mr Rawlings. “I can credit your financier coining the new word ablutionise; but I can’t exactly stomach the ‘Universal Bath Company’ quite! I am an old soldier, however; so proceed, and I promise not to be very much surprised at any of your traveller’s tales!”
“Really, I am not exaggerating at all,” said Ernest Wilton. “That ignorant purse-proud fellow wished to start a company for almost everything we came across in our route. I need not add that he wasn’t an American.”
“No, it’s only Englishmen that make themselves such fools over here,” replied Mr Rawlings, heaving a sigh, as if he thought himself one of the number for having anything to do with the Minturne Creek venture. “If they have any bad points at home, they get them more developed by the passage across the ocean. What is the old Latin adage we used to learn at school—eh?”
“‘Coelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt,’” quoted the young engineer. “‘Those who travel abroad may change their scene of action, but can’t alter their own minds.’”
“Yes, that’s it,” replied Mr Rawlings. “But go on with your journey.”
“Well,” continued the other, “when we had done the Warm Springs, one of the scientific gentlemen, who wanted to make soap cheap, I presume, suggested that the exploring party should proceed to the celebrated Alkali Desert in Idaho, which I daresay you’ve heard of?”
“I have,” answered Mr Rawlings. “It’s to the south of the Snake River, just below Boise City and the Salmon River Mountains. My poor cousin Ned was there a year or two prospecting, he told me.”
“Indeed!” said the young engineer. “Then I’ve no doubt you liked the place as little as I did. And as for those Snake Indians, they’re the worst lot I ever came across yet.”
“They are so,” said Mr Rawlings. “Born thieves, every one—at least, I have got Ned’s word for it.”
“I was grateful to them for one thing, however,” said Ernest Wilton, laughing again at the recollection. “They so disgusted our great English company-starting capitalist that he would come no further with us; and we were well rid of his bumptious airs and vulgarity for the rest of the journey.”