The eyes of the waif filled with tears.
“I dunno jes how ter thank you, boss,” he said, addressing all of them, “but I kin promise you that I’ll make good.”
“Sure of that,” said the Professor kindly, “but I can’t make out why you won’t tell us what brought you to such an out-of-the-way, not to say remote, part of the world as this.”
“I’d tell yer if I could; honest I would, boss,” spoke Jimmie; “but—but I can’t jes’ yet. Some time maybe——”
The lad broke off, and once more his wistful eyes sought the distant peaks.
“Is them the Selkirks over yonder?” he asked presently.
“Yes; those far peaks are,” said the Professor, also gazing toward the giant ranges in the distance whose crests glimmered with the cold gleam of never-melting snow, “those are the Selkirks.”
“Goin’ that way?” asked Jimmie, his eyes still riveted on the far-flung ranges.
“Yes; we hope to penetrate as far as that. Why?”
“Oh, nuttin’. I hoped you was, that’s all.”