“Perhaps I'll go West some day,” went on our hero, and told his friend of what Maurice Vane had said.
“I saw some mines while I was out there,” continued Ned. “I went to the very bottom of one mine. I can tell you I felt a bit shivery, being so far underground.”
“I suppose the miners get used to it.”
“It would be a joke on those swindlers if that mine should prove of value,” went on Ned, after a pause.
“I hope, for Mr. Vane's sake, it does prove valuable.”
“Now your hotel is burnt out, what are you going to do?”
“I haven't made up my mind, Ned. Perhaps I'll come back here, to work for Mr. Mallison.”
“Then we'll be together again next summer. That will suit me.”
The boys had a good time together and then Joe said he would like to pay a visit to his old home on the mountain side. Ned readily consented to go along.
“But I don't imagine you'll find much of the old cabin left,” he added.