“And the rivers and streams commence running again,” Dick added. “We’ll go fishing then, won’t we, Sandy?”
“You bet!”
Sandy appeared to be so happy, indeed, that it occurred to Dick presently, watching him gamboling about, that there must be some other explanation for his friend’s high spirits than the mere fact that Spring was approaching.
“What’s up, Sandy?” he inquired a moment later as the young man came cavorting back to the sleigh. “Anyone would think that you’d just been elected King of Scotland.”
“Nothing like that, Dick, on my word. I’m just feeling fine.”
“Sandy, you’re lying to me.”
“Not I.”
“You might as well tell me,” persisted Dick, “because I’ll be sure to find out anyway. I can tell by the way you act and by the expression on your face that something out of the ordinary has happened. Out with it!”
Sandy hesitated, then moved closer to his friend.
“It’s not exactly a secret, but we thought we wouldn’t tell you until we got back to the post. However, now that you’ve become so suspicious, I don’t see any harm in it. Are you prepared for a shock?”