"Oh, Don, what an idea!" exclaimed Mildred. "I'm glad you can't win consent."
"I too," said the doctor. "Don, if you knew what the life is you would not want to try it. I have had experience of it, you remember."
"Who are going from here?" asked Mildred.
Quite a list of names was given in reply, including those of several of her familiar acquaintance.
"How will they go?" she asked, a look of grave concern coming over her face.
"Across the plains," answered Rupert, "in wagons drawn by ox-teams. It can't fail to be a slow and toilsome journey."
"And a dangerous one as well," added his mother, with a deprecating look at Don.
"Yes, I know," said the lad, "but I'm fairly spoiling for a taste of that, mother," he added, with a laugh.
She shook her head. "Ah, my boy, I wish you knew when you were well off."