CHAPTER X.
CONCLUSION.
Frankie was the hero of the school after his father’s coming. Boys and girls gathered about him at noon, and recess, and after school, to listen to his stories of his father’s life in California—of the giant trees, the mines, the snow-covered mountains, and all the wonders of the Land of Gold.
“Let’s go some time, boys,” said Joe West, one noon, as they stood listening, with wide-open eyes.
“I’ll go,” said Willie Prime, “just as soon as I’m a man.”
“I’ll go before that,” said Ben. “’Tain’t no use for me to stay here.”
Poor boy! Having a drunken father, it was not strange he thought it of no use to remain at home.
“Are you ever going, Frank?” asked Millie Ray. “Is it too far for girls to go?”
“Oh no, Millie,” answered Frank. “’Tisn’t too far, but girls would be afraid of the Indians an’ bears and everything. But I’ll tell you how we’ll fix it. We’ll all go. Joe, and Will, and Ben, and Kate, and Lou, and you, and I. Then, you know, us boys’ll keep the Indians and bears away.”