CHAPTER III
The First Trek
"Cheer-oh, Malcolm!"
Carr gave an involuntary gasp of astonishment; then, recovering himself, grasped Dick Selwyn's outstretched hand.
"Bless my soul, Dick, what brings you here?"
"Same job as yours," replied Selwyn. "Do you think I am going to let you have all the fun? You impshied without even asking me to chip in. Enough to make a fellow cut up rough with his joining chum. So I rode down, and now I'm up."
"And Hughes?"
"He's great--absolutely! Never even murmured when he had two fellows chucking their hands in on the same day. Told me he could get along very well without us. I doubt it though. Smithers is an ass with the theodolite, and Hedger's 'trig' is rotten. By the by, on my way down last night I passed Te Paheka."
"Going strong?"