Desiring to make Circle the next day, a distance of nearly two hundred miles by the river, they left Eagle at an early hour after taking on board a supply of fuel of a rather questionable character, for which they had to pay a heavy price. The trading companies said that this was the second launch that had visited Eagle and the demand for high-grade fuel was not great.
“Say, boys, what is ‘mush’?” asked Jack, suddenly, as they sped down the river.
“C-c-cornmeal, salt and water, boiled,” promptly spoke up Pepper, who was the expert on most things edible.
“It’s what we make de pone an’ de hoecake of, honey,” corrected Rand.
“I dunno,” broke in Don, “but I hear it’s some foolish substitute for oatmeal porridge.”
“My uncle feeds the chickens lots of it out on his farm,” insisted Dick.
“Here, here,” cried Jack, as soon as he could get in a word. “My mind isn’t constantly on the menu. It’s queer how a young man’s fancy constantly turns to something to eat at any time of day. I’m talking of some word that Swiftwater used yesterday, referring to Forty-mile.”
“Better ask him,” suggested Rand, “he’s an awful good explainer.”
The miner, who had been talking with Colonel Snow about the value of Alaska mining investments in various districts, heard his name mentioned and turned with a smile.
“What’s Swiftwater’s latest crime?” he asked.