“Well, if we keep on, an’ we find right along, we’re goin’ to find some around Barnriff.”
“Good, laddie,” Peter replied, approving his obvious reasoning. “I’m working on those old Indian yarns, and, according to them, Barnriff must be set right on a mighty rich gold mine.”
The calm eyes of the boy brightened. Barnriff on a gold mine!
“An’ when you find it?”
Peter’s eyes dropped before the other’s inquiring gaze. That was the question always before him, but it did not apply to material gold. And when he should find it, what then? Simply his quest would have closed at another chapter. His work for the moment would be finished; and he would once more have to set out on a fresh quest to appease his restless soul. He shook his head.
“We haven’t found it yet,” he said.
“But when you do?” the boy persisted.
Peter handed him his plate and his coffee, and sat down to his own breakfast. But the boy insisted on an answer.
“Yes?”
“Well, laddie, it’s kind of tough answering that. I can’t rightly tell you.”