you've cleaned the
trout for cooking, lad," laughed his elder.

Waldo gazed reproachfully into that bright face for a brief space, then
bowed head in joined hands, to sob in heartfelt fashion, his sturdy
frame shaking with poorly suppressed grief--or mirth?

Bruno passed an arm caressingly over those shoulders, murmuring words of
comfort, earnestly promising to never sin again in like manner, provided
he could find forgiveness now. And then, with deft touch, that same hand
held his garment far enough for its mate to let slip a wriggling trout
adown his brother's back.

Waldo howled and jumped wildly, as the cold morsel slipped along his
spine, and ducking out of reach, the elder jester called back:

"Land him, boy, and you've caught another fish!"

Although laughing heartily himself, Professor Featherwit deemed it a
part of wisdom to interfere now, and, ere long, matters quieted down,
all hands engaged in preparing the morning meal, for which all teeth
were now fairly on edge.

If good nature had been at all disturbed, long before that breakfast was
despatched it was fully restored, and of the trio, Waldo appeared to be
the most enthusiastic over present prospects.

"Why, just think of it, will you?" he declaimed, as well as might be
with mouth full of crisply fried mountain trout, "where the game comes
begging for you to bowl it over, and the very fish try to jump into your
pockets--"

"Or down your back, Amerigo," interjected Bruno, with a grin.

"Button up, or you'll turn to be a Sorry-cus--tomer, old man," came the
swift retort, with a portentous frown. "But, joking aside, why not? With
such hunting and fishing, I'd be willing to sign a contract for a round
year in this region."

"To say nothing of exploration, and such discoveries as naturally attend
upon--"

"Then you really mean it all, uncle Phaeton?"

Leaning back far enough to pluck a handful of green leaves, which fairly
well served the purpose of a napkin, Professor Featherwit brought forth
pipe and pouch, maintaining silence until the fragrant tobacco was well
alight. Then he gave a vigorous nod of his head, to utter:

"It has been the dearest dream of my life for more years gone by than
you would readily credit, my lads; or, in fact, than I would be wholly
willing to confess. And it was with an eye single to this very adventure
that I laboured to devise and perfect yonder machine."

"A marvel in itself, uncle Phaeton. Only for that, where