d sugar, so
as to have enough when the stores begins to run out."

"Yes; I never thought of that," said Mark.

"Ah, but the doctor did, sir. He thinks of everything. Well, sir, he
put it to me whether I could pick out a mate and be ready any time to
take the waggons and go back to Illakaree."

"There," cried Mark, "what did I say?"

"I d'know, sir. Lots of things."

"I meant about the doctor trusting you. Did you say you'd go."

"Course I did, sir. I don't want to go, for I'm just right here. This
is the sort of thing I like. I am enjying myself here just as much as
you young gents. It fits me right down to the ground, and if I do go I
shan't be happy till I get back."

"Ah," said Mark thoughtfully. "But you said about picking out a mate.
Whom should you choose?"

"Well, if you come to regular choosing, sir," said Buck, "I should like
to have you--not for a mate, sir, but to be my young boss. I know
though that couldn't be, and I wouldn't want it, 'cause I know how I
should be cutting you off from all the sarching as the doctor wants
done. Why, you wouldn't be here when you hunt out the place where all
the gold is buried."

"N-no."

"And the working tools and the pots and pans as the doctor expects to
find."

"N-no," said Mark thoughtfully. "But I say, Buck, do you think there is
plenty of gold here somewhere?"

"Pretty sure of it, sir. Why, where did that little kiddy of a black
get his ornaments from?"

"To be sure," said Mark, still speaking very seriously. "But why is it,
then, that he will not say anything about it? He only shakes his head
and goes away when one tries to get him to show where he got his bangles
from."

"Well, I don't quite know, sir. There's a something behind it all.
They're sort of jealous like about having the old things meddled with, I
think. Mak showed us the way here, but I never see him begin to sarch
like to find anything the old people left, and if you remember he tried
all he could to keep us from meddling and looking for the place where we
found that old man."

"Oh, the doctor said that was superstition," said Mark.

"Then that's what it was, sir, if the doctor said so, for he'd know, of
course."

"Yes," said Mark. "I should like to go with you, Buck, but I couldn't.
Whom should you choose?"

"Well, sir, I should like to have little Dan."

"Yes, he'd be a capital companion; but--but--but--"

"Yes, sir; that's it. Them buts are a t'r'ble both