Eager to be on their way, it seemed to Larry and Tom that the hours
never passed so slowly. They tried to read, but in place of the
print on the pages pictures of cowboys and bucking bronchos danced
before their eyes, and they soon shut their books.
"Wish we'd gone with father and mother," exclaimed Tom. "It's more
stupid here than saying good-by."
But scarcely were the words out of his mouth when the door opened
and in came an old friend named Silas Haskins, a former gold miner.
"I got to go to Husted to-morrow, so I came over to-night to say
'so long,'" he said in explanation of his call.
Cordially the boys made him welcome, and the time passed quickly
when they had led Silas round to talking about his adventures in
the far West.
When at last the gold miner rose to go he said:
"I brung some presents for you. They'll be useful in the West."
And from his pockets Silas drew forth two fine big jackknives and
two long pieces of thong.
"They're both the same, so you won't need to quarrel about 'em," he
smiled as he handed their presents to each.
The boys were deeply touched by such evidence of friendship from
their aged friend and were profuse in their thanks when he again
put his hands in his pockets and produced two little bags made of
buckskin and attached to a stout strip of the same strong material.
"I don't know how you're intending to carry your money," he began,
"but----"
"Why in our pockets," interrupted Larry.
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