Then, if we didn't, no one could laugh at
us and say we got scared."
The refusal of the boys from Ohio to believe in the haunted mine
had at first nettled Bill and Horace, but they had always been keen
to hear or see phantoms, and at Larry's proposal of the hunting
trip they became enthusiastic.
"It will be great sport, if father will let us," assented Horace.
"Come on, we'll ask him."
And abandoning their intention of roping ponies, they turned back
to the house in search of Mr. Wilder.
Finding him on the piazza, they lost no time in laying their plan
for a hunting trip before him.
As he beheld the eager faces and noted the lithe, supple bodies of
the boys, in whose eyes shone the light of fearlessness, the
ranchman replied:
"I have no objection, if you don't go beyond the foothills. Bill,
you remember the trails I showed you last spring, don't you?"
"Yes, sir."
"All right, keep to them. You boys certainly ought to be able to
take care of yourselves. Go and tell Hop Joy to put up some grub
for you. You had better camp on the plains to-night, so you won't
be able to shoot your food."
Delighted at the thought of going on a hunting trip, the boys
hurried away to the Chinaman.
"Golly! You boyee go shootee?" exclaimed the celestial when he had
received the orders to pack their food. "No flaid ghostee?"
"Of course not," replied Horace.
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