In the Heart of the Rockies | Page 6

with markets not far away. Of course, he is too young
yet, but unless he is going to walk in your steps and turn sailor he might
do worse than come out to me in three or four years' time. Rough as the
life is, it is a man's life, and a week of it is worth more than a year's

quill-driving in an office. It is a pity your family have run to girls, for if
one boy had made up his mind for the sea you might have spared me
another.'
"That is all. You know mother sent an answer saying that dear father
had gone, and that she should never be able to let you go so far away
and take up such a rough and dangerous life. However, Tom, as you
wrote to uncle, her refusal would not matter, and by his sending you
instructions how to find him, it is evident that he will not be surprised
at your turning up. In the first place, are you sure that you would prefer
this to the sea?"
"Quite sure, Carry; I should like it much better. But the principal thing
is that I may soon be able to help you from there, while it would be
years before I should get pay enough at sea to enable me to do so."
"Then that is settled, Tom. And now, I suppose," and her voice
quivered a little, "you will want to be off as soon as you can?"
"I think so," Tom replied. "If I am to go, it seems to me the sooner I go
the better; there is nothing that I can do here, and we shall all be
restless and unsettled until I am off."
Carry nodded. "I think you are right, Tom; we shall never be able to
settle to our work here when we are thinking of your going away. The
first thing to do will be to draw some money from the bank. There will
be your outfit to get and your passage to pay to America, and a supply
of money to take you out West, and keep you until you join uncle."
"That is what I hate," Tom said gloomily. "It seems beastly that when I
want to help you I must begin by taking some of your money."
"That can't be helped," Carry said cheerfully. "One must not grudge a
sprat to catch a whale, and besides it would cost ever so much more if
we had to apprentice you to the sea, and get your outfit. You will not
want many clothes now. You have enough for the voyage and journey,
and I should think it would be much better for you to get what you
want out there, when you will have uncle to advise what is necessary. I

should really think some flannel shirts and a rough suit for the voyage
will be the principal things."
"I should think so, certainly," Tom agreed. "The less baggage one
travels with the better, for when I leave the railway I shall only want
what I can carry with me or pack on horses. Anything else would only
be a nuisance. As to a rough suit for the voyage, the clothes I had
before I put these on" (and he glanced at his black suit) "will do
capitally. Of course I shall go steerage. I can get out for four or five
pounds that way, and I shall be quite as well off as I should be as an
apprentice. I know I must have some money, but I won't take more than
is absolutely necessary. I am all right as far as I can see for everything,
except three or four flannel shirts. I don't see that another thing will be
required except a small trunk to hold them and the clothes I have on,
which I don't suppose I shall ever wear again, and a few other things.
You know I would only allow you to have this one black suit made. I
was thinking of this, and it would have been throwing away money to
have got more. Of course, I don't know what I shall want out there. I
know it is a long way to travel by rail, and I may have to keep myself
for a month before I find uncle. I should think five-and-twenty pounds
when I land would be enough for everything."
"I shall draw fifty pounds," Carry said positively. "As you say, your
outfit will really cost nothing; ten pounds will pay for your journey to
Liverpool and your passage; that will leave you forty pounds in your
pocket when you land. That is the very least you could do with, for you
may find you will have to buy a