On a Torn-Away World | Page 7

"There would be good hunting up there in the mountains," said Andy Sudds, succinctly.
"I wouldn't mind that."
"An'disher chrysomela-bypunktater plant he wants," grunted Washington. "Hi, yi! ain't
dat de beatenest thing? Who ebber heard of sech a plant befo'?"
"Nobody but you, I guess, Washington," said the professor, quietly. "That seems to be a
plant of your own invention."

"But, sir!" cried Mark, "you have no idea of taking this trip he suggests; have you?"
"Dr. Todd has done me many a favor in the past," said Professor Henderson,
thoughtfully.
"Well, if you're going, count me in," said Jack, quickly. "I don't mind a summer trip to
the Arctic. Say! it can't be much cooler up there than it is here right now. This fire doesn't
feel bad at all."
"Humph!" muttered Mark, who never was as sanguine as his chum. "This cool spell will
only last a day or two here; but I understand the tops of the Endicott Range are always
white."
"B-r-r!" shivered Washington, at this statement. "Dis chile don't t'ink much ob such a
surreptitious pedestrianation as dat, den. Don't like no cold wedder, nohow! And Buttsy
don' like it, needer."
"Who's Buttsy?" demanded Jack, grinning.
"Why, fo' suah," said the darkey, gravely, "you knows Christopher Columbus Amerigo
Vespucci George Washington Abraham Lin----"
"But you wouldn't expect to take Christopher Columbus And-so-forth to Alaska with us;
would you?" asked Andy Suggs.
"Why not?" demanded the darkey. "He flowed to de moon in de perjectilator; didn't he?
Huh! In co'se if de perfessor goes after disher chrysomela-bypunktater, I gotter go, too;
and in co'se if I go, Buttsy done gotter go. Dat's as plain as de nose on yo' face, Andy."
The hunter rubbed his rather prominent nasal organ and was silenced. Jack and Mark had
turned more eagerly to the professor as the latter began to speak:
"Yes, Dr. Todd is my good friend. He turns to me for help quite properly; who else
should he turn to?"
"But, Professor!" ejaculated Mark, warmly. "Are you to be driven off to Alaska at your
age to hunt for this herb--which is perhaps only the hallucination of a madman?" "Mark's
hit the nail on the head, Professor!" declared Jack. "I believe this Todd must certainly be
'touched' in his upper story."
"Am I touched, as you call it, Jack?" demanded Professor Henderson, in some
indignation.
"But you don't believe Todd is on the trail of any great discovery?" cried Mark.
"Why not? Mind may yield to herbal treatment. Todd is an advanced botanical adherent.
He believes almost anything can be accomplished by herbs. And he says he has
successfully treated one case."

"One swallow doesn't make a summer," remarked Mark, doubtfully.
"But it is enough that he wants us to find the herb," said the professor, more vigorously.
"'Us'!" repeated Jack.
"And he will pay us any reasonable price for our work," added their mentor.
"He really means to go!" cried Mark.
"I certainly do. I think you and Jack will accompany me," said the professor, quietly. "I
know that Washington will, and of course Andy will not be left behind."
"Not if there'll be a chance at big game," declared the hunter. "I'm with you, Professor
Henderson."
"Yo' suah can't git erlong widout me, I s'pose?" queried the darkey, in some uncertainty.
"I'se mighty busy right yere jes' now."
"And you'll be busy if we go to Alaska, Wash!" cried Jack. "Hurrah! I am willing to start
to-morrow, Professor."
"And you, Mark?" queried the old gentleman of his other adopted son.
"How will we go, sir? We shall be until fall traveling to the Arctic Circle by any usual
means."
"True," said the professor. "And haste is imperative. I cannot spend much time in this
matter. We must take unusual means of getting to the Endicott Range."
"What do you mean?" asked the boys in chorus.
"Your Snowbird is ready for flight. It can be provisioned and will take us all quicker than
by any other means. Therefore in the Snowbird we will make the journey."
CHAPTER III
THE FLIGHT OF THE SNOWBIRD
Jack Darrow and Mark Sampson were glad enough to be of the party aiming to reach
northern Alaska and the Endicott Range, if Professor Henderson really intended going to
find the strange herb for which Dr. Todd was willing to pay so generously.
Of discussion, pro and con, there was much. Indeed, they sat up until after midnight after
the reading of Dr. Todd's letter, talking over the contemplated journey, and gradually the
details of the trip, including all preparations for it, were worked out.
Jack and Mark put into the affair, once they were determined to aid the professor, their
characteristic energy. Professor Henderson wired his brother scientist that he would

undertake the journey to