"Oh, no! Not for the world!--since you say that perhaps your very life
may depend on having it; but please, Bluff, be very careful. You might
cut yourself by accident, you know, and then--well, your mother and
father would grieve so much if anything happened to you."

"Well, would you care?" asked Bluff boldly.

Nellie gave him an arch look and ran down-stairs, as she said that she
was needed just then to superintend the placing of the refreshments on
the table. Bluff laid the wonderful hunting-knife, sheath and all, back
on the stand where his things were gathered, and smiled as if pleased.
He had occasion, later on, to recall each little incident of that
evening, when worrying his mind over a most mysterious thing that
puzzled him.

The little company separated about eleven, for the boys expected to
leave home long ere noon on the following day, and had a strenuous
journey before them.

After an early breakfast they gathered at Frank's, where the last
packing was done in hot haste, as the time was short. So it happened
that none of them had more than a confused idea of what was done during
that last hour, save that, some way or other, their things were crammed
into the big trunk.

"We should have taken two, hang it!" grunted Bluff as he tugged at the
metal catches, while a couple of his mates sat on top to induce the lid
to come down.