If good nature had been at all disturbed, long before that
breakfast was despatched it was fully restored, and of the trio,
Waldo appeared to be the most enthusiastic over present
prospects.

"Why, just think of it, will you?" he declaimed, as well as might
be with mouth full of crisply fried mountain trout. "where the
game comes begging for you to bowl it over, and the very fish try
to jump into your pockets--"

"Or down your back, Amerigo," interjected Bruno, with a grin.

"Button up, or you'll turn to be a Sorry-cus--tomer, old man,"
came the swift retort, with a portentous frown. "But, joking
aside, why not? With such hunting and fishing, I'd be willing to
sign a contract for a round year in this region."

"To say nothing of exploration, and such discoveries as naturally
attend upon--"

"Then you really mean it all, uncle Phaeton?"

Leaning back far enough to pluck a handful of green leaves, which
fairly well served the purpose of a napkin, Professor Featherwit
brought forth pipe and pouch, maintaining silence until the
fragrant tobacco was well alight. Then he gave a vigorous nod of
his head, to utter:

"It has been the dearest dream of my life for more years gone by