orious--splendid!" cried the boys.

"Is it? Wait a bit. Now come on; you're dressed enough, ain't you?"

"Yes, quite right now."

"Then let's go and hunt up the gov'nors. I want to know whether they
really mean business."

"Oh yes, they'll go," cried Chris.

"Think so?"

"I feel sure of it."

"So do I," added Ned. "My father's quite eager to go."

"_Bagh_!" cried Griggs. "I was afraid that after sleeping on it they'd
draw back. This is good news, boys, for, oh, how tired I am of drudging
on here for nothing! Come on."

There was not much need for coming on. They had not gone half-way to
the big shanty before they came suddenly upon the doctor and his two
friends, who met them with the customary good-morning.

"Well, Mr Griggs," said the doctor, "you've come to say that the idea
of last night is wild and impossible."

"Who told you so, sir?" cried the young American.

"No one. I only came to that conclusion."

"Then you thought wrong, sir, and perhaps it was what you had made up
your mind to yourself."

"Oh no, Griggs. We have decided quite the contrary. If there is any
drawing back it will be on your side."

"That's right then, sir. When do we start?"

"As soon as we have settled our affairs and bought the necessary
stores."

"But we shall try and find a purchaser for the plantation--of course, at
a reasonable price," said Bourne. "Just about the value of what we have
put into the place, the building and the tools."

"If we wait for that, gentlemen," said Griggs, "we shall never get off.
But you try."

"Yes, we will try," said the doctor. "Of course it will be amongst the
settlers a few miles round."

This was decided upon, and the doctor and Bourne rode off that morning,
making a tour of about thirty miles from plantation to plantation,
before they returned, tired out, to the evening meal, and found Griggs
busy with Wilton and the boys just finishing up the task of thoroughly
cleaning and oiling the firearms.

"Back again, then?" said Griggs. "Will you want my hammer and spikes,
gentlemen?"

"Your hammer and spikes?" cried the doctor, wonderingly. "What for?"

"To lock up your doors and windows here, same as I'm going to do mine."

"Oh, I see," said the doctor. "Yes, I expect we shall."

"Didn't find no customers then, sir?"

"Customers?" cried the doctor querulously. "Every one wanted to sell.
My impression was that not one settler we broached the subject to would
h