Page:Hugh Pendexter--Kings of the Missouri.djvu/44

 "Not now. Mebbe later." And Bridger's voice was very kind. "You see the outfit gits under way to-morrow. Some of the men are at St. Charles with the keelboat. Some are waiting at Lexington for the steamer to fetch up goods an' supplies. Etienne Prevost will take the keel-boat as far as Fort Pierre. I shall take the land party through to the yearly rendezvous somewhere on Green River. An' some of the men are helling round St. Louis to-night an' will be lucky if they ain't left behind. I leave in an hour on my best mule to ride across country to Lexington. So, my young friend, the work down here is all done an' I'm sorry."

"It was only a chance," sighed Lander. "I didn't want to miss the shadow of a chance."

Bridger tugged at his brown hair and eyed Lander thoughtfully. Then he abruptly asked: "Why don't you take on with a mountain trip? Give you two hundred 'n' ninety dollars for the next year 'n' half—eighteen months—an' such grub as can be found in the Injun country. You're young. Once you git started no knowing how far you'll go."

Lander's eyes glistened and for a moment Bridger believed he was to sign up. Then his gaze