Going West had not effected an improvement in their fortunes.
"Is that you, Clapp ?" asked Ferguson.

"Where did you come from ?" "From St.Louis." "Then you didn't feel inclined to stay there ?" "Not I.

It's a beastly place.

I came near starving." Clapp would have found any place beastly where a fair day's work was required for fair wages, and my young readers in St.Louis, therefore, need not heed his disparaging remarks.
"How was it with you, Luke ?" asked Harry.

"Do you like the West no better than Clapp ?" "You don't catch me out there again," said Luke.