"It's my weakness you're afraid of.
However, you must let me pay my share of the provisions and any transport we may be able to get.

That's all I insist on now; if you feel more confidence in me later, I may reopen the other question." He paused, and continued with a little embarrassment in his manner: "You are two good fellows.

I think I can promise not to play the fool again." "Suppose we talk about something else," Blake suggested.
They broke camp early the following morning; and Benson struggled manfully with his craving during the next week or two, which they spent in pushing farther into the forest.

It was a desolate waste of small, stunted trees, many of which were dead and stripped of half their branches, while wide belts had been scarred by fire.

Harding found the unvarying somber green of the needles strangely monotonous; but the ground was comparatively clear, and the party made progress.
Then, one evening, when the country grew more broken, they fell in with three returning prospectors.
"If you'll trade your horses, we might make a deal," said one when they camped together.