Roger William Conant

“ After the second day of riding through endless acres of land upon which the wheat was just sprouting, the novelty wore away, giving place to that feeling of monotony which the undulating plains bring to Easterners.
“I should like to see a mountain or even a hill,’ exclaimed Ted, petulantly.
“Mountains! You Easterners don’t know what mountains are,” returned Mr. Hopkins. “Just wait until you see the Rockies. You’ll think your little mountains are hills.” ”

“ The thought of being left alone in a place so wild that bears roamed it, sobered the young homesteaders instantly.
“Can’t you manage, somehow, to stay with us at least another day?” pleaded Ted, his eyes wandering unconsciously to where the huge fur-covered carcass lay.
“No, I can’t,” returned Andy, sharply. “You boys must start in on your own resources sometime, so the sooner the better.”
“But you know so much about everything. We can learn more from you in a day than by ourselves in a week,” flattered Phil. ”

“ In love with his work, as all the forest patrol are, Chester talked of it so interestingly that Ted began to envy him.
“It must be bully knowing you are guarding millions of dollars worth of lumber and the lives of so many people,” he declared enthusiastically. “Still, I should think you’d get lonesome off up there by yourself, but I suppose you read a lot.”
“I’m too busy watching for fires except when it rains, and then I usually have a trip to make, either like looking up a smudge or repairing a telephone. But a fellow can’t be lonesome among the trees and mountains, if he loves them.” ”

“ FOREWORD HIKING WESTWARD is really a chapter taken out of the lives of two wide-awake American boys who go West to make a home for their mother. Although ignorant of the conditions of frontier life, Phil and Ted Porter meet them manfully. They face their difficulties with a smile, work like Trojans on their quarter section and through the love which they bear their mother, as shown in their every act, they win the respect of the kind-hearted, but rough settlers: people who do things: to whom setbacks and difficulties are daily occurrences. ”

“ Phil’s retort was prevented by the skipper.
“It’s always well to be prepared for emergencies, Ted. Mr. Adams, go to the bridge and give the signal to ‘abandon ship.’ I should like to see how quickly my crew can do the trick.” As the whistle shrieked the dread signal, coal-passers, firemen, oilers, and deck hands alike looked at one another in amazement, then dashed to the posts assigned them—some at the boat falls, others whisking off the canvas covers, while still others sprang into the boats to prevent the ropes from fouling as they were lowered into the water. ”

“ Then turning to the boys, he said: “How do you think you would like to work down here?”
“I love machinery. I was building an airship at home. I know I should like it if it weren’t for the heat,” replied Ted.
“If you think this is hot, just go down into the stoke hole,” smiled the chief. Then, as there sounded a discordant note in the hum of the machinery, he darted away to learn its cause, while the captain led the way across the iron grating, which served as floor, to another ladder leading down to the boiler room.
As Phil put his hand on one of the iron rungs, he drew it back hastily. ”

“ OUTFITTING “Andy! Andy! Come quick!” shouted Phil, as he leaped across the campfire and ran to his brother. “Ted! Ted! Are you hurt? Speak to me!” he implored, dropping to his knees beside the quiet form.
Fortunately the ponies, seeming to sense the fact that their danger was over, became quieter, and hastily the agent made them fast to the sapling, then rushed to the boy’s assistance.
“Jove! That was close work. He’s a monster. Did he tear Ted with his claws?” ”

“ As the young homesteaders spoke, Mr. Hopkins smiled delightedly, turning to Mrs. Porter.
“There you see, ma’am, the advantage it gives men to be able to understand the benefits of scientific farming. Your boys have the ability to realize the value of expert study of soils. If they take the advice of the men at the experiment station, they will soon have a farm that will not only support you comfortably but will make money for you.” ”

“ Eager to begin work on the homestead which was to mean so much to them and the little mother back in Weston, the boys set out for their axes. But when they came in sight of their camp, they forgot about them.
“One of the blacks is gone!” cried Ted, stopping short and staring in amazement at the sapling to which the horse had been tied.
“Bet he was the one you hitched,” exclaimed Phil.
“Bet he wasn’t. I know how to tie a knot a horse can’t pull out.” ”

“ Too fierce for the boys to linger long was the combination of heat and coal dust, and, choking and coughing, they returned to the boiler room.
“Think you’d rather be a ‘coal passer’ than an oiler?” smiled the captain, but before either of his passengers could reply, he caught sight of a passer sneaking into the bunkers with a pail from which protruded a piece of ice. “Hey, you, bring that pail here!” he shouted. ”

“ The other passengers in the car had noted the demonstration at the Weston station, and from various remarks, capped by Phil’s admonition, had guessed correctly that the two boys were leaving home to begin their battle with the world. Many an eye among them grew moist as their minds harked back to the days when they too had stepped from the protection of home into the struggle of real life, and keen therefore was their interest in Ted’s ability to meet the crisis. ”

“ Ted’s ingenuousness sent them into a gale of laughter, and with one accord they all rode to the barn, where the horses were put up, after which they returned to the cabin, and the boys watched eagerly while Joy brought out pies, cakes and other toothsome dainties and set them on the table. ”

“ What do they do?” exclaimed Ted.
“Pick blueberries, fish and sell them and the things they weave to the tourists at the Soo.”
“I wish it was daylight so that we could see them. Just think, real Indians, Phil!”
“Oh, you’ll have a chance to see enough of them at the canal,” smiled the skipper.
“But they don’t go into the town, do they? I should think they would scare the women and children to death.”
“They not only go into the Soo, but they bother the life out of people trying to sell their wares. The quickest way to get rid of them is to buy something. ”

“ Only the law forbidding a land agent from taking up homesteads has prevented his doing so.”
“Couldn’t he get some one to take it up for him?” asked Ted.
“He has tried to, but it didn’t work because Si exposed the fraud.”
“You don’t seem to like Simmons,” mused Phil.
“Oh, I’m not the only one who doesn’t. Si Hopkins is on his trail, and when he gets him there will be a new land agent at Waterville. That’s one reason I want you to wait about filing your claim—there may be a new agent any day.”
“How would we know if there were?” asked Ted.
“I’d tell you,” said Andy, with a smile. ”

“ Hopkins had selected clever and gentle ponies, for the young homesteaders were sorry riders.
“Never mind, a baby can manage them, and you’ll soon catch on to the trick of sitting in a saddle,” said Steve, as they made the animals fast for the night in the store shed. “There’s one thing not to forget—whether you go without food and water, or not, be sure that Pat and Daisy don’t. A good horseman always takes care of his pony before he does of himself. If you ever need a horse, you’ll need it badly, and a pony will do more for a person who is kind to it than for one who isn’t. ”

“ Determined to break the awkwardness of the situation, Margie exclaimed:
“If you please, we prefer to be known for ourselves and not as Phil’s and Ted’s sisters. I am Margie and this is Sallie.” And she made a mock courtesy.
“Brava! That’s the way to get on out here,” laughed Mr. Jackson, who had come up just in time to hear Margie’s introduction. Then turning to Mrs. Porter, he added: “We are all like one big family out here. Somehow the woods make us forget ceremony.” ”

“ The proprietor of the store, however, had chanced to hear the loafers’ remarks, and, hurrying to learn their cause, arrived just as the young homesteaders entered the door.
Struck by the clean-cut and manly appearance of the boys, he ordered the bullies to be quiet, then asked:
“What can I do for you, gents?”
“We want a homesteader’s outfit,” replied Phil.
The words evoked loud guffaws from the loungers.
“For whom?” asked the store-keeper.
“Ourselves!” snapped Ted.
“Where have you filed?”
“Can’t we buy what we wish without giving our history?” demanded Phil. ”

“ A PLEASANT SURPRISE As Phil and Ted, laden with packages and bags, came in sight of the station on the following morning, they gasped in amazement.
Every member of Parker School seemed to be there, and when the boys and girls beheld their two popular schoolmates, they rushed for them in a body, surrounding and cheering them, while the members of the baseball team seized the luggage from their hands, escorting them in triumph to the station.
“Look out for the bears! Hope your crops are bumpers! Show ’em what a tenderfoot can do!” ”

“ Some day people will realize that lake boats are as important and require even more skill to handle than salt-water vessels. Wait until we go up the Detroit and St. Mary’s rivers, then you will understand what I mean. Why, a salt-water skipper would think he must have a fleet of tugs to do what is but a matter of daily routine with us. And a six-hundred-foot boat is no toy to handle in the storms, fogs, and ice we have, either. ”

“ In an amazingly short time and while Jasper and Joy were still laughing at Ted’s joke, Sallie and Margie, fully dressed, dashed from the door, seized some hoes, and rushed for their brothers.
“Some cure for aches, what?” grinned the younger boy, as he dodged a blow. “I think I’ll call myself Dr. Porter and advertise.”
The girls, however, were bent on vengeance, and chased their brothers until their mother called:
“If you girls feel strong enough to run, you can help me shake out these blankets.”
“We are farmers, not housemaids, Mrs. Porter,” returned Margie, without abandoning the pursuit. ”

“ The boy’s words were so cordial that the skipper smiled at the token of appreciation, while Phil was very glad that he had been prevented from saying what he had intended.
“That was just what I wanted to suggest,” declared Captain Perkins. “Come on, Harry; it’s Harry any time except on board ship, you know—we must treat these boys right in Duluth. Some day we may want to beg enough wheat from them to make a couple of barrels of flour, if things keep on as they are going.” ”

“ Those horses have sense enough to know they can’t drag this wagon up the brook if you haven’t,” exclaimed Phil. “We’ll tie them, get our axes, and cut out a road.”
“All right, go ahead, if you want to. Better take out some grub, though. You couldn’t cut out a road in a week. I’m going up to camp and I’m going to drive up. Come on, you beauties! Steady, now! Giddap!” And he slapped the blacks sharply with the reins.
For an instant the horses teetered; quivering, they leaped forward, lifting the wagon from the ground.
“Steady! None of that!” soothed Ted. ”

“ I’ve been running on ore boats for four seasons,” returned the cookee, mollified by the flattering allusion to his service in the galley as being a sailor.
“When did we leave the dock?” asked Ted, proffering a box of candy.
“Two o’clock. And say, you’se missed a circus,” he added, all aversion to the “young dudes,” as he had dubbed the boys, banished by the candy to which he helped himself liberally.
“What was it?” chorused Phil and Ted.
“You heard the skipper tell Adams there was to be no shore leave? Well, the wheelsman of the first watch sneaked ashore last evening and went up town. ”

“ Looking down the aisle, Ted saw Mrs. Hopkins bustling about an oil stove, and soon she came toward them with two large plates.
“I always bring ham, it keeps better,” she explained, as she set the plates, the other of which contained fried potatoes, on the table her husband had improvised.
“But I didn’t know they allowed passengers to cook,” exclaimed Phil.
“That’s the beauty of a tourist car,” returned Mr. Hopkins. “Many a time when I have gone into a diner and tasted the messes they set before me, I’ve wished I was in a tourist where I could have some of Marthy’s cooking.” ”

“ And he galloped away.
“When can we begin mining?” asked Ted.
“After the harvest. The gold will keep, but your crops won’t,” smiled the millionaire.
“Besides, we’ll need the harvest money to buy tools to work the mine,” interposed the ever practical Sallie.
“As to that, I shall be glad to finance the company,” returned Mr. Hopkins. “Jasper, now we’ve learned there really is gold there, how about that partnership?”
“I said we’d leave it to the young people, Si.” Eagerly all eyes were turned upon Phil and Joy. ”

“ A TERRIBLE EXPERIMENT “What shall we do today?” asked Phil, as they sat down to breakfast on the morning following the completion of their irrigation system.
“I am going back to Chikau. Don’t dare stay away another day,” returned Andy.
“I was afraid you would say that,” exclaimed Ted. “It has been mighty good of you to work with us as long as you have. But—”
“It certainly has,” interrupted the elder boy. “Some day, we may be able to do more than merely express our gratitude.”
“Oh, Andy knows that without our telling him,” declared Ted. ”

“ What’s the difference between the weight of thirteen thousand tons of coal and thirteen thousand tons of ore?”
The twinkle in Ted’s eyes caused Phil to hesitate, then continue: “Why, er, none, of course, but you needn’t be so cockey. A ton of coal takes more room than a ton of ore, so they couldn’t put thirteen thousand tons of coal aboard.”
“They could, too. If a boat’s capacity is thirteen thousand tons, she can carry thirteen thousand tons, whether it’s sawdust or mercury.” ”

“ For several days the boys assisted the aged farmer in clearing up the ruins of his home, and then busied themselves building shelters for their livestock.
Each day the girls inspected the fields, and one afternoon, as the boys returned from a trip to Bradley for provisions, Margie greeted them with the cry:
“The crops are up! The crops are up! Every field is covered!”
So excited were Phil and Ted at the announcement that they could hardly wait to unharness the blacks and feed them before they ran to see the green shoots for themselves. ”

“ Having, for reasons of economy, elected to travel in a “tourist car,” which in reality differs from the more expensive sleeping-cars only in finishings and furnishings, Phil and Ted, after bidding their friends good-bye, set about arranging their luggage and making themselves comfortable for the fifteen-hundred-mile journey.
Every section in the car was taken by people who, like themselves, were going West to new homes or to visit friends, and from time to time the boys stole glances at them. ”