“Tole shall go with you,” said Simon.  “You can send him back to me with a letter.”

Ambrose went to bed, and slept without dreaming.  Nature is merciful.  After a certain point of suffering has been passed, she administers an anesthetic.

Next morning Ambrose transacted his business with Simon, and prepared for the journey, to all appearances his usual matter-of-fact self.

Only Job perceived the subtle change in his master.  The faithful brown eyes continually sought Ambrose’s face, and the ridiculous curly tail was agitated in vain to induce a smile.

On the afternoon of the sixth day following, Ambrose and Tole landed at Moultrie.  Nothing was changed there.  The sight of Peter’s honest red face was like balm to Ambrose’s sore heart.

Seeing Ambrose, the remnants of Peter’s anger evaporated like mist in the sun.  He clapped his young partner on the back until the other’s lungs rang.

Peter’s blue eyes beamed with honest gladness, meanwhile he uttered loud abuse in his own style.

“So you’re back, damn you!  You ornery little whipper-snapper!  To sneak off from working like a breed after you feed him!  I was hoping I’d never lay eyes on you again.  But here you are to plague me!”

Ambrose smiled sheepishly, and gripped his hand.

Peter sent Tole off to Eva to be fed, while he went with Ambrose to the latter’s little shack.  Ambrose looked around his own place curiously.  It was like another man’s house now.  He had lost the old self who used to live here.

“What’s happened to you?” asked Peter with an offhand air.

“Why do you ask?” said Ambrose quickly.  He hated to think it was all written in his face.

“You look older,” said Peter.  “I don’t see you grinning so much.”

Ambrose immediately grinned—­after a fashion.  “I’ve got a lot to tell you,” he said.  “We’ll talk after supper.”

Half the night they talked.  Ambrose laid his proposal before Peter in anxious trepidation.  Peter earned the young man’s lifelong gratitude by the promptness and heartiness of his response.

“You did right!” he cried with another clap on the back.  “It will be a fine adventure!  We’ll go into Fort Enterprise and make a killing!  We’ll buy all the grain in sight!”

“It’s a big weight to swing,” murmured Ambrose.

“Sure!” cried Peter.  “But no man would refuse it.  What if it does break us?  We’re young.  And we’ll have a grand run for our money.”

The excess of Ambrose’s relief unnerved him a little.  “Peter, you’re a man!” he murmured brokenly.  “I was near crazy, wondering if you’d stand by me!”

“Hey, cut it out!” cried Peter.  “Buck up!  We got work to do to-night!”

Throughout the hours of darkness they counted up their resources, decided as to the friends they could call on for assistance, and planned ways and means.