human
Just look at this, Fred, and see what you think of it,
gpt
It's the country of the Abitibi and Missanabie Rivers, Horace explained.
human
These red crosses show where I found my diamonds--see, in the Whitefish River, the Smoke River, and another river that hasn't any name, so far as I know. Right here is the trappers' cabin where you boys found me. My bones might have been up there now but for you, old boy!
gpt
If you hadn't come along when you did I'm pretty certain our bones would be there, anyway,
human
Well, let's hope we all saved one another. But see, most of these diamonds were found many miles apart. They didn't grow where I found them. They must have been washed down, perhaps from the very headwaters of the river. Now look at the map. Do you see, all these three rivers rise in pretty much the same region.
gpt
So they do, said Fred, his eyes fixed on the paper.
human
Then you think--
gpt
The stones were probably all washed down from that region. The blue-clay beds, the diamond field, must be up there, somewhere within this black circle I've drawn.
human
But some prospector would have hit on them before now,
gpt
I doubt if any prospector has ever gone in there. They say it's one of the roughest bits of country in the North, and no mineral strikes have ever been made in that region. I've never been up there myself. It's up in the hills, you see; the rivers are too broken for a canoe, and the ground is too rough to get over on foot, except in the winter. The Ojibwas hunt there in the winter, they say, and I dare say there's plenty of game.
human
But if it's so rough to get into, how can we travel?
gpt
Oh, often those bad places are not so bad when you get there. I'd like to see the place I couldn't get into if there were diamonds there! We'll get into it somehow, for the diamond-beds must surely be there if they're anywhere. But there's no doubt it'll be a rough trip.
human
Rough? What of that? cried Fred.
gpt
If your theory is right we'll make our fortunes--millions, maybe! Of course you'll let me go, won't you? And Maurice, and Mac?
human
I couldn't manage without you. But mind, not a word to anybody else!