human
Naturally, my first idea was to get up a rescue party to bring out the sick prospector, Maurice went on.
gpt
But the woods are in the worst kind of shape for traveling. The streams are all frozen hard, but there has been remarkably little snow yet--not near enough for snowshoes or sledges. It would be impossible to tramp that distance and pack the supplies. Besides, when I came to think it over it struck me that the thing was too valuable to share with a lot of guides and backwoodsmen. If we find that fellow alive, and he has really discovered anything, it would be strange if he wouldn't give us a chance to stake out a few claims that might be worth thousands--maybe millions. And it struck me that there was a quicker way to get to him than by snowshoes or dogs. The streams are frozen, the ice is clear, and the skating was fine at Muirhead.
human
An expedition on skates?
gpt
Why not? There's a clear canoe way, barring a few portages, and that means a clear ice road till it snows. But it might do that at any moment.
human
A hundred and fifty miles in two days? said Fred.
gpt
Sure, we can do it. I'll set the pace, if you fellows can keep up.
human
Anyhow, I came straight down to the city and saw Maurice about it. He said you'd be the best third man we could get. But I had hoped we could get Horace, so as to have his expert opinion on what that man may have found.
gpt
The last time I heard from Horace he was at Red Lake, said Fred,
human
Well, we can't wait for him, said Maurice regretfully.
gpt
I'm sorry, but maybe next spring will do as well, when we go to prospect our diamond claims.
human
Yes, but we've got to get them first, said Peter,
gpt
Then we'd get dogs and snowshoes, Maurice remarked,
human
We must rush things. Could we get away to-morrow?
gpt
We must--by the evening train. Maurice and I have been making out a list of the things we need to buy. Have you a gun? Well, we have two rifles anyway, and that'll be more than enough, for we want to go as light as possible. You'll need a sleeping-bag, of course, and your roughest, warmest woolen clothes, and a couple of heavy sweaters. We'll carry snowshoes and moccasins with us, in case of a snowfall. I'll bring a medicine case and disinfectants.
human
Will we have to pack all that outfit on our shoulders?
gpt
No, of course not. I have a six-foot toboggan, which I'll have fitted with detachable steel runners to-morrow, good for either ice or snow. We'll haul it by a rope. But here's the main thing--the grub list.