"My idea is," said Austin, "that we buy all our supplies at St. Louis. I'll go that far with you. You can buy the essentials for making camp at Archer's Springs and by the time you are ready for it, freight will have brought the rest. I believe there is an excellent trading store at Archer's Springs where you can buy a camp outfit. I'll wire down and find out." "Jove, Rog, doesn't that sound great!" exclaimed Ernest. "When shall we plan to start?" asked Roger. "Why not at once, so as to get the plant running by Spring, when the real heat comes on?" Austin looked from one eager face to the other. "We both are teaching, you know," said Ernest. "I thought next June--" "Next June!" shouted Roger. "This is the first of December, Dr. Austin. We'll have found substitutes and be ready to travel immediately after the Christmas recess." Ernest winced. "That's crowding things! But--well, you're the boss of the expedition, Rog. I'll be with you." "Fine!" Austin rubbed his hands together. "We'll start our purchase list now, eh?" The concert, which had proceeded during the evening without interruption, now stopped abruptly, just as the clock struck ten. "How about deferring that until to-morrow?" asked Roger. "I've a number of lists in my desk at the Science Building that will help us." "That's a good idea," Austin rose as he spoke. "Will you both take dinner with me at the hotel to-morrow evening and we can give the evening to this?" "We'll be there," replied Roger, following Austin to the door. When he returned, Ernest was locking up the drawings. "Well, Ern, old boy, it's not big business, but thanks to you, it's a real start in that direction, anyhow. How can I thank you?" "By helping me to break the news to the family. It's most deucedly short notice. We'll have some trouble in finding substitutes for our classroom work." "I'm sure Benson and Ames will be only too glad of the chance," Roger spoke decidedly. "I thought of them this afternoon. I swear I was in earnest in saying I was through with teaching. And now this! It's like a double answer to prayer." "Boys!" called Elsa, "the beer is waiting." Ernest was well into his second stein and his third cheese sandwich before, in response to repeated kicks from Roger, he made his announcement. There was a moment's silence, broken by Elsa. "Lucky dogs! Take me along!" "But, Ernest, you cannot go," protested Papa Wolf. "Let Roger go if he wishes. I have nothing to say to that. But, my son, with the chance for a full professorship in a great university--no!" Roger sighed. He was sorry for Ernest, but he never could understand his docile relationship to his father. Ernest came back, pluckily enough. "I think I ought to go, Papa. It will be a fine experience and I will come back to teaching with a new interest." "But why waste time? Why waste time?" cried his father. "You are nearly thirty. Instead of playing in the desert for a year, you should be marrying and starting a home."