Fortunately for the plan, the barley crop turned out better than any one expected, and the price was very high. Mr. Crosby received enough money to insure them against hardships that winter, and even enough to buy another horse, as he might need one if the boys took the two. He secured an animal at a low price. It was not as good as the two he had, but Jed and Will would have to have steeds that could stand a certain amount of hard life, if they were to go to the gold regions. In the meanwhile Mr. Harrison had another letter from Ted Jordan, and this confirmed the first rumors of rich strikes. There was quite a rush of miners and others to the new fields, Jordan wrote, and he advised Gabe and the boys to hurry. So, one morning, with their simple outfits on the saddles back of them, the boys and Gabe Harrison mounted their horses, and started off for the golden West. "Don't you boys go to gambling," cautioned Mrs. Crosby, as she waved a farewell to her sons. "Now, mother, you know they won't do that," said Nettie. "I know it--but--but I--I just had to say something," replied her mother, as she tried to hide the tears that would persist in coming into her eyes. "Look out for a bagful of gold nuggets!" called back Jed. "I'll send them by the first mail." "All right," answered his father with a laugh. "Good luck, boys, and write when you get a chance." "Good-by!" they chorused, and Gabe Harrison waved his broad-brimmed hat at the little group standing in front of the farmhouse. Soon they were out of sight down the road. "It's--it's lonesome--without the boys," said Mrs. Crosby softly, as she went in the house and closed the door. CHAPTER VIII THE BUCKING BRONCO "How long do you think it will take us to get to the gold fields?" asked Jed, of the old miner, as they jogged forward. "It's hard to say," was the answer. "You mustn't be in too much of a hurry. It's a good rule, in this business, to make haste slowly. You can't make a fortune gold-hunting in one day, and you've got to save your own strength, and that of your horse. A horse is a man's best friend in this country." The route to the West had been carefully laid out by Mr. Harrison, who knew the land well. He had selected a line of march that, while it was not the shortest, would bring them to the Montana gold fields in good shape to start in at once with their prospecting. For a week the travelers made fair time, stopping at night in various small towns, where living would be cheaper than in large cities, for their capital was limited. Nothing of note occurred, the weather was good, and Jed and Will began to think that gold hunting, or at least the preliminary part of it, was very much easier than farming. "Say, I'd hate to go back now, cultivating corn in that hot field, wouldn't you?" Jed asked his brother one afternoon, as they were jogging slowly along. "I certainly would, but I wouldn't mind now, if I had a drink of nice, cold switchel."