The Frontier Boys in the Sierras Part 31

"That would be all right," said Jim easily. "We would have Jeems for umpire, and he would help us out."

"Now, boys, don't you go to planning trouble for me," expostulated Jeems. "I don't mind dodging sharks and being tied up by fierce outlaws, like Jo and Tom, but I won't be an umpire."

"That's settled," laughed Jo. "Anyway, if we can't indulge in baseball, we will have a game of horseshoes, behind the blacksmith's shop at River Bend.

"I wonder how the _Sea Eagle_ and the old Captain are getting along?"

said Jeems.

"We will see in about ten days," replied Jim. "But I'm not worrying with the old man and the engineer aboard. We will stop long enough to say howdy to 'em, leave our gold or most of it aboard ship and then hike for home."

"Do you think it will be safe on the ship, Jim?" inquired Jo anxiously.

"As safe as anywhere," said Jim nonchalantly.

The Frontier Boys rode steadily southward, taking a more direct way and an easier one than that by which they had come. They took no chance of running into Gus Gols or his gang of cutthroats. They were fortunate in not being molested or way-laid, and for the first five days the weather was fine, but the morning of the sixth day it began to snow just as they rode out of camp. The boys did not worry, however, as they were through the worst of the mountain trip. Indeed, they rather enjoyed the soft and silent fall of the snow; it was a change.

"Boys, this is Christmas weather!" cried Jeems.

"We will spend our Christmas at home this year, boys!" said Jim, turning in the saddle and looking down the line, each one riding jauntily and easily through the rapidly falling snow that softly flaked their weather-hued faces and starred the coats of their horses.

"All in favor of this proposition say aye!" continued Jim.

"Aye!" roared the boys in chorus.

"You, too, Jeems," urged Jim, "won't leave you out. Make it unanimous this time!"

And they did. As for the reader, he must not be left out in the cold and the snow, and he, too, is invited to be present at the boys'

Christmas at home, for it is bound to be a jolly affair, and the Frontier Boys are nothing if not hospitable. The record of their trip overland eastward and of their home-coming is bound to be full of interest and incident; for the boys, besides being hospitable, are also very enterprising and venturesome.