" And you, Ivanhoe,' Skaggs said, 'intend to find her and fetch her home?'

'I do intend to find her. If she is at the ends of the earth, I shall find her. And to stay with her forever if she'll allow me.'

Duff stared in admiration: the ends of the earth. He had never heard anyone but a priest use that phrase. He felt a wave of love for Ben, and suddenly saw his chance. 'I'll come along with you,' he said, practically shouting, he was so excited. 'West.'

Ben smiled, and clasped Duff's hand, thumb hooked to thumb.

'Wait, wait, wait...' It had fallen to Skaggs, of all people, to challenge their quest on practical grounds. 'How shall you possibly find her? She has been two weeks on the road already. They might be anywheres between Ohio and the desert.'

'We shall obtain from Mr. Brisbane a copy of his little guide,' Ben said, 'and follow it like a map from east to west. The only question is our fastest route. Speed is paramount.'

Skaggs saw that his friend would not be deterred. 'Well, a steamboat to Albany, railways to Buffalo, then a steamer across Lake Erie. It sickens me even to describe the route. But you could be in Cleveland before the end of the week.'

He paused. 'I cannot believe that I am describing a speedy arrival in Cleveland as a desirable thing. "

― Kurt Andersen , Heyday