diff options
Diffstat (limited to '22674.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 22674.txt | 7038 |
1 files changed, 7038 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/22674.txt b/22674.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6554cca --- /dev/null +++ b/22674.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7038 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Boy Scouts on Hudson Bay, by G. Harvey Ralphson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Boy Scouts on Hudson Bay + The Disappearing Fleet + +Author: G. Harvey Ralphson + +Release Date: September 19, 2007 [EBook #22674] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY SCOUTS ON HUDSON BAY *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: "I see it, Ned!" suddenly said Jack, triumphantly. +Page 238--Boy Scouts on Hudson Bay.] + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +BOY SCOUTS ON HUDSON BAY +OR +THE DISAPPEARING FLEET + +By +G. HARVEY RALPHSON + +Author of +Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone +Boy Scouts in the Northwest +Boy Scouts in a Motor Boat +Boy Scouts in a Submarine + +Chicago +M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Copyright 1914 +M. A. Donohue & Company +Chicago + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. The Five Chums in Camp 7 + II. A Wild Charge 18 + III. Was It a Spy? 30 + IV. Down the Swift Rapids 42 + V. Woodcraft 53 + VI. On the Shore of the Salty Sea 65 + VII. The Mysterious Blur on the Horizon 77 + VIII. Two Kinds of Woodcraft 89 + IX. "Salting" the Mine 101 + X. Scout Tactics 113 + XI. A Successful Sortie 125 + XII. The Talking Smoke 136 + XIII. A Dreadful Calamity 148 + XIV. Blinding the Trail 159 + XV. The Brush Shelter 171 + XVI. The Sea Fog 182 + XVII. On Board the Wreck 193 + XVIII. After the Storm 204 + XIX. The Battle of the Hulk 216 + XX. Besieged 227 + XXI. Unexpected Help 237 + XXII. The Mystery Solved--Conclusion 247 + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +BOY SCOUTS ON HUDSON BAY; +or, The Disappearing Fleet. +By G. HARVEY RALPHSON + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FIVE CHUMS IN CAMP. + + +"Sure it's me that hopes we've seen the last tough old carry on this +same wild-goose chase up to the Frozen North!" + +"Hello! there, is that you, Jimmy, letting out that yawp? I thought you +had more sporting blood in you than to throw up your hands like that!" + +"Oh! well I sometimes say things that don't come from the heart, you +know, Jack. Wait, me boy, till I get good and rested up, and mebbe I'll +sing a different tune. Ask Ned here if it's me that often shows the +white flag when trouble comes." + +"Well, I should say not, Jimmy McGraw. There never was a more stubborn +nature in all New York than you, once you'd set your mind on anything. +That talk of being discouraged is all on the surface. A thousand +cataracts wouldn't keep _you_ from getting to Hudson Bay in the end, if +you'd said you meant to reach open water. And Jack Bosworth knows that +as well as I do." + +"That's right; I do," laughed the party mentioned as Jack, as he slapped +Jimmy on the back. "I've seen him tested and tried out many the time, +and never once did he squeal. I was only joking, Jimmy; you understand?" + +"And sure that's what I was doing when I grunted about the carry. It was +next door to a picnic down Coney Island way, and I don't care how many +more times the lot of us have to pack canoes and duffle from one creek +to another. But Francois here is after saying we're getting near the end +of our long voyage, and Tamasjo, the red Injun, backs him up. So let's +try and forget our troubles, and settle down for a decent night's rest." + +"First of all, we'll get the tent up, because it looks a little like it +might rain before morning," remarked the boy who had been designated as +Ned, and whom the other four seemed to look upon in the light of leader. + +All of them were garbed in the familiar khaki of the Boy Scouts, and +from their actions it would seem as though long familiarity with outdoor +life had made this thing of pitching camp second nature with every one +of the five well-grown lads. + +These boys with their guides were a long way from home. Hundreds upon +hundreds of miles separated them from the great metropolis of New York +City, where the troop to which they belonged had its headquarters. + +Those readers who have had the pleasure of meeting the five husky scouts +in the pages of previous volumes of this series will not need any +introduction to them. But for the sake of those who are not as yet +acquainted with the chums, a few words of explanation may not come in +amiss. + +They all belonged to the same lively troop, but Ned Nestor and his +shadow, Jimmy McGraw, were members of the Wolf Patrol, while Jack +Bosworth, Frank Shaw and Teddy Green belonged to the patrol that proudly +pointed to the head of an American black bear as its totem. + +Ned Nestor had long been secretly in the employ of the United States +Government, and had won considerable renown in carrying to a successful +conclusion several difficult cases entrusted to his charge by the +authorities in command of the Secret Service. + +Jimmy, who had once been a typical Bowery newsboy, but now "reformed," +fairly worshiped Jack, and had been his faithful henchman for a long +time past. He was witty, brave, and as as true as the needle to the +pole. + +Then there was Frank Shaw, whose father owned and edited one of the +great daily papers in New York; he had long ago shown a desire to be a +correspondent, and was always on the lookout for chances to visit +far-off corners of the world which did not happen to be well known, and +about which he might write interesting accounts for the columns of his +father's paper. He was a great admirer of the celebrated Frank +Carpenter, whom he had met many times in his father's office. + +Jack Bosworth's father was a wealthy corporation lawyer and a capitalist +as well, always ready to invest in promising schemes of a legitimate +character. And it was really because of this venturesome nature of Mr. +Bosworth that these five lads had undertaken this tremendous journey, +away above the outskirts of Canadian civilization, many weary leagues +beyond the northern limits of Lake Superior, and with the almost unknown +shores of the great Hudson Bay as their objective point. + +The last boy was Teddy Green. He had a well-known Harvard professor as +his father, and some day no doubt the lad anticipated following in the +footsteps of his parent. Just now his greatest ambition was to be an +explorer and endure some of the privations which such men as Stanley, +Livingstone, Dr. Kane and other renowned characters in history were said +to have met with in carrying out their tasks. + +From the desolate character of their present surroundings it would seem +that Teddy was in a fair way to realize his boyish dream. For days now +they had not met with a living human being, even an Indian trapper far +away from his tepee in search of game. Mountains and valleys, plains +covered with scrub trees and seemingly endless bogs, and stretches of +moss-covered land surrounded them day after day. + +They had ascended one river until they could paddle their three canoes +no further. At this point had come the first carry to another stream, +and from that day on it had been the hardest kind of work as time passed +on. + +Already Jimmy had lost all track of direction, and often declared that +it would not surprise him if they finally turned up somewhere over in +Siberia, for to his mind it seemed as though they had come far enough to +have passed the North Pole, even though they had seen no ice packs. + +The taciturn Indian guide, who went under the name of Tamasjo, and the +dusky voyageur, a French Canadian named Francois, assured them that all +was well, whenever one of the boys ventured to voice a suspicion that +they might have lost their way and wandered far past their objective +point. + +Both guides claimed to have hunted all over this country in times past, +and the voyageur had even accompanied a noted explorer on a summer +wandering up here. Hence their confidence reassured Ned, who often +consulted a rude chart which had been placed in his hands before +starting out on this journey, and thus verified the statements made by +Francois. + +Much paddling through rushing rapids and against the current of +boisterous rivers had made the muscles of the boys' arms seem like iron. +Every one of them appeared to be the picture of good health; because +there is absolutely nothing equal to this outdoor life to build up +sturdy constitutions. + +Already all of them were at work. The tents went up so rapidly that it +was plain to be seen these lads would easily take the prize offered for +perfection in camp making, in a contest between rival patrols. + +The canoes had been safely drawn up on the shelving beach, and doubly +secured; because it would be nothing short of a calamity to lose one of +the handy vessels while so far from civilization, and with no suitable +birch trees around from which another light boat might be fashioned by +the craft of the guides. + +The day was nearly done, and when presently the smoke of their campfire +began to ascend in the still air, night crept slowly about them. As it +was the summer season and the days were very long up here in the Far +North, the hour was later than they had ever started in to make camp +before. + +Plenty of supplies had apparently been carried along, to judge from the +fragrant odors that soon began to steal forth. All of these lads +belonged to families of wealth, so that at no time were they reduced to +limiting their outfit. Anything that money could buy, and which prudence +would allow to carry with them, was always at their service. + +So the guns owned by Ned and his chums were of the latest pattern, and +capable of doing good service when properly handled. The boys, who had +been through campaigns in many parts of their own country, as well as +over the southern border, and in foreign lands as well, and for young +fellows who had not yet attained their majority, all of the scouts had +experienced thrills calculated to make men of mature age proud. + +And yet in spite of all this they were genuine boys, with warm hearts, +and fond of practical joking. Seated around the jolly fire after +disposing of supper, while the two guides attended to cleaning up, Jimmy +entertained his mates with a series of rollicking songs, accompanied by +Teddy on his mandolin, which he had somehow managed to smuggle along, in +spite of a careful watch on the part of Ned, who did not wish to take a +single article that was not indispensable, for he knew the gigantic task +that lay ahead of them. + +Jimmy has as usual been overboard during the late afternoon. It was not +a voluntary swim the comical chum had been enjoying, either; these +plunges never were, but it seemed as though Jimmy must lose his balance +once in so often just while the canoes were negotiating through some +wild rapids, and in consequence he had to make the passage clinging to +the gunwale. + +His red sweater was hanging on a bush to dry in the heat of the fire. It +looked unusually brilliant as seen in the glow of the leaping flames. +Jimmy was very proud of that same old sweater, which had been with him +through so many campaigns that it showed signs of wear and tear. But +though he had another nice navy-blue one in his waterproof clothes bag, +Jimmy persisted in donning the ancient article every blessed day, in +spite of the appeals of his chums. + +Ned as usual was poring over his well-thumbed chart. Every day he marked +the new ground they had covered, and very seldom had he found cause to +doubt the correctness of the two guides. And whenever this had happened +it turned out that they were right, and the map wrong. + +"Well," Frank finally broke out with, "so far we haven't run across +anything in the shape of a rival expedition, though Ned seemed to think +in the start that was what would happen to us." + +"I haven't changed my mind yet," observed the party mentioned, looking +up from examining his chart. "We understood that the syndicate that is +trying to unload this wonderful new mining tract they claim will be +richer than Mesauba on Jack's father as a speculation, knew about our +being sent up here on some secret mission. They could easily guess that +we meant to find out if half of the big claim they made was true, and +that on our report Mr. Bosworth would base any action he might take. Now +it was to be such a tremendously big deal that under the conditions, if +so be there was something crooked about the claims they made, you can +understand that it would pay them handsomely to shunt us off the track, +or else salt the mine, and make us think it would be as rich a +proposition as their prospectus set out." + +"But," interrupted Jack, "who could they get to do their crooked work +away up here in this forlorn country, where we haven't run across a +living being since we met that trapper going south with his winter's +catch of pelts?" + +"Oh! money will do lots of things," answered Ned. "Given a soft berth, +with good pay, and plenty to eat, and scores of Indian half-breeds, +timber cruisers, guides out of employment along the salmon fishing +streams of the Dominion, and trappers loafing through an off season, +would jump at the bait. There'd be plenty to enlist under the lead of a +bold man hired by the syndicate; if, as we more than half believe, +their claim is a great swindle which they mean to hang about Jack's +father's neck." + +"Francois says we will always have to be prepared, and as that is the +motto of Boy Scouts all over the known world, it isn't likely to seem +new to us," Frank Shaw remarked, a little boastfully it must be +confessed, for having passed through so many strange happenings in times +past had given him a touch of what Jimmy was inclined to call the +"swelled head," though any one would have been justified for feeling +proud of such a record of wonderful things accomplished. + +The scouts having started on the subject of their mission continued to +discuss it from various angles. In this way they often hit upon +suggestions, because one remark would bring out another until some +fellow chanced to open up a new field of conjecture. + +They were deep in the matter, and all taking a hand in the discussion, +when Francois, the dark-faced voyageur, suddenly started to his knees +with a cry of warning. At the same time the boys became aware of the +fact that a strange rushing and pounding noise was rapidly bearing down +upon the little camp on the river bank. + +Jimmy happened to be sitting cross-legged like a Turk, a favorite +attitude of his, and becoming excited he could not get up as rapidly as +his chums. + +In consequence of this he seemed to be in the way of some huge body that +rushed the camp, scattering the fire, and rending the branches of the +tree under which the exploring party had settled for the night. + +It was all over in a few seconds. The camp was in an uproar, one of the +tents down flat, the fire in danger of communicating to the brush, and +Jimmy squealing on his back, where the sudden rush of the mysterious +monster had thrown him. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A WILD CHARGE. + + +"Help! Help!" Jimmy was shouting, kicking wildly as he roared. "Keep off +me, you wild elephant! Somebody shoot him, quick, before he steps on +me!" + +"Here, stop that kicking, if you want to be helped up, do you hear, +Jimmy!" exclaimed Frank, who had hastened to the assistance of the +comrade in distress. "Are you much hurt; and did the beast trample on +you any?" + +Jimmy began to feel of his legs and arms, and upon discovering himself +apparently as sound as a dollar, grinned sheepishly. Meanwhile the two +guides had hastened, with the help of Ned and Jack, to gather the fire +together again. Teddy had snatched up the nearest rifle and was down on +one knee, peering out through the semi-darkness as though anticipating a +return rush on the part of the unknown monster that had created such +confusion in the camp. + +"No great damage done, after all, seems like, if Jimmy says he's all +right," remarked Ned, now beginning to let a broad smile creep over his +face, for seeing Jimmy doubled up and had been a ludicrous spectacle +not soon to be forgotten. + +"But what in creation was it that put the kibosh all over me like that?" +demanded the one who had been knocked over by the mad rush of the +invader. + +Ned glanced toward Francois, and the voyageur simply said: + +"Bull moose--him very much mad, charge camp like that!" + +"Well, I should think he must have been," Frank Shaw declared. "Why, if +we'd had a little more warning we might have met him with a volley of +hot lead that'd have laid him out dead. Now that Francois says so, I do +believe he looked pretty much on the order of a monstrous moose bull. I +certainly saw his horns, and they were full grown, because the rutting +season is long since past." + +"But what makes a moose get his mad up?" Jack asked. "We didn't do a +single thing to rile him, that I know of, but were sitting here as easy +as you please, when all at once he charges through the camp. Why, say, +he nearly carried off some of our property, when he knocked down that +tent. Look at the rip his horns made in the tanned canvas, would you? +Some more sewing for Teddy here, to mend the rip." + +"Francois, do bull moose often act in that way?" asked Teddy, still +gripping the repeating rifle, as though not fully convinced that their +would be no repetition of the savage onslaught. + +The guide shook his head. + +"Know only few times when it happen, and then there be reason. He carry +off on horns what makes him rush our camp. I saw the same with my own +eyes. Bull moose much like farm bull, and hate ze red color ver' mooch." + +At hearing this several of the boys gave a shout. + +"There, see what you get, Jimmy, for keeping that silly red sweater +around. The old bull saw it hanging there in the light of our fire, and +it made him so furious, as it has us lots of times, that he lowered his +head and just charged us." + +"But he took it away with him, as sure as you live, fellows!" gasped +Jimmy, as a sense of his deep affliction came over him. "My dear sweater +that I loved so much." + +"Bully for the moose!" cried Jack. + +"He'd done us all a mighty good turn, even if he never meant to," added +Frank, "now we've seen the last of that terrible old garment, and +Jimmy'll just _have_ to get out the nice new one he's been carrying in +his bag." + +"Just think of the old fool, would you, a-tearin' around the woods with +that red flag hanging from his horns," Jimmy wailed. "Don't I hope it +keeps him wild right along, so that he'll smash into a tree, and break +his blessed neck! But I'm glad he didn't take a notion to carry me off +along with my sweater, and that's no lie!" + +The little excitement soon died away. Not much damage had been done +after all by that mad charge of the infuriated bull moose. The rent in +the canvas could be readily mended, and as for Jimmy's loss it was his +companions' gain, so that there would be no lament made save by the late +owner. + +"I didn't know moose ever roamed as far north as this," remarked Ned. + +"How about that, Francois?" asked Frank, who, it might be noticed, kept +his gun close beside him now, as though meaning to be ready in case +another cause for excitement arose. + +"It is not often zat ze bull moose come up here," replied the French +Canadian, in his queer patois; "but sometimes in summer zey wander far +afield. I haf seen ze same so mooch as three hundred mile north from +here." + +"One thing sure, there are plenty of caribou around," Teddy went on to +say; "and when the meat's tender, it suits me all right. I'm running +across new things every day up here, and don't feel sorry I came, so +far." + +"New things seem to be running across us also," chuckled Frank; "for +instance, the monster that just invaded our camp. But as our supply of +red sweaters has given out now, we'll hope not to have a repeat of that +charge in a hurry." + +"Me for a tree if ever I hear anything on four legs heading this way +again!" Jimmy told them. "Why, what would have happened to me if the old +four flusher had set his hoofs square on my stomach? I'd be feeling +pretty punk right now, believe me." + +"I think I'll take to the tall timber myself if this thing gets common," +was what Jack observed. "My stars! but he was a whopper. Looked like the +side of a house to me when he sizzled past, scattering the fire, +leveling our best tent, and kicking up a whole circus with a band wagon +attached." + +"What was it we were talking about when we had that unexpected call?" +asked Teddy. + +"Ned was telling us something more that trapper we met said to him about +the queer things that happen away up here in this uninhabited country, +which is so different from any other known land. Didn't he say something +about a phantom fleet of vessels that kept bobbing up every now and +then, only to speed away like ghosts. What did you make of that silly +rot, Ned?" + +"I've been puzzling my head over it ever since," Ned replied, "but for +the life of me can't make head or tail of the story. I've almost come +to the conclusion that the trapper was a little dippy, and just imagined +he saw those vessels." + +"Sounds like it to me, Ned," Jack declared. "Whatever would vessels of +any kind want up in Hudson Bay, if not to fish, or hunt whales, or +seals, or walrus? And why should they flit around like ghosts, as he +said? Chances are the old chap was using up his surplus stock of strong +drink, and saw things where they didn't exist." + +"Well, anyway," Jimmy ventured, reflectively, "it's me that hopes we'll +run foul of this same queer disappearing fleet, because if we do it's a +pipe cinch we'll scrape all the mystery off the story. We always manage +that when we start into anything. It seems to be the scout way of doing +things." + +"For my part," declared Frank, "I take little stock in that yarn of the +trapper. I imagine it's in a line with the big story of the mine +syndicate that wants to unload on Mr. Bosworth. This is the country for +whopping lies. Everything is on so big a scale up here, you know, +stories have to keep along with them." + +"And moose are as big as houses," added Jimmy. + +"How is it we don't see you busy with your fish lines to-night, Jimmy?" +asked Ned. + +"Yes, it's been three mornings now since we had fresh fish for +breakfast, and as that job was handed over to you, we all want to know +what's gone wrong?" Jack added. + +Jimmy shrugged his shoulders, and made a wry face. + +"I've soured on me job, if that's what you want to know," he replied. +"I've pulled in so many fish since we started that me arm is sore with +the work. Besides, I've lost me taste for fresh fish. Them that feel an +itching for the diet c'n do the business. Here's me lines and hooks with +pleasure." + +No one, however, seemed anxious to undertake the task on this particular +occasion. Truth to tell they were one and all pretty tired. It had been +an unusually arduous day, so that shoulders and legs ached more or less, +from packing all their possessions across country to the bank of the +river on which they now found themselves, and which Francois, yes, and +Tamasjo ditto, affirmed would carry them all the rest of the way to the +great inland sea known on the maps as Hudson Bay, in honor of the famous +explorer. + +It felt good to lie there at their ease on blankets and enjoy the warmth +of the cheery campfire. There was more or less of a tang in the air most +of the time on account of being so far north; and this became more +evident when the sun had set, and the short night commenced, so that +the young explorers were glad to have tents and warm blankets along. + +Once while they were talking Jack lifted his head and appeared to be +listening. + +"A wolf pack hunting through the muskegs!" remarked Ned. + +"Just what it must be," declared Jack. "And wherever we go it seems as +if there was no end to the hungry beasts. We ran up against them away +out in California, you remember; and they've given us no end of trouble +on this present trip." + +"I only hope that swift bunch is hustling along on the trail of Mr. Bull +Moose, and that they overhaul the beggar right soon," grumbled Jimmy +viciously. + +"What ails the little rascal now to make him feel so savage about that +moose?" laughed Frank. + +"Huh! if you had something you thought the world of carried away on the +horns of a rotten old bull moose, mebbe it's you that would be feeling +sore on him too, me boy," growled Jimmy. + +"Well, they say that one man's food is another's poison," observed +Frank; "and all of us feel that your loss is our gain. Red sweaters may +be all very well on a baseball field, but in the woods they don't cut +such a wide swath." + +"Forget it," added Jack. + +The two guides were looking after the canoes. It was their customary +habit to attend to the craft every night before lying down, because they +realized the great value that lay in the only means of making progress +that the expedition possessed; while no one dreamed of robbery, still, +the motto of a scout is to shut the door _before_ the horse is stolen, +and not afterwards. An ounce of prevention is always much better than a +pound of cure, so Ned was accustomed to saying, and he was an +experienced patrol leader. + +While they left some things to the guides, still, the boys were pleased +to keep constantly in touch with whatever was transpiring around them. +Long ago they had learned to enjoy making fresh discoveries in the field +and forest whenever abroad. And in this new and to them unexplored +country they were running across numerous interesting things every day. + +They had just two tents along, and as neither of the guides would +consent to be under cover save in a rain storm, it allowed the five +scouts a chance to sleep comfortably, three in one shelter and a couple +in the other. Ned and Jack occupied the smaller tent, while Jimmy bunked +with Teddy and Frank in the second one. + +Presently the guides came into camp again, though they had been within +sight all the time, as the canoes lay well inside the circle of light +coming from the fire. + +"All well with the boats, Francois?" asked Ned, who was hugging his +knees now, and had been joking Frank over several weird pictures the +photographer of the expedition had lately developed. + +"Everything O. K.," replied the voyageur, as though satisfied with his +labor. "No danger we lose same this night, zat is sure. Still, Francois, +me, and ze ozzer guide we expect to sleep wiz ze one eye open." + +"If you should happen to see some stranger meddling with our boats, +Francois--what would you do?" asked Frank. + +The voyageur shrugged his broad shoulders in a very Frenchy fashion as +he replied. + +"I sall call out and ask ze same what he do, sare; and if so be he try +to run away, pouf; I ze gun will fire, taking aim to vound ze rascal in +ze leg, and not kill." + +"Sounds rather war-like, don't it, Ned?" remarked Jack. + +"Well, you must remember that this is a wild country up here," the +leader of the expedition went on to say, soberly; "and that men are +accustomed to looking on all others as enemies until they prove to be +friends. A man who would sneak up and hover over our boats, on being +addressed, if he were honest would throw up his hand at once and come +into camp. Only a sneak thief would try and cut for it. And from my way +of looking at it Francois would be justified in giving him a bullet in +the leg, or a charge of Number Sevens in the last place he could see as +the man galloped away." + +As several of the scouts were yawning at a prodigious rate it was now +concluded that the time had come to crawl under their blankets and get +some sleep. This going to bed was never a very long-drawn-out operation +with the scouts when in the open. Each boy would remove his shoes, after +taking off his leggings, then follow with his outer garments, and after +that just snuggle down under his warm covering, and forgetting all his +troubles until the summons came that breakfast was almost ready. + +On this especial occasion they vanished inside the tents, leaving the +guides at the fire smoking their last pipe of tobacco, which both of +them had to indulge in before they could think of sleeping. + +After that none of the boys knew a single thing until they were rudely +awakened by hearing some one call out roughly. + +Immediately afterwards there came a peremptory hail, and then a loud +report that must have come from a gun. + +Of course there was a hustle in both tents, and it was astonishing how +quickly each scout managed to get some of his clothes on. A +professional fireman could hardly have shown more expedition about +dressing than Ned and Jack did, though hampered more or less in the +operation by the darkness. + +They had been very careful to remember just where their guns had been +placed, so that as soon as they donned clothes it was easy to snatch up +these weapons, after which they burst out of the tent. + +The fire was beginning to revive, showing that some one must have tossed +fresh fuel upon the smouldering logs. One glance that way told Ned +several hours must have elapsed since he lay down, and that it was even +now long after midnight. He would have been able to tell within an hour +what time of night it was, had he been given a few seconds to look up at +the heavens to note the position of the new stars in sight. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +WAS IT A SPY? + + +The other fellows were coming crawling out from the larger tent when Ned +and Jack reached the open air. All of them were carrying guns, as though +laboring under an impression that the camp must be assailed by a rival +force. + +They found the two guides standing there, and peering out toward a +certain quarter. Both were too old hands at this sort of thing to show +the least sign of excitement, but Jimmy made up for any lack on their +part. + +"For the love of Mike where's the invader now? Did he trample all over +you, Francois, and is that the brand of his cloven hoof on your hunting +shirt now? Was it the same old bull moose, or a new kind of muskeg +giant, as big as a church? Show him to me, and see how quick I'll bowl +the critter over!" + +"Keep still, will you, Jimmy, and let Ned do the talking," advised Jack. + +"What did you fire at, Francois?" asked Ned, turning to the guide, for +somehow he seemed to naturally guess that it was the French Canadian who +had done the shooting, possibly because his voice had been heard raised +in a challenge. + +"Man, at all I know, sare," replied the other, still looking out into +the semi-gloom wistfully. + +"I heard you call out loud enough, just as you said you would do," Ned +continued; "and instead of answering, did he turn and run away?" + +"Zat is just what happen," replied the guide. "He act mooch like ze spy, +and so I give heem ze shot." + +"Do you think you hit him, Francois?" demanded Frank. + +The other rolled up his shoulders, and made the usual "face" as he +answered: + +"I do not know for sure, sare. Ze light it was mos' uncertain like. I +aim down low as I pull ze trigger. Zen he disappear, and I am unable to +say if so be he drop down just to sneak avay, or because he wounded." + +"Well, we can soon find out," impulsive Jimmy exclaimed; "me to grab up +a fine torch, and lead the way. Some of the rest of you form a bodyguard +around me, and be ready to give 'em a volley if they so much as peep." + +It was just what Ned had been about to propose, so as Jimmy thought of +the plan first he was allowed to have his way. + +The fagot which Jimmy picked out of the fire was burning briskly by now, +at one end, and could be made to serve very well as a torch, if only one +knew how to handle it. Jimmy had taken lessons in this art, and first of +all he swung the brand swiftly around his head several times, so as to +make it burn more briskly. + +"There, that will do, Jimmy," Jack told him; "and now lead us out, you +ferocious little monster. Hold the torch so it won't blind us, remember. +And if they open fire you be sure to duck, so we won't be shooting you +in the back." + +"Oh! I'll side-step all right, if only you give me the tip," Jimmy went +on to say. + +He was already starting out with Francois to show him the way to the +spot where the latter had his last glimpse of the supposed spy. All of +the scouts were fairly quivering with eagerness; and at the same time a +cold feeling began to creep over them at the thought of what they might +discover the next minute. + +Francois had shot low, and only meant to wound, but then his bullet +might have glanced upward, and inflicted a fatal injury. + +A dozen and more paces they went. Everyone was excited, and looking +this way and that, for who could say what the adventure might not mean? +If there was one prowler around there might be a dozen or a score. They +remembered what Ned had said concerning the possibility of the reckless +plotters composing the mining syndicate gathering together a lawless +crowd, and meaning to chase the explorers out of that section of +country, should they threaten to discover that a fraud was in the act +of being perpetrated. + +"Was it about here, Francois, that you saw him vanish?" asked Ned, who +had been keeping an eye on the guide, and judged from his actions that +they must have arrived close to the suspected spot. + +"I am think so, ver' mooch," admitted Francois, eagerly, and then after +taking a backward look toward the campfire, he added: "Yes, it ees so, +sare. I gif you ze word of a man zat ought to know, zat he was here when +I fire ze shot." + +"Well, it looks as though you didn't knock him over, Francois," observed +Frank, "because there was nobody lying amidst the brush." + +Without replying, the French Canadian and the Indian guide fell on their +knees, and seemed to be closely examining the ground upon which none of +the party had as yet set afoot. + +"Tamasjo has found something," observed Teddy quickly, as he saw the +Indian lower his head closer to the ground, and evidently examine some +object with eagerness. + +Ned was down beside him almost instantly. + +"It's a plain footprint, all right," he announced as soon as he had been +able to take a quick observation. + +"That proves Francois _did_ see a skulker then, and wasn't dreaming," +Jack was heard to say, as though he may have been entertaining some +doubt on the subject up to that moment. + +"He scared him off, even if his lead was thrown away," Jimmy ventured, +with a slight touch of scorn in his manner, as though he fancied he +could have given a better account of himself, had the chance come his +way. + +"Hold on, don't be in such a rushing big hurry to say he wasted his +lead," Ned warned him. + +"What's that, Ned; did he hit the sneak after all?" Jack demanded. + +"Well, spots of fresh blood don't grow on the bushes up here, even if we +do seem to run across lots of queer things," Ned went on to say, as he +pointed to where they could all see that it was so. + +This fact added to the excitement. If the unknown whom they looked on as +some species of spy, had been wounded, it looked like a serious piece of +business for the little party of explorers. He must have friends not far +away, and after the gantlet of defiance had been thrown down by this +shot, these men might lose all restraint and show that they were +disposed to act in an ugly way. + +It meant that the former sense of security and indifference was a thing +of the past. From this time on the scouts must keep constantly on the +alert to guard against a sudden surprise. They must learn to watch for +danger in every quarter, and not allow themselves to sleep on post. + +All this change was caused by the discovery of that one small spot of +shed blood. Even the usually talkative Jimmy seemed to have become dumb +for the time being, as though realizing the gravity of the situation. + +"Do we try to track the fellow, Ned?" asked Teddy. + +"I don't think that would be a wise thing to attempt," came the reply. +"In the first place we couldn't make any headway without a light; and +that would expose the lot of us to his fire, if he found himself being +overtaken, and was still smarting under the pain of his wound. Then +again, we don't know who he may be, or what friends he may have close +by. No, the best thing for us to do is to go back to our camp, and try +to get a little more sleep. We'll put out the fire, and one of the +guides will sit up for two hours with me. Then we'll wake another +couple, and in that way pass the rest of the night." + +"Sounds like business at the old stand," remarked Jimmy, "Many's the +time the lot of us have done that same thing. And, Ned, I'm in hopes +you'll be after lettin' me sit up with you. Never a bit of sleep is +there in me eyes at this minute. I'm staring like any old hoot owl in a +Virginia swamp. Don't tell me to beat it if you love me the least bit. +My lamps won't go shut, that's flat, and I might as well sit up with you +as lie down, and just stare and stare." + +"Oh! suit yourself, Jimmy," Ned told the urgent one; "though of course +I'll be only too glad to have your company, if, only you'll remember to +keep still. When we have to serve as guards to the camp it's a still +tongue that counts for the most." + +"I'll promise to be as dumb as an oyster, Ned," pleaded the other; and +so it was settled that he could help to stand the first watch. + +The balance of the expedition once more settled down. Jack crawled alone +into the smaller tent, while Frank and Teddy occupied the other. +Francois and the Indian consulted with Ned, and then the fire was wholly +extinguished. Tamasjo went over to sleep in one of the canoes, for if +there should be any attack on the camp it was believed that it would +begin in this quarter, as the frail craft might be reckoned their +weakest and most vulnerable point. + +Ned Nestor had often sat out a watch, and in the midst of a wilderness, +too; but somehow the conditions seemed vastly different now from +anything he had ever known before. In most other cases he could listen +to the various well-known voices of the night--from katydids and +crickets, to frogs in the marsh, night birds seeking their prey, or it +might be the small animals of the forest barking or giving tongue. + +Away up here in the vast Northern solitudes a dreadful silence seemed to +hang upon all Nature. Insects there were none, of a species to cause a +humming sound, and save for croaking of frogs some distance away the +stillness remained unbroken for a long time. + +The wolf pack broke loose again, doubtless hot on the track of a fleeing +caribou, perhaps the unfortunate one that had been wounded by Jimmy on +the preceding day when Frank knocked over the fine animal from which +their late supper had come. Ned listened to the chorus, and allowed his +thoughts to roam to other and more distant scenes, where he had had +exciting experiences with the hungry animals himself, calculated to +cause a shudder just to remember. + +The time passed slowly. Several louder bursts of wolfish tongues told +when the hunting pack chanced to draw nearer the camp, but only to grow +fainter again in the distance, as the chase led the animals over barrens +where the caribou herd fed, and across wild cranberry bogs, such as the +boys could remember seeing up in Northern New York State when camping in +the Adirondacks. + +When Ned reckoned that his time was up he woke Jimmy, who had long ago +gone to sleep as sweetly as you please, with his head leaning against +the butt of a tree. Ned told him he might just as well crawl under the +tent and get the benefit of a warm blanket; and after giving that advice +called Frank and Jack out. + +Teddy never so much as moved when Jimmy crept in to warm up under his +woolen cover, for Teddy was a very good sleeper on any and all +occasions, it seemed. Since there was no especial need of more sentries +than the two, with the Indian and Francois to back them, Ned did not +have the heart to arouse Teddy, even though he knew very well the other +would reproach him for neglecting to do so. + +There was no further alarm on that night, for which doubtless all of the +boys were thankful, though Jimmy later on loudly bewailed the fact that +he had been given no chance to make use of his faithful gun. Jimmy was +not at all bloodthirsty, though any one hearing him talk, and not +knowing his humorous nature, might be inclined to think so. But after a +most venomous harangue he would very likely wink his eye drolly at the +fellow scout he was addressing, and softly remark: + +"But it isn't in my heart, and you know that!" + +Jack declared that once during his watch he fancied he caught some sound +out on the bosom of the dark river that might have been a big fish +leaping, but which he was inclined to believe was made by a carelessly +used paddle. + +Of course there was no way of verifying this suspicion, because water +unfortunately leaves no trail. Frank advanced the idea that it might +have been the same spy who had been prowling around their camp. + +"Suppose he had a canoe handy," he went on to suggest. "I can't imagine +any living soul being away up in this country without some kind of a +boat so as to get around. Now which way would he be likely to go, do you +think, Ned?" + +"If what Jack heard, and you didn't, was the sound of a working paddle," +Ned told him, "I should say that the party went up the river. If moving +with the current, you understand, there would be no need to swing his +paddle at all, but simply let his boat float along till past our camp." + +Francois, who had been listening to all this talk while cooking +breakfast, nodded his head approvingly. + +"Zat it so, sare," he ventured to observe. "Eef you ask me I haf to say +ze same t'ing. Mebbe it was canoe, mebbe it was some seal zat come all +ze way up zis rifer from zat big ocean zey call Hudson Bay, and which +zey tell me ees six hundred mile from one shore to ze other." + +"A real genuine seal, does he mean, Ned?" exclaimed Jimmy; "now I would +like to set eyes on one of the glossy little chaps like those I've fed +in the museum down at the Battery in little old New York." + +"Made enough noise to have been a hippopotamus, if only such +warm-blooded Nile amphibious animals lived in these Arctic rivers," Jack +declared; "but after all it doesn't matter, only if the spy went up the +stream we're better be off, because that would show his crowd would be +found there, and not below." + +"And I suppose that after this, while we sail on through cataracts, and +along the smoother stretches we've got to keep our eyes peeled for signs +of an ambuscade," Teddy observed. "Well, luckily we've got some pretty +sharp-eyed fellows along with us; and then there are the experienced +guides. Who cares for expenses? As long as I can poke into unknown +sections where few white men have ever set foot, and Frank can write +stunning letters to his paper about the strange things we run across, it +doesn't matter a cookey. We'll get to our destination, and we're bound +to find out all we came to see, because the scouts always do succeed." + +It was in this same confident spirit that the little party embarked +shortly afterwards. Not one of them felt faint-hearted as the unknown +future loomed up before them. Nevertheless, could they have known just +then of the astonishing experiences through which they were shortly +fated to pass, possibly their pulses must have quickened under the +strain. + +The sun was well above the far-eastern horizon when they entered the +three canoes, having carefully loaded the same with an eye to rough +rapids ahead, and pushing out, trolling a Canadian boat song Francois +had taught them, started on the day's voyage. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +DOWN THE SWIFT RAPIDS. + + +"Sounds pretty wild ahead there!" bawled Jimmy, a couple of hours later. + +He happened to be in the leading canoe at the time, along with the Cree +Indian guide, Tamasjo, and also Frank Shaw. Ned and Jack paddled the +second boat, and did it splendidly, too, for they had had considerable +practice at this sort of thing, so that as Ned expressed it, both had +"caught the hang of it." In the rear were the other two, Francois, and +Teddy Green, the ambitious explorer of unknown lands. + +All this time they had seen nothing in any quarter to indicate that +there was a living human being in all that far-off country. Now and then +they had glimpsed herds of caribou peacefully feeding where the grass +grew most luxuriantly, or else like the reindeer of Lapland browsing off +the Arctic moss that clung to the rocks in myriads of places, and +contained the nourishment required. Birds were scarce, though in some +places they had come upon countless numbers of ducks, geese and swan +that seek these distant regions in summer to breed. + +The others had possibly noticed that increasing murmur in the near +distance, indicating the presence of a roaring cataract, even if they +had not called attention to the same. + +The Indian, seeing that the scouts would very likely want to hold a +conference, dallied with his paddle, and Frank, who sat in the bow of +the boat, followed suit. He did not altogether like the sound of that as +yet unseen rough place in the river that flowed northward toward Hudson +Bay; and felt that before trusting themselves in its clutch they should +talk it over, getting what pointers they could from the two guides. + +Accordingly the three canoes drifted along on the rather swift current, +while those in them talked. From time to time the paddlers would delay +their progress by well known means, so that they might not be carried on +at too fast a pace, and find themselves in the surge of the rapids +before their plans were fully matured. + +"I bet you that one beats any we've struck yet, if sound goes for much!" +Jimmy gave as his opinion. + +"No question about that," added Jack. + +"It sure makes a heap of noise," Teddy declared. + +"And I can imagine the whitecaps jumping like crazy things as the +current hits up against the sharp-pointed snags and rocks that stick up +like horns all over!" Frank went on to say. + +"Still, there are few rapids that don't have a safe channel through the +worst places," Ned told them; "anyway, I've never seen one that didn't. +How about that, Francois; you've been through here, you say, and in a +canoe?" + +"Twice, sare," came the answer. + +"And didn't meet with an accident either time, I warrant," Jack avowed, +confidently. + +"Nevaire!" replied the guide, positively. + +"And like as not, when you took the first plunge you had never seen the +rapids before, Francois?" continued Ned, striving to reach a point he +wanted to make. + +"It was the first time I haf ever set eyes on ze same, as you say, +sare." + +"You just used your gumption, and tackled the job as you would any other +rapids, depending on your quick eye, a firm wrist with the paddle, and +general good sense, wasn't that it, Francois?" Ned asked him. + +"I get through easy, but zere was a warm time of it," the other +answered, shaking his head at the remembrance of difficulties overcome. + +"Well, if you could pass through safely without ever having seen the +rapids before it was much easier the second time, eh?" ventured the +patrol leader. + +"Oh! mooch easier, that time," the guide assured him. + +"And now it's likely to become a habit with you," Ned remarked, +smilingly. "Guess we needn't bother any great shakes, boys. Francois +will take the lead, and Jack and myself bring up the rear." + +"That leaves me in the middle, don't it?" asked Jimmy. + +"Just what it does," Ned told him. + +"You wouldn't think for a minute we'd allow you to lead, or much less +come trailing along as the wind-up of the crowd," jeered Jack. "Chances +are you'll be up to your old tricks again, and tumbling overboard. I've +got the boathook ready to lay hold of you if that happens." + +"For goodness sake, Jimmy, make up your mind to sit still and get +through one of these husky rapids with a dry jacket," pleaded Teddy. + +"Yes," added Frank, who, it may be remembered, was in the same boat with +Jimmy; "you might upset us all if you get to wiggling around, or trying +any of your silly pranks while we're in the middle of the push. And +think of what we'd lose if an accident like that happened." + +"You've got all the self-raising flour in your tub, Jimmy," Teddy +continued, as a clinching argument; "and if that goes, good-bye to any +more flapjacks while we're up around the Hudson Bay country." + +"Hadn't you better transfer that stuff to one of the other boats, and +give us something that won't spoil if it gets wet?" Jimmy had the +impudence to suggest; at which Ned shook his finger at him, and, looking +as severe as he could, went on to lay down the law, as he had a perfect +right to do, being Jimmy's superior in the patrol; and besides, using +the other as an assistant in his work for the Government. + +"Unless you give me your solemn promise to reform, and sit as still as +anything in that canoe, I'm going to have a halt called, and tie you in +so you can't move. The only trouble is that if the boat does go over +after all, you'd surely drown like a musk rat in a trap. Do you get that +straight, Jimmy?" + +Apparently the lively scout realized that his chums would not put up +with any further pranks, especially when danger menaced them, as it +always did at times when cataracts had to be negotiated. He threw up +both hands in token of absolute surrender. + +"I promise you on my word of honor as a true scout, Ned, not to budge +an inch as long as the bally old boat stays on its keel. 'Course if +Tamasjo pitches me out you'll let me swim for it, and get hold of your +gunnel, won't you?" + +"That's what we would expect you to do," Ned told him. "On the whole, as +this rapid is much worse than anything we've tackled up to now, I reckon +we'd better run into shore for a short stay, while we overhaul our +cargoes, and make sure everything is tied fast to the supports of the +canoes." + +"Good idea," grunted Frank. "I believe in locking the door while you've +still got the horse. Lots of folks wait till the animal has been stolen, +and then wake up to the necessity of putting up the bars." + +Accordingly, they landed near by on a promising point. Here they busied +themselves for some time minutely examining the way in which guns, +provisions, blankets, tents, cooking utensils, and all other things +going to make up the cargo of the three canoes was secured. + +Of course they hardly anticipated an upset, but did this only as a sort +of insurance, just as a man takes out a fire risk on his house, though +never fancying for a single minute that it is going to go up in flames +and smoke. + +After that the start was made. Francois paddled along in the lead, with +Teddy holding a position in the bow, for Teddy had learned to swing a +paddle fairly well on this trip. Of course, the one who sat in the stern +manipulated things as he wished, being the controlling power. Teddy's +duties would for the most part be to fend off from threatening rocks. + +It was intended that the other boats should follow close enough to give +their pilots a chance to profit by the knowledge Francois had of the +currents and most dangerous places. At the same time, they must not come +within a certain distance lest they foul each other. + +Faster and faster did the swift current bear them on its bosom. They +could now see it surging on toward the abrupt bend, around which the +dangerous rapid lay. + +Every fellow shut his teeth hard together. Sleeves had been rolled up, +so that nothing might interfere with the heavy work ahead of them. + +Jimmy was the soul watcher, he alone having no part in making that +perilous passage of the cataract. Gripping the two sides of the canoe, +as he squatted amidships, Jimmy stared with bulging eyes as the bend was +turned, and he could see that foamy track ahead. All of the way across +the river the ugly jagged rocks thrust their sharp points above the +surface of the swift water, and for a distance of nearly a quarter of a +mile it seemed as though only by a miracle could a frail canoe safely +pass among these evil genii of the rapids. + +But a careful and practiced eye could pick out an avenue of +comparatively smooth water that ran from top to bottom of the rapid. It +often curved sharply, so that it made a very irregular line. Quick +action would be necessary in many instances, so as to avoid contact with +some snag that lay in wait for a victim. + +Francois went boldly in. He sat there like a carved statue, only that +the upper part of his body was in constant action, as he drove his +magical blade deeply into the water, and caused the canoe to obey his +dominant will as he pleased. + +After him came the bronzed Cree Indian guide, copying every movement of +the other, much as Japanese workman would a design given into his hands +to duplicate even to the minutest detail. + +It was a glorious dash, and one the scouts would certainly never forget. +Their blood leaped madly in their veins as they saw the tumbling, +boiling water all about them, acting as though fairly wild to get them +in its power. + +Several times Ned and Jack found themselves put to their best efforts in +order to stem the tide, and keep from meeting with shipwreck. +Fortunately, their muscles were sound, and their heads clear, so that in +every instance they recovered the advantage almost lost. When the foot +of the cataract was reached nothing of a serious nature had happened, +though all of the boys who had taken part in the labor of fighting the +erratic current of the river were breathing heavily. + +"Hurrah! that's the time we did it!" shouted Jimmy, apparently as proud +as if he had handled a paddle himself; nor did any of the others +begrudge him that slight satisfaction, since the glory was big enough to +go around. + +Ned gave the signal for a halt here. + +"We want to rest up a bit," he explained; "and besides, didn't you hear +Francois say that there were some dandy trout and grayling hanging about +here at the foot of the rapids? Seems to me I'd like a mess for dinner +to-day. Any objections?" + +Not a single contrary word was heard, and apparently all of them were of +the same mind. So they put in toward the shore again, Francois leading +the way, since he had been here before, and "knew the ropes." + +Tackle was soon made ready. Ned had even fetched a jointed rod along, +for he liked to fish in a thoroughly sportsmanlike way, when the game +was as royal in its nature as these big trout of the Canadian rivers. +Grayling he had never caught, though told that they even exceed trout in +desperate fighting tactics. + +The fun soon became fast and furious, for there were plenty of fish, and +the conditions seemed just right for them to jump at every sort of lure, +from an artificial fly to a copy of an insect, or a phantom minnow such +as Jimmy usually patronized, he not being equal to handling a fly rod +with dexterity. + +They soon had all the fish they could use. Ned continued the sport, +because he was using his fly rod, and really did not injure the captures +he made, so that he could toss them back after having had the fun of +playing them, and seeing the desperate efforts the captives made to +break away. + +In the end, Ned had the luck to strike a good-sized grayling, that, +making for a smaller rapid just below, gave the young sportsman all the +excitement he could hope for before allowing itself to be netted. They +all admired its build, and, as it was the only one of its kind taken +just then, they decided to keep it, so as to say they had eaten +grayling. + +The interrupted voyage was thereupon resumed, and a while later they +landed once more to cook a meal; for somehow all declared themselves +hungry for trout, and Francois had admitted that one of the best camping +places along the lower river invited them. + +Jimmy, having had nothing else to do while they navigated the stream had +amused himself preparing the catch for the frying pan. Nobody objected +in the least; for although every scout dearly loved to eat trout, none +of them ever seemed particularly anxious to clean the fish. Consequently +that duty generally devolved upon good-natured Jimmy, who could be +easily duped into believing that it was a high honor they were according +him in allowing this privilege. + +Ned, after halting by his canoe to attend to some little thing that +happened to catch his attention, and which needed fixing, sauntered up +the bank to find a fire had already been started by the guides. + +"How is this, Francois, that you chose a place to make your fire that +looks as if it might be second-best? According to my notion, over yonder +is an ideal site for cooking fire." + +When Ned said this the French-Canadian voyageur looked up and nodded. + +"Eet is surely as you say heem be, but when I deescover zat zere haf +been a pig party stop here mebbe last night, I tink you might vant me to +look closer, and see vat ze signs say." + +From his manner Ned understood that somehow Francois scented danger +because of the presence of these men in this region. They might of +course only prove to be miners sent up here by the syndicate that had +obtained the right to the new mining region said to exceed in richness +the famous Mesauba country. On the other hand, it was possible that they +were minions of unscrupulous capitalists, sent here to block any effort +on the part of the scouts to learn the truth with regard to the nature +of the great fraud, if the claim put up to Mr. Bosworth proved to be +such. + +And Ned knew that the guide had acted wisely in leaving the cold ashes +alone. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +WOODCRAFT. + + +Nothing more was said about the ashes of the dead fire left behind by +some party that had recently been there, until the trout had been +deliciously cooked and eaten. All of them declared that they had never +tasted finer flavored fish than those big gamey fellows of that Far +North river. It really seemed that the further they journeyed toward the +Arctic Circle the sweeter the trout became. + +"They were pretty big fellows, too," Frank Shaw said, as they sat there +filling up with dinner. + +"Never saw larger ones, only in the Lake Superior region," Ned +confessed; "and eight-pounders are common along the northern shore where +several small rivers empty into the lake. I saw a bunch of that size at +the Government fish hatchery at the Soo when I passed through there on a +steamboat, and shot the rapids with the Indian guides. They were +dandies, I tell you, boys. Think of it, genuine speckled trout weighing +eight pounds, and every ounce of them fighting weight too." + +Finally, when they were all ready to cry quits, having had a glorious +meal, Ned thought of what the veteran guide had said about that dead +fire. + +"Now suppose you and Tamasjo take a good look at the ashes, and the lay +of the land around, so as to tell us what you can read there," he told +the voyageur. + +At that some of the other boys began to stare, for they had heard +nothing up to then about the late presence of others on the spot. But +they knew Ned well enough to be sure that he had some good object in +saying what he did; and accordingly all of them flocked after the two +guides when they made for the nearby spot where even Jimmy had noticed +the remains of a fire. + +The scouts remained quiet while Francois and the Cree got down on hands +and knees the better to examine into the signs. Ned and some of his +chums would themselves have been easily able to read certain things in +connection with these ashes. For instance, remembering that it had +rained most of the second day before, and there was no sign of water +about the ashes, they would have set it down as positive that the fire +had been made _afterwards_. That was an easy thing to make out; and +perhaps there were others they could figure; but when in the presence of +veterans Ned was only too willing to observe all that was done, and +profit by it. + +The two men did not confine themselves to sifting the ashes through +their fingers, and comparing notes in a jargon which the boys could not +understand, but which they imagined must be Cree talk. + +They moved further away, and looked the ground over. + +"I noticed that there were plenty of hoof tracks around here," Jimmy up +and declared; "but say, it never flagged me that a fellow could learn a +heap from just stickin' his nose down close to such. 'Tis a safe bet +we'll know everything but the names of the gossoons before Francois and +his red pal quit." + +Some of the others were feeling the same way. They too had noticed that +there were plenty of footprints around, but being more interested in the +feast then being prepared, they had not thought fit to bother about +giving the same more than a casual glance. + +On Ned's part, he would have devoted some of his time to this business +only for the promise of the voyageur to read the signs after they had +eaten. + +After some little time had passed Francois came and stood before them. +His face was almost as inscrutable as that of the Sphinx, or a Cree +Indian. Whatever the character of his finding, it did not show +outwardly. + +"Well, how about these men, Francois; they must have been here last +night, you think, don't you?" Ned started to ask him. + +"Eet is so, sare. Zey leave zis place just same time we be saying +_bon jour_ to our own camp up ze rivaire." + +"How many were they?" was Ned's next question; for Francois could not +tell his story at length, but seemed to wait to have it drawn from him +piece-meal as though he might be a willing witness in the box. + +"Thirteen, all men at zat." + +"Hunters, trappers, miners, or prospectors?" demanded Ned. + +That caused the other to give one of his suggestive shrugs. + +"Nozzing like zat right now, sare," he went on to declare, so positively +that it was evident he had found the Indian also agreed with him. "Some +of zat crowd zey wear ze moccasin ze same as Tamasjo here. Ozzers have +boots wiz ze heel. But zey carry no traps along wiz zem, I tell you zat, +sare." + +"And if they were miners intending to work in the holdings of the +syndicate they would have carried tools along, picks, shovels and the +like?" remarked Jack. + +Francois shook his head in the negative. + +"Nozzing like zat, pelieve me, sare," he urged. + +"Well, go on and tell us what you think they may be," Ned pursued. + +"I zink they pe a pad crowd," answered the guide. "Zis tells ze tale," +and he held up some greasy cards which he must have gathered in the +bushes behind the rocks near which the dead ashes lay. + +Tamasjo also stooped and lifted something that glittered in the +sunlight. When the scouts saw that it was a suspicious looking black +bottle, they could guess as to what the nature of its recent contents +had been. Nevertheless, it was passed around and every fellow had a +chance to take a sniff at it. + +"Deadly stuff, sure as you're born!" Jimmy pronounced, making a wry +face. + +"Whisky or old rye or something like that," Frank declared; and it spoke +well for those five boys that no one was positively able to identify the +odor, though well knowing its general character as an aid to +drunkenness. + +"That seems to settle it, so far as the tough kind of men they were," +Ned continued; "and now we want to try and find out if they were looking +for us to come down the river; and also, try and guess where they've +gone to. They had boats, of course, Francois?" + +The guide held up two fingers. + +"Batteau, plenty room in same for all. Tamasjo and me, we tink zey haf +gone down stream. Pig bay lie only half-day's journey zat way. Eef we go +on, mebbe so we arrive zere by night. Better hold up, and make ze last +part of ze trip in ze dark, so zat zey no see us." + +"I understand what you mean, Francois," the patrol leader hastened to +say; "and it sounds good to me, I admit. When we do go down to the salt +water we will take advantage of your advice." + +"What's that, Ned," broke in Jack; "you don't mean to say there's any +doubt about our going down, sooner or later, do you?" + +"Oh! no, we're bound to see the famous Hudson Bay before we leave this +section," the other assured him; "but I've been thinking things over, +and come to a certain conclusion." + +"Let's hear what it is, won't you, Ned?" Jimmy besought him. + +"Yes, that is if Francois is through telling us about these parties." + +"How about that, Francois?" Ned asked, turning to the voyageur. + +"Eet is about all zat is worth knowing, sare. Of course, we haf learn +zat zis man who is captaine to ze bunch, he is mooch pig, a giant, and +zere is sooch a man I know whose name eet is Sol. Greggs; heem it might +be who is conducting zis gang. He is a pad man, a thief who robbed +traps many times, and so he gif me zis scar on ze cheek when we fight +eet out." + +"That sounds just like the kind of a rascal the syndicate would send up +here to run things, if they were trying to work a tremendous swindle and +expected to keep curious people from investigating," Jack boldly +declared. + +"But how about you telling what your plans are, Ned?" queried Frank. + +"It's only fair you should know," replied the other; "so listen to what +my idea is. In the first place, according to the map we have of the +country up here, we believe that this supposed-to-be-wonderful mine must +lie somewhere to the left of the mouth of this very river. Now it struck +me that perhaps we might carry out our plans better if we hid our boats +somewhere near by, and took a scout off in that direction." + +"That does sound mighty sensible, Ned!" admitted Jack Bosworth, after +considering the suggestion for a brief time. + +"Suppose we try it," Frank added. + +"One thing I like about the plan," Jimmy spoke up, "is that it will give +us a chance to stretch our legs some. To tell you the truth, I'm getting +tired of squatting there like a squaw in the tepee, with little or +nothing to do. I like to carry out my share of the work; but you somehow +seem afraid to let me paddle, just as if a reformed joker like me would +be careless, or actually _try_ to upset the old canoe. So I put my vote +in as wanting to look for the mine over land." + +Each of the other scouts quickly let it be known that they were in full +sympathy with Ned's suddenly sprung plan. Of course, this would make +some changes in their arrangements; but the more they looked it over, +the better they all liked the idea. + +"I'm chuckling to think how that bunch will keep on waiting for us to +come down-stream," Frank observed, as they prepared to again enter the +boats, since Ned did not mean to abandon the river craft until they had +gone some distance further. + +"There's only thing I hope won't happen," remarked Jack. + +"And what might it be, if you don't mind telling?" Jimmy asked. + +"We must be sure to hide our boats, so that there will be small chance +of their being discovered by anybody," Jack continued, seriously. "Think +what a dickens of a scrape we'd be in if we had to go back all the way +afoot. It would take us many weeks, and chances are we'd be overtaken by +winter before we got to civilization." + +"Our ammunition wouldn't hold out that long," broke in Jimmy, visibly +disturbed at the thought "and glory be, whatever would we do for grub +to eat? It may be true that the rivers are full of fine trout, but me +stomach would go back on me if so be I had to eat them every solitary +day, week in and out." + +"Oh! what would be the use of our being scouts if we didn't know how to +trap animals and birds," Ned told him, reprovingly. "In fact, while, of +course, I wouldn't say I'd like to have the experience, there's no doubt +in my mind but that it would be a great education to the lot of us. And +if we pulled through we'd feel as if we were fitted to go anywhere, +under any conditions." + +"Huh! after all we've experienced on our little trips," said Frank, +"seems to me as if that would be only a walkover. For one, it doesn't +faze me a whit. If Ned gave the word I'd start out with him to walk +around the world, and with never a single cent in our pockets to begin +with. Chances are we'd land back in New York inside of two years +millionaires. That would be just like it. All the same I think we ought +to cover our canoes, and keep them from falling into the hands of +enemies. It is a pretty husky tramp from here to Montreal, and over +tough country at that, with rivers to cross, and bogs miles around to +avoid." + +"Excuse me, if you please," muttered Jimmy, whose desire for a chance to +stretch his legs did not contemplate such an extended trip as walking +all the way to the metropolis on the St. Lawrence. + +They were soon speeding down-stream again. Other small rapids they came +upon, but none of the same dimensions as the cataract lately passed. + +Jimmy was presently observed making gestures, and having drawn the +attention of those in the nearby canoes to himself, he called out: + +"Sure it's a connecting link with home!" + +"What is?" demanded Jack. + +"Be after dipping your hand over the side, and tastin' the water!" +replied the scout who was in the boat with Tamasjo and Frank. + +Upon doing so, Ned, who had quickly guessed what Jimmy meant, found that +there was indeed a brackish taste to the water, as though the influence +of the great tides of Hudson Bay might be felt this far up the stream; +it would have gone much further only for the numerous rifts that told of +a descent of several feet in the drop of the river. + +Ned concluded that they had gone quite far enough for the present. Upon +asking the voyageur, he learned that they could reach the mouth of the +river inside of a couple of hours, if they chose to use their paddles in +addition to the set of the now sluggish current of the widening stream. + +"Keep on the watch for a suitable hiding place for the boats," he told +the others, "and remember, it must be on the larboard side, because +that's the way we expect to tramp in search of the wonderful copper +mine." + +Every one after that kept on the alert for such a place as would be +suitable for the purpose to which they intended to put it. Of all the +five scouts, it seemed the irony of fate that Jimmy should actually be +the one to first make a discovery. + +"I'm only a dub at this business, I know," he said after a while, with a +grin on his freckled face, that was almost as red as his hair, thanks to +the action of the summer sun and the winds they had encountered; "yes, +only a tyro, so to speak; but d'ye know it strikes me that over yonder +amongst the canes the canoes would lie so snug and unbeknown that +nothin'd bring harm to the same, while we chanct to be awanderin' +around." + +Ned being close by gave one look and then laughed. + +"Jimmy, I want to tell you right now," he remarked, "that if you'd only +devote more of your time to scout lore you'd be a wonder. That growth of +thick reeds is just a dandy place to do the business, and on the proper +side of the river at that. We can push in, each following exactly in the +wake of the preceding boat. Jack and myself will bring up the rear, and +carefully fix the reeds again, so that no one on the river ten feet +away would dream that boats had made a passage there. Head in, fellows, +and pick out your way carefully, making only one track or channel." + +This, those in the foremost canoe did, and close behind them came the +second boat, the paddler using his blade with extreme caution, so as not +to disturb the reeds more than was absolutely necessary. Finally, Jack +and Ned wound up the procession, the latter kneeling in the stern of the +canoe, where he could use his hands dextrously and swiftly cause the +bent-over canes to resume their former position. In this fashion then +they finally came to the land, still surrounded by the little wilderness +of reeds, out of which they could emerge as soon as the boats were +securely fastened. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ON THE SHORE OF THE SALTY SEA. + + +"Tell me about that, will you?" remarked Jimmy, as he carefully stepped +ashore; "according to my mind it was cleverly done, if I do say it that +oughtn't." + +You would certainly have thought the little chap had covered himself +with glory, and that the success of the whole undertaking depended on +him. But then the other scouts knew Jimmy from the ground up, and seldom +took offense at anything he said, because they realized that much of his +bragging and "joshing" did not "spring from the heart," as he naively +confessed many a time. + +Ned was wise enough to see that each canoe, before being abandoned there +amidst the friendly rushes, was securely staked, so that it could not +drift away, through the action of wind or current. + +"Seems to me that is about all we have to do here," Jack remarked, after +these matters had been carefully attended to. + +"And the next thing on the programme is to hike out in search of a +wonderful old copper mine that, chances are, doesn't exist at all +outside the minds of that lot of fakirs," Frank observed; for he had +never taken much stock in the alleged "proofs" shown to Jack's father by +the parties who were exploiting this new and sensational discovery of +amazingly rich ore. + +Ned gave a last look around. He was careful at all times to make doubly +sure; and, since they intended cutting loose from their boats for a +while at least, he wanted to make no mistake that would cost them +dearly. + +"It's all right," he told his mates, "and we seem to have everything +necessary. Of course we're going as light as we can, and no blankets are +allowed, or tents either; but we've looked after the eating part of the +game; and besides, we've got our guns, in case we have to knock over a +caribou or other game to help out." + +"Then say the word, governor, and we'll be beating it," Jimmy advised. + +So Ned raised his hand, and made a sign that the others easily +understood. In the scout language it meant "go ahead!" Even Francois and +the Cree chief so interpreted the sign, for they immediately started +forth. + +They left the reed patch in a sinuous line, each stepping directly into +the tracks of the one preceding him. In this fashion their passage +caused very little disturbance amongst the "bullrushes," as Jimmy +persisted in calling the thick growth. And Tamasjo, coming now in the +rear, did much to smooth over the trail, so that it would take a pair +of unusually keen eyes to have guessed that one or more persons had +issued forth at this point. + +Having left the tall reeds behind them, the little party now found the +woods in front. The ground rose abruptly, and they were standing where +they could have a fair view of the river. + +Ned gave a last look up and down the stream. As far as he could see +there was not a sign of human life in either direction, only the calm +peaceful flow of water moving majestically toward the great bay that +undoubtedly lay not a great distance away. + +Thus they started off, Ned having arranged his plan of campaign so as to +confuse the enemy, possibly awaiting their coming further down the +stream. + +It was no idle saunter through the Northern woods. The leader of the +Wolf Patrol had conferred with Francois, and arranged matters so that +they would be able to return this way when ready. + +Under ordinary conditions this might be easily accomplished by using a +camp hatchet, and "blazing" a tree occasionally. In this manner the +pilgrim would be able to always sight a white mark ahead, and pick his +way without difficulty. But for numerous reasons they did not wish to +attempt this well-known method now; since it might excite the curiosity +of any one chancing to run across a freshly blazed tree, causing him to +start in and follow the cuts all the way to the concealed canoes. + +Consequently, Francois picked out certain features of the landscape +which he occasionally pointed out to Ned, who in turn impressed them on +the attention of his chums. + +An odd looking bunch of birches that could not be easily mistaken told +them in the first place that the reed bed was only a few hundred feet +away. Then, shortly afterwards, it was a rock that had the appearance of +"round table," which Jimmy insisted on calling it. They jotted this down +on the tablets of their memories, as the second striking feature of the +trail. + +So it went on. Scouts as a rule have good memories, because they have +been shown early in their career when joining the organization how +useful it is to be able to recollect a host of things without confusion. +Indeed, one of the requisites to gaining advance marks in the patrol is +the possession of this faculty. A tenderfoot will be given a chance to +stand in front of a window containing hundreds of small objects, +possibly connected with a hardware establishment in town. After +impressing the picture on his mind, after a certain fashion for a full +minute or so, he must walk away, and later on write out a list of every +object he can remember. + +Practicing after this manner boys have learned to widen the scope of +their memories so that they become able to describe an array of things +never seen before to an extent that is astonishing. + +This was the practice that became valuable to Ned and his chums as soon +as they started through that Canadian "bush." Each fellow began in a +systematic way to make a list of the various "signs," so that when +called upon to give his opinion he would be able to repeat the entire +assortment, just as a sailor, forward or backward, is able to rattle off +the thirty-two points of the mariner's compass. + +There were many other features connected with that hike, which brought +out their knowledge of scoutcraft. They noticed everything around them, +as they moved along in a steady fashion. Never an arctic hare sprang up +and bounded away, but the eye of every scout was instantly fastened on +the little animal; and each boy mentally figured out how it must have +been peaceful in this section of the woods, or that timid little +creature would not have been lying asleep there, to be disturbed by +their coming. + +"We're heading almost due north, ain't we?" Jimmy asked, when some +twenty minutes had elapsed since the start. + +"About as near that as we can go," answered Ned. + +"I knew it by the lay of the sun, and the way the moss hangs to one side +of nearly all the trees, the northwest, where most every storm comes +from," was what Jimmy went on to say, as though desirous of letting the +leader know he had never forgotten valuable lessons learned long ago. + +"You can tell direction from the general slant of the trees, if you +notice them close enough," Jack Bosworth ventured; "because in the long +run they are bound to show some deviation from a straight perpendicular, +on account of these same storms. There's a good example of what I say +right before you, Jimmy; that big tree standing high up above all the +rest. See what I mean?" + +"'Tis an easy mark you'd be taking me for, Jack, if I couldn't grab that +idea and pull it down," the other remarked. + +"Fact is," put in Frank, "a wide-awake scout need never get lost, if only +he keeps his wits about him. I've even told direction by using my watch. +And there isn't one of the bunch but who carries some sort of a compass +along with him, unless Jimmy here, who forgets so many times, has left +his with the duffle in the boats." + +"You're off your trolley there if you think that, Frank," chuckled the +scout in question, as he tapped his pocket suggestively. "I've +experienced the fun of gettin' lost twice in me life, and I don't mean +to ever take chances again. Goin' without a bite of grub from one +sunset to the next was a lesson to me I'll not soon forget. I thought I +was bound to starve to death." + +"Well, let's talk less and look more," advised Ned, who knew how easily +Jimmy could be drawn into an argument, or be induced to start one of his +stories that concerned strange things experienced in the past. + +After that they moved along almost in silence. Once in a while, Ned +would think it the part of wisdom to call their attention to something +that was apt to impress itself on their memories, so as to be easily +recalled later on. He did this in a quiet way, for Ned disliked any show +of authority. As the leader of the strange expedition into these +Northern wilds, he was in complete charge of the little party; but, +then, these other young fellows were boon comrades, with whom he had +encountered numerous perils in times gone by, so that he hid the iron +hand under the velvet glove as much as possible. + +All of them could speedily see that the character of the country was +gradually changing as they continued to advance. This gave Ned assurance +that his theory was founded on correct lines, and that they must be +drawing very near the shore of the great bay to which his mission had +drawn him. + +Up to now they had not discovered the first actual trace of others +besides themselves in that region; though twice the Indian had hovered +over half-washed-out footprints, showing that at least they were not the +first ones to pass along under these trees. + +Ned was all this time observing the nature of the land, with the design +of making up his mind concerning the chances of rich copper deposits +being found there. + +It did not seem altogether unlikely, from what he knew of such things. +Before he left home he had been shown all sorts of copper ore; and on +the way the patrol leader had stored up in his mind many minute +descriptions he had read of the famous country north of Superior, where +such valuable mines were being worked. Thus, he was pretty well posted +on the subject, though, of course, one who had had actual practical +experience in copper mines might have put him in possession of many +other useful facts. + +So far as he could tell the rocks looked very like those around the +Mesauba region, and samples of which he carried along with him for +comparison when the proper time arrived. + +If this affair were indeed a gigantic swindle, then those who were +running the game had been smart enough to pick out as the field of their +operations a country that at least gave outward evidences of being +capable of producing a high grade of copper ore. Ned had at one time +fancied the whole thing was a myth, but now he realized that the +supposed owners of the new discovery had at least been on the ground. +They had carefully selected their site to conform with such conditions +as would at least be required, should an expert secretly visit the +scene. + +Ned was satisfied with the way things were working. If only he could +find where the mine was located, and make his investigations secretly, +without the others being aware of his presence, he believed he would +have no complaint to foster. + +An encounter with armed guards who would be hostile to his mission was +the last thing he wanted to have happen; though, of course, should this +come about he believed he could depend on his chums to give a good +account of themselves. They had in the past stuck to him on many +occasions through thick and thin. Not one of them but who had done his +part manfully, in season and out. The record of their past achievements +had been one of almost unbroken successes. He had every reason to expect +that this latest enterprise would be along the same order, and that the +little party of explorers might return again to the metropolis, bearing +with them such a concise and complete report, that Mr. Bosworth, and +those interested in the proposed new mine, would have all the +information required in order to know just how to act. + +Most of the scouts were by this time beginning to look ahead with the +idea of being the first to discover the big water that they knew must +lie near by. Ned could have undoubtedly made the discovery some time +back, because he carried his field glasses slung over his shoulder, by +means of a strap; but he preferred to let one of his chums enjoy the +sensation. + +Jimmy was craning his neck more or less, for being shorter than any of +his companions he felt that he labored under a disadvantage. The growth +of trees was of a nature to hide what lay beyond, yet all of them could +actually feel the presence of salt water. Besides, if other evidences +were lacking, their ears told them of waves running up on the shore, to +gently break there; though the breeze was from a poor quarter to carry +these sounds to them. + +All of these lads, living in New York, were accustomed to seeing the +ocean, and familiar with the "tang" that usually accompanies the +presence of an arm of the sea. For weeks now they had been moving over +the interior, and the prospect of sighting this Northern sea, that had +ever been the home of mystery to all mariners, thrilled every boyish +heart. + +In the course of their various travels they had gazed upon strange +scenes. Once not so very long before, fortune had been kind enough to +take them to the regions of the Polar ice, in carrying out a mission +entrusted to their charge; so that this would not be their first +introduction to the Northern ocean. But they had heard so much about +the unexplained things that took place in Hudson Bay, that one and all +grew more anxious, the nearer they drew to their destination. + +Ned had already made a discovery that gave him a thrill. He had found +that some of the landmarks set down in the description of the wonderful +mine were right before his eyes, and this fact gave him renewed +confidence in his plan of campaign. The climax must be close _at hand_. +Before many hours had passed by, he would be in a position to know the +truth; whether this affair were a gigantic swindle gotten up and +engineered by the combine, with the idea of loading a worthless property +on Mr. Bosworth; or, actually what it claimed to be--a rich deposit of +copper ore that seemed to lie in vast quantities among the rocks above +the shore of Hudson Bay, and with shipping facilities at the very door +of the proposed mine. + +After all it was Teddy, the explorer, who turned out to be the fortunate +one fated to be the first to glimpse the water. He happened to see a +small opening to one side and ahead, to which he immediately called the +attention of his mates. + +"There's the sun glinting on something out there, boys," was the way he +put it, "that looks mighty like water to me. Yes, you can see it seems +to move up and down, just like we've often seen the ocean do over Long +Island way. How about it, Ned; do I count first blood?" + +"It's the bay, all right, Teddy," remarked the other, quietly, after +giving one look in the direction Teddy was pointing. + +Five minutes later and they stood on the border of the tree line, +staring out over the vast heaving salty sea that they knew must be the +far-famed Hudson Bay. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE MYSTERIOUS BLUR ON THE HORIZON. + + +"I just thought it'd turn out to be a whopper of a yarn!" said Jimmy, +frowning as if grievously disappointed all the same. + +"What's that?" asked Frank. + +"Why, all that tommyrot about the queer old fleet of boats that vanished +right before your eyes, and then bobbed up somewhere else, like a flock +of submarines, or a school of blooming porpoises," returned the +disgusted one. + +At that Jack laughed. + +"Why, it sounds like Jimmy really believed the whole thing," he +remarked; "and has been expecting the mysterious fleet at anchor the +very minute he glimpsed Hudson Bay." + +"But I did expect to hit on something different from this," said Jimmy. +"Somebody, tell me, would you please, what's so remarkable about this +thing? I've seen many a stretch of salt water that looked just like it, +shore line and all." + +"Why not?" observed Ned; "I never thought we'd find Hudson Bay country +any different from other Northern lands. There are the same trees, +moss-covered rocks, peculiar sedge grass, and the like. But don't be so +quick to jump at conclusions, Jimmy. Give me half a chance to take a +look through my field glasses here, and perhaps I can tell you something +interesting." + +With those words Ned unslung the glasses, and adjusted the same to his +eyes. The others of the party, standing there knee-deep in the rank +grass that grew along the border of the woods, watched him with renewed +interest. They even forgot about the wild fowl that were sporting in +flocks out where the waves broke upon a line of rocks, with a subdued +roar. + +Carefully did Ned train his powerful field-glasses on a certain part of +the horizon. Looking in that quarter some of the others began to rub +their eyes. + +"Seems to me there is something there," remarked Frank, straining his +eyes in the endeavor to make sure. + +"It may be a low-lying cloud on the water-line of the horizon," Teddy +added. + +"Anyhow, it's too far away for us to tell with the naked eye," Jack +announced; "and so we'll have to depend on Ned to give us the +information." + +Just then the leader lowered the glasses. + +"Take a look for yourself, Jack," he said; and there was a slight smile +on his face while speaking, that told of a discovery of some sort. + +While Jack was fixing the glasses to suit his needs, for everybody's +eyes are not just alike, Jimmy was trying to make use of his doubled-up +hands in order to help his vision. + +"'Tis meself that believes it's smoke!" he declared, with animation. + +"How about it, Jack?" demanded Teddy. + +The one indicated did not keep them in suspense needlessly. + +"Yes, Jimmy hit the bull's-eye that time," he remarked. + +"Then it _is_ smoke?" queried Frank. + +"Not only that, but I can make out what seem to be a number of small +objects that must be vessels of some sort," Jack went on to say. + +"The disappearing fleet!" gasped Jimmy. + +"Well, they haven't skipped out of sight yet," continued Jack, chuckling +as he handed the glasses over to Frank to have a try. + +In turn all of them took a look, and no one found reason to differ from +what Jack had ventured to declare in the beginning. They were, without +question, looking then and there on the clump of boats about which there +had been so much talk made. Of course, at that distance there was no way +of finding out the character of the several boats, or more than guess at +what they were doing, away out from the shore. + +"Strikes me that it might be some queer sort of mirage, like that you +sometimes see on the sandy desert." Teddy suggested, after he had gazed +intently at the picture for a full minute through the lenses of the +field-glasses. + +"Oh! they have the same sort of deception at sea," declared Jack; "only +sailors call it the _fata morgana_. When you're on the desert, it +generally takes the form of a lovely running stream of water, which +you're crazy to reach and suck up. But the shipwrecked tar always sees +a vessel coming to his relief, which keeps on rushing through the water, +right up over reef and everything and disappears over the island leaving +him broken-hearted at the deception caused by conditions in the +atmosphere." + +Jack knew considerable about these things, for he had been in strange +lands, even before he took to roaming around with Ned, when the latter +entered the employ of the Government Secret Service. + +"All you say is true enough, Jack," the patrol leader told him, "but in +this case it isn't a deception. All of us can see the smoke hanging low +down, that tells of steam vessels of some type out there, possibly +trawlers, fishing. But we didn't enlist in this business intending to +solve any riddles connected with Hudson Bay. I've been told that there +is no place in Northern latitudes where so many strange stories have +originated, as this same big sheet of salt water. Four-fifths of it have +never been fully explored, so that they do not yet know what may be +here." + +Jimmy had been silent while all this talk was going on. But it could be +readily believed that his restless mind was not inactive. He proved this +by suddenly nodding his head, and looking up at Ned in that shrewd way +he had of doing, whenever a particularly brilliant idea appealed to him. + +"Chances are they're a blooming bad lot, that's what," he went on to +say, as if he meant every word of it. "I wouldn't be a bit surprised if +they turned out to be bloody pirates after all." + +"Oh! perhaps Captain Kidd and his men come back to life again, eh, +Jimmy?" suggested Teddy, with a laugh. + +Jimmy turned and gave the speaker a scornful look. + +"Think you're smart to get that off on me, don't you, Teddy?" he +remarked; "but how're you goin' to prove that it ain't even as bad as +that? Don't they say this here fleet comes and goes like ghosts of the +past? Mebbe they are the spirits of Kidd, Blackbeard, Morgan, Lafitte, +and all that gay crowd of buccaneers that flourished in the early days +of our country. Supposin' I said I believed that way, it'd be up to you +to prove me wrong, wouldn't it? Let's see you do it. Call 'em up on the +wireless limited or the telephone and interview the commodore. Bah! +don't be so quick to poke fun at everybody that's got an idea you happen +to think stretched. I'll even say that I've got half a sneakin' notion +that it might be old Kidd himself, come back to see how the pickings are +these fine days." + +When Jimmy showed this fighting disposition the others were generally +careful not to knock the chip off his shoulder. He had acquired habits +when living on the Bowery long ago as a bootblack that could not be +easily shaken off; though any one formerly acquainted with Jimmy would +never have recognized him nowadays. + +"It would be worth coming all the way up here if we could run across +something like that, wouldn't it now?" remarked Jack, trying to look +sober. "Think of how we could take the breath away from the rest of the +troop at home, when we told them of meeting up with a lot of those old +huskies, we've all read about in history. Jimmy's been devouring one of +Clark Russell's stories, '_The Frozen Pirate_,' while on the train +coming through Canada, and that's what makes him think of that crowd. +But as we haven't any boats, and the smoke keeps on hanging miles away, +likely enough we won't get any chance to know what kind of men are +aboard those vessels out yonder." + +"Besides," put in Ned, "we mustn't forget that we've got some serious +business on hand of a different character from looking up pirates. Land +sharks are enough for me to tackle just now. I'm wondering whether we'll +be lucky enough to find where this mine is located near here. Once we +get on the track of that and things are likely to warm up a bit." + +"Then I reckon we'll just have to comb the whole country roundabout, so +as to learn what's what," suggested Jack, always a hard one to give up +anything on which he had set his mind. + +"The sooner we begin that job the better," added Frank, anxious to be +doing something that would count. + +That was the way with these energetic fellows. Whenever they had a +charge committed to their care, they were eager to get it moving. Ned +often had to hold them in check, for fear lest they show too much +ambition. + +He looked around in the endeavor to decide which direction they had +better choose, in order to seek traces of the working which was marked +on the map so plainly. It was given such prominence that one might +easily believe he would find all manner of shafts, sunk, with machinery +throbbing busily, and scores of brawny miners hard at work, bringing out +the rich deposit of copper ore. + +Ned, however, did not deceive himself into such a belief. He had had +some little experience with stories of this type, and knew the vast +difference between the reality and the wonderful things prospective +sellers were apt to mark upon the maps they had prepared. These usually +described things as they might appear in case all went well, and the +mine turned out a splendid success. + +So far as indications went, Ned believed that they would have a better +chance of success, if they turned abruptly to the left and made up the +shore. At least, the character of the rocky country favored this idea. +As far as he could see, it grew more and more inviting, looked at from +the viewpoint of a miner, or a prospector for precious minerals. + +The others were watching him closely. They guessed something of the +nature of what must be passing through Ned's mind, for both Jack and +Teddy followed his gaze up the uneven shore. Jimmy had the glasses +again, and was busily engaged in scrutinizing the blur on the distant +horizon, which all of them had agreed must be smoke hovering close to +the water. Perhaps he half-believed the fanciful suggestion made by +Teddy, with reference to Captain Kidd, and was wildly hoping to discover +some positive sign that would stamp this fairy story with truth. All the +previous adventures that had befallen himself and chums would sink into +utter insignificance, could they go back home and show evidences of +having made such a romantic discovery up there in the Hudson Bay +country. + +"See the feather they say he always wore in his hat, Jimmy?" asked +Frank. + +"Nothing doin' _yet_ that way," replied the other, without allowing even +the ghost of a smile to appear on his freckled face; "so if you please, +we'll let the matter drop for the time bein'. Who knows what may happen +before we get back to New York? 'Tis a great old country, so they say, +for all sorts of queer things to crop up. You needn't be surprised at +anything here, they tell me. And I've made up me mind to take it as it +comes, and not let anything faze me. Put that in your pipe and smoke +it, Teddy." + +"And I'm wondering," mused the one particularly addressed, "what that +ancient but bold explorer, Hendrick Hudson, said when he had sailed all +the way around this great bay, and found that it was after all a +land-locked arm of the sea. When he first entered it, history tells us +he had great hopes that he had found what Columbus was searching for +when he made his western voyage, a way of reaching the East Indies by a +water route. It must have been a keen disappointment when Hendrick had +to turn north, and then east again, always fended off by the land." + +Ned had by now determined that they ought to turn to the left in +continuing the forward movement. He next looked for some landmark, by +means of which on their return that they might know just where they +should plunge into the woods, so as to follow their trail back to where +the precious canoes were secreted. + +As though he found nothing in the arrangement of the shore or the trees +themselves to stamp it different from other places, Ned stooped down and +placed several stones upon each other at the foot of a stunted oak. + +That was an old trick among the scouts. Many such a stone cairn had they +fashioned when playing some game of fox and geese, to serve as a sign to +those who were following in their wake. + +"We ought to see this, and remember that it tells us where we struck the +beach," he explained to his chums, as he rose up again after completing +his work. + +Both guides had been watching what he did with more or less interest. Of +course, they understood that the scouts had learned many of the ways +practiced by woodsmen, for by now the real meaning of the khaki uniforms +worn by the boys had been fully grasped by Francois and the Cree; though +for a long time they had had hard work to understand why Ned and his +chums were not to be looked upon as soldiers. + +"Zere ees nozzing better zan a pile of stones to mark ze way," admitted +the voyageur. "I haf myself used zat many times. But be sure zat you +notice other things besides. It may be, an enemy he move ze stones some +ozzer place, and if zat be so you all get twist up when you try to come +back." + +Ned nodded, as though he had already covered this ground. + +"I had thought of that very same thing, Francois," he said, "and see, +here is where I made a little gash in the trunk of the tree. I expected +to look for that on the return trip. If I failed to find it I should +understand there was something gone wrong." + +"Zat ees well, sare; ze one who gets ze better of you must wake up early +in ze morning, I am think!" he said softly, but in a way that told he +meant every word. + +"So say we all of us," added Jack. + +"Ned generally looks out for snags!" Frank declared. + +"We'd have met up with many a wreck only for his watchfulness," came +from Teddy. + +Jimmy did not like to be left out when there was any exchange of +sentiments. He had a great admiration for the gifts of Ned Nestor, and +wanted every one to understand what his sentiments were. So he started +to open his mouth to say something, when Ned lifted a hand and gave a +low sibilant hiss. + +"'Sh! don't say anything more, but drop down in this grass and lie low; +because I'm sure I heard voices right then, also a husky cigarette +cough. Down it is, boys!" + +He set them a good example by dropping flat and hugging the ground. They +had at the time been standing more than knee deep in lush grass that +grew beyond the woods, and where the salt water never reached, save in +flying spray possibly. All that was necessary, therefore, in order to +conceal themselves, was to fall on their knees and then straighten out +at full length. Even the two guides did this same thing, for they must +have caught the sound of approaching voices at about the same time Ned +Nestor did. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +TWO KINDS OF WOODCRAFT. + + +All of them lay there motionless. Long practice in this trick had made +the boys almost perfect. What they had learned in play when in camp came +into good service under other and more strenuous conditions, as is often +the case. No boy can ever tell when the information he picks up day by +day as a scout may prove a valuable asset, determining some knotty +problem he faces. + +As Ned had said, the sound of voices could be plainly heard now. It came +in the shape of a murmur that differed from the noise of the fretting +sea near by. And no doubt each scout made up his mind that it must be +carried to their ears with the breeze, which, coming from almost behind +them, would indicate that the unknown parties were advancing from that +quarter. + +Louder grew the sounds. Then there was a plain rustling of the +undergrowth; and when Jack cautiously raised his head just a little, he +was enabled to glimpse a trio of men standing there on the border of the +wood, looking seaward. + +Perhaps they, too, had seen the far-distant blur that marked the +position of the mysterious fleet, and were exchanging comments about +it. None of the concealed boys could say as to this, because, while they +could hear the murmur of their heavy voices, it was next to impossible +to make out more than a word here and there. + +One thing pleased Ned very much. When he first noted the direction from +whence these three rough men had come, he feared lest they may have run +upon the trail of his party and were following the same. He now knew +that in so far as this was concerned his fears were without foundation, +and that the strangers did not dream of others being in the near +vicinity. + +One seemed to be the boss of the lot. He was an unusually big man, with +a way of striking his fist into the palm of his other hand that told of +authority. His face was covered with a heavy black beard that gave him a +sinister appearance. Indeed, as Jack admitted to himself, put this man +in some of the queer garments of the old times, when Kidd flourished +along the Atlantic seacoast, and he would make an ideal buccaneer. His +face was cruel, his manner that of a tyrant, and besides he seemed to be +carrying a whole arsenal of weapons around with him. + +Jimmy lay there, with his neck stretched to a fearful extent, for he was +bound to see whatever was going on around him. He was possibly sizing +this giant up, and trying to decide in his own mind, whether the dead +ever do come back to revisit the scenes of their long-past triumphs and +struggles; and if so, could this man with the hair all over his face be +the noted Blackbeard? + +Just then Ned gave a low signal. It was only the chirp of a cricket, and +might pass unnoticed by any one not in the secret; but Jack and the +other three scouts understood what it meant. + +Ned was warning them to be careful and duck their heads again, because +he fancied the men were about to start their way. + +Hardly had the boys flattened themselves out again, than they heard the +crunch of passing footsteps. It was lucky that the three strangers chose +to pass by on the beach, as the walking was better there than close to +the trees. Because of this fact the presence of the concealed +adventurers was not discovered; and to their satisfaction the party +passed by. + +Each scout had gripped his gun, as he shut his jaws hard together, under +the belief that discovery was very close. Had it come they would be +compelled to spring out and try to hold up the trio of desperate looking +characters. Such men will, as a rule, manifest a disposition to fight +"at the drop of the hat;" and Ned, therefore, was just as well satisfied +to see their backs. They were not up there to do any fighting if it +could possibly be avoided. The rules of the organization to which they +belonged positively forbade their seeking trouble along such lines; +though allowing scouts the privilege of defending themselves if +attacked, and there seemed to be no honorable way of escaping without a +fight. + +"What's the next word, governor?" whispered Jimmy, his voice trembling +with the nervous tension. + +The men had by now gone far enough along the beach to prevent any chance +of low conversation being overheard; though Ned kept on the alert all +the while, lest by some mischance there might others come along, who +would take them by surprise. + +"We must follow them up," said Ned, without hesitation. + +"Not out on the open beach, of course, when the woods are handy?" +observed Jack. + +"Move back into shelter, and we'll get busy," the leader told them. + +Stooping so as to run less risk of being seen, in case one of the men +happened to turn his head from any reason, the little party of seven +hardy souls again entered among the trees. + +They did not linger, because the men were making up the shore at a fair +rate of speed, and they did not wish to lose track of them. + +While no one had taken the trouble to ask Ned what his plan of campaign +might be, they saw indications all around to give them a pretty good +idea as to what he hoped to gain by thus following in the wake of the +three strangers. + +The men looked like hard cases, of that all the scouts were determined. +One had the appearance of a miner; a second wore moccasins and was +dressed after the manner of a woodsman, possibly a trapper, Indian +trader, or something in the line of a hunter; while the big man struck +Jack as a logger, or a timber cruiser, one of those spies who roam far +and wide seeking new investments for some lumber company, or else a +chance to steal valuable Government timber that is unwatched. + +In talking matters over the comrades had made up their minds that these +types represented the class of men they might expect to find gathered in +this region, paid by the money of the mine syndicate, and ready to carry +out the will of the swindlers, if such the operators proved to be. + +As before, the guides led the way. Both men had taken a great fancy to +Ned and his lively chums, and in case any trouble developed, as the +result of their venture into this unknown country, Francois and Tamasjo +might be counted on as ready and willing to back the boys up to the +limit. + +They pushed resolutely on, across fallen trees, through tangled +thickets, and even climbing over rocks that lay in the way. The men +ahead knew what they were about in choosing the beach to make their +advance. + +Often partly out of breath, with the effort to keep a certain distance +behind those they were pursuing, the scouts pressed on. Jimmy seemed to +have a harder time than any of the others, but then that was nearly +always the way; for if there was any hole to flounder into, or thorny +thicket to get stuck in, Jimmy could be depended on to do his share of +the adventure. Not that he purposely chose to get mixed up in all these +skirmishes with unpleasant things; but he was one of those unlucky chaps +whose blundering feet so often led him into a peck of troubles. + +It would have taken much more than this to have discouraged Jimmy, +however. He was made of stubborn material. Difficulties played fast and +loose with him, but they never daunted the boy, who would only close +those firm jaws of his more tightly than ever, and say that "after +fifty-nine comes sixty," and if he had to go to twice that number he'd +get there in the end. + +One good thing about all this hustle, was the fact that, as Jimmy found +himself, for the most part in the rear, he could not make any excuse to +start in talking, because he did not dare call out, after what Ned had +said. + +They could hear him muttering savagely to himself every time a root +tripped him up, or he found a swinging vine trying to lift him off his +feet by means of his neck. That was a small matter, because, of course, +Jimmy had to have some way of letting off superfluous steam, and it +really did no harm. + +Ned looked around quite frequently. He did not wish Jimmy to get into +any serious trouble, because, in spite of his weakness for blundering, +the McGraw boy was a faithful companion, who could always be depended on +to stick to his friends, no matter what threatened. And he and Ned had +seen some pretty lively times all told, in times gone by. This +association in peril does more to cement the bonds of real friendship +than anything else known. And that was why Ned wanted Jimmy along on +this trip, also why he kept a wary eye out after the safety of the +other. + +Now and then Francois would step aside. On these occasions they knew he +was making sure that the two men were still going on ahead, and had not +either halted or turned aside into the rocky shore recesses. + +They had kept up this sort of thing for nearly half an hour, and some of +the boys were secretly telling themselves they had about reached the +limit of their endurance, when Francois made motions with his hands to +tell them that some sort of change had occurred since last he took an +observation. + +"Say, they're gone!" muttered Jimmy, coming up just then; and from the +mystified look on his face, one would half believe he thought the men +had taken wings and flown away, or else the ground had opened up and +swallowed them; for a fellow who could put the least shred of faith in +the reincarnation of Captain Kidd, dead for several centuries, would +believe anything, Teddy privately told himself. + +"Did they turn aside and enter the woods, Francois?" questioned Ned, at +the same time holding up a warning finger toward Jimmy, by this means +seeking to remind him they were in no position to enter into any +discussion. + +"Zat iss what zey haf do," replied the French Canadian voyageur, +promptly. + +"You don't think they're lying low to wait for us--that it is a trap?" +continued the patrol leader. + +"Zere iss no reason to zink so," answered Francois. "I do not belief zey +haf see us; and if not, zen why lay trap? But it iss always better to be +sure zat ze road it be clear; so let ze chief heem go on and find +trail." + +It was a good suggestion. None could do that duty quite so well as the +red brother, even though those boys had learned many bright things in +connection with woodcraft, since joining the ranks of the scouts. They +hardly felt like being able to enter into competition with a son of the +forest, who from infancy had been taught in the wide fields of actual +experience what they had of late been learning, partly from crude +theory. + +"Go on ahead, Tamasjo, and find the trail," said Ned to the waiting +Cree. + +"Find same, give blue-jay cry," Tamasjo told them; and it was so rarely +he ever spoke at all, that the other scouts had to smile and nod to each +other; for Jimmy had on one occasion even gone so far as to declare his +belief that the Indian must be a genuine "dummy" and unable to +articulate at all, which, of course, was not true. + +They waited for him there, being in no particular hurry. If the trail of +the three men could be picked up that was all they wanted. They could +hardly have ventured to keep on the heels of those men through the +woods, where sounds might be carried to their ears that would put them +on the alert, and bring about a sudden climax, perhaps a battle royal. + +The Cree vanished from their sight. So silently did he go that +afterwards the scouts exchanged views concerning the way in which he had +done it; nor could they fully understand how he could move deftly along, +without making the least sound. + +But Tamasjo had been born and bred in the woods, and did not have to +overcome the barriers that civilization hampers its votaries with. He +had learned all he knew from watching the creeping wildcat leap upon its +prey; or else observing how the hungry wolf followed the wounded deer +over hill and through valley. + +He had not been gone more than five minutes, when they plainly heard the +angry discordant note of the blue-jay. + +"That means everything is lovely, and the goose hangs high," muttered +Jimmy, not daring to speak much above a whisper, while he saw Ned +keeping a wary eye in his direction. + +The leader at once gave the signal for an immediate advance, and the +entire party started off. Even then, Ned and Francois, possibly Jack +also, turned from side to side, determined that they should not be taken +by surprise through any shrewd trick played by the men they had been +tracking. + +Upon coming up with the dusky son of the Northern forests, they were +assured by him in a breath that all was well, and that the strangers had +swung directly into the woods, following what seemed to be a well-beaten +trail. This told the story, and went far to convince Ned that they had +nothing to fear just then through discovery by these parties. + +So the Indian, backed by the other guide, was put on the trail. The boys +could have followed this with utmost ease, and even Jimmy would have +found little real trouble in keeping to that broad track. + +Every once in so often, Tamasjo would stop, to get down close to the +ground. His actions excited the deepest curiosity of Jimmy, who, +pulling Ned's head close down to his own lips, asked softly: + +"Now, what in the mischief is the feller doin' when he stoops low like +that? If you asked me, I'd say he was smellin' of the tracks of the +three men; but since when was a heathen Injun given a scent like a +hound, tell me, Ned." + +"If you watch closer, Jimmy," replied the other scout, "you'll see that +each time he bends down he is watching some blade of grass spring back +to place; or else a small root that has been pressed down under the foot +of that giant righting itself again. He can read those signs like a +book. They tell him accurately just how long ago the foot pressed that +root or blade of grass down. And so he knows what time has elapsed since +the enemy passed along here." + +"Gee! it would take me a week to learn that sort of readin' signs," +Jimmy confessed; and Teddy, who was close enough to catch all that +passed, snickered as he muttered, as though talking to himself: + +"A week? Just one little stretch of seven days? Huh! you mean a year, +rather." + +Winding in and out in this way, the party bore deeper into the woods. +The trail led among the rocks that were now piled up on every hand. Ned, +on hastily examining some of these he passed, was forced to admit that +at least they bore all the "ear-marks" of containing copper. If the +syndicate had engineered a big swindle, at least, they must be given +credit for picking out a likely site for a mine. + +But there was Tamasjo pointing ahead, and giving his young employer to +understand that they had arrived at the end of the broad trail leading +from the shore of Hudson Bay into this wild stretch of rocky territory. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +"SALTING" THE MINE. + + +The Cree Indian showed by his manner that there was need of great care +in advancing any further. When the boys came creeping up to where he +crouched, they understood the meaning of his gestures of warning. + +Smoke was rising, and they could see a number of dingy tents grouped in +a depression among the rocks. Evidently it was a camp of some sort, +though just then besides the three men they had tracked there hardly +seemed to be anybody around. + +It was plain enough to Ned why this should be so, for he remembered +about the dozen men who had spent the preceding night at the river camp, +waiting for the coming of the canoes with the explorers. Those parties +undoubtedly belonged here, and were even now in hiding further down the +river, intending to play some prearranged scheme, with the idea of +either frightening the scouts off, or else hoodwinking the investigators +in some fashion. + +"Ginger! but that was a good move of yours, Ned, to think of quitting +the boats and coming across lots to find the old mine," said Frank, in +a voice that could not be heard ten feet away. + +The miners' camp was located on a brawling stream that came noisily down +the rough face of the rocks. This created more or less racket, so that +there was small danger of any hostile ears discovering the intruders +through any sound they were likely to make. + +"I second the motion," added Jack. "Think how neat we left the crowd in +the lurch, and now we've found where the opening of this wonderful mine +is, we can take a look in, while the bunch is waiting for us to drop +down the river." + +"That's what I meant to do when I started on this flank movement," Ned +assured them. "And I only hope we'll be able to learn all we want, +before the main lot make a change of base. It wouldn't be nice to have +them come tumbling in on us while we were inside the workings--if there +_is_ any hole in the ground at all." + +"I reckon we'll find there is, all right," said Jack, confidently. + +"Why d'ye say that, Jack?" asked Jimmy, who never allowed an opportunity +to quiz his chums pass by unimproved. + +"Because I can see where a heap of rock has been dumped down a slide, so +chances are they've been doing some little work up here, enough to make +a showing, in case a party is sent up to investigate before buying +shares," was what Jack explained. + +"You're right there," admitted Teddy, as he took another look toward the +side of the rocky hill close to the tent colony; "and after they'd +opened up the mine, it wouldn't be a hard job to shoot it, I should +think." + +"What's that, shoot the mine, do you say?" asked Jimmy. + +"Oh! that's only a term they use in mining countries when dishonest men +want to salt a mine, so as to deceive a prospective customer. Some say +they shoot gold or copper ore into crevices, where it will be taken out +later and shown." + +At this point Ned gave them to understand that it was no time to enter +into any discussion concerning the methods of conducting frauds in +mining. They had work before them, and had better be about it without +any more delay, since there could be no telling at what time the absent +men might show up. Once they returned to the camp, of course, the +chances of the scouts accomplishing much began to dwindle enormously. + +From where they lay, screened by some thin brush, the scouts were able +to observe the ground, and Ned could form his plan of campaign. He never +wasted much time when his hand had been placed to the plow. Following +the line of loose rock that had undoubtedly been carried out of some +working in the hillside, he believed he could settle on the exact +position of the opening. + +They would have to make a detour and approach from above. Here it was to +be hoped they would find enough cover to enable them to make what Jimmy +called a "grand sneak" into the mouth of the mine. + +In as few words as possible Ned explained this to the others, as they +clustered around him, hanging upon his every word. Jimmy could hardly be +restrained from hurrying off at once, so anxious did he seem to get +started. But when Ned took hold of his assistant's arm, and gave him one +of those looks which Jimmy knew so well, the little fellow subsided +immediately. + +"Oh! I'm on to the curves, all right, Ned, sure I am," he hastened to +mutter. "I want to scratch gravel as soon as anybody else, but I'm not +going to get off my base while the other feller's got the ball, not +much. My place is to follow wherever _you_ lead; and I understand my +business too, believe me." + +They crawled back some little distance, until there seemed to be a good +chance to climb the hillside without being discovered. Now and then the +Indian, who led the column again, would pause to take his bearings, and +cast a quick, apprehensive look all around him. Plainly, Tamasjo did not +mean to forfeit the confidence which he knew the young white commander +placed in his ability as a cautious guide. + +When they had gone far enough along the side of the rough hill, made up +for the most part of rocks that the Cree led them around as a rule, +rather than to attempt to scale them at the risk of being seen, they +once more changed their course, and headed to strike the place where all +that loose stone had come from. + +A signal from Ned caused the other four scouts to take particular notice +of what they were coming to. It was certainly a black opening among the +rocks, with all the signs of a mine before it, even to some discarded +picks and shovels lying in confusion close by. + +They could just see the tent colony below. Some of the boys were anxious +to get inside that opening, so as to find out what its secret might be; +Ned, however, did not wholly like the looks of things. + +"I wish I knew where those three men had gone," he muttered so that Jack +heard, and looked at him inquiringly. + +"Why, what's gone wrong now?" he inquired. + +"Those men we tracked here have disappeared since we started to pass +around the camp," said the other. "I've been looking to get a glimpse of +them, and so far without any success." + +"H'm! so much the better," whispered Jimmy, who was, of course, hovering +near, anxious to know everything that was going on. "I must say I +didn't like their looks, and particularly old Blackbeard. He had an iron +jaw and a scowl that would send a cold chill to your heart. Oh! if +they've gone away, let's laugh in our sleeves. I'd call it a good +riddance of very bad rubbish." + +"And so far as I'm concerned," added Frank, "I wouldn't drop a single +tear if the whole shooting match of rascals dropped into Hudson Bay, and +couldn't swim a stroke." + +"What's to pay, Ned?" persisted Jack, who knew that the other would not +feel the way he did without some good cause. + +"It's only this," continued the leader of the explorers, "we're bound to +enter the mine, now that we've come so many hundred miles, just to find +out the truth. Well, if those men are in there working, we stand a +chance of running across the lot, and that would spell trouble, you +know." + +"For them, yes," remarked Jimmy, as he fondled the repeating rifle he +was carrying so proudly. + +"Well," admitted Jack, "seems to me that we'll have to take the chances. +We certainly don't mean to throw up the sponge, when we're so near the +end of the race." + +"I should say not!" breathed Teddy, who had considerable pugnacity in +his makeup, although not really what you would call a fighter, like +Jimmy. + +"What's the use hanging around here, when that black opening invites us +to come on in?" Jimmy wanted to know. + +"We'd better carry out our scheme, and trust to luck to see us through," +Frank gave as his opinion. + +Ned saw that all of his chums were apparently of one mind. Really, he +himself had not the least idea of backing down; his only thought had +been to consider what they were likely to run across, so as to be +prepared, like true scouts. + +"You are all right," he observed, "and while we don't want to run up +against any new trouble, we mustn't let that stand in our way. Francois, +you and the chief lead off. And remember, everybody, to get down low +enough, so that you can't see a single tent. That's the only way to make +sure that some one in their camp won't see us." + +Jimmy nodded his head, as if pleased that they did not mean to back +down; though he should have known Ned better than to suspect the other +of timidity. + +The two guides started for the opening, with the rest trailing after +them, so that the column looked very much like a long snake in motion. + +Of course, every fellow felt his nerves on edge with apprehension. It +was impossible to foretell what might happen. For all they knew, the +three men may have suspected that they had been followed, and were now +laying a clever trap, in order to take the explorers off their guard. + +As they drew closer to the yawning mouth of the mine among the rocks, +Jimmy fancied that he saw a slight movement there. He could not make +sure, nor did he find it possible to prove his suspicion, and on this +account dared not try to attract the attention of Ned. + +Perhaps, after all it was only some loose stone falling, or a small +animal brushing past, that had caught his eye. While Jimmy thus +reassured his rapidly beating heart, and gripped his gun with feverish +zeal; at the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief after they had +really gained the shelter of the grim opening, and there was no wild +crash of guns, or hoarse demand for their surrender, with threats of +terrible consequences in case of refusal. + +And now they were sheltered by the mouth of the mine, so that they felt +more confident of being able to take care of themselves, in case +anything violent came to pass. + +Ned, always on the alert to notice things, saw at once that the opening +was partly natural. It looked as though the men who claimed to have made +this wonderful discovery of rich copper-bearing quartz had also found a +fissure in the rocks splendidly fitted for their purposes, since it +allowed them to pass far into the side of the hill before they were +compelled to blast and hew passages. + +So much for a starter, Ned thought. He was taking note of all such +things, thinking to incorporate them in his report. Although they might +seem trifling in a way, he realized that they would have considerable +bearing in settling the matter with Mr. Bosworth, and those associated +with him in the big company that proposed to purchase a controlling +interest in these new mines, should the report seem favorable. + +The next thing was to pass into the mine. + +Ned had come well prepared for this venture. Just as he and his chums +carried guns with which to defend themselves in case of an attack--just +as he had produced field-glasses when they were sorely needed--in the +same way the scouts now had a clever means at hand for lighting their +road, once they left the sunlight behind them. + +Not only Ned, but every one of the five, produced a splendid little +pocket searchlight. Extra batteries were also carried, so that they need +not worry over the possibility of the power giving out at a critical +moment. + +The two guides were evidently well pleased when they saw this display of +illumination; though they must have known something about it before +then. Ned concluded that there was really no need of so much light, +which would only add to the danger of discovery. One light, or two at +most, would give them ample means for seeing the way, and avoiding any +pitfalls. + +Accordingly he asked the others to shut off their batteries and follow +him. Now that the guides had done their part in bringing the party into +the mine, Ned meant to resume his natural place in the van, as the +leader of the expedition. + +As they moved along it was seen that very little labor had been required +thus far to make an opening quite large enough for all practical +purposes. The mass of rock that lay in the dump outside was probably ore +that showed signs of being valuable. It was intended to impress any one +with an exalted idea of the fabulous richness of the discovery, and had +doubtless been well planted for that purpose. + +Ned stopped every little while to examine the walls close by. He was +looking for signs of unusual wealth, because the company owning the mine +had declared in no uncertain way that even the sides of the passages +were rich, beyond all conception, in copper. + +His examinations thus far did not justify such extravagant terms of +description. There were to be sure signs of the mineral in the rock, and +possibly in quantities that might have paid for mining under ordinary +conditions; but when the vast distance from civilization was taken into +consideration, there would be nothing in the business, unless ore at +least three times more sustaining were shown. + +More and more was Ned coming to the conclusion that the affair was a +gigantic swindle, and that the company which Mr. Bosworth headed was in +for a grand plucking, unless warned in time. These men were playing for +high stakes, and squandering lots of money, fully expecting to recoup +themselves a dozen times. + +The boys had been moving along in this leisurely fashion for possibly +five minutes, and so far nothing had occurred to break the monotony. Ned +had even begun to fancy that the inspection of the wonderful copper lode +was going to be an easy matter when, as they started to turn a bend in +the passage, he made a discovery that caused him to instantly press the +button of his hand electric light, causing darkness to instantly +surround them. + +This gave them an opportunity for observing the movements of several men +who by the light of lanterns seemed to be busily working a short +distance ahead. + +Even though the illumination did not seem very good, all of the scouts +could see that these were the trio of miners whom they had tracked from +the shore of the bay. + +"Whatever are they doing, Ned?" whispered the irrepressible Jimmy, +apparently greatly perplexed by the strange actions of the men who, +unconscious of the fact that they were being watched, continued their +labors. + +"They are hurrying to do just what I said they might," Ned replied, also +in the lowest of tones. "Perhaps the order has gone out to get things +ready for us, in case we managed to slip by the river guard and arrived +here unexpectedly. In other words, Jimmy, they are salting the mine with +rich copper ore!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +SCOUT TACTICS. + + +"Gee! that ought to settle the business!" breathed Jimmy, as he +continued to stare at the three workers. + +These men seemed as busy as beavers, passing from crevice to crevice, +and managing in some way to insert what were very likely pieces of rich +copper ore, brought from some distant and well-known mine, for the +purpose of deceiving any one sent up to inspect this new venture. + +Ned himself felt that he could have no better evidence of fraud than was +exhibited in the actions of these laborers. He knew that if this scene +was incorporated in his report, it would sound the doom of the intended +big deal, whereby a million, perhaps many of them, was to pass into the +hands of the swindlers. + +And knowing this, Ned was also aware of the fact that should the +employees of the company running the game learn that the scouts had +actually been inside the mine, and watched its being so beautifully +"salted," they would realize that desperate tactics must be employed in +order to silence the spies. + +That might mean either their speedy dispatch, or being kept prisoners +in that region so far away from civilization until the deal had been put +through, and the vast amount of cash changed hands. + +He could easily enough imagine these desperate scoundrels making him +sign a glowing report declaring that the property was fabulously rich. +Plainly, then, it would be greatly to the advantage of the scouts to get +out of the mine without being discovered. + +"Well, do we go on and see what the fellows have to say for themselves?" +asked Frank, chafing under the delay. + +"If we have to do that, please let me take care of old Blackbeard, Ned," +urged Jimmy, who seemed to have taken an especial dislike toward the +giant, whom he had been comparing with the old-time pirate. + +"We'll back out!" said Ned, shortly. + +"Seem to have seen enough, eh?" Jack whispered, with a little vein of +disappointment back of his words, just as though he had really been +hoping they might see some lively action, while up in this "neck of the +woods." + +"When your father learns about this job, he'll want to throw up his +hands and wash them of the whole business," the other assured him. + +"Then it's no use going deeper," admitted Jack. + +Of course, all this conversation was carried on very cautiously. No one +dared to raise his voice above the softest sort of whisper; and usually +spoke directly into the ear of the chum he wanted to address. On this +account, the workers not far away did not suspect the presence of +interlopers, or that their actions were being carefully noted. + +Ned managed to let the two guides know that it was now up to the party +to execute a masterly retreat. If they could quit the mine as easily as +they had entered, it would be a big feather in their caps. + +All of them were immediately in motion, and after the bend in the +passage had been negotiated they could once more use a light. As before, +Ned brought his means of illumination into service, and guided by the +soft white glow ahead, that showed up all inequalities of the path, they +set out for the exit. + +They had gone perhaps half-way, when Ned stopped to listen. All of them +could hear what had come to his ears. Shouts without were sounding the +alarm. Plainly, something must have occurred to excite the few who had +been in the tented settlement. Perhaps after all some one witnessed +their entrance to the mine, and had hurried to the camp with the news. +There were two or three men there, as Ned had noted before; and these +were now trying to communicate their discovery to the three miners +engaged in "salting" the works. + +There seemed to be only one course open to the scouts, and this was to +make all haste possible to attain the exit. Here, they might sally +forth, and by taking advantage of the confusion cause the few guards to +disperse, by firing a volley over their heads. + +This plan flashed into the head of the young leader of the explorers, as +he listened to the shouts that were ringing forth. + +"Hurry along, fellows!" he urged his companions, knowing only too well +the value of prompt action in a case like this. "We must rush the +opening, and scatter that howling bunch like wolves. Shoot to frighten, +then if that doesn't work, try to cut them in the legs. Understand?" + +They all answered in the affirmative, even Jimmy showing that he had +caught the idea. And bent upon carrying it out, without the loss of even +a second, the party pressed forward eagerly. + +Just for another minute, and then they met with a sudden surprise, that +came as unexpectedly as lightning might from a clear sky. + +As though some giant hand had brushed them all over into a heap, so the +five scouts and their two husky guides were sent headlong to the rocks, +some of them receiving bumps that would prove more or less painful later +on. + +There was no mystery about the matter, because accompanying their upset +had come a loud explosion that sounded doubly severe to them, since they +were underground. + +Plainly the conspirators had looked far enough ahead to make ready to +entomb any prowling visitors who might succeed in gaining access to the +mine, and learn something of its secrets. They had a charge of blasting +powder, or possibly a dynamite cartridge, placed so that it could be +fired with ease. + +"Wow!" exclaimed Jimmy, struggling half erect, "who hit me with that +brick?" + +"What happened, Ned?" asked Teddy, almost dazed from the way his head +had collided with a hard rock, causing him to see about a million +flashing stars in that one second of time. + +"They've fired some sort of explosive, to seal up the exit of the mine!" +broke from Jack, who was quick to guess the appalling truth. + +"Then we're shut up here like rats in a trap, is that it?" persisted +Jimmy, now so astonished that he even forgot to rub the back of his head +where the seat of the pain seemed to be located. + +"I don't know," said Ned, "but we can soon settle that by pushing on." + +"What if another bomb lets go?" Teddy inquired. + +"Small danger of that happening," the leader assured him; "but anyhow +we'll have to take the chances. Come along, everybody!" + +That was Ned's way of doing things, and proved him to be the right type +of leader, capable of winning the respect of his patrol. Seldom had any +of the scouts heard him tell them to "go on" when there was a spice of +peril in the air. + +They were not long in finding out the dismal truth. Indeed, as they +advanced along the tortuous passage, the air became more and more foul +with the odor of burnt powder. And, finally, the light from the several +electric hand-torches disclosed the presence ahead of a mass of fallen +rock and dirt that effectually filled the narrow passage. + +The boys stared at the barrier in more or less dismay. It effectually +cut them off from making their exit, and so far as they knew there was +no other means of leaving the mine. + +Jimmy started in to lifting several of the rocks and tossing them aside. +With his customary zeal, he fancied that if they all got to work they +might in a short time bore through the barrier. + +"Be careful there!" warned Jack, as the action of the "busy bee" +dislodged several other masses of rock, and Jimmy had a narrow escape +from being crushed. + +"Yes," added Ned, hastily, "better leave that alone for the present, +Jimmy. For every pound you take away three will drop down, because you +can see how the shock has loosened everything above you." + +"But my stars! we ain't goin' to stand for being sealed up here like a +lot of old mummies, are we?" gasped Jimmy. "Why, whatever would we do +for grub; and then a feller wants to have a fresh drink every once in a +while? Ned, we've just _got_ to break out of this!" + +"You bet we do!" added Frank, who did not like the bitter prospect any +more than the one who was putting up such a savage protest. + +"Tell me, how you're going to do it then," said Teddy. + +Neither of the scouts answered. The fact of the matter was that while +they were so vehement in their declaration not to stand, they did not +have the least idea how the trouble might be remedied. + +As usually happened, it became more and more evident that they must +depend on Ned to lead them out of the wilderness. Instead of talking he +had been doing some hard thinking; and was now able to suggest a plan. + +"I don't know whether there can be anything in it boys," Ned started in +to say, "but it seems queer that they should shut their companions up in +here with us, if there wasn't some other means for escaping. Our plan +then is to hurry back, and try to get in touch with that giant and his +bunch. By now they'll have taken warning, and be hustling for the open +air." + +"Whee! then we'd better be on the jump," Jimmy jerked out. + +All of them saw the necessity for prompt action. Now that Ned had +suggested such a possibility they could understand how it might be just +as he said. And if those toilers were already making in hot haste for +the second exit, the sooner the scouts got close in touch with them the +better. + +They had already been over this ground two times, so that they should +know it fairly by now. Every fellow had his electric light in service, +gripping it in one hand, while his gun was held in the other. + +In this fashion, then, they reached the bend around which they had +peered at the trio of industrious "salt" workers. + +All was as black as a pocket there now. + +"Why, they're gone!" burst out Jimmy, just as though he had an idea the +miners, after hearing the horrible crash of the explosion, would be kind +enough to linger there, so as to show the intruders the back door of the +mine. + +"Keep right on going," said Ned, "we've got to overtake them, if we can +do it." + +"Guess, that'll save more or less trouble in the end," admitted Jack; +while Teddy and Frank were heard to mutter their approval of the +scheme. + +Indeed, it was a rare occurrence for any of the scouts to radically +differ from their leader. Somehow, Ned Nestor seemed capable of judging +things just right, and these comrades tried and true had come to rely on +his way of looking at the solving of knotty problems as well nigh +perfect. + +They passed the place where the men had been working. Perhaps some of +the lads might have been glad of a chance to stop and see how this +clever trick of making a mine appear ten times more valuable than it +really was, could be carried out; but there was no time for delay now. + +On they rushed. + +The channel seemed to be so fashioned up to now that they were not +compelled to make any choice between rival passages. There had been no +such thing as going astray. But shortly afterwards they came to a fork, +where a second fissure gaped before them. + +Now came the question, which way had the three men gone in order to +reach the friendly exit they were acquainted with? Jimmy would have +perhaps thrown up a copper cent and trusted to "heads or tails" to +settle the matter for him; but this was not the happy-go-lucky way Ned +had of deciding. + +Of course, it would have been an easy thing for him to have settled in +his mind which way the workings of the mine lay. All that was necessary +was to look and see which passage showed many marks of loads of ore +having been carried along it, portions of which had fallen from the +wheel-barrows. + +But this would not tell them whether the men had fled by that passage or +along the other one. Just then they were bent on chasing after the three +miners, and not hunting for the spot from which ore had been taken. + +Ned had an idea. These usually came to him like flashes of light, and +might almost be called happy inspirations. + +He remembered that just after the tremendous crash several of the boys +had been half choked by the cloud of dust in the air. He himself had had +some difficulty in breathing, and refraining with an effort from +coughing. That gave him the thought upon which he hastened to act; and +it was here that his Boy Scout training stood him in good stead. + +Immediately bending down he held his electric torch to the flat rock +that constituted the floor of the passage where it forked, and just as +he suspected would be the case, he discovered that a very thin layer of +dust had covered the place after the explosion. + +While there was not much of this, at the same time, it would allow a +pair of keen eyes to discover footprints, providing they had been made +_after_ the layer had settled. + +Ned's chums watched his every move almost breathlessly. They immediately +understood what he expected to do, and while not very sanguine of +success, still they hoped for the best. + +They saw Ned start to move slowly along. He continued to hold his light +close to the rock, and waved it slightly from side to side, as though +bent on covering as much ground as possible. But the fact that he did +advance showed them that he must be meeting with some success. + +Another step did Ned take, then a third and a fourth. The boys began to +breathe freely again, for hope had once more taken root in their +breasts. They saw that he was showing confidence, as though he had no +longer any doubt of his ability to decide the enigma. + +Even Jimmy remembered reading about the visit of the Queen of Sheba to +the wise Solomon, when he ruled as king, bearing a wreath of natural +flowers in one hand and another that was artificial, but so skilfully +done that no eye could detect the difference, and then asked him to +decide. The wise king had simply ordered a window to be opened, and a +lot of bees, searching for honey, soon settled on the right flowers. + +That was the commonsense way in which Ned Nestor usually settled knotty +problems. + +"The trail in the dust runs along the smaller passage, that does not +lead to the worked part of the mine," he said; "and so it's up to us to +hustle after the three men. So come on boys, and let's hope we get to +the open air soon!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A SUCCESSFUL SORTIE. + + +The success which had attended Ned's efforts thus far encouraged the +scouts very much indeed. Little things often carry considerable weight, +especially when boys are concerned. Besides, there are times when even a +thistle down will point to the way the wind is blowing. And a small +success spelled greater things in store for them. + +Accordingly, they all hurried as fast as the conditions would allow. +Fortunately, there were few obstructions in the way to give them cause +for trouble. Here and there they discovered a slight fissure, in which +Ned warned them to be careful not to catch a foot, lest they get a bad +wrench that might even amount to a sprain. + +Once or twice Ned thought it best to make doubly sure by halting long +enough to lower his light, and take another quick look at the floor. +What he saw appeared to encourage him greatly; at least the other scouts +knew when he once more continued the forward progress, that it was all +right. + +And it may be easily believed that the two experienced guides had +watched all these goings-on with considerable curiosity, as well as +satisfaction. It was in a line with their practical woods education, so +that they could appreciate what Ned set out to accomplish. + +The Indian had grunted his approval as soon as he saw the boy get down +on his knees to look for a trail in the slight layer of dust; while +Francois could have been heard chuckling to himself at a great rate, +showing how tickled he felt over the smartness of the patrol leader. + +"Say, don't you feel something like a breath of fresh air?" asked Jimmy, +when they had been pushing along for several minutes in this rapid +manner. + +"Yes, you're right about that," admitted Jack. + +"Oh, I felt it before Jimmy said a single word," Teddy remarked. "I was +sucking it in for all I was worth, because after that dust got to going, +it's been hard to breathe at all." + +"Must be the outlet, don't you think, Ned?" questioned Frank. + +"We'll all hope so," came the reply from the leader. + +"P'raps the three men may be hanging around meaning to keep us from +rushing the exit, if we happen to come along that way?" Jimmy next +advanced; for his mind was so fashioned that he could think of more +objections in a minute than would occur to any one else in an hour. + +"Well, they'll wish they had'nt, then," said Jack, belligerently. "All +told, we're seven against three; and what with our guns, we ought to put +up a pretty stiff sort of a battle." + +"Well, I guess so," grunted Jimmy, immediately appeased by the prospect +of action, which always satisfied a certain longing in his soul; for +doubtless the ancestors of the Irish boy had once fought at Donnybrook +Fair in the Old Country. + +The atmosphere certainly grew fresher as they continued to push forward. +This fact told them they must be approaching an opening where the outer +air managed to gain ingress to the fissure. + +Then they noticed that it was no longer so intensely dark as it had +heretofore been. Ned concluded that it would be policy for them to +lessen the illumination they were making with their torches. + +"Shut off your light, Jimmy, Teddy and Frank," he told them. + +Nobody asked why this must be done. They had learned the lesson of +implicit obedience to those in authority, as every scout has to do +before he can qualify for any honors, or medals, or rise from being a +tenderfoot to the place of a second or first-class scout. + +Indeed, doubtless, most of the boys guessed the answer as soon as Ned +gave the order, for they were a quick-witted lot. They could reason it +out that the less illumination they caused, the more chance for them to +attain their end, which was to burst out of the back door of the mine, +and make their escape. + +"I see it!" Jack exclaimed, as he caught sight of a dazzling mark ahead, +which must be the sunlight shining beyond the black tunnel or fissure. + +The prospect of a speedy release cheered them wonderfully. It served to +even quicken their steps, though they had already been making fair +progress. + +"Only one thing to bother about now, eh, Ned?" Frank asked. + +"That's all," came the terse reply, for Ned was busily engaged keeping +his eyes fixed on the opening, that was gradually growing wider, and +possibly trying to make up his mind what chance there was of finding it +unguarded. + +"If those three huskies are waiting beyond, ready to give us a volley +when we poke our noses out, we'll have a battle royal on our hands, let +me tell you," Teddy announced as his opinion. + +There was nothing new in that, for all the others had guessed the same +thing, before he spoke. At the same time it caused them to clutch +their weapons with more determination than ever, after Teddy had voiced +their sentiments in this way. They were now so near the exit that Ned +first asked Jack to "douse his glim," and shortly afterwards followed +suit himself. + +There was no further necessity for artificial light, since enough of the +natural kind sifted in through that opening. + +Ned gave a word of caution just then. + +"Carefully, now!" + +They fairly crept up to the gap in the rocks, and looked out. It was +possible to see for some little distance beyond the opening. They saw +bushes, and piled-up rocks in abundance, behind which there might be +enemies hiding. + +Ned turned to Francois. + +"Find out if there is anybody waiting there, Francois!" he simply said, +knowing that the other was perfectly capable of doing what he was told. + +It pleased the old voyageur to be called upon in a crisis. He +immediately crept forward on hands and knees. They saw him take his +slouch hat from his head and fix it on the end of his gun barrel; after +which he thrust it forward until it was in plain sight without the exit +of the mine. + +A prompt response met this challenge. They heard the sudden spiteful +crack of a gun, but as Ned had cautioned them to seek shelter behind +various outcropping spurs of rock, no damage was done. + +"Gee! it knocked Francois' hat off all right, believe me!" exclaimed +Jimmy, after he had raised his head cautiously, much as a turtle would +have done. + +The guide made no effort to recover his headgear. He had instantly +looked out after the shot came, as meaning to learn where the marksman +was located, so that he could return the compliment of his fire. + +A puff of gray smoke told him this fact, and without even waiting for +orders Francois leveled his own gun and blazed away. + +"Oh! listen to that, would you?" cried Jimmy, as they heard a bellow of +mingled pain and rage break forth from the thicket into which the bullet +from the voyageur's rifle had sped like a flash. + +"Down again, mebbe more shoot!" the Cree guide was heard to call out; +and _apparently_ he read the signs correctly, for hardly had the scouts +"ducked" once more than there was a crash of two guns, telling that the +entire force of the enemy must be opposed to them. + +This time Jimmy could not be restrained. He had been fairly burning to +get in some active work, and without even waiting for orders, he began +to rattle off the shots from his repeating gun, in rapid-fire style. + +He had taken pattern from the method adopted by Francois, and sent his +lead in the direction where he saw wreaths of smoke curling forth. Teddy +and Frank also felt savage enough at being fired on without warning to +give back a single shot apiece, but the other two held their +ammunition. + +If they meant to rush the exit now was the time to do it, Ned knew. It +would be folly to wait until the enemy had recovered from the confusion +into which they may have been thrown by this volley. + +"Now, charge, and scatter all you can; so as to keep from being hit!" +called out Ned, as he sprang for the opening. + +They burst out with a cheer, as though under the impression that in this +way it might be possible to send further dismay into the hearts of the +three men who had, of course, been compelled to either fly, or else lie +low while the shooting was going on. + +There were a couple of shots, but sent in under such conditions that +they failed to find a billet, and were wasted. Those who fired were +possibly more concerned about their own safety just then, than the +chances of cutting down any of the exploring party. + +Led by Ned, they swept over the open space and plunged into the +wilderness of rocks and scraggy brush beyond. One look the patrol leader +gave, after they found themselves in the shelter of the screening +bushes. + +"Anybody hit?" he asked, anxiously. + +"Don't know for sure," spoke up Frank, "but something seemed to burn my +leg, at the time they fired; and, by George! look what happened to my +fine kahki trousers, would you?" + +He pointed to a tear that could be plainly seen, showing where a bullet +had gashed the tough material in passing. + +"Sure you're not badly hurt, Frank?" asked Jack, solicitously. + +"Hardly brought blood!" declared the wounded scout, with a tinge of +delight in his voice, for it was worth while to know that you had been +touched by a bullet, and even have the evidence to show for it, without +any painful consequences to follow. + +"Lucky feller!" said Jimmy, somewhat jealous of the honor this was going +to bestow upon the other, when the story of the raid was told later on. + +"But we mustn't stay here," Ned told them. "Keep your eyes all around, +and if you are sure you glimpse anybody following after us, give him +your compliments; only remember that you're scouts, and make it as easy +as you can for the poor wretch." + +"He won't know it if I hit him!" Jimmy went on to say; nor did anybody +stop to ask him to explain more fully what he meant. + +The fact that they were leaving the mine for good did not seem to cause +any of the party the least distress of mind. They had come and looked it +over, and Ned had learned all he wanted, in order to make a +comprehensive report. The sooner they left the vicinity, the better all +of them would be pleased. + +To reach their canoes again, they would have to cover considerable +ground; and that caused Jimmy to wince, for he was not reckoned as good +a walker as most of his mates. + +Secretly, he was hoping that some other plan might appeal to Ned, such +as hiding their trail, and resting up in some snug retreat over night, +when they would be in good shape to complete the journey in the morning. + +It was now a question as to just how they were to conduct their retreat +so as to avoid the risk of being pelted with bullets by the three +miners, reinforced by any others who may have been in the tent village. + +Ned was only too glad to leave this pretty much in the hands of +Francois, whose practical experience was worth much more than any theory +that could be studied out of scout books. + +The French Canadian voyageur quickly understood what was expected of +him, after he had received the signal. Although the boys had been in his +company for weeks now, they had never seen him so alert and active. He +seemed to be watching every angle of the compass at the same moment, and +twice raised his gun and fired backward, as though he had discovered +some lurking foe. + +That this was far from imagination they saw when the second shot came; +for hardly had it echoed through the hills than a form was seen to rush +into view, and a man in rough clothes flashed across an open space, +holding to his left arm, as though he might have received the guide's +lead in that shoulder. + +"You pinked him, Francois, sure you did that time!" cried Jimmy +excitedly; "don't I just wish I had your quick eyes, though? I didn't +see a single thing moving up there; but you did, Francois. Old Eagle Eye +I'm going to call you after this. Oh! why don't one of 'em step out, and +let me take a snapshot at him?" + +It seemed as though the others were not that obliging, for while several +shots were fired, without doing the explorers any damage, Jimmy could +see nothing of the men who used their guns. He, finally, being unable to +stand it any longer, sent a couple of shots at the spot where he saw +smoke rising, after another fusilade had come. + +"Guess I'm on the blink when it comes to sharpshooting," bemoaned Jimmy; +"why, at this rate, I'll never get the stock of my trusty rifle covered +with notches, to show the number of ferocious pirates I've bowled over. +It's a measly shame, that's all." + +At any rate, they seemed to be making a successful "getaway," as Jack +called it; because they were gradually leaving these hidden marksmen +further and further behind. The next shot showed that the handler of the +gun was quite some distance away. He must have taken more pains to aim, +however, than up to now had been the case, for immediately the "ping" of +the bullet was plainly heard as it winged its flight only a short +distance above their heads, flattening out against the face of the rock +beyond. + +This thing of being under fire was no new experience with these scouts. +They had on several occasions heard lead sing past their ears; but, all +the same, none of them enjoyed the sensation very much. It was apt to +cause a shiver or a feeling as of being put in connection with a +galvanic battery. + +"Seems like we've left that crowd in the lurch," Teddy remarked, a few +minutes later, as they began to reach more regular ground, where the +going promised to be considerably easier. + +"Yes," added Jack, "and the most we have to fear after this is meeting +up with the other lot that waited for us on the lower river. They may +have grown tired of laying around, or else got wind of our change of +plans, so that right now they are crossing to the mine!" + +"Look!" said the Cree guide, pointing backward; and immediately the +scouts saw three columns of very black smoke ascending straight toward +the sky. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE TALKING SMOKE. + + +"Well, I declare if they don't use the same sort of signals the scouts +do down our way!" exclaimed Jimmy, looking rather disgusted, as though +he had caught some one stealing his thunder. + +Ned had to laugh at the blank expression of his assistant's face. + +"Why, Jimmy," he said, "you forget that the scout movement is only half +a dozen years old. It began after the Boer war, when General +Baden-Powell saw what a great thing it would be for the whole British +Nation, if every boy learned a thousand things about all creation, +useful things at that. And, Jimmy, don't forget that smoke was used to +signal with for hundreds of years before ever the white man landed on +the shores of America." + +"Say, that's right, Ned, they always made fires with their flints, +didn't they? And these men up here, hunters, trappers, or whatever they +may be, inherited the Injun way of sending messages. Sure, I knew it all +along. The only trouble with me is I go and forget things. But what +d'ye think they are doin' sending out that old smoke signal?" + +"They've got friends within seeing distance, because smoke can be +sighted many miles away, especially when it rises as straight as it's +doing now," Jack ventured to interpose. + +"The crowd over on the Harricanaw River, you mean?" demanded Jimmy. + +"Yes." + +"Then they'll be apt to know we gave 'em the slip, won't they?" the +freckled faced scout continued. + +"I suppose they will, because you notice that every now and then the +smoke seems to stop," Ned answered. "As a scout in good standing, Jimmy, +you ought to know how that's done." + +"Two fellers swing a blanket over the smoking wood and smother it for a +bit, to send up another big puff. Yes, that's what they call talking. +Letters are formed by the puffs of smoke, just as we do the same with +the wigwag flags, or the piece of looking-glass in the sun, when we +heliograph." + +"And right now, somewhere or other, one or more of those men must be +reading out the message, letter by letter," said the patrol leader +seriously, while they continued to walk on. + +"It won't take long to tell how we happened to show up at the mine, and +took a nice little saunter through the same, seeing how fine it was +being cured--I mean salted," Teddy interrupted, thinking that Jimmy had +done more than his full share of the cross questioning, and ought to +give place to some one else. + +"I shouldn't think it would," agreed Ned. + +"I wonder now if the men over on the river will guess what happened, and +how we must have left our boats secreted somewhere above?" ventured +Frank. + +"That is something we have no means of telling," Ned informed him; "but +since it might happen, we'll have to keep a sharp lookout on the way +across country. We might fall into ambush, and either be shot down or +else made prisoners." + +"I don't know which would be worse," grumbled Jimmy. + +"Whew! what if they should happen on our, canoes, after all the trouble +we took to hide the same?" suggested Jack, looking as solemn as an owl. + +"The walking is fairly decent all the way from Hudson Bay to Montreal, +barring a dozen rivers to cross, a score of bogs miles and miles around, +some pretty hefty mountain chains to pass over, and some more troubles +too silly to mention," was the way Jimmy made light of the possible +calamity. + +Ned himself knew that it would be a terrible mishap should anything like +this come to pass. He had thought it all over more than once, and even +mapped out several plans for their guidance in case of such an event. + +Walking back was next to an utter impossibility. They might manage with +the aid of Francios and the Cree Indian to manufacture some sort of +canoes, providing the proper kind of bark was to be procured this far +north, which he doubted very much. Besides this, there was a slender +chance that they might signal to some whaling vessel on the great bay +and procure a berth for each of them aboard, so as to be landed at +Halifax or Montreal, anywhere so that they could use the telegraph, and +keep Mr. Bosworth and his company from investing a dollar in the +wonderful copper mine, until the scouts reached home again. + +So Ned, having looked further ahead than any of his chums, was not so +much impressed by the gravity of the threatening evil, in case they did +lose their highly valued canoes. He would begrudge the loss of his +blanket and some other articles more than anything else, as they had +memories connected with them of dead and gone events, in which he and +some of the other boys of the trip had figured. + +As they pushed on every little while they could catch glimpses of the +talking smoke signals in the rear. Doubtless the fire that was supplying +the smoke for this method of communicating with the distant posse had +been built on the side of the hill in which the mine lay. That would +account for their being able to see it for such length of time. + +"Must be giving a whole history of the _awful_ disaster," Jimmy +muttered, after he had turned for the sixth time to see the smoke still +waving in fantastic wreaths against the sky. + +"Slow-pokes, that's what," ventured Teddy. "Why, when I was a mere +tenderfoot I could send messages better than that." + +"Don't find fault," advised Jack. "The longer it takes the signal man to +send on his news, the better chance we'll have of slipping away before +any trap can be laid or sprung, don't you see?" + +"And as we're first-class scouts," said Jimmy, boastfully, "why, we're +able to beat such dubs, with one hand tied behind our backs." + +Perhaps all the others agreed with the speaker, even though no one +voiced his sentiments just then. Jimmy was well calculated to do all the +boasting for an entire party on occasion; but then he meant all he said. + +Pretty soon Frank made a discovery that caused him to break loose and +voice his surprise. + +"Why, Ned, we don't seem to be heading down towards the big bay?" he +observed. + +"That's right, Frank," came the quiet answer. + +"But I thought we'd surely have to follow the trail back there, just as +we came?" Frank continued, as though sorely perplexed. + +"We would," the patrol leader informed him, "if we were going back the +same way we came, because it would be necessary to get in touch with our +blazed trail, meaning all those landmarks we noted so carefully when +coming on." + +"What's that, did we have all that trouble for nixey?" blurted out +Jimmy. + +"Don't say for nothing, Jimmy," urged Ned; "because when you've gone to +work and stored a lot of things up in your mind like we did, you've been +exercising your memory, and that's always a splendid thing to do. We +certainly noticed a bunch of queer growths in the woods as we came +along, though it's hardly likely any of us will ever set eyes on them +again." + +"But why the change, Ned, if you don't object to telling us?" asked +Jack. + +"It's only right you should know why I took it on myself to do this," +replied the other, modestly; "and then if anybody objects, and explains +on what grounds he bases his kick, perhaps it won't be too late to turn +out and find the blazed trail yet." + +"Proceed, please," urged Frank. + +"I thought that since our presence here is known, that those at the mine +would be able in some way to communicate with the dozen or more rascals +over at the river. And there would always be a pretty strong chance of +our being waylaid while on the road back to the boats. If any one found +our trail that would make it a foregone conclusion. And so I thought +we'd be wise to start in fresh." + +"I saw you consulting your compass many times, while on the way over, +Ned," and this remark from Frank caused the patrol leader to smile and +nod in the affirmative. + +"Which tells me you've got your location all down pat," continued Frank, +energetically. "Right now, if I asked you, chances are you'd be able to +point straight in the direction where the river lies; yes, and straight +at our boats. Is that correct, Ned?" + +For answer, the other raised his hand and pointed. + +"What direction would you say lies right there, Frank?" he asked. + +Frank had to turn his head and observe the position of the sun, as well +as do considerable mental figuring, before feeling able to make answer; +which would indicate that he had been caught napping, and was not so +well prepared as a wide-awake scout should always be. + +"Let's see," he went on to say, slowly; "according to my calculations +that ought to be not more than a point away from due east." + +"It is exactly east, and the river lies there;" Ned pursued, +confidently; and no one had ever been able to catch him in an error +when it came to topography, for the patrol leader had very few equals in +studying the lay of the land. "Of course, our canoes lie some little +distance above; so that pretty soon we'll begin to shift our line of +travel more to the southeast. I have strong hopes that when we do strike +the Harricanaw, it will be close to the boats." + +"And going this way is shorter than following the back trail away down +to the bay, and then picking up our other course from there?" Teddy +ventured to say; nor was his proposition disputed by even the one who +objected so often, Jimmy. + +"I'm only sorry for one thing," this latter scout said, presently. + +"I bet you now he's going to tip off that silly, old story again about +the vanishing fleet of vessels out on Hudson Bay, and say he did hope we +might crack that hard nut while we were up here," Frank told them, +whereat Jimmy slapped him vigorously on the back, and exclaimed: + +"You'd better get a punkin and hollow out half for a skull cap, Frank. +Then you could go and sit in the market-place and pass for a seer; +because now and then you do have a bright thought, and actually guess +something. That was just what bothered Jimmy McGraw, sure it was. If we +go away from here and leave that mystery unsolved, who's ever agoin' to +do it, tell me that? Don't they kinder look to the scouts to do +anything and everything these here days, that other folks can't just +manage. Huh! ain't ever a child wanders away from home and gets lost in +the woods, but what they send out a call, not for the fire company, like +they used to do; but it's 'the scouts c'n find poor little Jennie; let +the scouts get on the track, and in three shakes of a lamb's tail, +they'll have the child safe at home!'" + +"Well, there's a whole lot of truth in what you say, Jimmy, though none +of us ought to be given to boasting," Jack declared, proudly; "I've +helped find three lost children, two old men who were out of their +minds and had wandered away from home, about sixteen stray cows, a +horse, too, and even had a hand in killing that big mad dog that came +down the street of the Long Island town where I spent one of my +vacations some years ago." + +"Good for the Black Bear Patrol," said Jimmy; "which makes me feel +sicker than ever, because we've got to go back home, without having a +shot at that punk old mystery of Hudson Bay. We could find out all about +it, you take my word for it, Jack. Put five fellers as smart as this +bunch onto anything that's cooked up, for some reason or other, and +they're bound to unearth the game. Once I helped gather in the biggest +lot of bogus money-makers, with Ned here, that you ever set your lamps +on. D'ye know, deep down in my heart, I've got a hunch that this queer +fleet that comes and goes like it was made up of ghost craft, will turn +out to be something like that. You'll sure find that men are back of it +that don't want to be seen at too close range; though what under the sun +they're adoin' away up here gets me." + +About this time Ned gave the signal that called for less noise; and +Jimmy was, in consequence, compelled to bottle up some of wonder and +disappointment. He had perhaps, hoped to get a "rise" after his dextrous +cast, and in this way learn what one or more of his mates thought about +the matter. As it was he continued to ponder, look solemn, and +occasionally shake his head, as though unable to decide on any settled +course. + +"Don't believe we'll have any more jogging from those three men we +tracked," Teddy went on to say, a little later; "because two of them +must have got hurt, if yells speak for anything. I wonder if Jimmy's +black pirate chieftain was one of the potted victims." + +"He wasn't that one we saw come out holding on to his arm, like he +thought he'd be likely to lose the same," Jimmy informed him. "That was +the man dressed like a hunter, wearing a buckskin coat and fringed +trousers. Gee! I thought that sort of stuff had all gone up the spout +since khaki came in for woods' use?" + +"Oh! well," Jack reminded him, "just remember where you are, and that +there are men up here who still think Queen Victoria is sitting on the +English throne, because they never get in touch with civilization. Life +with them is only eat and sleep, and sell a few furs in the spring, to +the factor at a post of the Hudson Bay Company, which they spend for +ammunition, whiskey and such necessities. The skins they take, furnish +them with clothes, moccasins, and even caps. Can you beat it, for a life +without worry?" + +"Give me the white man's burden, every time; if a lot of other things go +with it, like we get at a supper down at Coney Island in the good old +summer time," was Frank's idea. + +Strange, how boys will let their thoughts stray back to other fields, +even when facing peril in the Canada bush. To hear these lads talk, one +would never think that they were at the same time keeping a constant +lookout for enemies, who would be apt to deal harshly with them because +Ned and his chums had outwitted the shrewd schemers owning the fake +mine. + +It was nearly half an hour later, when they discovered that smoke was +also rising directly in the east. Evidently some of the men, over on the +Harricanaw, were sending back an answer to the message in smoke, which +had been thrown out against the sky, by those guarding the mine. + +"Mebbe I don't wish I could read their old signals," declared Jimmy; +"but, I just can't. They've got a different code to the one the scouts +use, which makes it all Chocktaw to me. If anybody can give a guess what +they're saying, put us wise, please." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A DREADFUL CALAMITY. + + +Apparently, no one among the scouts was able to favor Jimmy with regard +to telling what the smoke signals meant. Whoever might be responsible +for the code used by all scouts, it had evidently not been founded on +that in use up here in the Far North, by these trappers and +woodsrangers. + +"I've been trying to get the hang of it myself," Jack acknowledged; "but +must say, I'm like a man up a tree. When I begin to think I'm coming on, +there's a slip, and it's all off again. How about you, Ned?" + +They had stopped to talk it over. All of them were in need of a +breathing spell, at any rate; and this might turn out to be a matter +well worth investigating. + +The patrol leader shook his head in the negative. + +"Just the same with me, Jack," he returned. "I'm mixed up enough not to +be able to say what it means, though I've got an idea they may be +telling the parties at the mine what they expect to do. But we haven't +thought of one chance we've got to read the message." + +"What might that be, Ned?" asked Frank. + +"I don't reckon that you're carrying a lovely little code book along +with you, now; that'll tell all about the different ways people have of +signaling with smoke puffs?" Jimmy wanted to know. + +"Perhaps Tamasjo might tell us," was all Ned said; and his simple +explanation caused a general look of eager curiosity to be turned in the +direction of the Cree Indian. + +Why, to be sure, Tamasjo had been born and raised in this Northern +country, and very likely he had communicated with his own people many a +time, when returning from a hunt, and by just such means as those men +over on the Harricanaw were now using. + +How silly that some one had not thought of the old Cree before. It was +as simple as turning one's hand over. Jack chuckled when he heard Teddy +mutter to that effect; because he remembered that when Columbus +returned, after discovering the Western Hemisphere, the envious Spanish +courtiers made remarks along the same lines. It is always easy to see a +thing _after_ it has been pointed out. + +Frank was already turning toward Tamasjo. He found the Indian standing +there calmly watching the floating columns of smoke that were +interrupted frequently, as those responsible for their existence +manipulated the blankets over the fires. + +"What do they say, Tamasjo?" asked Frank. + +The Cree guide talked fairly good English, though with something of an +effort. When indulging in any extended conversation with Francois, he +invariably resorted to his native tongue. + +Turning to Francois now, he rattled off a lot of talk that sounded +almost like gibberish to the scouts, who waited for the voyageur to +translate it. + +"He says zat ze smoke tell heem most of ze men haf already started over +to ze mine. Eet also say zat zey will have us all in ze trap soon," +explained the French Canadian. + +The boys looked at each other blankly. + +"The dickens they do!" burst out Jimmy. "They'll have to get up right +early in the morning to find us asleep. Say, he didn't tell what they +expected to do when they sprung that fine trap, did he, Francois?" + +"Nozzings, sare," responded the other, with a negative shake of his +head. "I myself haf also read ze signs pret well, but zey do not tell +vat it ees zey haf do to cage us. Zere, you see ze smoke ett haf done. I +zink zey must be put ze fires out." + +"That leaves us nearly as much in the air as before, don't it, Ned?" +Jack complained. + +"Only that we've learned the men are on the way across somewhere," Frank +objected. + +"And that they think they've got us up a tree, though we haven't the +least notion what kind of tree," added Teddy, thoughtfully. + +Ned looked serious, but if he had ideas of his own, he did not mention +them just then. Perhaps he thought his chums had troubles enough as it +was, without assuming any imaginary ones that might turn out to be false +alarms. + +"We'd better be pushing on again, boys," he remarked, "if all of you +have swallowed what water you want from this fine spring here." + +Apparently they had, for presently the column was in motion again. +Somehow, even Jimmy had sobered more or less. Something about the +passing back and forth of the smoke communications must have put a +damper on his spirits; though, a short time before, he had been fairly +bubbling over with joy, because of the success that had recently come +their way. + +It would have been all very well for the scouts to have depended wholly +on themselves had they been alone at this time; but having two +experienced guides along, Ned was not conceited enough to think that he +knew it all, and could utterly dispense with their advice. + +Consequently, he did not hesitate to ask questions of Francois whenever +a situation confronted them that seemed to offer two solutions. A +mistake, at this stage of the game, was likely to cost them dear; and +they could really not afford to take chances of such a slip-up. + +On this account, then, he kept Francois close by, and was frequently +seen to be exchanging words with the voyageur. + +It was apparent to all of them when the change of direction was made, +for the sun began to loom up more to the rear, as they headed into the +southeast. + +This meant that the river must lie straight ahead now, and if their +calculation did not go amiss, they should strike it in the vicinity of +the place where the growth of friendly reeds concealed their boats. + +Habit was strong with the boys. They had for a long time now accustomed +themselves to noticing everything of interest around them on all +occasions. So it was that while they paid some attention to what lay in +front much of the time, they kept pointing out objects of interest to +one another as they walked along. + +Now it might be a splendid chance to bag a feeding caribou, seen in a +glade off to the right, and to windward, which accounted for his not +having scented the presence of human enemies. + +A little later some frisky squirrel, or it might be a sly Arctic fox, +was pointed out. Birds were few in number, and consisted for the most +part of the species of partridge that can be found up in this far-away +region. Not a single song-bird did they see or hear, and a silence like +unto death lay upon the "bush," as the wilderness is always called +throughout Canada. + +Far up in some of the trees, noisy crows had sometimes been seen, +holding a caucus; but just then even these seemed strangely absent. + +These boys had known what it was to pass through a tropical jungle with +its confusion of sounds that at times almost deafened one; so that the +contrast was very strong. They could understand what was meant when +explorers talked of the "silent North;" and told how painfully quiet it +was at all times, save when some Arctic storm caused the ice floes to +grind together, and portions of the bergs to crash down from their lofty +heights. + +"Seems to me we must be getting somewhere near that old stream," Jimmy +finally remarked, with a half-hidden groan, for he was undoubtedly +beginning to feel exceedingly tired. + +Somehow, the boys turned inquiring eyes on Ned. They knew that he had +all the while been keeping a record of the distance covered, and could, +therefore, give some sort of estimate as to how far away the river might +lie. + +Seeing that he was expected to make an announcement, the patrol leader +appeared to do some mental calculating before giving his opinion. + +"If you can keep going for about ten or fifteen minutes longer, Jimmy," +he finally remarked, cheerily, "I think, you'll find that we've arrived. +Once or twice, I noticed something in the lay of things ahead, when an +opening came, that seemed to tell of the river. The trees always grow +higher along the course of such a stream, you know, and often you can +follow the direction of the river, without ever glimpsing the water +itself once." + +"That's good news, Ned, and I'm going to get a new hustle on for the +last lap," Jimmy announced, heaving a sigh of relief that swelled from +the very depths of his heart. + +Their progress after that was not quite so rapid. This in itself was +convincing proof to Ned that his prediction was going to be fulfilled, +because, as they gradually reached the lowlands, vegetation increased, +making it more difficult to push through. + +"The ten minutes are up, Ned," announced Teddy, who had been taking sly +peeps at his little nickel watch from time to time. + +"Well, what would you call that over there through the break in the +trees?" asked Jack, triumphantly, just as though it was his prediction +that was being fulfilled. + +"The river, as sure as anything!" admitted Teddy. + +"Thank goodness!" sighed Jimmy. "The only thing that's been helping me +keep up is the picture I've been drawing of a feller about my heft, +squattin' amidships in that bully canoe, and bucking up against the +current of the old Harricanaw. How far do you think we ought to go, +before making our first camp, Ned; and will we be able to cook any +supper, before turning in under our warm blankets?" + +"Don't count your chickens before they're hatched!" said Frank. + +"Now, what makes you try to throw cold water on a feller all the time?" +complained Jimmy. "I like to see the silver linin' of the cloud, and +think of things going good. Besides, we've got to eat, haven't we; and +we left a pile of good grub along with the boats? If Ned says the word, +I'm meanin' to dish up a supper that'll make us forget we're tired to +death. We c'n hide the fire, like Injuns do when in a hostile country, +by makin' the same in a hole, so the light won't show any distance. +How's that, Ned; am I on?" + +"Wait and see," was the only comfort the other would give the +enthusiastic one, and with this, Jimmy had to rest content. + +With the river in plain sight, they hurried their steps. The presence of +the water acted like an inspiration to every scout; so that no one would +believe they had just been complaining of weariness. + +Ned grew more wary the closer they came to the river. All he wanted to +make sure of was the location, so that he might be able to know whether +they were above or below the place of the reeds. + +Constant practice makes perfect, and Ned had so accustomed himself to +fastening the prominent features of the landscape upon his memory that +once he saw a place he never forgot it again. + +In this case, if he failed to recognize anything along the bank of the +river it would prove conclusively that he had never set eyes on it +before. In that event, they could take it for granted that this was +below the place where they had left the canoes. + +Finally the others stopping, watched Ned scrutinizing the shore of the +stream. Of course, they understood what his object must be, and +nervously awaited his verdict, hoping, meanwhile, that it would be +favorable, and that they were near the objects of their search. + +He was only a fraction of a minute in deciding, for presently he turned +to his companions and nodded. + +"We've struck the river just above the reeds," he went on to say. "I +remember noticing that tree leaning over the water. A kingfisher was +sitting on it, when we came along, and flew off with a screech. And, +according to my mind, the reeds will show up just around that bend +there." + +"Oh! joy, bliss, and everything else that spells happiness!" declared +Jimmy, waxing enthusiastic all of a sudden, when the suspense seemed to +be at an end. + +They pushed on, full of hope, for after this long hike it would be +something worth while to find themselves once more seated in the canoes +and gliding over the surface of the river, homeward bound, their great +mission completed. + +"There they are!" exclaimed Frank, who had impetuously pushed along +ahead of the rest, in his desire to be the first to glimpse the reeds. + +There could be no mistake about it, for all of them recognized the +conformation of the ground in the immediate neighborhood, since they had +taken particular pains to impress the same on their minds before leaving +the spot. + +Presently they had reached the border of the reed bed, with Frank still +leading, though the rest of the scouts pressed close on his heels. + +Already was the first of the explorers commencing to separate the reeds, +under the impression that he could take them straight to the spot where +they had left the boats. + +But Frank soon began to think he had started on the wrong tack, for he +failed to make the anticipated discovery. He stopped and looked blankly +around him. + +"Well, I declare!" he emitted, with a grunt. "I sure thought I knew this +old place, and could take you straight to the canoes; but seems like +I've got twisted around some. Things look different when you start to +observe them from the back." + +"Perhaps it isn't just what you think," said Ned, quietly. + +"Is there anything wrong?" demanded Jack, while poor Jimmy's lower jaw +fell, and he could only stand there and stare. + +"The worst almost that could have happened to us," Ned replied sadly. + +"The boats were here then, and have been stolen?" asked Frank +breathlessly, while he as well as the other boys turned pale with +apprehension, for it was a genuine calamity that faced them now. + +"Look there and there, and you'll see where they rested among the +reeds," Ned told them. "Yes, and here's a piece of greasy paper I +remember seeing Jimmy toss overboard, when he was getting out of his +boat. We've struck our one bad streak, after all, boys, I'm sorry to +say. They ran on our boats, and we're left in the lurch up here, five +hundred miles from anywhere!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +BLINDING THE TRAIL. + + +For almost a full minute nobody said a word. Indeed, the tremendous +nature of this discovery seemed to have very nearly paralyzed them, so +that one and all could only stand there and stare at the places where +they could tell their prized canoes had recently rested. + +Jimmy was the first one to arouse himself, and it was hot anger that +caused him to show so much activity. + +"P'raps they haven't gone far, Ned, and if we got a hustle on we might +manage to ketch up with the measly skunks. If they try to pack our boats +through the woods, they'll have a time of it, let me tell you. Are we +agoin' to give chase? Oh! I'm as fresh as a daisy right now. Seems like +I could run for hours, if I had an idea I'd overtake the canoe thieves." + +Ned shook his head. + +"No use, Jimmy," he told the furious scout; "because they haven't +carried our boats ashore. If you look, you'll see where they paddled out +on to the river. You remember, we hid all traces of our own passage, yet +here you can see a wide swath among the reeds, bending them back." + +They saw that he spoke the truth, even Jimmy admitting the sad facts +with a groan that seemed to well up from his shoes, it was so +disconsolate. + +"Five hundred miles--_five_ hundred of 'em! Gosh!" he was heard to tell +himself, as he stood there, rubbing the side of his head, as though he +felt like one in a stupor or a dream. + +"And as we haven't a single boat, of course we can't pursue them," +remarked Jack between his clinched teeth, while his eyes glittered +angrily. + +"Oh! what wouldn't I have given to have come on the rascals just in the +act of getting away with our boats!" breathed Frank, as he shook his +rifle, after the manner of a scout who has thrown discretion to the +winds. + +"Well, let's not whimper and cry over spilt milk, anyway," said Ned, who +could always be depended on to bring the boys to their proper senses. + +"That's so," echoed Jack, quick to see the importance of keeping their +senses about them in this dilemma. "We've got to do _something_, that's +sure, and so let's get to talking it over sensibly." + +"But, what can we do?" pleaded Teddy, who was not apt to prove equal to +a sudden strain like this, and must depend on others more vigorous of +mind. + +"Oh! before we're done considering things," promised Ned, "you'll find +that we've got a choice of a whole lot of plans. I hope we're all made +of sterner stuff than to throw out the white flag of surrender, just +because something has gone wrong." + +"Well, I should say not," declared Frank, grinding his teeth together. +"We're like the Old Guard, we can die, but never surrender." + +"That's the stuff!" cried Jimmy, suddenly beginning to brighten up +again, as the stunning effect of the first rude shock passed away. +"Remember what Phil Sheridan did at Cedar Creek, when he met his army, +smashed and running away? What was it he told 'em as he galloped along +the road, headed for the battlefield? 'Face the other way, boys; face +the other way! We'll lick 'em out of their boots! We'll get back those +camps again!' All right, and it's me that says it; well get back our +boats again, by hook or crook!" + +"I hope you turn out to be a true prophet, Jimmy," said Ned. "That's one +of the plans I spoke about. Another would be to make for the shore of +the big bay, and try to get in touch with some vessel passing, that +might carry us to Halifax, or some other northern port, where we could +send a message to Jack's father not to put a dollar into these fake +mines." + +"Sounds good to me," Teddy remarked, sucking it all in eagerly. + +"Then there's another thing we might manage to do if the worst came," +proceeded Ned. "Up here there are lonely trading posts run by the Hudson +Bay Company, at each of which you'll find a factor in charge. If we +could only run across one of these posts, I reckon, there would be some +way found for getting us down to civilization inside of a month or so." + +"That long?" observed Teddy. + +"What would it matter, so that we didn't have to do the grand hike?" +Jimmy asked, afflicted with dizzy visions of five hundred miles of +tramping over rough country, supporting themselves, meanwhile, in the +most primitive fashion by shooting game, and cooking the same over fires +made with flint and steel, or the bow and stick method known to scouts +generally. + +"Of course," added Frank, somewhat satirically, "Teddy would like to +have one of those Zeppelin airships come along and give us a lift. I +guess all of us would be glad if that happened; but the chances are so +small, we don't want to consider 'em, do we, Ned? So here we are, facing +a puzzle that's going to give us no end of trouble and work. If it was +hard to get in, it's going to be a much bigger job to get out again." + +"It's getting late, as it is," remarked Jack, as he looked toward the +west where the sun was hovering over the horizon, and ready to take the +final plunge, though, of course, it would not be dark for a long time +afterwards, thanks to the length of the Northern twilight in midsummer. + +"First, let's get where we can look up and down the river, principally +down," was Ned's advice, "though there's a mighty slim chance that we'll +see anything of our stolen canoes." + +This proved to be the case, for when they had found an elevated +position, where it was possible to see far down the stream, there was +not a thing in sight, save a mother duck teaching her little brood to +swim and find food. + +"No use, seems like; they've gone a long time back," said Jimmy. + +"I wonder if that was what they told the fellows over at the mine, when +they mentioned a trap?" observed Frank, seriously, glancing hastily +around him at the same time, as though half expecting to see a dozen +ugly-faced men appear from the bushes and rocks. + +"Not while Tamasjo was reading the smoke signs," Ned assured him, "or he +would have learned enough to tell us what to expect when we got here. +But, first of all, we ought to move off." + +"You think they'll come here later on, when they learn how we got out of +the old mine and headed across country--is that it, Ned?" Jack queried. + +"I expect it is about like this," the patrol leader replied; "one or two +men must have found our boats. For the life of me, I don't understand +how it happened, except that they were paddling along on the river, and +wanting to go ashore took exactly the same notion we did--that the reeds +would make a good hiding place for their craft. And, as luck would have +it, they ran on our canoes." + +"No signs here to tell Francois or the Cree about how long back this +thing happened, I reckon?" Frank put in just then. + +"That's where we get a hard knock," Ned continued, with a tinge of +regret in his voice; "because, as you all know, water leaves no trace. +When men are fleeing from enemies, the first thing they think of is to +get into a creek, and throw their pursuers, dogs and all, off the scent. +So, even as clever a trailer as Tamasjo couldn't tell any better than +Jimmy here whether this robbery occurred an hour ago or three of the +same." + +"We're sure enough up against it this time, boys," Teddy affirmed. + +"And have been on other occasions, remember, when things came out all +right, and we won in the end." Jack reminded the doubter. + +"Let's make up our minds we're going to beat these chaps at their own +game, and that'll be half the battle," Frank told them. + +"But I think Ned is all right when he says, 'we ought to cut stick and +get away from here as soon as we can,'" Jack gave as his opinion. + +In fact, the guides were manifesting more or less impatience. They +apparently understood that the enemy would be apt to turn up here again, +sooner or later; and could not comprehend why the scouts should always +want to compare notes, before doing anything like making a change of +base. Francois and the Cree were accustomed to making most of their +moves through instinct; while with the scouts those same things did not +come naturally, but had to be reasoned out, which made considerable +difference. + +One last look did they give toward the reeds that had promised to be so +friendly, only to betray the confidence the boys had placed in them; and +after that the little party moved off. + +"But say, won't they follow after us, Ned?" asked Jimmy, when he failed +to see the guides getting busy with trying to destroy all evidences of +their passage, as he had fully expected would be the case. + +Some of the other scouts showed by their expectant manner that they were +also wondering what it all meant. Ned took it upon himself to enlighten +them. + +"If I read their meaning right," he ventured, "that is just what they +want to do at first, make the men believe we've started to tramp back +over all those hundreds of miles of ground. Before long, they'll do +something to hide the trail so only a wolf's keen scent could find it; +and then we'll turn around again, so as to face toward Hudson Bay. How, +Francois?" + +The old voyageur had listened to the explanation offered by Ned. He +grinned and wagged his head, as though quite tickled at the idea of the +boy understanding so well what the little game was. + +"Zat ees so, sare," he said. "If Jimmy he be able hold out so long, +mebbe we also eat supper far away from zis place." + +Hearing his name mentioned, Jimmy was up in arms. He had a reserve stock +of nerve for occasions like this, which could be summoned to the fore. + +"Don't bother about Jimmy, please," he told them. "Sure, when it comes +to a pinch, don't he always get there with the goods? My feet can ache +all they want to; but, all the same, they'll do what I say. If it's a +mile or six of the same, I'm good for it. But I wish I had something to +gnaw on meanwhile, because I'm as hungry as a starved wolf, so I am." + +Frank produced a handful of crackers from his little pack, which he +willingly turned over to the other. This seemed to satisfy Jimmy; at +least, he stopped groaning and telling of his aches and pains. When they +could get his jaws to working in this fashion, he seldom allowed himself +to enter any complaint. Jimmy could be bribed to do a good many things +by the promise of a feast at the other end. + +They continued on for some little time, and then it became apparent that +Francois and the Cree had decided the blind trail had been carried far +enough. + +They were seen to confer, after which the leader stepped upon a long log +that lay conveniently near by. Walking part way along this, the Indian +suddenly leaped upon a bare rock, stepped its length, found another log, +passed along it and so continued, leaving not the slightest trace of a +trail that could be followed, unless dogs were placed upon the scent. + +"You go next, Jack," urged Ned, who wished to satisfy himself that all +of the scouts were able to qualify in this round of concealing the +trail; though they had practiced it many a time when in camp. + +Jack had observed every move of the agile old Indian, so that once he +started over the same course he made short work of it. + +"Teddy, you're next!" the scout leader announced. + +Possibly it was with more or less trepidation that the one singled out +began to cover the ground. But then Teddy was not a tenderfoot, even if +he did not know as much as some of the others about woodcraft. He walked +along the log, made the jump successfully, though falling flat on his +face when he gained the rock; managed to gain the second tree trunk, and +conducted himself so cleverly on the whole that Ned gave him a wave of +approval after he had joined the others some distance away. + +Frank and Jimmy copied the actions of those who had gone before, and so +far as could be seen they did not leave any trace of their passage, +though, of course, the old voyageur would look out for all that when he +came to cross, and examine the ground carefully in so doing. + +Ned found no difficulty in following the rest, and then they stood on a +stone foundation, watching with considerable interest, while Francois +scrutinized the track to make sure they had not left some sort of +footprint, or disturbed any object, however small, that might catch a +trained eye and betray their little game to the enemy. + +As far as possible for some little time, they were instructed to take +advantage of every opportunity that cropped up to advance, without +leaving tell-tale imprints behind them. That is the measure of success +in "blinding a trail," and if anybody ever had it down to a science, +surely a Cree Indian might be expected to. Still there was no telling +what might happen. Discovery was always in the air, and they must be +forever on their guard against it. + +Jimmy did seem to revive under the influence of his little bite, for he +kept resolutely on, with set jaws and a look of grim determination +written large upon his freckled and rosy face. + +They were heading straight toward salt water now, all of them knew; +because stars had crept into view, and these boys had long since learned +to tell direction, by means of the lights in the sky, by day or night. +The Polar Star shone dimly, as always, nearly directly ahead of them. +Other stars they could see, such as are never gazed upon by people +living in the temperate climes, constellations peculiar to the northern +region of ice and snow. + +"Eet is here we rest and eat!" announced Francois, after a long and +arduous siege of this tramping and stumbling had been endured. + +Jimmy wanted very much to make out that it was a matter of small +importance to him whether they stopped or continued right on; but +nevertheless he could not keep back the happy sigh that would well +forth; and they could hear him champing his jaws, as though trying to +learn whether they were still in condition for service, because that one +word "eat" had told him they expected to break their fast. Shortly +afterwards they were making themselves as comfortable as possible, +though destitute of blankets and many other things; while the two guides +started a little cooking fire in a depression where it could not be seen +thirty feet away. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE BRUSH SHELTER. + + +"After all, this isn't so bad!" Teddy was saying, after they had got the +supper started, and most of them were lying around in comfortable +attitudes, enjoying the cheery conditions, for the air was a bit cool, +and even the warmth of the small cooking fire felt good. + +"It might be worse," admitted Jimmy, sniffing the fragrant air, as a war +horse might the pungent powder-smoke of battle--Jimmy was always ready +for the fray in the line of disposing of surplus "grub." + +They did not have a very extensive meal. The conditions hardly warranted +their trying to put on any "style," as Jimmy called it. So as appetites +were appeased, and the food tasted good, nobody was apt to complain. +Indeed, these fellows had been through so much in times gone by that +they knew how to make the most of a bad bargain, and adapt themselves to +circumstances as they found them. + +When a Boy Scout can do that he has achieved the best that any one could +expect of him, for he has conquered himself, always the hardest fight of +all. + +Presently Francois announced that the simple bill-of-fare was ready. It +consisted of hard-tack, coffee, and some caribou meat cooked in regular +camp style. What mattered it if in places the venison was slightly +scorched, or underdone; the wood smoke gave it a flavor all its own, and +there were vigorous appetites on hand to overlook these minor faults. + +Quantity appeals to boys more than quality, generally speaking, and +never a single complaint was heard as they munched away. + +"Getting off better than we expected, ain't we?" Jimmy observed, with +his mouth so full that his words were fairly mumbled. + +"Oh! this is just prime!" Frank declared. "I'm more bothered about not +having my good blanket to snuggle down into than anything else." + +"Please don't mention it till we've done eating, anyway," pleaded Teddy. +"Makes a cold chill run up and down my spinal column every time I think +what we've got to face, with tents and blankets all gone." + +"Another experience, that's all," remarked Jack, trying to look +cheerful, as if these things should not bother any one worthy of calling +himself a scout. + +"Well, we've seen a heap of 'em, all told," was the consoling remark of +Jimmy, "and we're still in the circus ring, right side up with care. +Fact is, it takes an awful lot to knock a scout out, because he's +learned so many ways to dodge, just like a cat does." + +"There you go, comparing us to a bunch of tomcats," chuckled Frank. + +"I do hope, though," Teddy went on to say, with a sigh, as he +contemplated the little blaze before him, "that later on we'll be able +to have jolly camp fires every night. There is a chance of that +happening, ain't there, Ned?" + +"Why, I should hope so, Teddy," replied the other; "I'd hate to think +that we'd have to stand for this sort of thing long. As soon as it looks +like we've dropped that crowd, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't +have all the fire we want, so long as we don't start the bush to +burning. And as every scout knows how to get sparks from flint and +steel, not to mention other ways of doing the same, why, we needn't +bother ourselves about matches." + +In this way they chatted in low tones, and their spirits were kept from +drooping. Association does considerable toward making boys, or men, see +the bright lining to the cloud. It is like rubbing metal fragments +together in a turning cylinder, with the result that every separate +piece receives more or less of a luster from the constant friction. So +difficulties brighten the minds of scouts who know enough to take +advantage of their opportunities. + +All sorts of suggestions were being made from time to time, looking to +the betterment of their conditions. Some of these did not seem +practical, and were immediately dropped. Others deserved more careful +consideration, and, in these cases, the boys gave each other the benefit +of their opinions. + +During the course of this talk, Jack brought up the subject of bettering +their sleeping quarters. + +"As we don't expect to keep this little fire going through the whole +night," he told them, "and so won't get the benefit of its warmth, +what's to hinder out looking around to find a place where the brush is +thick enough to let us stack up a woods' shelter?" + +"A good idea, Jack!" was the comment of the patrol leader. + +"It would shelter us from the night breeze, anyway," Teddy observed. + +"And, say, I think I can put you on to the very place," Jimmy +unexpectedly announced; which remark, so unlike Jimmy, caused the others +to "sit up and take notice," under the impression that their comrade +must certainly be waking up to the occasion. + +"Show me!" said Frank, scrambling to his feet; "because I'm getting +sleepy right now, sitting here so close to the fire; and, according to +my mind, we can't fix up our beds any too soon." + +"Oh! how can we talk about beds, when we haven't got any blankets?" +wailed Teddy. + +"Like as not, we'll find some hemlock trees around, for they grow away +up here, we know," Jack argued. "And by laying close to each other we'll +manage to keep half-way warm, let's hope." + +Teddy began to laugh softly to himself. + +"What ails you now?" demanded Jimmy; "because it strikes me the prospect +ain't so very cheerful as to make a feller laugh." + +"Oh! excuse me," replied Teddy, "but I just happened to think how funny +it would seem for the whole five of us to be lying like sardines in a +box, every fellow's knees doubled up, and stuck in the back of the +next one. Then, whenever one got tired of lying on his right side, +he'd call out 'turn!' and the whole line would have to wiggle around, so +as to flop over on their left sides." + +"Just about what we'll have to do," Jack assured him. + +"And you won't think it so very funny either after a while," said Frank. + +Jimmy led them back a little way, and sure enough they found just the +conditions they required for making a bough and brush shelter. Ned +immediately told the observant one that he had done well to notice the +conditions, with an eye to future possibilities. + +"While we're at it," Ned continued, "perhaps we'd better make as +rain-proof a shelter as we can." + +"Gee whiz! I hope you don't think it's going to come down on us +to-night, and me with my raincoat which was left in the canoe?" Teddy +exclaimed. + +"Feels sort of damp to me," Frank admitted. + +"Let's hope for the best," added Jack. "But I think that what Ned said +would be the proper caper for us. And now get busy, everybody. Show what +you know about constructing a bough shelter, for if ever we needed one, +it's right now." + +They worked like a pack of beavers. Indeed, Jimmy declared that it +seemed like a shame they all belonged to two patrols known as the Wolf +and Black Bear, when they were such an industrious lot, and deserved +better totems. + +The guides also entered into the spirit of the thing, though apparently +more careless or indifferent about their comfort than the boys. Still, +they appreciated the prospect of having a shelter, in case of a heavy +downpour, and added their contributions towards making it a worth-while +affair. + +When, finally, it was pronounced finished, all of them were of the +opinion that it did their knowledge of woodcraft credit. + +"Show me the scouts who could have done a better job, under the same +conditions, will you?" demanded Frank, proudly. + +"They would be hard to find!" declared Ned. + +"Next thing is to hustle and find some sort of browse to make beds out +of," Jack told them, "and the thicker it is for a mattress the better, +because it causes a certain amount of warmth, and keeps the dampness of +the ground off." + +"Yes, and if there happen to be a few old roots sticking up under you, +they don't hurt," added Jimmy, who had been through the experience he +described many times in the past, and ought to know the inconvenience +resulting from it. + +When five lively fellows get busy, they can gather quite a quantity of +browse, in case the right sort of trees are handy; and before long Frank +threw himself down on the mattress, with a grunt of satisfaction. + +"How does she go?" asked Teddy, solicitously. + +"Bunkum," came the answer, accompanied with a mighty yawn; "try it for +yourself." + +"Guess I will, Frank," and Teddy accordingly stretched himself out at +full length, alongside the other scout. + +So they all found a place, and there was room enough also for the +guides. These worthies insisted upon taking the outermost nooks. The +voyageur explained that they might want to be up several times before +dawn, to look around and make sure that all was well; nor could the +scouts find any objection to this programme, since it was intended to +add to their comfort and security. + +If they had not all been so very drowsy, possibly the boys might have +found considerable difficulty in forgetting themselves, under such +unusual conditions; but as a rule, the average boy can sleep under +abnormal surroundings that would keep an older person awake all night; +for trouble sets lightly on their minds, fortunately enough. + +Ned was the only one who knew how Francois and the Cree had agreed +between themselves to keep "watch and watch" throughout the whole night. +After the scouts had apparently managed to get to sleep, the voyageur +silently arose, and removing to a little distance, placed his back +against a tree. There he sat, like a dim statue as time crept on, his +rifle on his knees, and doubtless all his senses constantly on the alert +for signs that would indicate the coming of the enemy. + +When, according to his way of thinking, he had stood watch for half of +the night, Francois crept around to the other end of the shelter, and +touched the form of the old Cree. Not a single word was exchanged +between them, but Tamasjo, crawling out, took the other's place, as +though it were a part of his business to sit up nights. + +What if there was no alarm, the boys enjoyed better security while they +slept, and secured more energy for the following day's work. Men do not +always anticipate trouble when they place a guard over the camp; but, in +case it does come, there is always the consciousness of having taken all +needful precautions. It is on the same principle that a wise man insures +his house, though never believing that a fire is going to visit him. He +wants to make sure, that is all. + +Had some of the scouts been on post during that night, they might have +experienced several little alarms, through noises they would hear, which +were strange to their ears. Not so the guides, who had spent all their +lives amidst these Northern scenes, so that every minute denizen of the +woods was as familiar to them as the game of baseball might be to Jimmy, +versed, as he was, in all its fine points. + +To them the various fretful voices of the little animals, who doubtless +wondered what business these two-legged pilgrims had stopping on their +preserves, were to be looked on as only a means of safety. So long as +they continued to hear them near by, they knew that all was well. A +sudden silence would have made either one of the guides suspicious, +because these sharp-eared rodents could catch the movement of creeping +men much sooner than any biped was capable of doing; and hence, a +cessation of their complaining would indicate danger to the sleeping +camp. + +When Jimmy opened his eyes he saw that the morning had come. It did not +look as cheerful as he would have liked, for the sky was threatening, +and what seemed like a cold fog was stealing through the woods, drifting +in probably from the great salty bay, so near at hand. + +Of course, the waking of one was the signal for the entire five to be +stirring. Indeed, once they opened their eyes, the boys were only too +glad to creep out from their shelter and stretch their cramped limbs. + +"It didn't rain, after all," Jimmy remarked; and there was something of +a grievance in his tone, as though he rather begrudged going to all that +useless labor for nothing. + +"Well, if we'd known as much last night as we do now," commented Jack, +"perhaps we wouldn't have bothered about this shelter. I often wonder +what a lot of things some fellows would shirk if their foresight was as +good as their hindsight." + +"For one thing," spoke up Teddy, briskly, "we'd be having our bully +canoes and blankets, and tents, and all that raft of grub right now, +instead of having to do without it." + +"That's so, we would," Jimmy echoed, making a comical face. "And let me +tell you fellers, after this I'm going to devote a lot of time tryin' +to see into the future. My father was a seventh son, and they say that +makes a weather-sharp. I've tried it a few times, and hit the truth once +out of three." + +"I'd call that a poor percentage," Teddy sneered. "Why, any +happy-go-lucky guess ought to strike it half the time, anyway." + +"Do we eat again this morning, or is it a case of saving the grub?" +Jimmy asked, turning to Ned. + +"It's too early yet to go on half-rations," the patrol leader assured +him. "What we're going to come to after a little is another question. So +let's get busy and have a cooking fire started." + +Jimmy hastened to be the one to attend to this. Truth to tell, he was +shivering in the raw morning air, and wanted heat almost as much as hot +food, in order to make himself feel comfortable. + +"No changes in our plans overnight, are there, Ned?" inquired Jack, as +they hovered around the blaze after it had been started, each fellow +apparently anxious to have a hand in the simple preparation of +breakfast, though really wanting to warm his hands. + +"No," came the reply, "we'll keep straight on, and reach the bay before +changing our course. Then we'll have to head to the west, and do what we +can to reach the nearest trading post, unless we have the good luck to +strike some sealer or whaling vessel that will take us aboard." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE SEA FOG. + + +"I wonder if we'll see anything of that mystery of Hudson Bay?" Teddy +chanced to remark, while they were eating later on. + +"'Tis me that cares mighty little whether we do or not," Jimmy admitted, +which change of tone caused the other to turn upon him and say: + +"What's all this mean, Jimmy? A little while back you were telling us +that you sure hoped we'd run up against a mystery, because we've always +been so lucky in solving such things in the days gone by. Now you seem +to have changed your song." + +"Lots of things have changed since you heard me pipe up that way," +suggested Jimmy, as he poured himself another cup of coffee, which was +taken black, since they had no milk, all of the condensed kind having +gone with the canoes. + +"But don't you feel anxious about that queer, disappearing fleet?" +demanded Teddy. + +"I'm a heap sight more concerned right now about the disappearing grub," +he was informed. "The shape we're putting it away tells how soon it'll +be down to the last crumb. If we keep on as we're doing, I figure we've +got just enough for, say two more days. Then it's going to be a case of +hustle, or go hungry." + +"Oh! with our bully guns, and such clever shots along, we'll get all the +meat we want, I shouldn't wonder. Coffee we'll have to do without; +likewise, lots of other good things. But we won't starve, Jimmy." + +"As an explorer, Teddy, I reckon you've read that often Dr. Kane and his +Arctic expedition had to cut up their deerskin boots, and make soup out +of the same. S'pose'n we had to come to that now, how'd you like it?" +and Jimmy chuckled, as he saw the other shudder. + +The meal ended, and the small fire was extinguished, for these scouts +had long ago learned never under any circumstances to leave a +smouldering fire when breaking camp. They knew only too well that often +a sudden wind arising has carried live coals from such into the dead +leaves near by, and started most disastrous conflagrations. + +"One good thing about this hike is that we go light," Ned told them, as +they began to gather their few belongings together. + +"Nothing like seeing the silver lining to the cloud," added Jack; +"though, if it was put to a vote right now, I rather think every scout +would agree to tote even a tent on his back, if we could in that way get +our belongings again." + +"Just try me, that's what," said Jimmy. "All that fine grub wasted on a +measly lot of half-breeds, who can't appreciate a jar of orange +marmalade any more'n they can olives or imported cheese. But then +there's no use crying over spilt milk, and it might have been worse." + +"Yes, think of what a pickle we'd be in right now, if they'd managed to +hook our guns as well as the boats and blankets?" suggested Teddy. "We'd +just have to throw up our hands and surrender, then, I suppose." + +"Not till we'd tried everything we could think up to beat them at their +game," was Frank's way of showing his determined nature. + +Of course, once they had finished eating, there was really nothing to +keep them there; and as they had no tents to take down, or dunnage to +pack, it was an easy task to get started. + +Francois led them straight into the south. They felt sure that they must +arrive on the shore of the bay before a great while, for there was a +decided salty tang to the air that greeted them, very gratifying to boys +who had been brought up near the ocean, as these scouts had. + +So far nothing had been seen or heard of the miners, whom they looked +upon as their enemies. At the same time, the boys believed that the +others must be diligently searching for them, and should they happen to +come across their trail, a warm pursuit must follow. + +In consequence of this fact, they were advised by Ned to keep on the +alert. + +"Let every fellow have his eyes open to discover suspicious movements," +he told them, "and report the same to me without a second's delay. +There's no telling how serious it might turn out to be. But, Jimmy, +don't fancy every frisky squirrel or curious old coon, if you glimpse +any, is a spy hiding behind a tree, and ready to let loose on us with +his battery." + +"You'll find that when I sound the alarm, it's going to mean business," +Jimmy retorted, drawing himself up proudly. + +It was hard to entirely crush their boyish spirits, and while the future +did not look so very bright, still they felt that they had accomplished +the main object that had drawn the expedition to these parts, and could +not complain. So every now and then some half-humorous remark would be +made calculated to draw out an answer. Thus, in a measure their troubles +were forgotten, though no one ventured to troll a ditty, as might have +been the case under ordinary conditions. + +The character of the country was changing again, and from what they had +noticed on the former occasion, they knew that they must be drawing near +the water. + +There was no air stirring to blow away the damp fog wave that grew more +and more dense as they advanced. + +"If it rains down on us here we'll just have to grin and bear it," Jimmy +was saying, as he tripped along beside the other scouts. + +"No hollow trees to crawl in, because none of these would be nearly big +enough, even if we found one that was partly rotten," added Teddy. + +"Make up your minds that it isn't going to rain any until the wind comes +up and drives this mist away," Jack informed them, and as he claimed to +be something of a weather prophet they believed him. + +"I'm wet, as it is, from the fog," said Frank. + +"Listen!" exclaimed Jack, just then. + +Jimmy started to turn his head around so fast that it seemed in danger +of coming loose. + +"Where, what, why, how?" he spluttered, as he half-raised his rifle, as +though taking the alarm. + +"Oh! I only meant that I could get the lazy wash of the water rolling up +on the sandy beach," replied Jack, grinning to see how his innocent +exclamation had excited Jimmy. + +"Next time," mumbled the other, "I'd thank you to tell what you mean +right away. It would save a poor feller from havin' palpitation of the +heart, which they tell me is bad for the appetite." + +"Then let's all get it, Jimmy," chuckled Frank, "because no appetite +means that we wouldn't have to bother looking up new supplies of grub. +But that is the sea you hear running up on the shore, Jack, which shows +how close we are to the bay." + +A minute later and they could see signs of the salt water, though the +fog was so dense that it was impossible to look out further than a dozen +or two yards. + +"I suppose that happens quite a lot of times up here?" remarked Jack, as +they stood on the bank and stared out into that sea of mist, which hid +everything as with a blanket. + +"They have fogs along off the coast of New Foundland, where the cod +banks lie," Ned observed, "which comes from the fact that the cold +currents of air from the Arctic meet with the warm Gulf Stream there, as +it turns and heads toward Europe. That makes the fog, you know; but I +never ran across a thicker one than this." + +"Huh! looks like pea soup to me," suggested Teddy. + +"Well, pea soup is a mighty fine dish, don't you forget it," retorted +Jimmy, "and if I could get a bucket of the same as easy as I can this +old fog, I wouldn't be doin' any kicking, believe me, boys." + +"You said we must turn to the left, didn't you, Ned?" inquired Frank, +who did not see the sense of wasting any time in standing there and +staring into that impenetrable sea of gray fog. + +"That would seem to be our best and only course," was the reply. "In the +first place, it will save our crossing the mouth of the Harricanaw, +and, as we have no boat, that counts for something. Then, from what I +can see on my chart, by crossing one small river, called the Masakany, +we ought to reach a place called Moose Factory. I don't know positively, +but I've reasons to think that we'll find some sort of post there where +we can get help. It's situated on a bay that several other rivers empty +into. I believe that's our one best chance, and that's why I'm taking +it." + +"If you say it's so, we believe it, Ned," remarked Jack, with emphasis; +and it was such confidence as this, placed in him by his chums, that had +helped Ned accomplish so many things in the past. + +"That mining camp was situated on a creek, wasn't it?" asked Frank. + +"Yes, I haven't forgotten that, and I see what you mean, Frank," the +patrol leader assured him; "but it was only a narrow affair, and I +figure on finding a fallen tree trunk that we could throw across to +serve us as a bridge." + +"Always a way where there's a will," chanted Teddy, as they once more +started off, with the mist-shrouded bay on their right. + +The going was not all that heart could have wished. Lots of obstacles +arose to give them trouble, though as a rule these were of a minor +character, and easily surmounted. In some places the land was inclined +to be marshy, so that they were compelled to go back some distance in +order to get around. Then, again, they found that the ground rose into +rocky elevations, with the bay lapping their bases; and here again the +scouts were put to more or less exertions, in order to keep moving +toward the west. + +On one of these elevations they paused for a brief rest. The fog held as +densely as ever, and out there where the great body of salt water lay it +was an utter impossibility to see any distance. A whole armada of +vessels might be anchored, not half a mile from the shore, and no one be +any the wiser for it. + +"Is this the real Hudson Bay proper?" asked Frank, while they stood +thus, recovering their breath, after the last climb. + +"Well, it's the lower part of it," explained Ned, "and called James Bay. +There are a great many islands to be run across in this section, and +I've heard that seals have rookeries on some of them, if they haven't +all been killed off." + +"Well, we've seen seals and Polar bears and the big walrus--all in their +native haunts, haven't we?" remarked Jimmy, turning to Frank, who with +Ned had been on a long jaunt through Arctic ice floes some time before. + +"And all of us stand a fair chance to see some more of the same, unless +we get out of this country before the summer ends," Teddy chimed in. + +"We'll find a way, all right," Jack told him; for it was always a hard +thing to crush the spirit of the boy who could write such glowing +accounts of trips and things for the readers of his father's big paper. + +"Since we've rested up, suppose we make a fresh start," proposed Ned. + +"We ought to soon come to where we followed that creek up and reached +the tent colony about the mine opening," Jack was saying, as they +started walking again. + +"Unless I'm mighty much mistaken," Ned remarked, "we'll run across the +same when we get to the bottom of this rise. I think I remember seeing +this place before as we came along." + +It turned out that Ned was right, for ere much more time had passed, the +little expedition stood on the bank of the creek. + +"Broader than you thought, ain't it, Ned?" questioned Frank, as he eyed +the stretch of water dubiously. + +"Oh! we wouldn't expect to bridge it over here," was the answer the +patrol leader made. "By following it up for a little ways, we'll find +that it narrows considerably; and that's where we want to look sharp for +a log that'll come in handy." + +"Yes, I remember now that it wasn't over ten or twenty feet across at +most, where we struck it last time," Teddy piped up, for he was keeping +an accurate account of all that occurred, and hence had the figures down +pat. + +As soon as they found that the creek bed had come down to respectable +proportions, the scouts began to scurry around, hunting for a fallen +tree that might be made to answer for a bridge. This was soon found and +carried to the spot selected, as the most suitable for their purpose. + +There was only one way in which they could drop the bridge over and find +an anchorage on the other shore. This was by raising it to a +perpendicular position on the near bank and, then giving it a shove, +have it fall on the other. + +It required the combined strength of the scouts, backed up by the more +powerful guides, to accomplish this feat in bridge building. Ned had +figured to a fraction, it seemed, for when the log fell it rested at +least a foot on either bank. + +After that it was easy for them to cross over, though Teddy had to get +down and crawl, he being addicted to dizzy spells when at any height, +and not in the humor for taking a dip in the cold water of the creek. + +The boys were for starting on immediately; first of all, Ned had them +shove the friendly log from its mooring ashore, so that it floated on +the surface of the creek. + +"You see," he went on to explain, "if any of those men happened along +here and saw that bridge spanning the creek, they'd know we'd come this +way. Now that we've thrown it into the water, it will float off and +never give us away, anyhow." + +They began to make more satisfactory progress after getting on the +western side of the creek. All of them felt much encouraged though the +morning remained dull and heavy, and there was always a chance that it +might begin to rain. + +Many times did they turn curious glances toward the mist-covered bay, as +though speculating on what mysteries that fog might conceal. + +As a rule it was seldom Teddy who made any discovery; but on this +occasion the credit belonged to him. He suddenly drew the attention of +the rest to something strange that had attracted his attention. + +"I may be off my base, fellows," was the way he put it, "but I'm sure I +heard people talking right then. And it came from out there, too, sure +it did," with which he pointed straight toward the bay. + +Jimmy might have laughed at such a suggestion, but before he could think +to do anything like this, all of them plainly heard a human voice well +up from the fog. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ON BOARD THE WRECK. + + +Everybody could hear the sounds now. The conditions must have been +favorable for carrying a human voice far over the water, because fog is +a good conductor of sound. + +Men were talking apparently, though the rumble of their voices alone +came over the surface of the water, and no actual words could be +distinguished. + +"What's that other noise?" asked Teddy, as though puzzled. + +"Must be oars working in the rowlocks," suggested Jack. + +"Of course," declared the explorer, "how foolish of me to ask such a +silly question. But seems I don't get the give-away sounds as clear as I +did a minute or so ago." + +"Good reason then," Frank told him; "because the boat they're rowing is +heading out on to the bay." + +"Then you think there must be some sort of vessel there, do you, Frank?" +asked Teddy, eagerly, as he tried in vain to penetrate the blanket of +mist. + +"I reckon there might be," replied Frank, "though, of course, we can't +see anything of the same right now. That rowboat wouldn't be setting out +into the big sheet of water, unless heading for a vessel." + +"Could it have anything to do with that wonderful fleet that is always +on the move, coming and going, according to the weather? How about that, +Ned?" demanded Teddy. + +Ned shook his head, to indicate that he did not know. There were some +things calculated to spring up from time to time, which, as leader of +the Wolf Patrol, he did not claim to know. This was one of them. + +Fainter grew the rumble of voices belonging to the unseen sailors; and +the click-clack of oars working in the rowlocks also began to die away. + +Francois had listened with the rest. Being only an ignorant voyageur, +with very little knowledge save along his chosen lines, of course the +French Canadian was apt to have more or less superstition in his system. +It was a heritage he had imbibed with his mother's milk. + +Francois had heard more or less about this weird, disappearing fleet of +vessels that, for some time now, had been acting so mysteriously along +the coast of the big bay. Like most of his class, he believed that they +were unreal, and possibly but the ghosts of brave vessels that in years +gone by may have ploughed the green waters of Hudson Bay. + +Although he said little or nothing on the subject, Francois did +considerable thinking along those lines. He cast frequent uneasy looks +away out through the mist, as though fearful lest he suddenly come face +to face with some terrible mystery. + +To him those voices were anything but natural. Possibly, he even +pictured some ghostly figures sitting in a phantom boat, and speeding +over the surface of the historical sheet of water, about which so much +that is remarkable has been written, and, also, handed down from father +to son, among the rangers and caribou hunters of the Canadian bush. + +It had died away completely by now. To the scouts, this simply signified +that the men in the boat had probably drawn so far away from the shore +that their voices no longer carried across the water as before; but to +Francois it meant that the phantoms had chosen to withdraw, it might be +sinking beneath the surface of the bay. + +After this little adventure the boys fell to thinking again about the +stories they had heard about the fleet that seemed to continually hover +along the shore of Hudson Bay, now appearing, and then vanishing in the +most remarkable manner. + +Just because Ned did not seem fit to announce that they would come to a +halt and endeavor to get in communication with the vessel, to which the +men in the rowboat undoubtedly belonged, Teddy and Jimmy jumped to the +conclusion that he, too, must be uneasy about the character of that +ship. + +The truth of the matter was that Ned had begun to notice certain signs +going to tell him there was soon about to come a change in the +conditions of the weather. He felt a slight puff of air on his cheek, +and coming from the south at that. It was only a breath, but straws show +which way the wind blows, they say; and when the next puff marked a +slight increase, Ned knew what would happen before a great while. + +Once the wind did rise, and the fog would be blown out to sea, so that +in all probability they would be able to discover what manner of vessel +it was that had sent a boat ashore, for some purpose or other. + +But Ned knew that when this came to pass, the rain would also start in. +It was his hope to discover some sort of retreat as they went along, +such as might serve them as a shelter against the storm. + +Once, when a gun was fired at some little distance away and further in +shore, Jimmy ducked his head in a ludicrous fashion. + +"Whee! that nearly got me!" he remarked, looking a little uneasy. + +The others stared at him in bewilderment; but Ned quickly took him in +hand. + +"See here, Jimmy, are you saying that just to make us think you had a +narrow escape, or did a bullet really swing past you?" he demanded. + +The freckled-faced boy looked a little confused. When Ned took him to +task, in this way, Jimmy could never hold out. He would first of all +hedge, and then, if the accusation continued, his next step would be to +throw out the white flag of complete surrender. + +"Why, you see, I thought I sure heard the whine of something like a +bullet, when I took the count," he started in to say. + +"But was it a bullet passing that you heard?" persisted the patrol +leader, who knew that this was the only sure way to pin Jimmy down to +facts. + +"Well, er, since you put it to me that way, Ned, I guess, after all it +must have been imagination. You see my brain was filled with all sorts +of stuff, and when that gun went bang! it struck me I was being fired +at, so I ducked and something went 'sh! 'sh! just then, so's to make me +get mixed up for a minute, and think it was flying lead. I know now it +was one of them little snipe zipping past. They fooled me a few times a +while ago, too." + +"I knew that it must be a mistake," said Ned, "for a very good reason. +You noticed that shot was a long ways off, perhaps as far as a quarter +of a mile. Well, how in all creation could the shooter see us down here, +when we can't glimpse a solitary thing sixty yards off? It was some +hunter, more than likely, getting meat for the mining camp." + +"Another narrow squeak for you, Jimmy," remarked Teddy, with a touch of +fine scorn in his voice. "Everything seems to be coming your way +nowadays." + +"Huh! then let's hope those canoes and blankets and grub will follow +suit; for it'd sure tickle me to be able to restore the same to the +right owners. I keep on hopin' that Ned here won't think of leavin' this +neck of the woods without makin' a real des'prate effort to recover what +we lost." + +Ned did not take the bait, and proclaim what his intentions might be; +though it went without saying that he would have been just as glad to +see their stolen property returned as the next one. + +"If that 'coon' happened to come down to the bay along here, wouldn't he +run across our trail?" asked Frank. + +"Perhaps so," Ned replied, "but we have to take our chances there. You +see we couldn't waste the time to try and hide it all the while. Let's +hope that if he does come on our tracks, he'll think they've been made +by some of his friends up at the camp." + +"All the same," advised Jimmy, "I'm going to keep my eye peeled for any +sign of the chappie. After doing the great stunts we have already, it'd +be a shame to have our plans knocked galley-west through a blunder, or +an accident." + +"No shooting at anything you happen to think must be a man aiming a +gun," was what the leader told Jimmie; for such a thing had really +happened on a former occasion, causing much embarrassment to Jimmy, and +almost breaking up the clever plan of his superior. + +"Wish I may die if I do," mumbled the other, always ready to give all +the assurance desired, even though unable to sustain the position thus +taken. + +The forward progress was resumed. No more shots floated to their ears, +which was pretty good evidence that none were fired; because that south +wind, constantly rising, must surely have carried the sounds to their +ears. + +"The dickens!" exclaimed Jack, presently. + +"Ha! you felt it too, did you?" observed Teddy. "When I went to look up +to see how the fog was lifting, a drop hit me square in the eye, but I +waited to see if anybody else caught on." + +"It's begun to rain, for a fact!" exclaimed Frank, dejectedly. + +"And say, look where we are, would you?" Jimmy added. "Down on the flat +shore, with only a growth of stunted oaks growing above us. Wherever +d'ye believe we'll be able to find a sign of shelter, I'd like to know?" + +"In for a ducking, boys, looks like," said Teddy. "And the worst of it +is, you always feel so terribly cold when your clothes stick to your +back. We'll just have to take chances, and make a heaping fire. Who +cares if those men do see it, and come sneaking around? What've we +carried guns up here for, if we can't defend ourselves in a pinch? Seems +to me, I'd rather get in a hot box with that crowd, than shake to pieces +with a chill. I had pneumonia once, and don't hanker after trying it +again, if I know it." + +Still Ned said not a word, only increased his pace, if such a thing were +possible. The others came trailing along after him, almost out of breath +with trying to talk, and at the same time keep pace with their leader. + +There was no longer any doubt but that the rain was starting in. The +breeze had increased imperceptibly, so that it was now blowing quite +stiffly. Looking out over the water, they found that the fog was quickly +thinning out. Already could they see several times as far as before, and +the distance was widening constantly. + +"There is a vessel out there!" cried Teddy. "I saw her as plain as your +hat just then, when the fog lifted a little. Watch over there, and see. +How's that, Ned? Was I right?" + +"She's there, without a question, Teddy, and I give you credit for +having sharper eyes than anybody believed," the patrol leader told him, +only too well pleased to find an opportunity to compliment the explorer. + +"What kind of a vessel would you call her, Ned?" asked Jimmy; while +Francois stood and stared and listened, still believing that the boat +must be a phantom, such as was likely to vanish before their very eyes, +as might a wisp of trailing fog. + +"I've seen whalers and sealers built like her," was the verdict of the +leader. + +The fog was being carried away more rapidly now, and the boys soon made +another discovery that interested them. This was nothing more nor less +than the fact that a second, yes, a third and even a fourth vessel of +apparently the same tonnage lay at anchor further away, possibly a +couple of miles from shore. + +"Take a good look while you can, fellows," Ned told them "because I +reckon that the wonderful disappearing fleet is before you right now. We +can say we've set eyes on the mystery of Hudson Bay, even if we never +learn what the answer is." + +They all stared as hard as they could. + +Meanwhile, Ned had unslung his glasses and was adjusting them to his +eyes. There was enough of the fog still floating around to make seeing +something of a labor; so that he did not get much satisfaction from the +observation taken. + +"I can see men aboard of all the vessels," he announced; "and there is a +boat being taken up on the davits of the nearest craft, which must have +been ashore in the fog, for some reason or other." + +"Why can't we signal to them to come in and take us off?" asked Teddy, +struck with a brilliant idea. + +"There's the answer," replied Ned, when all of the vessels making up the +anchored fleet vanished utterly from view, as another bank of fog crept +up. + +He turned and swept the shore beyond with the glasses. + +"Just what we want," they heard him say; and looking in the quarter that +had chained his attention they discovered some dark object half-hidden +in the wisps of blowing mist. + +"What is it, Ned; a fishing shanty, a stranded whale, or what?" demanded +Teddy. + +At that Jimmy laughed in scorn. + +"You must think you're down on the Jamaica marshes near Brooklyn, where +they do happen to have fishing shanties. Bet you now that's an old +wreck!" he exclaimed. + +"Just what it is," admitted Ned, as he led them along the shore. "Some +whaler or sealer has gone ashore a while back. Perhaps she was crushed +by the ice, and carried up on the land when the spring break-up came. +But there's a chance we may be able to find some sort of shelter from +this rain that's coming down on us." + +"Hurry up, then," said Teddy, "and we may be able to save our jackets +yet. I don't want to get soaked, unless I have to." + +"I'd like to know who does?" asked Jimmy; "though for the matter of +that, none of us are made of salt. And with a camp hatchet, I reckon now +we'll be able to chop away enough wood aboard the wreck to have a decent +fire going." + +"If there's going to be any sort of storm, you don't think we'll be in +danger of getting carried out to sea, do you, Ned?" questioned Teddy. +"Not that I'd object to a cruise through this five-hundred-mile bay, the +biggest thing of its kind in all the world; but I'd want to have +something sound under me, and not a wreck of a boat, ready to sink any +old time." + +"Don't waste so much breath talking, but hurry!" advised Jack. + +At that they put on an additional spurt, and drew closer to the wreck, +which was half out of the water. Reaching the stern, part way up the +beach, the boys found that a break allowed them an easy chance to climb +aboard; and with hope beating high in their breasts, they hastened to +clamber up the rough passage, glad of the opportunity to find possible +shelter from the coming rain. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AFTER THE STORM. + + +"Sure she's deserted, are you?" asked the cautious Teddy, as he followed +the other members of the little party aboard, the old Cree Indian guide +bringing up the rear. + +"Not a sign of any living thing here," came the answer, as Ned peered +about. + +"Sometimes, I understand, that you can run across all sorts of horrible +sights on one of these same wrecks," continued Teddy. "Sailors get +drowned, you know, down in the hold or in the forecastle. I hope we +don't discover anything like that now. I never did fancy sights as +ghastly as that." + +"And I don't think you need bother your head about it," Ned told him, +"because, in the first place, this wreck has been here quite some time; +and, then again, you can see that wreckers have been aboard and stripped +nearly all the iron and brass and copper out, because it was valuable. +Perhaps there may be some Esquimaux living along the shore of Hudson +Bay; or else it was the men up at the mine who did it. What we want to +do is to find out what state the cabin happens to be in. A dry roof +would be about the best we could ask to-day." + +They made a rush toward the stairs that led down, which in most vessels +would be known as the companionway. A shout went up as they looked into +the cabin. It was almost destitute of anything that might serve as a +comfort, but a broken stove gave promise of a fire, with all the delight +that this carried in its train. + +"We bunk here, all right," said Frank, as soon as he had sighted that +stove; it was really a sorry object, but then everything depends on the +conditions surrounding one when rendering judgment--at home, they would +have never given such a dilapidated thing house room; but shipwrecked +mariners are not likely to be critical, and that broken stove was still +capable of carrying fire. + +"Get busy with your hatchets, those who have them, and lay in a supply +of wood for burning," Jack called out, suiting his own actions to the +words, and beginning to chop away vigorously. + +"I don't suppose it matters a cent where you bang," remarked Jimmy, +following the example set by the other scout; "and if we stay here long +enough, we might burn up the whole bally ship. All she's good for, +anyhow, to give a bunch of fellers that have lost their blankets a lift +in a rain storm. Whack away, boys; nobody ain't goin' to say a word +what you do, only cut wood." + +"We didn't get in here any too soon," Frank told them; and upon +listening they could hear the rain falling heavily on the broken deck of +the derelict. + +When one is securely sheltered that sound never strikes awe to the soul; +in fact, it seems almost a merry tune, like that played upon the attic +roof, in the good old days when you visited grandpa out on the farm, and +could lie in bed, feeling glad you were not out in that downpour. + +"Let her rain all she wants to," said Teddy; "it can't hurt us, because +I don't think any kind of a downpour would raise the whole bay enough to +float us off this sandy beach." + +The others laughed at his remark. Teddy was so ready to conjure up +troubles that never could have any real excuse for existing. + +"What I'm provoked about," Jack ventured, "is that we didn't get a +chance to signal to that nearest vessel before the fog cut her out +again. But let's hope they'll hang around somewhere till the rain's +over, and we can let them know the fix we're in." + +"Huh! s'pose they don't know anything about wigwagging with the flags?" +Jimmy put in. "Vessels have a way of talking across miles of water, but +then their code is a whole lot different from the one scouts use ashore. +We might be able to let 'em know we wanted some help, and would pay +well for it. Money talks when a lot of other things are like mud." + +Willing hands made light work, and a fire was soon burning in the old +remnant of a stove that had once done duty in the midst of ice-packs, +when the wreck was a gallant vessel in search of oil or, perhaps, +sealskins. + +After all, they had little reason to complain. The rain pattered on the +deck, and, in a few places, leaked through; but there was plenty of dry +space, so that none of the boys need get sprinkled. As for fuel, they +had abundance of it, so long as their camp hatchets kept an edge, and +their muscles held out for service. + +"Not so bad, is it, Jimmy?" Teddy wanted to know, as they tried to make +themselves as comfortable as possible, by hunting up all sorts of things +capable of being turned into rough seats. + +Of course, these were of no value whatever, for in frequent raids on the +part of wreckers, whoever they may have been, everything worth taking +had long since been carried away. Indeed, Frank declared he was puzzled +to know why they had overlooked the broken stove; and all of them agreed +it must have been by mistake. + +"Well, I should say not," was the reply, on the part of the +freckled-face lad, as he sighed and looked around him. "D'ye know I was +just thinking how happy we could be in this palace if only we had those +lovely blankets along; yes, and all that good stuff to eat. I think I'd +be apt to pick up some weight here, if we had a cinch like that. But now +every meal we enjoy means we're that much closer to the end. Mebbe we'll +have to do what shipwrecked sailors do, draw lots for a sacrifice. I see +my finish, if ever it comes to that, because I always get the wrong end +of the deal or the stick." + +"I pity the one who has to take a bite out of such a tough case as you," +Teddy frankly told him; and somehow Jimmy seemed to consider that he had +been given a bouquet, for he bowed and smiled and looked pleased. + +"Tell the rest that," he whispered to Teddy "and I'll be safe." + +The rain kept coming down steadily as the hours wore on. + +"Tell me about your tropical showers," Jimmy remarked, as noon came and +found no change in the conditions, "right up here on the border of the +Arctic regions, when it takes a notion to rain, it does make up for lost +time. Why, I wouldn't be surprised if it kept the plug out of the rain +barrel for a week now." + +"It's bound to make the going worse for us," Frank grumbled. + +"Why, all the marshes will be flooded, and we'll have a high old time +trying to navigate through the same. What do you think, Ned?" Teddy +wanted to know. + +The patrol leader looked at them, and smiled. + +"I think history is repeating itself, and that you fellows are crossing +bridges again before you get to them," he replied. + +"Do you mean that there's a chance we won't have to tramp through these +bogs and cross the salt water marshes?" demanded Jimmy. + +"Well, we're here right now, and fairly comfortable," Ned told him. +"What will happen next is something none of us can more than guess; but, +as long as some of those vessels keep hovering around out on the bay, +I'll hug a hope that we'll find some way of getting in touch with them." + +"Which I take it means you firmly believe they're real, and not Flying +Dutchmen, like they tell about in yarns of the sea?" Jimmy asked. + +"I believe what my eyes tell me," answered the other, "and through the +glass I saw men on those vessels, going about their regular daily tasks. +Whatever they may be doing up here in Hudson Bay, take my word for it, +there's nothing of the phantom about that fleet. They have some good +reason for coming and going so mysteriously. Perhaps we'll know what it +is before we get away from here." + +Jimmy and Teddy, the pair of doubters, seemed to feel somewhat better +after this little heart-to-heart talk with Ned. The leader of the Wolf +Patrol had a happy faculty for inspiring others with some of his own +confidence, which is one of the finest qualities a scout can possess. + +There was a watch being kept to guard against any unexpected happening. +As was to be expected, the two guides took it upon themselves to look +after this part of the business. One of them was on duty at a time, and +it could be so arranged that the sentry did not necessarily have to +expose himself to the inclemency of the weather, in order to stand +guard. + +Nothing came to pass, and the long, dreary day gradually neared its end. + +"Never knew such a terribly monotonous time in all me life," Jimmy +grumbled; for he would not have been happy unless he could find an +occasional chance to "let off steam," as Teddy called it. + +"Well," said Jack, "it's nearly night now, and let me tell you a great +secret." + +"Go on!" exclaimed the other, looking interested. + +"The rain's stopped!" Jack explained. + +"Well, I declare, if that isn't true for you, Jack!" cried Jimmy; "and +to think that after me waiting for hours to be the first to tell the +joyful tidings, I had to get thinking so deeply about our affairs that I +clean forgot all about it. But it may not last. Sometimes there's a +break, and then the old storm comes back again, worse nor ever." + +"Clouds zey be break right now, over zere," and Francois, who had just +come in from the sheltered nook where watch was kept, pointed as he +spoke toward the southwest, where the storm had been coming from. + +"Oh! if that's the case," added Jimmy, thinking it best to cheer up, +"I'll take back what I said. And let's hope a lot of this water'll soak +away before we have to put our best foot forward again in the morning." + +"I suppose we'll have to eat again," remarked Frank. + +"Please don't force yourself," Jimmy told him. "It's a bad plan to eat +when you don't feel like it. And, by the same token, your loss will be +our gain." + +It was a good thing that the scouts could joke among themselves, even +when facing desperate conditions. They had enough of gloom around them +without allowing it to seize upon their spirits. + +By this time their stock of food was getting down to such a low ebb that +there was little choice when it came to preparing a meal. True, Jimmy +would run over a long list of things that appealed especially to his +clamorous appetite; but after all was said and done, it might be +noticed that each meal was very much a repetition of those that had gone +before. + +Indeed, even at that, no one would have complained of the sameness of +their food, if only the supply looked more promising. + +Jimmy, who helped get supper ready, heaved many a heavy sigh, as he +figured that at this rate the larder would be bare by the next evening. + +"And after that, what?" he went around asking every one; but they only +laughed at his fears, and told him to remember that in the past luck +always came their way when the skies looked darkest. + +"Something will happen, see if it don't," Frank observed, with a faith +that had solid foundation; because they had just been talking of many +occasions when circumstances had suddenly arisen to bring them a +glorious success. + +"And, anyhow, we'll often look back to this hotel on the beach with a +smile," was what Teddy observed, as he turned his head and glanced at +the dilapidated cabin of the wrecked whaling vessel, seen by the fitful +flashes of light from the fire, at which Francois was cooking supper. + +"We'll miss the mattress of hemlock browse to-night, I reckon," Ned +hinted, as he looked down at the hard floor of the cabin. + +"Look out for lame limbs to-morrow morning, then," Jack chuckled. "I +expect to see a lot of limping cripples start out the first thing. +Sleeping on boards may be better than nothing, but it's little rest I +expect to get." + +"I've heard of fellers sleepin' standin' up," Jimmy informed him. +"There's that old veteran, Daddy Spellmire, who tells such yarns about +the old days when he 'fit in the war with Siegel.' He says some of them +were so dead tired that when they were marching they'd press close up +together; and often he's slept while moving his legs in a mechanical +way, held up by his comrades all around." + +"We might try that if everything else fails," said Frank. + +Supper being ready they started in and enjoyed it. Boys are not prone to +worry very much about the future. The present is enough in their +estimation to look after. What might happen was for them to handle when +it came to pass; only Jimmy, at times, liked to grumble and complain +that he was not getting a square deal. + +When they had finished eating, it was night. Though stars had peeped out +here and there, it still looked somewhat gloomy, even if the mist was +clearing away to seaward. The breeze had shifted around, so that with +the incoming tide the waves ran far up on the beach now, and there was +considerable of a roar in the air as these curled over and broke upon +reaching shallow places. + +Time was beginning to hang heavy on the hands of the five scouts. They +missed the delightful surroundings which they had enjoyed while camping +each night, during the time they were moving northward in the canoes. It +was so different here in this dingy old cabin, when they would have +enjoyed seeing the trees waving above their heads, and felt the +springing turf underneath their bodies, as the time came to seek their +blankets under the shelter of the khaki-colored waterproof tents, now +alas, gone no doubt forever. + +Frank, seeing that his chums were not feeling in a very merry mood as +they tried to settle down as comfortably as they could, wandered outside +to the sloping deck to talk with Francois, who had taken the Indian +guide's place on watch. + +He had hardly been gone three minutes when they heard him coming down +the companionway in great haste. Somehow, everyone of the others seemed +to understand that the terrible stagnation was about to be broken up. + +When Frank burst into the cabin his face told the story. He was bringing +them news of some sort, for his eyes were glowing and his face flushed. + +"What ails you, Frank?" asked Jack, as they scrambled to their feet. + +"After all, it begins to look like we needn't bother about how we're +going to sleep to-night, standing or sitting!" the newcomer announced, +breathlessly. + +"How is that?" asked Jimmy. + +"Why, there are lights coming along the shore right now--lanterns I +should say, at a rough guess," Frank went on; "chances are the miners +have learned about our being aboard this old wreck, and mean to gather +us in before morning!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE BATTLE OF THE HULK. + + +There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a +corner of the cabin. From the actions of the scouts, it could be +imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate +resistance. + +"If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his +repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for +business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old +wreck. Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able +to do the work. If they know what's good for them, they'll go mighty +slow about trying to storm this place." + +"Why," said Teddy, "it'd be pretty hard to climb up the sides anywhere, +so all we have to do is to defend the break in the stern where we got +aboard." + +They all looked to Ned to find out what his opinion might be. + +"I'm not thinking so much about the chances of keeping them out," the +scout leader went on to say, "as what will happen afterwards." + +"Do you mean when we try to leave here to-morrow, Ned?" questioned Frank. + +"I mean that the chances are, after they've had a good try and find they +can't rush the wreck, with so many guns defending it, those men will +start in to keep us in a state of siege." + +"Holy smoke!" burst from Jimmy, as he looked horrified; "and us with +only grub enough on hand for two skimpy meals. What under the sun will +we do? No chance to knock over a caribou or a moose, and fill up the +empty larder! Was there ever such hard luck?" + +"Many times, Jimmy," replied Ned, "and we always managed to pull +through, somehow or other. We will again, as sure as anything, even if I +can't tell you just how it's going to happen. Besides a scarcity of +food, we have to face a water famine, you must remember." + +"With all the sea knockin' at our door, too," groaned Jimmy. "And think +of the amount that's been runnin' to waste off our deck all day. What a +pity we didn't think to find a cask, and fill the same when we had the +chance. To tell you the truth, I'm getting more and more thirsty as I +think of how we'll suffer." + +"Well, the men with the lanterns are coming right along all the time you +fellows are talking here," Frank advised them. + +"And our first duty is to get on deck, so as to be ready to repel +boarders," Ned declared. + +"Boarders!" echoed Jimmy, "well, I should say we ought to repel them, +when right now we ain't got enough food for our own family table." + +They hurried out of the cabin, Ned making sure that the fire in the +stove was so far extinguished that its light might not betray the fact +of the wreck being peopled. + +As soon as they arrived on deck they had no difficulty in discovering +the approaching peril. Indeed, the moving lanterns were close by, and +coming right along, as though those who were carrying them had arrived +at the conclusion that the exploring party might have taken temporary +refuge from the rain aboard the old wreck. + +Doubtless its possibilities as a shelter were well known to them; and +they could easily understand how the boys would eagerly welcome a chance +to keep their jackets dry. + +"There are three of the lanterns, Ned," Jack was saying, as all of them +strained their eyes to see. + +"Yes, and back of the same, I can get glimpses of other fellers walkin' +along at a smart clip," Jimmy announced. + +"Yes, there must be nearly a dozen in that bunch," Frank gave as his +opinion. + +"Enough to give us two apiece all around," Jimmy told them, just as +though he might be a very bloodthirsty individual, instead of a +peace-loving scout, if let alone. "And it'd be a saving of ammunition, +if we could fix things so that one bullet would do for both. Because I +take it you mean to open fire, if so be they persist in tryin' to board +with us, eh, Ned?" + +"We have no other course open to us," replied the leader of the scouts, +sadly; for he did not at all fancy being forced into a fight against his +will. "But everybody, remember to be as careful as you can, and not shed +blood unless there is nothing else to be done. Then aim to wound all you +can. I'd hate to have to think I'd taken any man's life, no matter how +much he deserved it." + +"H'm! mebbe that's all right," grumbled Jimmy; "but when your back's up +agin the wall, and you got to do it, or go under yourself, what's to +hinder? We want to be let alone, and go our way. If they won't agree, +but try to knock us over, or make us prisoners, so they can keep us here +month in and month out on a steady diet of fish and water why, for one, +I ain't agoin' to stand for it, you hear me. Ned, you tell that bad lot +they'd better hold up if they know what's good for 'em; because I've got +me gun ready, and there's light enough for us to see where to aim." + +The men with the lanterns had by this time come so close to the wreck +lying half out on the beach, and with the incoming waves lapping the +rest of the bulk, that another minute would have seen them starting to +clamber aboard. + +They were heading straight for the break in the stern, which would +indicate that all of them must be familiar with their surroundings. No +doubt, they had been on the stranded whaler many a time since it was +cast up there on the beach. + +So Ned called out, trying to throw as much of authority in his voice as +was possible at the time. + +"Stop where you are, men!" he shouted, abruptly. + +The lanterns no longer advanced. Evidently those who carried them were +trying to see the party who had given this peremptory command. They +could be heard talking together in low and husky tones, some urging a +precipitate rush, others counciling caution and diplomacy, in order to +accomplish their ends. + +"Hello! there, on the wreck!" some one, doubtless vested with authority, +called out. + +"Well, what do you want?" asked Ned. + +"Are you the party that was up at the mine, and did you come here in +canoes?" continued the unseen leader of the group below. + +"We had our boats stolen, and now we're about to head to the south on +foot," was what the patrol leader announced, possibly thinking that it +might influence these hardy men somewhat, if they knew that the scouts +intended to quit that region without delay. + +Some more low talking went on below on the beach. + +"Be ready, boys," warned Jack; "there's a movement on foot, and like as +not they'll start to try and rush the gangway. Keep low down, because +they might start firing on us!" + +"That's right, Jack," said Ned, who had just been about to issue the +same sort of warning himself. "When you're dealing with men like these, +look out for treachery." + +Just then the man below shouted again. He had a very rough, raspy voice, +and seemed to be of an ugly disposition, though possibly he was hoping +to impress the boy with the idea that he would brook no foolishness. + +"Well, you've got to surrender to us, that's all," he went on to say. +"You went and spied on what mining was being done up here, and we've +orders not to let you get away till the word comes. Might as well make +up your minds to that, youngsters, and it'll save ye lots of trouble. +Throw down what guns ye got." + +At that Jimmy burst out into a loud laugh. + +"Will ye be after hearin' him give his orders, fellers?" he exclaimed. +"Just like he was the boss of the barnyard, too. Listen to me, you down +there! We are seven, all told, and with as many guns of the latest model +that can throw lead through ten inches of hard wood. If ye want the +guns, come up and take the same. I give ye my word, it'll be the hottest +time any of ye ever struck in the course of your lives. A dozen of ye, +are there? Well, after the first volley, we'll cut the count down just +one-half. Don't all speak at once, but pull the latchstring, and come on +into our little parlor!" + +It was simply impossible to stop Jimmy, once he got started, unless you +took him in hand and clapped a gag over his mouth. As there was no +chance of doing this now, Ned let him have his say. It could do little +harm, after all; in fact, perhaps, it might even do some good, since the +men on the beach would have received ample warning, with regard to the +intentions of the scouts, and if they ventured to try and clamber aboard +the wreck, it would be at their own peril. + +Apparently, more talking was going on below. + +"That may all be a blind," Jack ventured to say, as they lined up along +the side of the wreck, with their guns ready. + +"Yes, because unless I miss my guess several of the bunch slipped away, +as if they had their orders," Frank declared. + +"It may be they know of another way to get aboard," said Ned, "and while +the rest keep on parleying with us, they mean to try and slip around, so +as to take us by surprise. Jack, you and Teddy keep tabs of the rear, +and shoot if you see the least suspicious movement." + +"Ay, ay! sir!" said Jack, immediately wheeling so as to keep his rifle +pointed toward the threatened spot. "Drop low down, Teddy, so as not to +show against the sky-line. And when I say, 'let drive,' give several +shots. The noise of the bombardment will help scare 'em off, I reckon." + +The man who seemed to be leader again hailed them. + +"You can't get away from here, and you might's well know that same first +as last," he went on to say, positively. "You learned too much for yer +own good that time, an' we ain't going to allow of your getting out of +this region in a hurry. If ye surrender, we'll treat ye white, give ye +my word on that. All we want is that ye shouldn't get to Montreal till +we hears from the boss. Show your good sense, boys, by makin' the best +of a bad bargain." + +"You might as well save your breath, whoever you are," said Ned, firmly; +"we know what it all means, and why you want to hold us here prisoners, +without any right to do the same. And understand now that we refuse to +stand for it. Try and rush this wreck, and some of you will get hurt. +The same applies to the three men you sent around to try and take us in +the rear. We're on to your tricks, mister, and, if you know what's good +for you, just turn around and leave us alone. We mean to fight, and +fight hard! That's the last word of warning I'm going to give you, and +the next move will call for lead. Do you get that straight?" + +Ned could be quite belligerent when he chose. He realized that he was +dealing with hard characters in these men, and that any sign of weakness +on his part was only going to make things the more difficult for himself +and chums. + +He understood that what he had just said must be looked on as a sort of +challenge by the miners on the beach. There could be no more parleying +after that defiance had been given. It meant war. + +Consequently, Ned was not at all surprised to hear the dimly seen men +break out into an angry roar of shouts, and to see them start toward the +stern of the wreck, with the evident intention of swarming aboard. + +There were several flashes as firearms sounded, so that altogether it +looked as if the battle had opened. + +After that it was folly to dream that they could pull through peaceably, +when these hired minions of the fraudulent mining corporation were so +bent on carrying out their own plans and which consisted of making the +boys prisoners. + +Ned gave the word, and immediately the scouts commenced shooting. They +could see the advancing figures fairly well in the half darkness, and at +such short range it would have had to be a pretty poor marksman who +could not have hit his target had he really wanted to do so. But the +scouts were not ferociously inclined. Ned had begged them not to resort +to stern measures, unless it were absolutely necessary, and something +desperate had to be done in order to prevent the enemy from +accomplishing the capture of the old hulk. + +So while they rattled away merrily with their repeating guns, they took +care not to mow the advancing men down. This was easily accomplished by +shooting so as to send their bullets into the sand of the beach; and as +the assailants could not tell what the sanguinary result of the furious +fire might be, they no doubt imagined that terrible execution was being +wrought in their ranks. + +Some of them managed to reach the stern of the wreck; others stumbling +over flotsam and jetsam on the beach were crawling around, seeking +shelter from the blaze of fire that leaped all along the bulwarks above. + +It was a pretty warm time while it lasted, and even Jack and Teddy +seemed to be engaged, for the roar of their guns chimed in with the +rest. If those three men, who had slipped away from the rest, had +managed to climb aboard, by means of some dangling rope, they, +doubtless, speedily realized that it was not a safe place in which to +linger. + +"Stop firing!" cried Ned, suddenly, "they've fallen back, and the first +round goes to us." + +"That was the easiest licked squad I ever ran across!" boasted Jimmy; +"and, while I'm about it, I might as well confess that I had to crease +one feller in the leg, for he was pushing right into the opening. Sure +he fell back, and the last I saw of the bog trotter, he was crawling +away, draggin' that left leg after him." + +Ned sighed. He had hoped to accomplish this business for Mr Bosworth +without being compelled to do violence; but it seemed that this could +not be. As scouts, he and his chums objected to such things; but, as a +last resort, even members of the organization must be allowed the +liberty of defending themselves against the assaults of hired ruffians. + +"Do you know where those three men got aboard, Jack?" he asked. + +"I think we'll find a piece of rope hanging over the side," replied the +other; yes, "here it is, Ned. Shall I cut it loose, so as to stop that +gap?" + +"Of course," came the answer; "and then take one of the electric torches +and see if any of them stayed aboard, after the firing was over. Jimmy, +you go along; and be careful not to get held up. We don't want to have a +treacherous foe hiding near us, and ready to do something desperate at +any minute. Sing out, if you find one, and want any help to throw him +overboard!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +BESIEGED. + + +The two scouts hurried away to execute the orders of their chief. They +were so accustomed to having Ned tell them what to do that any command +he might give was always cheerfully carried out. + +The balance of the party remained there where they could command the +break in the stern of the wreck, and which the enemy had once vainly +attempted to rush. If presently another attack were made they would be +in position to pour down a hot fire on the assailants; and perhaps +taking pattern by Jimmy, the rest of the defenders might begin to give +wounds that would gradually put the miners out of the game. + +Before three minutes had passed Ned and those with him heard a +tremendous row going on down the deck. This was followed by a great +scrambling, and then came a loud splash. + +"Say, they must have found one of the three sneaks!" exclaimed Teddy, +jubilantly. + +"Here comes Jack now to report," added Frank. + +Jack was breathing hard, but chuckling at the same time, as he came up. + +"I have the honor to report, sir, that we discovered a spy aboard, and +made him walk the plank," he started in to say, with all the airs of a +second officer aboard a liner, giving in his account of duties +performed. "He didn't want to make the jump but Jimmy helped him over +the side, while I covered him and kept his hands up. We've looked +everywhere now, and think he was the only one that stayed aboard." + +"I hope you didn't drown the fellow, Jack," said Ned. + +"Small danger of that," laughed the other; "where he fell the water was +only a few feet deep, even with a wave rolling in. He's ashore long +before now, and can report how we do things aboard the Old Reliable. +Anything else you want done, sir, while we've got our hands in?" + +"Nothing but keep an eye out for any creeper along the sides. They may +think to try it over again," Ned told him. + +"And next time perhaps we'll do something worse than tossing the fellow +overboard," Jack declared. "I half believe that scoundrel meant to do us +an ugly turn. Why, he had a wicked looking knife in his hand just when +we cornered him, and even raised it as if meaning to strike, when I +knocked it out of his grasp with the barrel of my gun, and then Jimmy +jumped on him like a monkey." + +"A good job all around," was Ned's comment; "and it ought to show these +parties that we mean what we say. I'm only hoping they'll get sick of +the business and conclude to let us alone. That is all we ask of them, +to keep their hands off, and allow us to pull out." + +"Small chance of that happening, I'm afraid," Jack went on to say. "If +we get away from here it'll be because we've gone and licked the lot +of them, as Jimmy was remarking, out of their boots. I say that, because +we know what it would mean to this fake concern to let the story of the +mine get to New York City." + +After that for a while everything seemed very quiet. Watch as they might +they could see nothing of the enemy on the beach below. The waves crept +up higher, as the tide came in, and the sound of their curling over with +a long roll grew more and more boisterous; but ashore all seemed as +silent as death. + +"You don't think then they've had enough of fight, and gone away, eh, +Ned?" was what Teddy asked, as he crept to where the patrol leader +stood, looking over the bulwarks, and keenly on the alert. + +"Not a bit of it, Teddy," came the prompt reply. "You ought to know that +men like that give up only as the tiger does, grudgingly. They've felt +of our claws, and found that we can scratch; so next time they'll try +and work some other sort of game that may pay them better." + +"I don't see how it can be done," urged Teddy. "If there were any trees +overhanging our fortress I might begin to think they'd climb up, and try +to drop in on us. And so far as we know they haven't got an aeroplane to +take the place of the same trees. They can only make a charge through +that gap in the stern and we're able to guard that, all right, ain't we, +Ned?" + +"It seems so," the other told him; "but you mustn't be too sure about +there being no other way of getting aboard. We might have said that +before, and yet there was the dangling rope that three of them climbed. +Now, there may be another route; and while we don't know about it, the +only way to make sure is to keep on the alert every minute of the time." + +Possibly half an hour passed in this way. The strain was beginning to +tell on some of the boys, for they felt that it was necessary to keep +keyed up to a high tension all the time. They did not know at what +moment loud yells would indicate that the battle had been resumed and +under new conditions. + +"Whew! and to think that we've just got to keep this up all night long," +Teddy lamented, as he shifted from one foot to the other, for, as he +said, they were trying to play tricks with him, by going to sleep on +post. + +"Yes, and mebbe a whole lot longer," Jimmy told him; "because, while I +haven't been saying much about the same, I'm of the opinion that Ned hit +the right nail on the head when he said they'd try to starve us out. Oh! +I could stand nearly anything, but to go hungry. I've often thought +that would be my wind-up some of these fine days, to starve to death. +And I can't imagine a more terrible fate." + +"Enough for two decent meals in the larder yet, Jimmy," said Frank. "And +before we get to the jumping-off place, we'll make a move out of this, +let me tell you. I think you'll be able to eat your three meals a day +this long while yet." + +"Well, it's kind of you to say so, Frank," Jimmy went on; "but just now +I was thinking how neat we could give these fellers the slip, if only we +had a boat of some sort. There's plenty of water at the bow, with the +tide still comin' in like fun. My kingdom for a boat; any old hooker'd +do to fill the bill, because we ain't particular." + +"Could we manage to make a raft, do you think?" asked Teddy. + +"There's plenty of loose stuff around," Ned remarked; "but while a boat +might help us out, I don't think we could do anything with a clumsy +raft, even if we had a chance to launch the same, without being found +out. I had considered whether we might get overboard at the bow and make +off up the shore, but the chances of being discovered seemed too great." + +"And besides we'd be apt to get our guns wet, and that might keep us +from using the same, when they were badly needed," Jack suggested. "So +it seems as though we'll have to give up the idea of leaving the fort by +the water door." + +This started them to canvassing the whole situation over again, and +several ingenious schemes were proposed. Unfortunately, on entering +deeper into the same, they showed weakness in one particular or another, +so that all of them had to be cast aside. + +What made it doubly irritating was the knowledge that if they waited +until the dawn came, their position would be doubly dangerous, since +they might not even show themselves along the side of the wreck, without +inviting a shot. As to escaping, it was not to be thought of while the +sun remained above the horizon. + +"We've got to do something to-night, that's flat!" urged Teddy, possibly +in the hope that Ned might have a plan of his own, which he was holding +back, just to ascertain what his chums could do along those lines. + +"I've got a hunch that they're nearly ready to give us another whirl," +Jimmy was remarking, as he leaned over the rail of the vessel, as though +to see better. + +"What makes you say that?" questioned Jack. + +"There's a suspicious movement below that makes me believe some of the +bog-trotters are creeping along close beside the boat. I think they must +have come out of the water, where it slaps up against the wreck. Right +down underneath us they are, Ned. If I had a kettle of scaldin' water, I +could start the biggest yelping chorus ye ever heard right now." + +A few sharp words from Ned put them all on the alert. Each one had a +station assigned to him, which he was expected to hold, in case of a +renewal of hostilities; while Jimmy might bemoan the fact that he could +not have a bucket of boiling water with which to startle the intended +boarders, he evidently did not intend to let that deficiency keep him +from doing his duty. Crouching there at a point where he could fire +through the breach in the stern of the wreck, he only waited for the +word to be given, when he evidently meant to start some others among the +enemy to limping on one leg. + +"Gee!" Jack heard him saying softly to himself, with a chuckle, +"wouldn't it be a funny thing now, if we went and crippled the whole +shooting match, by tapping every one in the left leg. Think of how +they'd go hobbling around here, like a bunch of old pensioners comin' +after their money. Watch my smoke, now, and see how I fix 'em." + +When everything was prepared in this way it made the boys nervous to +wait, for minutes passed and nothing happened. All the while they were +imagining the enemy creeping up the sides of the old hulk, grimly bent +on doing them injury. + +Ned passed from one point to another, trying to discover just what kind +of peril it might be that menaced them. Did the miners have some way of +springing on board at a given signal, so that they might attack from all +sides at once? + +When a full hour had gone and still there was no attack, Ned began to +wonder if after all any assault had been intended. Surely these men knew +by now that those on board the wreck were well armed, and that they +could hardly hope to carry the fort by assault. Perhaps they had come to +the wise conclusion that there was a far better means at their disposal +than bloodshed. Famine could accomplish what violence failed to do. +All they had to figure on was keeping the scouts there just so long, +when, lacking food and fresh water, they must give in. + +After the chances for another desperate charge through the breach had +begun to grow fainter, Ned started to figuring again how he might get +his comrades and himself out of so uncomfortable a scrape. + +As Jimmy had said, since they had no airship, they could not fly in that +way; and lacking boats, the sea offered no solution to the puzzle. All +that was left then, apparently, was the land, with those fierce foes +lying in wait to attack them the minute they quitted their fortress. + +Ned believed that he had the most difficult problem to solve that had +come his way this many a day. From every side he viewed it, the puzzle +seemed as unanswerable as ever. If only they could manage to slip away +along about an hour or so after midnight, when the darkness was densest; +but there was only the one way to leave, and that was evidently watched +closely, if those silent figures flitting hither and thither on the +beach stood for anything. + +But was the breach the only means for leaving? Ned remembered that those +three men had climbed aboard through the aid of a dangling rope. What +was sauce for the goose might be sauce for the gander, too; and if only +they could discover more rope they might also slide down it to safety. + +He moved over to where Jimmy was squatted like a big toad, with his gun +resting on his knee, and aimed straight at the frowning breach in the +stern. + +"You told us about those three men climbing aboard by means of a rope +that was dangling over the side; am I right, Jimmy?" he asked. + +"Just what they did, sir," came the reply. + +"You didn't leave that rope there, did you?" continued Ned. + +"I should say not," Jimmy answered with emphasis. "Jack pulled it up on +deck, after I'd helped the feller make his getaway jump." + +"And you think it's there still?" the patrol leader asked. + +"Must be, unless somebody's been and gone and cut it loose to throw it +overboard," was the answer Jimmy made. "But what's a rope got to do +with us now, Ned? Want it to string up one of the dubs in case we get +our hooks on the same? Now, that might be a good scheme. It'd sure warn +'em that we meant business, and didn't expect to stand for any +foolishness." + +"Well, you've guessed wrong that time, because it wasn't hanging I had +in mind, Jimmy!" declared Ned. "I was only trying to figure what chance +we'd have to get away, if later on in the night, one by one, we managed +to drop down by means of that rope." + +"Gee! that is an idea, now, Ned. And say, it'd give us a chance to skip +out in the dark. Once clear of this pack, we could do some huntin' and +lay in a stock of meat. Oh! I hope you can make it work, Ned. Looks like +it might be our last hope, don't it?" + +"I've been thinking right along, and, so far, it's the only idea I've +struck; but we couldn't dream of starting for some hours yet. So keep on +the watch, and don't let the enemy rush us." + +"Count on me to hold 'em in check," said Jimmy, with a touch of his old +boastfulness. "I'm Leander at the Bridge, or Leonidas holding that pass +at Thermopylae. I'm here like a rock and can't be budged. Oh! you mutts +down there, I'm sorry for the feller that tries to run the gauntlet of +my fire; because my finger's on the trigger all the while, and just +itchin' to press harder." + +Thinking to make sure about that rope, on which it now seemed so much +might depend, the patrol leader passed on down the slanting deck of the +stranded old hulk. + +He met some one coming from the other end of the wreck; and it turned +out to be Frank, who, on finding out that he had run upon Ned, took hold +of his sleeve. + +"Come down here with me," he said, "I want you to see something." + +Curious to know what the other scout meant, Ned readily accompanied him; +but in passing the place where Jack and Jimmy had met with their +adventure, he made sure that the rope was still where the former had +tossed it after drawing it up. + +"There, what d'ye think of that?" asked Frank. + +He was pointing out toward the great bay, as he said this; and, looking, +Ned discovered that the last of the sea fog and mist had cleared away, +leaving the air as clear as a bell. Far away over the water he saw +several strange lights. They seemed to rise and fall in a mysterious +fashion; and yet Ned knew that there was nothing at all queer about +this. + +"The phantom fleet at anchor!" said Frank, and it was hard to tell from +his manner whether he meant all his words implied or not. + +"Yes," said Ned, soberly, "whatever those vessels are, they might help +us out of this scrape, if only we could get in communication with them," +and he stood there for some time, staring reflectively out toward the +twinkling lights on the swelling sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +UNEXPECTED HELP. + + +"They're coming, Ned!" whispered Jack, in a hoarse tone. + +"But that sound surely came from seaward, Jack?" expostulated the other. + +"I know it did, and must have been the sneeze of a man at that," replied +the second scout. "But what of it, Ned? We must remember they've got +other boats besides our canoes, and it might be possible for them to row +around from the mouth of the Harricanaw to this place." + +"Yes, possibly," said Ned, "but hardly probable in so short a time. But +like you, I believe it was a man who sneezed, and that he was out there +on the water. Look again, and see if you can pick up a boat moving, +Jack." + +For a full minute the pair stood and strained their eyes to the utmost, +gazing minutely over the rolling waters, from the place where the white +foam could be seen, far out to sea. Ned even noted which way the night +breeze held, and in that quarter he kept his eyes glued the longest +time, as though instinct told him the mysterious sound must have been +carried on the wings of the wind. + +There were all those twinkling riding-lights on the vessels composing +the fleet of whaling or sealing craft, which had come to obtain such a +strange reputation for appearing and vanishing so wonderfully. Perhaps, +as Ned observed them again, he unconsciously connected the sneeze with +their presence; but then this thought quickly gave way to the other. It +was more natural that they should expect those men of the fake mine to +be afloat near by, endeavoring to find some vulnerable part of the +stranded wreck, where they could deliver a successful attack. + +"I see it, Ned!" suddenly said Jack, triumphantly. + +"Show me!" observed the patrol leader, quickly moving his head so that +it came alongside that of his chum, whose hand was extended, with the +quivering forefinger pointing almost in a line with the nearest of all +the vessels. + +"There, watch when the wave rises again, and you'll--there, did you get +it, Ned?" + +"Yes, and as you say, it was a boat with several men in the same," +replied the other scout, hastily; "and more than that, they seem to be +heading straight for this old wreck. You see, they're coming down the +coast, and as like as not, they've rowed all the way from the river." + +"Could they do it on the bay?" asked Jack, dubiously. + +"I don't see any reason against it, if they happen to have strong enough +muscles, and know how to manage a boat on the big waves," Ned went on to +say. + +"But hadn't we better tell the rest?" asked Jack. "If we're going to get +a side wipe, it might be as well for all of us to be ready to meet the +rascals when they try to get aboard from their boat." + +"Yes, let two stay to watch the break in the stern--the Cree and Frank +might handle that end of the business--bring the rest here with you, +Jack. I'll try and keep tabs of the boat, while you're gone." + +"Be back in a jiffy, Ned," and with that Jack shot away. + +He could not have taken much time to tell the others what they were +wanted for, because he quickly appeared again at Ned's elbow, bringing +Jimmy, Teddy and Francois along with him. + +"What's the matter, Ned?" asked the first named, as he looked all about +him, evidently half expecting that he would see the head of a "boarder" +rising into view over the gunwale of the wreck. + +"Jack discovered a boat coming in, and we think it must hold several of +our enemies," the other told them. "Look where I point and you'll see it +rising on the next roller." + +Immediately exclamations of astonishment announced that the others had +sighted the alarming spectacle. + +"They're expecting to take us by surprise, because we'd never think of +standing guard along that side of the old tub," Jimmy declared as his +opinion. + +"It wasn't such a bad scheme, either," added Teddy. "Only for that man +sneezing when he shouldn't, neither of you two might have discovered the +boat." + +"That's as true as anything you ever said, old man," assented Jack, who +never wanted to claim honors he had not fairly won. "But you know it's +the old Black Bear and Wolf luck. + +"We're always running slap up against the greatest things ever heard +of." + +"And first chance I find," muttered Teddy, "I'm going to get transferred +from the old Eagle into one of the other patrols. Whoever heard of an +Eagle having any special luck? That's because they went and named their +patrol after a bald-headed old pirate, who loves to rob the hard working +fish-hawk of his dinner, time in and time out." + +Nobody was paying any particular attention to Teddy's lament, however, +and so he started in to take a second and more particular look at the +dancing object that could be seen one moment, as it rose on a wave, and +then vanishing from view again. + +"Can you all make it out?" asked Jack. + +Even Francois said there was no difficulty now; while Jimmy, as if to +prove that his sight was good, went on to say: + +"It seems to be a pretty hefty boat, too, fellers?" + +"Yes, that's what I thought," Jack answered him. + +"And I reckon you noticed that only two men are in the same; that is, a +pair handling the oars; and, if there are any others, they must be lying +flat on their backs in the bottom of the old thing. Which gives me a +smart little idea, Ned." + +"Glad to hear you say so, Jimmy; and if you don't mind we'll all listen +to what you've got ailing you," the patrol leader told him. + +"Why, it's just like this, you see," continued the other, pleased +beyond words to find himself in the limelight, for that bit of luck did +not come the way of Jimmy often enough to suit him. "There are just two +of the fellers, that's right, and when they step up on deck, where it +slopes near the water-line, why, we'll jump them like a toad hops over a +mushroom. Before they know what's struck 'em, they'll be our prisoners, +see?" + +"Yes, but what good will they be to us, Jimmy; you don't lay out to eat +them, I hope?" demanded Teddy, unable to grasp a thing that had not yet +been fully explained. + +"Shucks! don't you see--when we've got 'em tied up good and tight, why, +what's to hinder the whole bunch of us stepping into their bully boat, +and go slidin' off as slick as you please, heading for the nearest +vessel at anchor out yonder?" + +Jimmy put this question boldly, as though he realized that he had struck +a chord that was bound to evoke the highest praise from his mates. And +he was right, for Ned slapped him heartily on the back, Jack wrung his +hand, while Teddy, who had lost his breath in amazement, at least +managed to stroke his sleeve affectionately. + +"A great scheme, I give you my word, it is, Jimmy; and one that does you +credit," said Ned. "If only we can carry it out, we've got the biggest +chance for escaping that could ever come our way. It all depends on +whether they really mean to try and board the wreck. We're not so dead +sure of that yet, you know." + +The spirits of the others, buoyed up so suddenly by the prospect of a +speedy release from their predicament, underwent a drop. It was as +though the temperature had fallen from blood heat to freezing. + +"Oh! but we were all certain they meant to try and board us a minute +ago, Ned; and let's see if they are still on the same course," with +which Jack, as well as the others sought to again catch a fleeting sight +of the oncoming boat. + +It was not the easiest thing in the world to glimpse such a dusky +looking object in such uncertain light, and with the waves rising and +falling. But it happened that while they had been talking, Francois +managed to keep his eye fixed on the boat, and so he was able to point +it out to them. + +"Oh! joy, she is still heading right for us!" said Jimmy, who had felt +the slump worse than any of the others, because of the fact that the +idea was his own. + +What he said was true, and all of them could see that the two men in the +boat were pulling hard to come along with the sweep of the sea. + +"Better get ready to lay the trap, hadn't we?" asked Jack, nervously. + +"Oh! that will be easy enough when we make sure of where they expect to +board," the patrol leader told him; but, at the same time, he knew full +well that the boat would naturally have to swing around to the sheltered +side of the wreck, before those in it could hope to pull in. + +All of them watched, with their hearts beating like trip-hammers, so +excited had the sudden hope made them. + +The seconds seemed to pass on leaden wings to Jimmy. Several times he +moved uneasily, and Ned could hear the sigh that welled up from the +depths of his heart. This happened when, to his excited fancy, the +oncoming boat seemed to remain motionless on the swelling wave for a +brief period. Possibly at such times the rowers ceased their labors, for +the purpose of scrutinizing the dark hulk, which they were then +approaching, as though to make sure that they would find all well. + +Each time, however, they started to rowing again, and as they drew +nearer to the shore, of course, they had to put more strength into their +strokes, because of the suction of the eddies that surged around the bow +of the derelict, standing at this time of nearly full tide, well in the +water. + +When they changed their course, so as to swing around to leeward of the +wreck, Ned considered that it was time he and his comrades crept along +in the shelter of the bulwark, and made ready to receive the uninvited +guests. + +First of all, they must allow them to come aboard, and also secure the +boat. Any premature action was bound to ruin the whole affair. If one of +the men got away, or the boat was set adrift, it would avail the +prisoners of the hulk nothing. They wanted a means for leaving the +hostile land, and the mere capture of these two men, who evidently +intended to take them by surprise, would not satisfy them at all. + +So Ned and his mates made themselves as small as they could, crouching +there in the gloom of the night. They could hear the splash of the +waves beating against the other side of the old vessel, and these +constant sounds served to hide all else in the way of noise. When the +boat collided with the planking of the wreck, they only knew of its +arrival through the slight quiver that was conveyed to their alert +senses. + +And now they saw one of the dark figures clambering hurriedly over the +broken bulwarks. Strange to say, he did not seem to be at all particular +as to what he was doing. There was no skulking movement, no crouching, +and looking about, such as one would expect to observe under the +circumstances. Ned noted this with surprise. He even began to entertain +serious doubts concerning the absolute truth of the theory he had +previously formed regarding the identity of the two men. Surely, if they +belonged to the force that had once before been repulsed when trying to +board the wreck, they would know of the presence of the scouts there, +and do everything within their power not to let the defenders know of +their secret coming. + +"All right, Captain Bill!" they heard the man who had jumped aboard say; +and that too was a strange thing; had they believed the wreck to be +utterly abandoned, these mysterious parties could not have acted in a +more singular manner. + +Now the second man was climbing over, in which act he was assisted by +the one who had come first, and who seemed to be a more agile chap. + +At least the boat was secure, for Ned could see that the first visitor +was engaged in fastening the painter to a cleat that chanced to be near +by, and which he seemed to find in a remarkably able manner, as though +he might be quite familiar from past associations with the lay of things +aboard that hulk. + +Ned had his little hand-electric torch ready, and when he believed that +the proper instant had come for action, he suddenly pressed the button +that caused a flash to dazzle the eyes of the men. + +"Surrender! Don't try to make a single move, or you'll be shot down. +We've got you covered by our guns, so throw up your hands, both of you!" +was what he exclaimed, and at the same instant, the others stood up with +leveled rifles. + +It was evidently a complete surprise for the invading force. They +elevated both hands as ordered, mechanically perhaps, for at the same +time they were uttering exclamations of bewilderment and wonder. + +"Make sure of the boat, Jimmy!" said Ned, with an eye to their great +need; and only too gladly did the other scout jump forward to where the +rope had been passed around that cleat under the rail. + +"Who are you, anyway, and what d'ye mean by holding us up this way?" +finally asked the older of the two prisoners; and now that he found time +to look closer, Ned was himself amazed to discover that both of them had +the appearance of seafaring men, in regards to garments and bronzed +faces. + +"I'm going to ask you that same question," he managed to say. "Who are +you, and what do you want coming ashore in the night to board this +wreck?" + +The men turned and looked at each other. + +"What d'ye think of that, now, Captain Bill?" asked the younger man. "Me +to be asked that, as has lived and cruised aboard this old whaler +_Comet_ for six years and more, till she was wrecked in the ice last +season, and they carried me away, out o' my head from exposure? Ain't I +got a right aboard here, if anybody has? 'Twas only lately that I +learned she was ashore 'stead of bein' at the bottom of Hudson Bay; and +as I had some valuable papers hid in a bulkhead that I thought was lost +to me for good and all, why, I got Captain Bill, whose mate I am this +trip, to come ashore along with me, so's to see if they be here still. +We knowed there was a wild crowd prospectin' for copper up around these +parts, and didn't dare try to land in daylight. There was other reasons +besides. But now we've told you who and what we are, s'pose you turn +around and enlighten us. Seems like I seen them sort o' suits afore now, +on the Boy Scouts o' Swamsscot, where I hail from in New England. Be you +members of the same organization, boys?" + +For a minute almost, none of the three lads could find his breath to +answer. The astonishing truth actually stunned them. They saw liberty +and safety looming up within their reach. There was no longer any doubt +concerning their chances for leaving this inhospitable land, and +carrying the answer which would mean so much to Mr. Bosworth and those +capitalists associated with him. + +It was Jimmy who recovered first, and his ringing cheer that went +pealing forth over the heaving waters of Hudson Bay. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE MYSTERY SOLVED--CONCLUSION. + + +"Hooray for the greatest thing that ever happened!" Jimmy roared, as he +swung his campaign hat wildly about his head, and even started a jig, +such was his exuberant condition. "The luck of the Wolf Patrol holds as +good as ever! In the nick of time, the villain gets his dope and we pull +off a brilliant victory. Hooray!" + +Indeed, the other boys felt almost as exultant as Jimmy; and hearing +all this racket, both Frank and the Cree chief came hurrying over, +wondering what it could stand for. + +Many questions were poured upon Captain Bill and his younger companion, +who gave his name as Asa Plunkett, once captain of the very vessel upon +whose sloping deck they were then standing. + +"A plenty of room for the whole kit of ye in our whale-boat, lads," said +the older man, "and I reckons as haow we kin find grub for the lot, +aboard the _Grampus_, which will soon be headin' for the home port, +since there ain't nawthin more to be picked up on this ere cruise into +foreign waters, and arunnin' risks all the time o' being hauled up by a +Canadian cruiser." + +"Just gimme about ten minutes to bust open the bulkhead, and see if my +papers has stood all the exposure of months alyin' here on the beach," +remarked Mate Plunkett. + +"You bet we will, sir!" exclaimed Jimmy, "and if you want any help, just +sing out for me. I'm a champion hand to smash things. The habit's gone +and got me into lots of trouble before now. And here's an old, rusty +marlin-spike that might come in handy." + +"We took pains to fetch a hatchet along for that purpose," the mate +informed him, as he hurried toward the companionway, meaning doubtless +to seek the cabin. + +They soon heard him pounding away at a great rate, he having lighted a +lantern that had been fetched from the whaling vessel anchored a mile or +so away. + +"Get your things together, fellows," Ned advised, "because we're +expecting to be afloat on Hudson Bay before many minutes." + +"Seeing how we've been robbed of our most cherished possessions," +declared Teddy, sadly, "that job isn't going to take us very long, I'm +sorry to say." + +"To think that the chance has come to snap our fingers in the faces of +that ugly crowd!" observed Jimmy, who could hardly keep his feet still +through joy. + +"They'll be as mad as anything when they come aboard in the morning to +find us gone," Frank remarked. + +"And as they've got sentries posted, like as not, to give the alarm, if +we try to slip away, up or down the shore, they'll never be able to +guess what became of us all," Jack gave as his opinion, at which they +all laughed again, feeling in a particularly merry mood. + +Then up came Mate Plunkett, waving some yellow papers in his hand. + +"Found 'em all right, Captain Bill!" he called out; "a little tough +lookin', to be sure; but wuth the same money to me, all the same. And +now, lads, if so be you're ready to quit this old wreck, say the word, +and we'll clear out." + +There was not a single dissenting vote, for while the hulk had offered +them an acceptable asylum during the downpour and had proved to be a +pretty serviceable fort when Sol Griggs and the men connected with the +fake copper mine had attempted to effect their capture, none of them +cared to remain a minute longer aboard the old whaler than was +necessary. + +So they embarked, not finding it very difficult, while the boat lay on +the leeward side of the stranded wreck. There was plenty of room for +all, just as the men had stated; and after starting away the scouts saw +the last of their late refuge merged with the dim outlines of the shore. + +Apparently, the miners could not have had any suspicion with regard to +what was transpiring; for they made no move. This would make their +surprise all the more overpowering, when they found in the morning that +their birds had slipped out of the trap. + +As all of the boys had often been upon the sea before in various places, +there was no particular novelty about their sensations now. The relief +from the recent strain was so great that Jimmy insisted on shaking hands +all around several times, while they were moving over the mile that +separated them from the first of the floating lights, aboard the +anchored vessels of the fleet. + +"Mebbe, we'll be apt to learn all about this wonderful disappearing +fleet now, since we expect to be aboard one of the vessels till we reach +some port, where we can telegraph and take a train," Teddy went on to +say, as they drew near the _Comet_, looming up out of the night gloom to +seaward. + +At hearing his remark Mate Plunkett chuckled. + +"So that's what they been calling us, is it?" he said, as he shifted his +quid to the other cheek. "Well, the way we've been dodgin' around +lately, hardly gettin' settled in one anchorage before we'd hear an +alarm raised that a cruiser was comin' down on us, so we'd have to skip +out like the wind from the three-mile limit, I don't wonder at it." + +His words enlightened Ned, who had already been entertaining certain +suspicions with regard to the possible explanation of the mystery. + +"Are you after whales or seals?" he asked, plainly. + +"This time, it's seals we been takin'," replied the mate. "You see, word +was fetched to us, some months back, that a whopping big herd of seal +had taken to some of these here islands in old Hudson Bay, and there was +a rush of vessels to scoop in the same, our hooker along with the rest. +I wanted to come up here again, to find out if anything had ever been +heard of the poor old _Comet_ that I was captain of last season, and so +I took the berth of mate to my old friend, Captain Bill, here." + +"What luck have you had?" asked Jimmy, eagerly. + +"Nawthin' to brag about," came the reply from the old skipper. "I +reckons that it'll pay me nigh as well to go back to whalin' agin; and +there needn't be sech risks of havin' your ship and cargo confiscated by +revenue vessels, as this seal huntin' in Hudson Bay turns out to be." + +"But they say it's nearly five hundred miles across in its widest part," +Frank broke in with; "and how can Canada claim jurisdiction over an +ocean like that? Why, you might as well say, that the Mediterranean was +a closed sea." + +"That's the trouble," remarked Mate Plunkett; "always has been a pesky +lot of trouble about this here place. Because the two roadways of +getting into Hudson Bay happen to be only a certain number of miles +wide, Canada has always tried to claim it as her private preserves. Lots +of whalers has been chased for darin' to ply their trade in these same +waters. Course, they got the right to that three-mile from shore limit, +but they want the whole hog up here. We been keepin' a lookout right +along, while we sent boats out after the seal. It's late in the season +for the work, but skins is so skeerce that we got to take 'em any old +time. But the game's hardly worth the candle, and next year you won't +see many sealers up this way." + +"Then we were in great luck to have you around just when we needed help +most," declared Ned; who had already arranged with Captain Bill to carry +the whole party down to Halifax, where they could be landed; Francois +and the Cree to head for their home country, well paid for their +services, and the scouts starting for New York by the first steamer, +after wiring to Jack's father about the success of their great +expedition. + +They were soon aboard the _Grampus_, where their coming was a surprise +to the crew. Their astonishment increased, however, when Captain Bill at +once gave orders for getting the mudhook up, and leaving their +anchorage, as well as preceding all the other sealers on the homeward +bound trip. + +The boys were willing to put up with such accommodation as might be +looked for on board a Yankee sealing vessel. Of course, steam was the +propelling power, for sailing vessels belong to a by-gone age; and they +were soon making good time out to sea. + +That was the last Ned and his chums were likely to ever see of the +inhospitable shores of the famous Hudson Bay. They had found it the home +of more than one mystery, and would often recall some of their strange +experiences there, while investigating the facts connected with the +wonderful mining find that had been offered to Jack's father, and other +capitalists, for investment. + +When the next morning came along, they were out of sight of land, and +bowling on at a ten knot an hour clip. Look which way they might, there +was nothing but a vast expanse of heaving, tumbling water around them; +and yet Mate Plunkett told them they were still in Hudson Bay, and would +be for two days, even under the most favorable conditions, such was the +extent of the inland sea. + +Fortunately, the boys all proved to be good sailors, so that they felt +very little bad effects from the motion of the vessel, as she ploughed +her way through the rolling billows, throwing the spray high in the air. + +It would have been difficult to have found a happier and more care-free +group of scouts than those five lads from the great metropolis, as day +followed day, and they enjoyed one of the most wonderful voyages they +had ever had the good fortune to embark upon. + +The weather proved to be splendid, and besides, they were just brimming +over with joy, because of the great success that had followed their long +journey up into the Far Northland. + +It would be weeks before those in charge of the mining enterprise could +get any word to the head officials down in New York. Ned expected to be +home long before this would come about, for he knew how tedious it was +journeying for hundreds of miles over long stretches of waste land, +following the course of rivers, and often not covering twenty miles from +sun-up to the setting of the same. + +During those long sunny days, it was a great pleasure to loll around on +deck and watch the wonderful ocean, over which the steam sealer was +steadily passing, headed toward Halifax, where the boys meant to +disembark. + +They discussed every phase of the adventure, and many little matters +which had seemed a bit strange were cleared up when they could exchange +views. Ned also prepared his full report, showing just what was going +on up there in the wilds. He had ample proof of all he meant to relate, +even to samples of the real ore, and also of the "salted" stuff that was +being placed around the mine, in order to deceive any investigator, +should one be sent up to look about. + +Of course, Mr. Bosworth would wash his hands of the entire business, and +the sly swindlers must look elsewhere, in order to unload their +property. The extravagant claims they had made for its richness could +not be justified, because it was after all a very mediocre discovery, +which would never pay for the working, so far away from railroad +facilities. + +In due time, they arrived at the Nova Scotia port, where the boys were +taken ashore in one of the whale boats, because Captain Bill did not +want to risk seizure by entering the place. + +They were sorry to have to say good-bye to the friendly skipper and his +mate, and promised to let them hear how things turned out. + +Once ashore, the first thing Ned did was to send a cable to Mr. +Bosworth, telling him not to do anything until they got home, which +would be as soon as a ship sailed heading south. + +Francois and the old Cree Indian left them here, after being loaded down +with presents, in addition to the wages promised them. The boys felt +that they could afford to be generous, because, as they had saved the +capitalists possibly a million or more dollars, the chances were that +quite a tidy sum of money would be coming their way soon, from the +grateful gentlemen forming the clique. + +The balance of their trip was uneventful, and one day they came in +through the new Ambrose Channel and up past Liberty Island, making the +steamer's dock just as the sun was sinking behind the distant Jersey +hills. + +That night there was the greatest talking match at the Bosworth home +ever known, and it kept up until nearly midnight. Jimmy had such a share +in the telling of their adventures that he was as hoarse as a crow +afterwards, and could hardly raise his voice above a whisper. + +When the rest of the troop gathered in their lodge-room at the called +meeting, and heard a detailed account of what had happened in that +far-away land along the shores of the greatest bay in all the world, they +united in declaring that Ned and his four chums had done the whole +organization credit, in finding out the truth in connection with the +supposed mine. + +It was voted that the adventure was by long odds one of the most +thrilling that had ever come to any scouts belonging to the New York +troop; and some of the boys even went so far as to declare that in all +probability it would never be equaled. But when they made such a rash +prediction as this, they did not know how soon Ned and his chums would +be called upon to once more take part in another series of hazards that +would try their courage, as few scenes had ever done before; as well as +bring to the front their knowledge of woodcraft and other things that +scouts should know. + +These astonishing experiences will be found recounted in the next volume +of this series, under the title of "Boy Scouts In Death Valley; or, The +City in the Sky;" and those boys who are fortunate enough to secure this +story will surely vote it one of the most interesting they have ever +read. Until we meet again in the pages of the new book, we will say, not +good-bye, but "good-night." + +THE END. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +BOYS' COPYRIGHTED BOOKS + +Printed from large, clear type on a superior quality of paper, +embellished with original illustrations by eminent artists, and bound in +a superior quality of book binders' cloth, ornamented with illustrated +covers, stamped in colors from unique and appropriate dies, each book +wrapped in a glazed paper wrapper printed in colors. + +ARMY BOYS SERIES + +By Major Andrew S. Burley + +1.--Uncle Sam's Army Boys on the Rhine, or, Bob Hamilton +in the Argonne Death Trap. + +2.--Uncle Sam's Army Boys in Italy, or, Bob Hamilton Under +Fire in the Piave District. + +3.--Uncle Sam's Army Boys in Khaki Under Canvas, or, Bob +Hamilton and the Munition Plant Plot + +4.--Uncle Sam's Army Boys with Old Glory in Mexico, or, Bob +Hamilton Along Pershing's Trail. + +NAVY BOYS SERIES + +By Jasper Martin--Gunner's Mate + +1.--Uncle Sam's Navy Boys with the Submarine Chasers, or, On +Patrol Duty in the North Sea. + +2.--Uncle Sam's Navy Boys Afloat, or, The Raid Along the +Atlantic Seaboard. + +3.--Uncle Sam's Navy Boys in Action, or, Running Down Enemy +Commerce Destroyers. + +4.--Uncle Sam's Navy Boys with the Marines, or, Standing Like +a Rock at Chateau Thierry. + +OVER THERE SERIES + +By Capt. Geo. H. Ralphson + +1.--Overthere With the Marines at Chateau Thierry. + +2.--Overthere With the Canadians at Vimy Ridge. + +3.--Overthere With the Doughboys at St. Mihiel. + +4.--Overthere With Pershing's Heroes at Cantigny. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 75 cents. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 701-733 So. Dearborn Street Chicago + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +BOYS' COPYRIGHTED BOOKS + +The most attractive and highest class list of copyrighted books for boys +ever printed. In this list will be found the works of W. Bert Foster, +Capt. Ralph Bonehill, Arthur M. Winfield, etc. + +Printed from large clear type, illustrated, bound in a superior quality +of cloth. + +THE CLINT WEBB SERIES +By W. Bert Foster + +1.--Swept Out to Sea; or, Clint Webb Among the Whalers. +2.--The Frozen Ship; or, Clint Webb Among the Sealers. +3.--From Sea to Sea; or, Clint Webb on the Windjammer. +4.--The Sea Express; or, Clint Webb and the Sea Tramp. + +THE YOUNG SPORTSMAN'S SERIES +By Capt. Ralph. Bonehill + +Rival Cyclists; or, Fun and Adventures on the Wheel. +Young Oarsmen of Lake View; or, The Mystery of Hermit Island. +Leo the Circus Boy; or, Life Under the Great White Canvas. + +SEA AND LAND SERIES +Four Boys' Books by Favorite Authors + +Oscar the Naval Cadet Capt. Ralph Bonehill +Blue Water Rovers Victor St. Clare +A Royal Smuggler William Dalton +A Boy Crusoe Allen Erie + +ADVENTURE AND JUNGLE SERIES + +A large, well printed, attractive edition. + +Guy in the Jungle Wm. Murray Grayden +Casket of Diamonds Oliver Optic +The Boy Railroader Matthew White, Jr. +Treasure of South Lake Farm W. Bert Foster + +YOUNG HUNTERS SERIES +By Capt. Ralph Bonehill + +Gun and Sled; or, The Young Hunters of Snow Top Island. +Young Hunters in Porto Rico; or, The Search for a Lost Treasure. +Two Young Crusoes; by C. W. Phillips. +Through Apache Land; or, Ned in the Mountains; by Lieut. R. H. Tayne. + +BRIGHT AND BOLD SERIES +By Arthur M. Winfield + +Poor but Plucky; or, The Mystery of a Flood. +School Days of Fred Harley; or, Rivals for All Honors. +By Pluck, not Luck; or, Dan Granbury's Struggle to Rise. +The Missing Tin Box; or, Hal Carson's Remarkable City Adventure. + +COLLEGE LIBRARY FOR BOYS +By Archdeacon Farrar + +Julian Home; or, A Tale of College Life. +St. Winifred's; or, The World of School. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 50 cents. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +701-723 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Boy Scouts on Hudson Bay, by G. Harvey Ralphson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY SCOUTS ON HUDSON BAY *** + +***** This file should be named 22674.txt or 22674.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/6/7/22674/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |