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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Radio Boys Rescue the Lost Alaska
+Expedition, by Gerald Breckenridge
+
+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: The Radio Boys Rescue the Lost Alaska Expedition
+
+Author: Gerald Breckenridge
+
+Release Date: June 4, 2011 [EBook #36314]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "What does she say, Frank? Any luck yet?" Page 40]
+
+
+
+
+                             THE RADIO BOYS
+                               RESCUE THE
+                         LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION
+
+                         By GERALD BRECKENRIDGE
+
+                               AUTHOR OF
+
+           "The Radio Boys on the Mexican Border," "The Radio
+             Boys on Secret Service Duty," "The Radio Boys
+               with the Revenue Guards," "The Radio Boys'
+                    Search for the Inca's Treasure."
+
+
+                           A. L. BURT COMPANY
+                          Publishers--New York
+
+
+
+
+                         THE RADIO BOYS SERIES
+
+                A Series of Stories for Boys of All Ages
+
+                         By GERALD BRECKENRIDGE
+
+                  The Radio Boys on the Mexican Border
+                 The Radio Boys on Secret Service Duty
+                 The Radio Boys with the Revenue Guards
+             The Radio Boys' Search for the Inca's Treasure
+            The Radio Boys Rescue the Lost Alaska Expedition
+
+                            Copyright, 1922
+                         By A. L. BURT COMPANY
+
+            THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION
+
+                           Made in "U. S. A."
+
+
+
+
+The Radio Boys Rescue the Lost Alaska Expedition
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.--THE LOST EXPEDITION.
+
+
+"Strange that you boys should be talking about the 'Lost Expedition.'"
+
+"Oh, hello, Dad. Why strange?"
+
+"Because I have just come from a conference with a man who knows all
+there is to know about it. And he was telling me----."
+
+Mr. Hampton advanced from the doorway into the sitting room, and looked
+at the faces of the three boys in turn. They were his son, Jack, and the
+latter's chums, Bob Temple and Frank Merrick, who together had gone
+through many adventures related in other books of "The Radio Boys"
+series.
+
+It was the sitting room of a suite in a Seattle hotel. Here the four,
+arriving from South America, after finding and losing "The Enchanted
+City of the Incas" as told of in "The Radio Boys Search for the Incas'
+Treasure," were ensconced on their way to their Long Island homes.
+
+"Well, Dad, what was this man telling you?"
+
+"Yes, Mr. Hampton, tell us," added Frank "We're curious."
+
+"What do you know about the 'Lost Expedition?'" countered Mr. Hampton.
+"I stood in the doorway unobserved a moment and heard you discussing
+it."
+
+"Nothing but what this article in the Sunday paper tells," said big Bob,
+grumblingly, "And the fellow that wrote this yarn didn't know very much.
+It's mostly talk."
+
+Mr. Hampton nodded.
+
+"Speculation, I suppose," he said. "Well, that's the best the writer
+could do. The facts aren't generally known. However, wait a minute until
+I get off this wet coat and get into something comfortable. It's raining
+again."
+
+"Raining again?" said Jack. "Doesn't it ever stop here?"
+
+"Oh, that's just the Seattle Winter," said his father. "The rains are
+necessary, and, really, they are so mild one doesn't mind them after a
+time."
+
+"Huh," grumbled big Bob. "I'd think these people would grow web feet."
+
+"Look here," said Mr. Hampton, after getting into his smoking jacket and
+slippers. "What I learned today ought to interest you boys."
+
+"Why, Dad?" Jack leaned forward eagerly.
+
+"Well, wait until I tell you a bit about it," said his father. "Then
+you'll see."
+
+Then, while the three young fellows paid close attention, Mr. Hampton
+proceeded to relate the story of the "Lost Expedition" so-called, the
+expedition headed by Thorwald Thorwaldsson, the Norwegian explorer,
+which had outfitted at Seattle the previous Spring, set out for an
+unnamed destination in the Far North, and had never been heard of since.
+
+A great deal of secrecy as to its objects had attended the departure of
+this expedition in its sturdy schooner, and many were the wild guesses
+and surmises concerning it advanced in the papers and among the
+hangers-on along the Seattle waterfront. Some said confidently that the
+expedition was going to attempt to reach the North Pole by airplane, for
+an airplane was carried dismantled on the schooner. Others declared the
+object sought was gold. And, in this regard, the vague rumors of vast
+gold fields found in the past by this or that old-time prospector who
+died without making his secret public, were brought to light and
+furbished up with a wealth of apocryphal detail in order to bear out the
+contention.
+
+"But none of these assumptions," said Mr. Hampton, "was correct. The
+real object of the expedition never was made public, for the very good
+reason that none of those in the know--and their numbers are few--ever
+betrayed a word, or hint, of the secret."
+
+"And you know it?" asked Jack, with quickened interest.
+
+Mr. Hampton nodded, and smiled teasingly.
+
+"Come on, Mr. Hampton, tell us," said Frank.
+
+"You better, Mr. Hampton, or he'll burst with curiosity," advised big
+Bob. "Show that boy a secret and he's not content until he takes it
+apart."
+
+"How about yourself?" said Frank, indignantly. "I suppose you don't care
+to hear, hey? Oh, no."
+
+Mr. Hampton interrupted.
+
+"Wait a minute, Bob. No need to perjure yourself. I know all you boys
+are eager to know the answer to the mystery of the 'Lost Expedition.'
+Well, I can tell it to you in one word. It is----"
+
+He paused. Then added:
+
+"Oil."
+
+"Oil?"
+
+All three listeners asked the question as if in one breath. Big Bob was
+no less inquisitive than the others, despite his twigging of Frank for
+his curiosity.
+
+Mr. Hampton nodded.
+
+"Yes," he said. "Oil."
+
+For a moment he was silent, collecting his thoughts. Then he leaned
+forward, cleared his throat and continued:
+
+"Perhaps my words are a disappointment to you. The Northland for you,
+probably, is invested in a mysterious glamor. It means either men
+struggling through incalculable hardships to win their way to the North
+Pole, to the top of the world, or else fighting against all the mighty
+forces of Nature in a grim, ice-locked land to wrest a stream of golden
+wealth from the bosom of the Earth.
+
+"Ah, yes," he continued, smiling slightly, "I know how you feel.
+Whenever our preconceived and heroic notions are upset we feel a sense
+of disappointment. But, consider for a moment, the meaning of this
+matter. Here, far away in the Northland, in a remote district to which
+so far as known only two white men have ever penetrated, lies a mighty
+river flowing north into the Arctic Ocean, along the banks of which are
+such vast deposits of oil that it oozes through the soil and into the
+river to such an extent that the river in reality is a river of oil and
+never freezes."
+
+"A river of oil that never freezes, Dad?" said Jack. "Do you expect us
+to believe that?"
+
+"And flowing north, too?" said Frank, whose quick mind had seized upon
+that point of contrariety in Nature.
+
+Mr. Hampton smiled.
+
+"Well, boys, it is hard to believe, I'll admit," he said. "Yet that this
+river does flow north is undoubted. That it never freezes, however, is
+an exaggeration. The truth is, probably, that at spots so much oil seeps
+into the water that soft spots are formed.
+
+"Hitherto," he continued, "there have been only two rivers known that
+flow north into the Arctic in that region--the MacKenzie and the
+Coppermine, along the shores of which are vast deposits of copper that
+some day, undoubtedly, will be opened up to exploitation. However, this
+other northward-flowing river in the midst of a vast oil field must now
+be added to the list, if the word of the lone explorer is to believed,
+of the one man who has been there and lived to return with the tale."
+
+"But I thought you said this river was known to two white men, Dad?"
+objected Jack.
+
+"So I did. So I did," declared his father. "And two there were--Cameron
+and Farrell. But Cameron died on the trip to the outside, and Farrell
+alone lived despite incredible hardships, to finally reach Edmonton with
+the tale. Now he, too, is gone--for he was a member of Thorwaldsson's
+'Lost Expedition.'
+
+"When he reached Edmonton, a thriving Canadian city, Farrell, an
+adventurous fellow who at one time had worked in the Southwestern oil
+fields as an employee of the syndicate of independent operators which
+once employed me there as superintendent, realized the value of his
+discovery and kept his mouth closed until he got in touch with Anderson,
+the big man of the syndicate. Anderson saw at once the importance of the
+find. But he also saw that Farrell's marvelous oil field would virtually
+have to be rediscovered before steps to develop it could be taken. For,
+in struggling through to the outside, Farrell had suffered the loss of
+his compass, had been turned about in Winter fogs, had lain delirious
+for a long period in the igloo of friendly Eskimos within the Arctic
+Circle and, in general, had suffered so many hardships that his mind was
+clouded and he had no clear idea of where lay this oil field.
+
+"Anderson, however, placed such faith in Farrell's report that he
+decided to outfit an expedition to retrace the footsteps of Farrell and
+Cameron into the Arctic in the hope of thus once more coming upon the
+oil field. Inasmuch as they had gone in through Alaska, that was the way
+which Thorwaldsson's expedition took."
+
+Mr. Hampton paused. Jack, who had been eyeing his father closely, now
+put a hand on his arm.
+
+"And now what, Dad?" he asked.
+
+"Now Anderson wants me to attempt to go after the 'Lost Expedition' and
+try to relocate the oil fields as well as find some trace of
+Thorwaldsson," said Mr. Hampton.
+
+"I thought so," said Jack, in a tone of satisfaction. "When do we
+start?"
+
+"We?" Mr. Hampton chuckled. "I like that. Just as cool as you please
+about it, too. We? Well, well."
+
+"Do we leave at once?" asked Jack, imperturbably, not one whit disturbed
+by his father's pleasantry.
+
+Mr. Hampton shook his head.
+
+"Whether I take you at all is questionable," he said. "Certainly, I have
+no intention of going at once. If I go at all, it will not be until the
+Arctic Summer begins."
+
+"Meantime, I suppose, I'm to return to Yale."
+
+"Yes, you've missed a half year, thanks to our adventures in search of
+the Incas' treasure in South America, but that is no reason why you
+should miss the balance of the term. I'll tell you what," he added,
+taking pity on the three, "if you fellows go back to college and study
+hard to make up for lost time until Summer, and if the 'Lost Expedition'
+is still lost at that time, why, I'll see what can be done."
+
+"Hurray," cried Jack. "That's a promise."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.--SETTING OUT FROM NOME.
+
+
+"Well, boys, where do we go from here?"
+
+It was Frank who asked the question, and he sat on a heap of luggage on
+the beach at Nome, with Jack and Bob beside him looking alternately at
+the mountain beyond the Alaskan outpost and at Mr. Hampton deep in
+conversation with a short sturdy figure of a man, clad in khaki
+breeches, high leather boots and a flannel shirt, a short distance away.
+The figure was that of Tom Farnum, scout of the independent oil
+interests at Nome.
+
+It was Summer, and Summer in Alaska as the boys were beginning to
+realize meant hot weather, indeed. All had their coats off, and were
+perspiring. Only an hour before they had been put ashore by the steamer
+from Seattle, and Mr. Hampton had left them on the beach with their
+luggage while he went in search of Tom Farnum, who had failed to meet
+them at the landing as they had expected.
+
+"Where do we go from here?" Jack repeated Frank's question. "Well, if
+you ask me, almost any place would be better than Nome."
+
+He looked with disfavor at the little town sprawling at the base of the
+mountain.
+
+"Not just what I expected," he said. "I've heard of Nome all my life, it
+seems, and now, just look at it. Why, it's hardly a spot on the map."
+
+"But what a history it has had, Jack," said Frank. "Don't judge by
+appearances too much. Remember this town has seen the Gold Rush."
+
+"I wonder what Dad is talking about," said Jack, ignoring Frank's
+remark.
+
+"Probably discussing how soon we can get away," said big Bob, speaking
+for the first time. "At any rate," he added, "I see your father and his
+companion pointing to that gasoline schooner off shore."
+
+At this moment, their doubts were resolved, for Mr. Hampton and his
+companion ended their conversation and approached the boys.
+
+"Well, boys, we'll soon be under way," said Mr. Hampton. Whereupon he
+introduced Farnum all around. The latter was a prepossessing man with a
+weather-beaten face and a grizzled mustache, above which jutted a
+promontory of a nose between deep-set, wide, blue eyes.
+
+"That is our schooner out there," Mr. Hampton continued, indicating the
+boat to which Bob earlier had drawn attention. "Mr. Farnum," he added,
+"has stated casually around Nome that he is taking a party of hunters up
+the MacKenzie. We'll get away at once, as nothing is to be gained by a
+stay in Nome and as, furthermore, we wish to avoid inquiries into our
+aims. The story Farnum has told will do well enough."
+
+Farnum nodded.
+
+"Just a white lie," he said, grinning. "No use letting the curious know
+all your secrets."
+
+Then followed an hour of brisk work, at the end of which period the
+luggage was safely stowed aboard the gasoline schooner, and its screw
+began to turn. As the little vessel began to throb and draw away from
+Nome, the boys leaned overside and watched the prospect dwindle in the
+distance until the houses seemed like toys and the mountainside like a
+painted backdrop in the theater.
+
+"Hurray," cried Bob, at last, "we're off for the Great Unknown."
+
+"Yes," agreed Frank, "I really feel that way, too. All the way up from
+Seattle, I felt as if I were nothing more than a tourist, traveling a
+beaten route. But this, well, this is different."
+
+After that they were silent a long time, while the schooner shook and
+throbbed and steadily pushed its way up the coast, each boy busy with
+his thoughts. Yet those thoughts were much the same.
+
+Following that eventful discussion in Seattle, on their return from
+South America and their adventures there in The Enchanted City of the
+Incas, they had gone back to Yale and studied hard to make up for lost
+time in the first half of the term. All three were clever and had the
+knack of concentrating at their tasks, and all as a consequence had
+succeeded in making up back work in classroom and lecture. As a result
+they had entered the succeeding term, or at least were prepared to do
+so, without conditions. This was a matter for congratulation, indeed,
+and deserving of especial reward.
+
+That reward had been theirs. For Mr. Hampton and Mr. Temple both decided
+that their respective sons and Frank, Mr. Temple's ward, should be
+permitted to accompany Mr. Hampton on his trip to attempt to find some
+trace of the "Lost Expedition" and of the reputed oil field in search of
+which Thorwaldsson had set out.
+
+"Farnum is reputed a wizard in knowledge of the Northland," Mr. Hampton
+had explained to Mr. Temple, "and, as a consequence, I do not consider
+that we will run any danger. Our greatest danger, of course, would be to
+become trapped in the Far North in the Fall and be prevented by the
+rigors of Winter from regaining the outside. For I do not intend to
+spend the Winter there. Instead, I hope to be back in civilization by
+the early Fall.
+
+"That," he added, "will give us plenty of opportunity to seek traces of
+the 'Lost Expedition.' I have been in communication with Farnum. His
+plan is for us to push up the MacKenzie to one of its tributaries, and
+then strike eastward. We will leave the gasoline schooner to make its
+way back to Nome, while we push on overland, lightening our journey on
+rivers and lakes, in the hope of finding the River of Oil flowing north.
+
+"If we are unsuccessful, when the seasonal warnings of approaching
+Winter come, we will turn to the southeast and come out in northern
+Canada.
+
+"The boys are hard and fit, and such a trip will be of inestimable value
+for them. It will make them self-reliant and teach them to depend upon
+themselves. Not that they are not in a fair way to be youths of that
+sort already," he added, smiling. "If you could have seen them in South
+America, George, it would have done your heart good."
+
+"I know, I know," said Mr. Temple, shaking his head slightly, and
+smiling. "Several years ago, that time when you were captive in Mexico
+and they set out to rescue you--"
+
+"Yes, and did," supplied Mr. Hampton.
+
+"And did," agreed Mr. Temple. "Well, they showed the stuff that was in
+them then. And the very same Summer, when I took them to San Francisco
+on what I considered was going to be a little pleasure trip combining a
+bit of business with sight-seeing, and--"
+
+"And you became involved with the Chinese smugglers, and imprisoned, and
+ended up by busting up their show--"
+
+"Yes," resumed Mr. Temple, "and ended up by bringing the whole outfit
+into the hands of Uncle Sam's men. Well, I can tell you, they certainly
+showed their calibre."
+
+"So, I reckon it will be all right to take them along on this trip,"
+said Mr. Hampton.
+
+"I suppose so," agreed Mr. Temple. "But innocent as it looks now, I have
+my doubts. I have my doubts. Wherever those three boys are found, there
+you can look for things to move fast. Trouble courts them, it seems to
+me."
+
+Accordingly, the boys had been told they would be taken on the trip into
+the Far North. And wildly excited they had gone about their
+preparations. Jack, the keenest radio enthusiast, was all for packing up
+radio field equipment of every sort right at home. But his father had
+dissuaded him, pointing out that Seattle was a large city and there
+everything necessary in the way of an outfit could be purchased, thus
+saving the trouble and expense of transporting overland to the Pacific
+port.
+
+"All right, Dad," Jack had agreed. "But, remember, the selection of the
+radio equipment is to be left to the fellows and me. We've had a lot of
+experience with the value of radio when in a tight place, especially in
+South America, and we want to put that experience to use and be prepared
+for every contingency this time."
+
+To this Mr. Hampton readily had agreed, with the result that in Seattle
+the three boys had revelled in the radio equipment stores, which they
+found well stocked, as the use of radio had developed greatly on the
+Pacific.
+
+In consequence, their outfit included radio field equipment of the most
+powerful, yet most compact, designs. For while Mr. Hampton fully
+realized the value of having the very best yet he had issued a solemn
+warning that bulk must be considered.
+
+"We will have to travel as lightly as consistent with safety and the
+purpose of our expedition," he had said. "So don't pile up anything too
+heavy or bulky, or it will have to be discarded."
+
+Jack knew well that the distance which can be covered with a radiophone
+transmitter is only about one-fourth as great as that of a wireless
+telegraph transmitter having the same input of initial current.
+Therefore, as a means of sending messages, supposedly for aid, over long
+distances, the wireless telegraph would be the better, inasmuch as
+equipment for it would be less bulky to transport than equipment for
+transmitting the human voice. Nevertheless, he was reluctant to place
+their sole dependence upon the wireless telegraph.
+
+"You see, Dad," he had pointed out to his father, when the outfit was
+being assembled, "to reach the outside we shall have to depend upon
+wireless telegraph. But we will also need the radiophone for this
+reason: that each one of us ought to have a means of calling the main
+party in case we become separated through going on scouting or hunting
+expeditions, or for any reason."
+
+"Well, that sounds sensible," his father had agreed. "Go ahead with your
+plans, but, remember, hold down the bulk."
+
+The result was that equipment capable of telegraphing five hundred miles
+was assembled, but also Jack made up five light field sets of radio, one
+for each of their party and for Farnum, which the user could pack in his
+clothing and which had a radius up to twenty-five miles. The instrument
+was Jack's now famous ring radio, worn on the finger, with a setting
+only one inch by five-eighths of an inch. Formerly an umbrella as aerial
+had been employed but Jack had done entirely away with that in his
+improved set.
+
+"Well, fellows," said Jack, at last, as Nome faded entirely from view,
+"I wonder what lies ahead. I wonder whether Thorwaldsson's expedition
+was stricken down by a plague, which seems hardly likely, as in that
+case surely somebody would have managed to get word to the outside by
+wireless or airplane, or whether it fell victim to a surprise attack by
+Indians at night, as I understand from Dad that Farnum believes."
+
+"Is that so," said Frank, in surprise. "That's the first I heard of
+that."
+
+"Yes," said Jack. "Dad told me of it when we were coming aboard this
+schooner. He said it was the first intimation Farnum had given him that
+such might be the case, and also his first intimation that there were
+hostile Indians in this country into which we are going. If it weren't
+too late, he told me, he would have turned back rather than imperil us,
+as it is, we shall go pretty warily and try to steer clear of the
+hostile Indian country."
+
+"Whew," said Bob, "this sounds interesting, hey, what?"
+
+His eyes began to shine.
+
+"Old Bob. Always ready for a fight," said Frank. "Well, let's give him
+one."
+
+And incontinently, he and Jack fell upon the big fellow and a tussle
+followed that ended only when they almost fell overboard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.--IN THE WILDERNESS.
+
+
+"Well, boys, tomorrow we leave the schooner."
+
+It was Tom Farnum who made the announcement over dinner which was eaten
+on deck. The boat was anchored offshore, far up the Hare Indian River,
+one of the great tributaries of the MacKenzie. How long it was since
+they had left Nome none could tell, for in that land of perpetual
+daylight it was hard to keep track of time.
+
+"Tomorrow," said big Bob, "when is tomorrow?"
+
+He looked at the sun which was still high, despite the lateness of the
+hour, and would make only an ineffectual attempt to dip below the
+horizon at midnight, before resuming its upward climb.
+
+Everybody laughed.
+
+"What a topsy turvy land," said Jack. "Well, I, for one, will be glad to
+go ashore and stretch my legs. Wonderful as the trip has been so far,
+I'm eager to get started."
+
+"Same here," agreed Frank.
+
+Little of moment had occurred to interrupt the monotony of the trip up
+the coast and along the northern edge of Alaska and the North American
+continent to the mouth of the MacKenzie. Of course, occasional ice floes
+had been encountered and the little schooner had been compelled to make
+wide detours. But that was to be expected in that Far Northern latitude.
+
+In fact, when they had arrived at the mouth of the MacKenzie, the ice
+was only recently dissipated from the great river. There, at a dock
+where a little sidewheel steamer that plied on the MacKenzie in Summer
+was tied up for repairs, they had replenished their stock of gasoline
+and then continued the ascent, passing between willowed banks, where
+huddled occasional trading posts surrounded by native villages, with the
+snow-capped mountain peaks always in the distance.
+
+Then they had reached the mouth of the Hare Indian River and soon had
+put beyond them all appearance of the presence of man.
+
+"This is the way Thorwaldsson's party expected to go," Farnum had said.
+"For it was this route which Farrell and Cameron, the two prospectors,
+followed on their way in. They were prospecting for gold, you know, had
+no idea of finding oil. It was their original intention to strike
+northeast across the numerous streams at the head of the Hare Indian in
+search of gold. And Farrell reported, when he reached the outside, that
+he had found traces and, in fact, several sizable pockets of gold."
+
+Accordingly they pushed on up the Hare Indian a number of days until, in
+fact, the extra supplies of gasoline which had been taken aboard on
+leaving the MacKenzie dwindled to the point where it became advisable
+for the party to go ashore in order that the schooner might turn about
+and have sufficient fuel to make its way downstream to the supply depot.
+
+It was a period of time that, in fact, however, could hardly be
+considered in terms of days. So far north had the party come that the
+sun shone perpetually. It was only at midnight, for a brief space, that
+it dipped to the horizon.
+
+And what a gorgeous time it had proven to be for all concerned, but
+especially for the boys. As the powerful little schooner forged ahead,
+there was not a bend the rounding of which did not afford a surprise.
+Sometimes it would be caribou or reindeer, probably an escape from some
+Eskimo herd, which would be surprised standing in the water, and
+breaking for the timber on the bank at their approach. Again brown bear
+would be seen on the bank, or beaver swimming strongly across the
+stream. As for fishing, it was an Izaak Walton paradise. All Bob, Frank
+and Jack did for hours on end was to lean overside with hooks baited
+with bacon rind dangling in the water astern, and pull in speckled
+beauties. And many a meal was made, too, on wild duck or geese, picked
+off with a light rifle.
+
+Then came the time when Tom Farnum announced that they would stay ashore
+on the morrow. And little sleep did the boys have that night, as they
+lay awake on deck, whispering to each other, an awning shading them from
+the sun.
+
+Early the next morning they went ashore with their outfit, and then
+watched the gasoline schooner throb off downstream, around the last
+bend, and out of sight. As it disappeared, for the first time there came
+to each of the three boys the feeling of isolation natural to their
+situation. The last settlement was two hundred miles behind them. They
+were going into the great unknown, into the regions marked "Unexplored"
+on the maps of that great northern rim of the North American continent.
+
+True, the weather was fine now and the country green and pleasant about
+them. But how long would that endure? What if they were beset by
+oncoming Winter before they could make their way to the outside? What if
+they were attacked by hostile Indians? What obscure fate had met the
+Thorwaldsson expedition, traces of which they sought?
+
+Into the mind of each thronged such thoughts, as they stood in unwonted
+silence. Then Mr. Hampton called to them.
+
+"No time for day-dreaming. Each man to his job."
+
+With him Tom Farnum had brought two trusted men. They hailed from Nome,
+but were old-timers who had been up and down Alaska for many years. Both
+were men of forty, sober, steady fellows who would be useful in helping
+distribute the burden of packs, and would, moreover, be of inestimable
+value in keeping the party supplied with game as well as in almost any
+situation that might arise. They were grizzled, weather-beaten men of
+medium height, both with stout frames, and because of their long
+existence in the lonesome north little given to talking. Their names
+were Dick Fairwell and Art Bowman, and they were "Dick" and "Art" to
+each other and the other members of the party. The boys had taken a
+liking to both.
+
+Two light canoes had been brought along from Nome, lashed to the deck of
+the schooner, and in these the seven set out. The boys with Dick
+occupied one canoe, the other three men with a larger portion of the
+luggage the other.
+
+When everything was in readiness, following a light breakfast on the
+bank, the two canoes set out, that containing Farnum, Mr. Hampton and
+Art taking the lead. About ten miles upstream a rapids was encountered,
+and around this the first portage was made. Then once more they took to
+the water.
+
+Day followed day, in this fashion, as they pushed steadily forward,
+until almost a week had elapsed. On the fifth day Tom Farnum let out a
+whoop of joy and headed his canoe for the right bank of the stream at a
+little gravelly beach. His sharp eye had detected a small cairn of
+stones on the edge of the brush, and when the others came up with him
+and stepped from their craft he was busily demolishing the stones
+comprising the mound.
+
+"A marker," was the only explanation he vouchsafed. "Must have been left
+by Thorwaldsson. Ah."
+
+At the exclamation he stood upright, holding a small metal box in his
+hand. The lid was rusted on, and in his impatience, Farnum whipped out a
+knife and gouged it off while the others crowded around him. Inside was
+a fold of oilskin, which he ripped open. A folded paper was revealed,
+which he opened. Then he read aloud the message thereon.
+
+"It's from Thorwaldsson all right. Listen," he said, and read:
+
+  "Please notify Mr. Otto Anderson, Ashland Block, Seattle, Wash., that
+  I passed here July 2. Party intact with exception of crew sent as he
+  ordered. Farrell says we are on right track.
+
+                                                       "Thorwaldsson."
+
+"What does he mean by that reference to the crew?" asked Jack.
+
+"Well," said Farnum, glancing at Mr. Hampton, "as your father knows,
+that is one of the unexplained and puzzling facts of the situation, that
+about the ship. You see, a skeleton crew was to be left aboard the ship
+and it was to winter in the MacKenzie. But of ship or crew, we have
+found no trace. Search for the ship was prosecuted at the first
+opportunity this Spring, but it had disappeared. I made a trip up the
+MacKenzie myself, but the only information I could gather was an
+occasional rumor at a trading post that a schooner had gone by, on its
+way out, at night. A ship that might have been the Viking,
+Thorwaldsson's craft. That was last Fall. Perhaps, the skeleton crew
+feared to winter in the MacKenzie and started for the outside, and was
+caught in a storm which it was not sufficiently strong to weather. Only
+three or four men were to be left aboard. That is the only explanation I
+could think of."
+
+Mr. Hampton nodded.
+
+"As I said before," he stated, "that seems a reasonable explanation.
+Three or four men, left alone, might have feared to face the Winter iced
+in, or might have been stricken ill, and so, for some reason that
+appeared good enough to them, might have decided to violate orders and
+start out. As to the disappearance of the ship, many an undermanned
+vessel has gone down in a storm, without leaving a trace."
+
+"But, Dad, you've said nothing about this," protested Jack.
+
+Mr. Hampton smiled slightly.
+
+"There are a lot of things which I know I have never told you, Jack," he
+said. "If I really have neglected to speak of this, however, it has been
+through an oversight. I've had a lot of things on my mind. But, come. We
+know this is the way Thorwaldsson passed. We are on the right track. So
+let us push on. We have still four hours of travel to do before making
+camp."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.--STRIKING GOLD.
+
+
+Life flowed along very pleasantly indeed, for the boys, during the weeks
+that followed. They were so far north that the sun shone constantly, and
+never a cloud came to trouble the sky, never a storm to drive them to
+take shelter. When they camped it was usually in the dim cool recesses
+of a forest of firs, beneath the dense shade of which could be found the
+only semblance of night.
+
+Never before had they known the delights of camp life, as they were now
+living it. It was like being on one continuous picnic. For a
+considerable period of time they found themselves in a mesh or network
+of streams and lakes, through which Tom Farnum guided them steadily
+northeastward, with never a sign of doubt as to the course to take.
+
+They wondered about this, asked why they took certain forks of river or
+stream, why avoided others. Tom answered readily enough. From Mr.
+Anderson he had received a minute report containing every scrap of data
+Farrell had been able to furnish as to the course taken by him and
+Cameron on going into the wild country.
+
+"So you see," he added, "while I may not be following in the exact
+footsteps of Thorwaldsson, yet I am going over the same general route.
+Sooner or later we will cover the same ground which he covered again,
+and then I expect we shall find some other record which he has left
+behind, just as in the case of that note on the Hare Indian."
+
+This was enough for the boys. It satisfied their curiosity. They
+dismissed, or practically so, from their minds all worry as to the "Lost
+Expedition." They were too busy enjoying life as they found it each
+waiting moment.
+
+Around each bend in a stream that their paddles took them, on the shore
+of each deep, silent lake, was some new marvel. Now it would be a bear
+grunting on the bank. Again, a deer, probably a runaway from some Eskimo
+herd on Summer pasture as Farnum explained, standing in the stream, and
+starting with a snort into the timber at their approach. Occasionally a
+gray wolf could be seen loping in the distance. Now and again a beaver
+cut across stream.
+
+With their light rifles the boys occasionally were permitted to pick off
+some game, usually wild ducks or geese, of which there were numbers
+along the watercourses. But nothing was shot wantonly. Many a time,
+youthful fingers itched on the trigger, only to be restrained by the
+thought of the cruel uselessness of shooting merely for sport.
+
+Of other inhabitants in this vast northern wilderness, none were
+encountered. And at this the boys marvelled. It was as if they had the
+world to themselves. They could not understand it. To them it was a
+paradise.
+
+"Wait till you see this in Winter," said Farnum grimly. "Or rather, pray
+that you never do. It is a land of perpetual night, and the temperature
+is so low that when you stop moving you must have a fire or you will
+freeze to death. And it isn't every day that you can travel. For this
+isn't a land of tame Winter as you boys know it. Out of the north comes
+storms succeeding storm, pitiless in severity. Even the creatures of the
+wild cannot stand it, in many cases, and drift to the south."
+
+"But how about the Eskimo?" asked Jack. "This is their country, isn't
+it? How do they stand it?"
+
+"Sometimes they don't," said Farnum. "When the hunting is poor and
+famine stalks through the Eskimo village, only the hardiest survive."
+
+"Where do they live, anyway?" struck in Frank. "Why aren't they around
+here? Why haven't we seen any?"
+
+"They may have seen us," said Farnum, "and are avoiding us. They are a
+timorous people, know the white man only by tradition. To the Eskimo,
+the white man is a sort of god, at least to the Eskimo of all this
+country north of us. Back along the coast of Alaska, of course, some
+sort of contact has been made. But these Eskimo never come in touch with
+the whites. They are a migratory people. In Summer they range far and
+wide on the hunt. In the Winter, they retire to the edge of the Arctic
+Ocean."
+
+"But why?" asked Bob, in surprise. "I should think that would be the
+very place for them to steer away from."
+
+"Oh, no," said Farnum. "You see, all game goes far to the south in
+Winter, so the Eskimo goes to the ocean because it is the home of the
+only game left--the seal. He builds his snow house or igloo and camps
+near the air holes of the seal, spearing them as they come up for air.
+Occasionally he slays a polar bear, too."
+
+"I confess I know very little about the Eskimo," said Jack. "What are
+his weapons?"
+
+"Bows and arrows tipped with flint or copper, copper-pointed spears, and
+wooden knives edged with copper," said Farnum.
+
+"But, a bear," cried Bob, incredulously. "How could an Eskimo kill a
+great polar bear with such weapons?"
+
+"Single-handed, he couldn't," said Farnum. "But when the bear is hunted,
+the whole tribe of hunters go together. They attack in a circle. Their
+spears or harpoons have lines attached. And as these harpoons sink into
+the body of the bear, the lines pull him this way and that as he charges
+on his tormenters. Eventually, if the Eskimo are lucky, they have him so
+surrounded that he cannot move. Then one dashes in and administers the
+death blow."
+
+"Then necessity forces them to live in tribal groups?" asked Jack.
+
+Farnum nodded.
+
+"In the Summer they often hunt alone, ranging far, for they are great
+travelers. But in Winter, the hunters are all back with the tribe."
+
+"And the Indians?" asked Frank.
+
+Farnum's face darkened.
+
+"There are not many," he said. "I wish there were less. You may say all
+you please about the 'noble red man.' But all I ever heard about the
+Indians of the Far North doesn't predispose me in their favor. They are
+cutthroats, thieves and liars. Usually they hunt somewhat to the south
+of us, and make their way in towards the northern Canadian settlements
+as Winter approaches. Let's hope we encounter none of them."
+
+The boys wondered as they went along whether this were gold-producing
+country into which they were pushing. They spoke of the matter to Dick,
+their canoe mate, at times. Taciturn though he was usually, at every
+mention of gold his eyes brightened, and he became almost voluble.
+
+"Never been this far north," he said on one occasion, "no white man ever
+has been in here, reckon. But I'd like to stop at the foot o' some of
+these rapids and wash a little gravel for luck. I sure would like to."
+
+"Let's do it the next rapids we come to," suggested Frank, with eager
+interest. "It wouldn't take long, would it?"
+
+"Orders is not to waste time."
+
+"Well, I'll speak to father," said Jack. "I'm sure he'd let us try it
+just once."
+
+In this surmise he was correct, for the noon halt happened to be at the
+foot of a rapids that would necessitate a portage, and Dick and Art
+reported the graveled bank showed signs of "color." Even Farnum, his
+mind concentrated on the task of getting his party along and on the job
+in hand, showed interest when addressed on the subject. With pick and
+pan, therefore, the two men got busy, while the boys watched with
+breathless interest the process of rocking the pan and washing out the
+gravel.
+
+"Whoopee," cried Dick, suddenly. "Thar she is. Color in the pan."
+
+"Sure as I'm born," ejaculated his partner. "Strong, too."
+
+All the boys could discern, however, were some dully gleaming particles
+at the bottom of the pan, out of which most of the gravel had been
+washed with the water. They had half expected to spy nuggets. Farnum and
+Mr. Hampton, however, were as eagerly interested as the two old-timers.
+
+"Try another pan, men," suggested Mr. Hampton. "Let us go a little
+farther upstream."
+
+Once more the process was repeated. This time the pan was rich in "pay"
+and the excitement of the four older men mounted, hectic spots glowing
+dull beneath their tan in the cheeks of the two old-timers especially.
+
+Then Dick, who was wielding the pick, attacked a clump of rocks in the
+edge of the stream at the very foot of the rapids, standing in his boots
+almost knee-deep in the water. For several minutes he picked and pried
+and finally, with a shout of delight, turned to his audience behind him
+on the bank and, having plunged an arm into the water, held it up
+dripping.
+
+"Look," was all he said.
+
+They gazed, all eyes.
+
+"Well! Well!" cried Art.
+
+A small but sizable nugget lay on Dick's outstretched palm.
+
+"What luck," cried Jack. "You certainly looked in the right place."
+
+"Bet there's more gold around here," cried Frank. "Maybe a bonanza. Who
+knows?"
+
+"You ought to stake a claim, Dick," said big Bob. "I don't know much
+about the process. But that's the thing to do, isn't it?"
+
+"Huh," said Dick, generously. "Belongs to you boys well as me. You
+thought of it."
+
+"Oughter work it," spoke up Art. "Might take out a good poke this
+Summer."
+
+This remark recalled Tom Farnum to the object of his expedition.
+
+"No, no, men," he said, sharply. "Don't get bitten with the gold fever
+now. We've got work ahead of us, work that we contracted to do."
+
+"Right," said Dick.
+
+Art's face fell, but he, too, nodded agreement.
+
+"Just the same," said Farnum, softening, "there's nothing to prevent you
+two from staking a claim. Some day you may come back to work it."
+
+"Belongs to us no more'n the rest o' you," said Dick, sturdily. "The
+young fellers wanted us to make a try at it here just for luck, an' we
+did."
+
+A warm debate followed, the boys protesting they were not entitled to
+any part in the find. Finally Dick capitulated.
+
+"Tell you what," he said. "Art an' me'll stake this claim an' file on
+it. But if we ever come back to work her an' she pays, we'll declare you
+in."
+
+"Not unless you let us help to finance the expedition," said Jack,
+turning for confirmation to his comrades. "Isn't that right, fellows."
+
+Bob and Frank agreed. Farnum put an end to the discussion.
+
+"Good enough," he said. "Let it go at that. Now we must buckle into the
+job. Do you realize we've spent more than two hours here, when we should
+have stopped only a half hour? We've got to make this portage and push
+on. Come on. Everybody to his task."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.--A SURPRISE THROUGH THE AIR
+
+
+Joyously though time flew by for the boys, with Mr. Hampton and Tom
+Farnum it was a different matter. They were worried, that became
+increasingly plain. Finally, although Mr. Hampton purposely refrained
+from saying anything to disturb the boys, Jack took note of his father's
+perturbation and questioned him about it.
+
+"Well, Jack," said his father, "we've been weeks on the trail. We can't
+proceed much farther, without being compelled to start out. And yet so
+far we have discovered no further trace of Thorwaldsson's party. When we
+entered the MacKenzie, which flows north, we were going to the south.
+Going up the Hare Indian we struck east. Since getting into the streams,
+rivers and lakes we have been going east. Shortly we shall strike the
+Coppermine, Beyond that lies the river of oil, as reported by Farrell.
+
+"So far we have made good time. With luck, we shall be able to reach
+that territory before having to turn back or, rather, for we shall not
+retrace our steps, turn south. And we should have struck some other
+trace of Thorwaldsson's party long ere this, if we are on the right
+track. However, you boys need not worry about this, so let's talk of
+something else."
+
+Seeing that his father had sunk into one of his rare periods when he
+wished to be alone with his meditations and did not welcome intrusion
+even from Jack, the latter moved away to join his comrades.
+
+"Dad's plainly worried," he said. And he explained the circumstances.
+"Wish I could find some way to make him forget his troubles," he said.
+
+"I know what," said Frank. "He loves music. We're camping for the night.
+Although"--with a look at the sun--"there isn't much night, is there?
+Well, anyhow, it's nighttime in Edmonton, where that new broadcasting
+station was set up last Spring. Let's rig up our radio and see if we
+can't pick up their concert, just for luck. What do you say?"
+
+"I say, good," declared Jack.
+
+"Edmonton's long way off," objected Bob.
+
+"That's nothing," said Jack. "I believe we can pick it up all right."
+
+"In this northern country we have no static problem, anyway," said
+Frank. "We couldn't send to Edmonton with our equipment, but I'll bet we
+can catch."
+
+While Farnum and Mr. Hampton put their heads together in low-whispered
+conversation, poring over a map, and while Art and Dick lay outstretched
+under some fir trees, already disposed for sleep, the three boys quietly
+got out the necessary equipment from among the luggage and set to work.
+
+"A short distance up the stream," said Frank, "I saw two firs taller
+than most, standing alone. They're a pretty good distance apart, too. We
+can climb up those trees and string the aerial between them."
+
+They made their way to the trees noted by Frank, and found them exactly
+suited to the purpose. Jack and Frank, were lighter than Bob, took turns
+climbing the trees, and the wires were strung without any great
+difficulty. They worked busily, and when everything was all connected
+up, Bob looked at his watch.
+
+"Allowing for the difference in time," he said, "they're about ready to
+begin their concert. On what meter wave length does the Edmonton station
+send, Frank?"
+
+"I don't recall. About three hundred and fifty, I suppose. We'll tune up
+and try, anyway."
+
+"What dubs we are, fellows, not to have thought of this before," said
+Jack.
+
+"Oh, well," said Bob, "broadcast concerts never did interest me much,
+anyway. I like to do the sending myself, we've always been dog-tired
+when we made camp at night, and ready to turn in as quickly as Art and
+Dick. If it hadn't been for your thought of bringing some relaxation and
+amusement to your father tonight, Jack, we'd have been asleep already."
+
+"I guess that's right, old thing," Jack replied. "You would have been
+asleep, anyway, even if the rest of us kept tossing. But what does she
+say, Frank? Any luck yet?"
+
+Frank, who had been manipulating the controls, looked up mirthfully.
+
+"What do you think of your musical program, Jack?" he replied. "Listen
+in a minute will you? They're sending out a crop and weather report."
+
+Jack's face fell, then he, too, laughed.
+
+"Oh, well," he said, "that's just a preliminary. The concert will
+follow."
+
+"No," answered Frank, who had resumed his headpiece, "now it's a
+bulletin report on the day's news events. Listen. Why, great--"
+
+His voice died. Over his face came an expression of surprise.
+
+Jack and Bob sprang to take up the other headpieces attached to the box.
+Over their features also spread amazement and even consternation. They
+listened intently. Then all three simultaneously tore off the receivers
+and looked at each other.
+
+"Whew, what do you know about that?" said Bob, in an awed tone.
+
+"And on the very night that we decided to set up the radio, too," said
+Frank.
+
+"It seems like the hand of fate," declared Jack. "Say, we must get
+father and Tom Farnum."
+
+"Thorwaldsson's airship found wrecked on land near the mouth of the
+MacKenzie," said Bob. "And the skeleton of the aviator. Can you beat
+it?" he ejaculated again.
+
+"Hey, Jack, wait a minute," cried Frank, running after his companion,
+who already had started for camp. "Discovered by Indians who were
+bringing out furs, did you get that?"
+
+Jack nodded, but saved his breath as he continued to run. Frank fell in
+beside him, Bob pounding at his heels.
+
+In a few moments they burst excitedly upon the graveled beach by the
+river, where camp had been made for the night. Dick and Art lay
+outstretched in slumber under the nearest fir trees. Mr. Hampton and
+Farnum were still deep in their discussion, and apparently had not even
+been aware of the absence of the boys, for they looked up in surprise as
+the latter approached.
+
+"What is it, Jack? What's the matter?" demanded Mr. Hampton, rising to
+his feet in alarm, as he noted his son's excitement.
+
+Quickly, Jack related what had occurred, describing their setting up of
+the radio, their picking-up of the Edmonton station's nightly program,
+and their discovery that Thorwaldsson's airship had been found far
+behind them near the mouth of the MacKenzie.
+
+"It was only a bulletin news report, Dad," Jack explained, "yet I
+suppose it contains all the facts. Evidently the discovery of the
+airship had been made weeks ago by Indians, going to the mouth of the
+MacKenzie with their Winter catch of furs. But, of course, it took a
+long time for the news to reach civilization. It was just made public
+today. The very day, too, that we decided to rig up the radio. It
+certainly seems like the hand of fate, doesn't it, Dad? If we had waited
+until tomorrow, or set up the radio yesterday, probably we would not
+have known of this discovery."
+
+Mr. Hampton nodded, but absently. Already his mind was busy with the
+problem.
+
+"Did the report state any message or papers of any sort were found on
+the body of the aviator?"
+
+"No. Only that the body had been there a long time, as nothing but the
+skeleton remained."
+
+"And that was all?"
+
+"That was all the definite information," said Frank. "Of course, there
+was a word or two of speculation as to what had occurred. The theory was
+advanced that the aviator was flying to summon aid for Thorwaldsson, who
+was in some predicament, but that some accident occurred to his engine
+while flying, and he fell to his death."
+
+"A plausible enough theory," said Farnum. "But, in that case, I can't
+understand why the aviator did not bear some message from Thorwaldsson.
+Can you, Mr. Hampton?"
+
+Mr. Hampton shook his head.
+
+"That's not the only puzzling thing," he said. "The disappearance from
+the MacKenzie of Thorwaldsson's ship, the death of the aviator, the lack
+of message on his body, the swallowing up of Thorwaldsson and his party,
+Thorwaldsson's failure to send any radio messages--all these need
+explaining.
+
+"We must face the fact," he continued, "that some disaster of a totally
+unexpected nature has befallen Thorwaldsson's expedition. And I mean by
+that a disaster of man's agency. They were prepared for practically all
+eventualities in their grapple with nature. Although the Winter was
+severe, yet they were well provisioned, had Farrell who knew the
+country, and were prepared in every way for a lengthy stay. Even if
+worst came to worst, and Winter proved too much for them, some would
+have survived and brought out word of what had befallen."
+
+"Then you think, Dad--"
+
+Jack regarded his father, wide-eyed.
+
+"I think, Jack," said the latter firmly, "that it is time to take you
+boys into our complete confidence, Farnum and I have been talking this
+matter over. We feel pretty certain that some powerful man or group of
+men has knowledge of Farrell's discovery of the river of oil, and is
+working against us. How to explain the obtaining of that knowledge I do
+not know, But, perhaps, some traitor in Anderson's employ, somebody high
+in his confidence, got some word of it. Perhaps, Thorwaldsson in an
+unguarded moment, let some bit of information fall. Oil, you know, is a
+vital necessity of the world. Discovery of a vast new field would make
+great fortunes.
+
+"Whoever heard of it, heard of Farrell's discovery, would realize that
+the only way to come upon it would be to follow the Thorwaldsson
+expedition, dog its steps and, at the psychological moment, strike. In
+other words, when the field was rediscovered by Farrell, wipe out the
+Thorwaldsson expedition, and claim possession.
+
+"Events, as they have occurred, seem to fit in with this theory. The
+disappearance of Thorwaldsson's ship from the MacKenzie. Apparently it
+traveled only at night, thus slipping by the scattered trading posts on
+the great river. It has never been heard of since. It might very easily
+have been scuttled and sunk, or else materially changed in appearance in
+some little bay on that far northern coast of the Arctic. That would
+mean that the crew was bought up, but that is not an impossibility, for
+men I am sorry to say break faith for gain. As to the airship, the
+aviator whom I know of as a man true and tried, may have sought to make
+his escape to the outside when Thorwaldsson was captured--as I believe
+likely--and may have paid with his life for his devotion, through some
+unforeseen accident to his machine."
+
+The boys stood stunned. Finally Jack broke silence.
+
+"But, Dad, how terrible," he said in a shocked tone. "To think of men
+being so unscrupulous."
+
+"Not all men, Jack," said his father. "Remember that."
+
+"Mr. Hampton," said Frank. "What do you intend to do?"
+
+"Frankly, I don't know," said the latter. "Now that we are within
+striking distance of our objective--the river of oil--I do not want to
+give up. If it lies where we believe it to lie, we can reach it before
+necessity compels us to flee south to escape oncoming Winter. That will
+mean that we can map the route for future operation. I had at one time,
+too, although I did not mention it to you boys, some hope that we would
+be able to follow the river out into the Arctic and discover a route of
+approach by water. But we may not have time for that. However, once we
+do locate the river by land approach, we will have a pretty accurate
+idea of whether it can be reached by ship through the Arctic Ocean in
+Summer.
+
+"But whether to push on and imperil you lads, and the rest of us, in the
+light of what we suspect lies ahead, I do not know. We shall have to
+sleep over it."
+
+After some further conversation, all returned to where the boys had
+rigged up the radio. Dick and Art were childishly delighted at the
+concert, the first in their experience. Farnum was almost equally
+stirred. As to Mr. Hampton, for the time he forgot his worries in
+enjoyment of the music. As showmen, the boys were in the element.
+
+More than an hour passed, and the concert was still in progress, when
+Frank, who had been absent unnoted suddenly approached from the thick
+forest of firs on the bend, below which lay their camp, with a face so
+pale that Jack, who first caught sight of him, became alarmed.
+
+"What is it, Frank?" he asked, seizing his comrade by an arm.
+
+For a moment Frank was speechless. He swallowed convulsively, but was
+unable to make a reply. The others looked at him in astonishment, and
+all tore the headpieces off and neglected the closing number of the
+concert, as they stared at him.
+
+With outstretched arm, Frank pointed towards the point of land, making a
+bend in the stream, beyond which lay their camp.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.--INDIANS!
+
+
+"Indians."
+
+That was all Frank said, but it was sufficient. Over the faces of Mr.
+Hampton, Farnum and the two men, Dick and Art, came looks of alarm.
+
+"In camp," asked Jack, a sudden thought striking him. "Maybe they're
+just visitors."
+
+But Farnum shook his head decisively, before Frank could reply.
+
+"The only Indians in this country hate the white man," he said. "They
+have had some cause, goodness knows. But the point is, they hate us."
+Turning abruptly to Frank, he said:
+
+"Do they know where we are? Were you seen?"
+
+"I was approaching our camp from this side," said Frank, who had
+recovered his speech. "I was in search of a handkerchief, for I've got a
+little cold, and found I did not have one with me. Anyway, my feet made
+no sound on the pine needles, and I was screened from the camp by the
+trees. Suddenly, as I neared the last fringe, I saw a dozen Indians or
+more steal out of the trees on the other side of the clearing. They fell
+upon our belongings and started going through them. I hurried away to
+warn you."
+
+"Quick," said Farnum, "there is no time to lose. We are seven and all
+armed. They saw us depart and probably thought this was a grand chance
+to rifle our camp. Waited a while to see if we were coming back at once.
+I imagine they are just thieves. Well, we'll give them a lesson. Come
+on."
+
+Mr. Hampton laid a detaining hand on Farnum's arm.
+
+"Even if they are thieves," he said. "We want no bloodshed. Shoot over
+their heads, if shooting is necessary."
+
+Farnum's face fell.
+
+"All right, sir," he said. "Just as you say. But we'll have to hurry, or
+they'll get away with everything and escape in our canoes. Then we would
+be out of luck, indeed."
+
+With beating hearts, the party stole back through the trees, spread out
+with intervals of several yards between each. Dick and Art, who never
+stirred anywhere without their rifles with them, being old-timers who
+knew what it meant to be separated from their weapons in this wild land,
+were on the ends of the line. The boys had left their rifles behind, as
+had Mr. Hampton. Farnum, however, had brought his, and held the middle
+position. The other four were armed with their revolvers.
+
+As they neared the fringe of trees forming the last rampart between them
+and camp, crouching behind tree trunks as they stole forward, they could
+see a group of Indians still busy over their disordered luggage, which
+had been opened and tossed about near the fire. Another group was at the
+water's edge, loading the canoes which had been drawn up on the sand.
+
+"Just in time," thought Jack.
+
+Then his eye was caught by a picturesque figure of a man emerging from
+the little tent which Mr. Hampton employed, because he was a sufferer
+from rheumatism and wanted some shelter to keep off night chills in case
+they were late in getting out of the country, but which at present
+frequently was not set up on their halts. The present occasion, however,
+a whim to sleep under canvas rather than the fir trees had possessed
+him, and the tent had been set up.
+
+The man who caught Jack's attention differed little in dress from Dick
+and Art, but about his head was bound a red bandanna handkerchief in
+piratical fashion, and this suggestion was increased by his long,
+drooping black mustaches. Jack could see him clearly, and thought that
+seldom had he looked upon a more villainous countenance. The fellow held
+a piece of paper in his hand, and was reading it with evident
+satisfaction.
+
+A low exclamation from Farnum, next in line on his left, drew Jack's
+attention. He looked at the latter, crouching behind a tree. Farnum's
+eyes were ablaze. He had raised his rifle and was pointing it at the man
+before the tent. The next moment there was a report, the paper fell from
+the fellow's hand, and he emitted a howl of surprise and pain.
+
+"Just the hand," Jack overheard Farnum say in a tone of vexation, as he
+prepared to fire again. But the other, seizing his wounded hand in the
+unwounded one, did not wait for the attack. Running low and in zigzag
+fashion, he darted for the cover of the trees on the other side of the
+camp, at the same time shouting an unintelligible warning to his
+companions.
+
+"Fire," shrieked Farnum, pumping another shot after the fleeing man,
+that kicked up the dirt at his heels. "That's Lupo the Wolf. Shoot to
+kill."
+
+Jack shot with the rest, but remembering his father's exhortation fired
+high. The volley was general. From the rifles of Art, Dick and Farnum
+came deeper notes of heavy weapons, while from the four revolvers of the
+others poured a succession of shots. It sounded as if an army were
+opening fire from the woods.
+
+The Indians did not stay upon the order of their going. Those grouped
+about the luggage ran after the disappearing man Farnum had called Lupo
+the Wolf, while the other group at the canoes dashed away along the
+graveled bank of the stream. One, however, sought to launch the canoes
+into the swift current before departing, but his first effort was
+ineffectual, and any further attempt was stopped by a bullet from Mr.
+Hampton's revolver, which winged him in an arm and sent him scurrying
+after his fellows.
+
+"Dick, Art, here," cried Farnum, peremptorily.
+
+The two ran to his side.
+
+"That was Lupo the Wolf," Farnum explained rapidly, his voice betraying
+his excitement. "You can guess what that means?"
+
+The others nodded, with compressed lips.
+
+"I want you to trail them. Don't run into danger, but see if their camp
+is nearby."
+
+With nods of understanding, the two frontiersmen were off at the run,
+not crossing the open camp, but circling it amongst the trees. Then
+Farnum turned to Mr. Hampton, and the boys crowding at his heels.
+
+"That wasn't just an attack from Indian thieves," he said. "Mr.
+Hampton"--and his voice took on a solemn tone--"that was a blow from the
+enemy."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"They were desperadoes under the personal leadership of Lupo the Wolf."
+
+"And he?"
+
+"He is a cross-breed, half Indian, half white, and the most notorious
+bad man in the north. He is known not only throughout the length and
+breadth of Alaska, but throughout the Yukon of Canada, too. From
+Ketchikan to Arctic City, and from Nome to Dawson, he has gambled,
+fought, knifed, murdered, and never been brought to book. Ah, you
+consider Alaska is law-abiding these days. To a certain extent, the
+towns and mining camps have grown more orderly and there are sheriffs
+'north of 54.' But might still rules in the camps."
+
+Farnum spoke bitterly, and leaned a moment on his rifle. As it was
+evident, however, that he had not yet finished, the others did not
+interrupt. Presently he resumed.
+
+"Lupo recruits his men from the fisheries. Men of the lowest type come
+there in Summer, in droves, lured by the high wages. They form temporary
+alliances with the native women. Then in the Fall, they depart. You can
+guess what the children of such lawless unions are like. They are
+cross-breeds, inheriting the most vicious and lawless characteristics of
+the human race. It is from them Lupo recruits his following."
+
+"But why should they be away over here, in this unpeopled wilderness?"
+asked Mr. Hampton. "Unless--" He paused and looked questioningly at
+Farnum.
+
+The latter nodded.
+
+"That's it," he said. "Why? Unless, if you will let me finish for you,
+Lupo is on our trail. And that I believe to be the case. When Frank here
+first came with word of Indians in camp, I considered them merely
+raiders from some passing body of hunters. But when I found Lupo at
+their head, I knew better. The wonder to me is," he said, growing
+thoughtful, "that he did not send men to trail us and kill us or take us
+prisoner."
+
+Mr. Hampton shrugged.
+
+"Even the cunningest slip up now and then," he said. "Perhaps his men
+wanted to loot first. And, anyway, they had only been here a few moments
+when, thanks to Frank, we were able to surprise them. Well, thanks to
+our good angel, we came off as well as we did. Nothing stolen, our
+canoes still here, nobody hurt."
+
+"Ah," said Farnum, darkly, "we're not out of the woods yet. If Lupo the
+Wolf is after us, well--there is trouble ahead."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.--A MAN OF THE "MOUNTED."
+
+
+While Mr. Hampton and Farnum turned in to take inventory to discover
+what, if anything, had been stolen, the boys went back to take down and
+pack their radio outfit. As it lay in the opposite direction from that
+taken by the Indians who, moreover, were being tracked by Dick and Art
+and could not double back without warning being given, it was considered
+safe for the boys.
+
+When they returned to camp, they found the two frontiersmen ahead of
+them. These reported the Indian camp pitched some two miles in their
+rear and that, upon arrival, Lupo and his men had packed up and taken
+canoe on the back track.
+
+"Now what does that mean?" asked Farnum, thoughtfully. "It is probable
+that Lupo has been behind us all the way, if what I suspect is true,
+namely that they have been trailing us. But why should they be fleeing
+now?"
+
+"They can't have been close to us all the time, Mr. Farnum," said Bob,
+"or why weren't we attacked before?"
+
+Farnum nodded.
+
+"That's true enough," he said. "It may be that Lupo started late and has
+been all this time catching up with us."
+
+Breaking a thoughtful silence, Mr. Hampton said:
+
+"As a matter of fact, that seems the most probable explanation. The
+other side, Farnum, probably has a spy at Nome, of whom you are unaware.
+But the spy knows your identity. Your story of taking us into the
+wilderness to hunt may have deceived this spy. But then, later, word
+would reach him from Seattle of my identity. Not that it is commonly
+known. But if some traitor close to Anderson is trading on Farrell's
+secret, my connection with Anderson would be suspected, especially as
+several years ago I worked with the Anderson oil crowd in New Mexico. So
+words would reach Nome to watch me. Then someone would start out on our
+trail."
+
+"And that someone was Lupo," said Farnum. "A fine cutthroat."
+
+An earnest discussion followed. What did this turning back of Lupo the
+Wolf mean? Did he intend to stick to their trail, but at a greater
+distance in the rear? Or did he plan to encircle them and lie in ambush
+ahead? That his retreat was other than momentary, and meant he intended
+giving up their pursuit, nobody believed.
+
+"Look here, Dad," said Jack, during the course of this discussion,
+"don't you consider it quite likely that Lupo intends to take us by
+surprise and attack us, rather than to retreat?"
+
+Mr. Hampton nodded.
+
+"I do, indeed, Jack," he said. "A cutthroat such as Lupo would have
+brought his band of desperadoes here for only one purpose, and that is,
+to dispose of us. We were lucky this time by reason of the fact that
+they came upon our camp first, and stopped to loot. But from now on we
+shall have to be continually on our guard."
+
+"It's a good thing, Mr. Hampton, that this is the long Summer, when
+daylight never fails," said Frank. "That makes it easier to guard
+against a surprise attack."
+
+"Yes," Mr. Hampton agreed, "that makes it easier. But from now on, we
+shall have to be on the watch continually."
+
+He was silent a moment, thinking. Then he turned to the other members of
+the party, Farnum, Dick and Art being gathered about him as well as the
+boys, preparatory to the launching of the canoes, which were ready
+loaded.
+
+"Are we making a mistake in letting these fellows out of sight?" he
+asked. "Would it be better to set Dick and Art to watch them, and
+appoint a rendezvous where we can come together later?"
+
+The two Alaskans were silent. Their faces, however, showed approval of
+the plan. Farnum struck his forehead with clenched fist in a
+characteristic gesture.
+
+"Just what I would have proposed myself, if I had been awake," he
+confessed. "Dick, Art, do you think you could pick up their trail?"
+
+The two nodded.
+
+"They won't back track far," said Dick. "Art an' me can follow 'em
+afoot. That last portage is only four miles back, an' we can catch up
+with 'em there. Now about where to meet up with you again?"
+
+"None of us know this country," said Farnum, "and so it will be
+difficulty to appoint a rendezvous. But, look here. Lupo undoubtedly
+intends to continue our pursuit, and won't let our trail go cold.
+Consequently, you will be near us. I think the best plan will be to
+report to us at every camp. One of you can keep watch on Lupo while the
+other brings in a report."
+
+"Good enough," said Dick, the more loquacious of the pair. "Look for us
+at tomorrow's camp."
+
+Supplied with bacon and a little flour sufficient for a meal or two,
+guns at the trail, the pair struck swiftly on the back trail,
+disappeared among the trees at the bend and were gone from sight.
+
+"All right, boys," said Farnum. "Let's get going. Can you manage your
+canoe all right by yourselves?"
+
+Mr. Hampton laughed.
+
+"I think they can scrape along, Farnum," he said. "Probably we'll be
+asking one of them to help us before long. Well, come on."
+
+Paddles dipped into the stream once more, the canoes shot away, and,
+with Farnum leading to set the course, the boys fell in behind. In the
+leading canoe, as the two men settled down to the stroke a low-voiced
+conversation began that lasted a long time. What Mr. Hampton and Farnum
+were saying could not be heard, for the gap between the two canoes,
+though not great, was considerable. Moreover, they spoke in low tones.
+But the boys sensed an undercurrent of anxiety felt by both the older
+men. As for themselves, however, they were not worried. On the contrary,
+the excitement of finding themselves trailed had brightened them
+wonderfully.
+
+"Old expedition was getting too monotonous, anyway," said Bob presently.
+
+"Oh, I suppose you'll want to challenge the best Indian wrestler now,
+won't you?" said Jack, in a tone of mock seriousness.
+
+"Yes, Bob, why didn't you go back with Dick and Art and send in your
+challenge?" asked Frank, in the same jollying manner. "You know you
+haven't been in a match with anybody for some time. Here was your
+chance, and you went and let it slip away from you. But, don't worry,
+perhaps the Indians will return. Who knows? You may even have a chance
+to exchange courtesies with no less a personage than Lupo the Wolf
+himself."
+
+The big fellow grinned, but made no reply. And so the two canoes swept
+on between the low banks of the stream, one weighted with anxiety, the
+other filled with light-heartedness. The boys were not simpletons. They
+realized, indeed, that they were in a precarious situation. They were
+deep in the far northern wilderness. An enemy of superior numbers dogged
+their heels. In all that vast country, was none to whom they could look
+for help. But, for all that, they saw no occasion to worry. It was not
+the first time in which they found themselves in a ticklish situation.
+They had come unscathed out of other perils, even winning some honor in
+the encounter. They would do the same again. Thus they put the matter to
+themselves.
+
+Hour after hour passed, during which period they twice encountered
+slight rapids, up which they waded with the canoes instead of portaging.
+All were tiring rapidly, for not only was their number reduced by the
+absence of Dick and Art, and the work made correspondingly heavy, but in
+addition they were traveling now on reserve strength, as prior to making
+the last camp they already had done a big day's work.
+
+Farnum, however, pushed ahead until at the end of four hours of travel
+they came to the shore of a small lake. Here, in a secluded cove,
+convenient to the stream on which they had been traveling, they were
+about to make camp, when Frank approached Mr. Hampton and Farnum and
+indicated an island a half mile away.
+
+"Isn't that smoke over there?" he asked, pointing.
+
+Farnum stared, and in a moment his keen eyes confirmed Frank's
+observation. Mr. Hampton put up the field glasses which he always
+carried strapped to him, and also saw the smoke. But he saw something
+more--a skin kayak drawn up on the shore of the island.
+
+"Hard to tell from that what sort of man is camping out there," said
+Farnum, when informed of the kayak. "Everybody uses 'em in this
+country--Indian, Eskimo, and the occasional prospector. That smoke
+doesn't indicate a big fire. Must be only one man, or maybe, two. Let's
+investigate. If we decide to make camp out there, well, that island
+would be a good place and it would be hard to surprise us there if we
+kept guard."
+
+Once more, paddles were plied, and the two canoes cut diagonally across
+the waters of the lake towards the island. As they approached, Farnum
+raised his voice in a hail. A moment later an answering shout came back.
+Then a figure stepped from the trees to the little stretch of sand upon
+which the kayak was drawn up and stood, watching their approach, hand
+shading eyes against the glare of the sun, head bare.
+
+"Great Godfrey's ghost," exclaimed Farnum in a low voice, turning his
+head slightly to address Mr. Hampton, "it's a policeman."
+
+"What?"
+
+"A member of the Northwest--of the Canadian Mounted Police."
+
+"What's he doing here?"
+
+"I don't know. But we'll soon find out."
+
+"Welcome, strangers," said the other, a tall bronzed man, as they
+approached. "Just in time for a snack."
+
+He advanced to the water's edge, and stood ready to help. Farnum's
+appraising eye took in the approach. Shoal water and a sandy beach! He
+decided to drive the canoe up on the sands. Shipping his paddle, he
+leaped from the bow into the water, as the forefoot of the canoe grated
+lightly. Relieved of his weight, the canoe rose at the bow and sank at
+the stern under Mr. Hampton. Seizing the bow, Farnum ran it up on the
+beach, the uniformed man lending a hand. A moment later, Jack, who was
+in the bow of the boy's canoe, repeated the maneuver. The two craft were
+drawn up side by side.
+
+"MacDonald's my name," said the Canadian simply.
+
+"Know Arkell of Dawson?" asked Farnum.
+
+"Know him well," said the other. "One o' the best on the Force."
+
+"Friend of mine," said Farnum.
+
+The two clasped hands warmly. Then Farnum introduced Mr. Hampton and the
+boys. MacDonald led the way to a sheltered spot among the trees, where a
+fire burned.
+
+"Just about to broil some fish," he said. "Lucky there's plenty. I'm
+crazy about fishing," he continued, "and when they bit here I pulled out
+mor'n I could use. Was wonderin' what to do with 'em when I heard your
+hail. Guess I don't need to worry about that any longer."
+
+As he spoke he busied himself about preparations for dinner, and soon an
+appetizing odor of frying fish rose to assail the twitching nostrils of
+the hungry boys.
+
+"Suppose I get another pan and help, sir," proffered Bob.
+
+His comrades laughed, for the big fellow's appetite was proverbial among
+them. MacDonald nodded with a grin of understanding. Bob tore back to
+the canoes, and soon returned with a pan in hand. In a short time the
+fish were fried, and all hands fell to right heartily.
+
+"Long way off your beat, aren't you?" asked Farnum, of MacDonald, as
+they ate.
+
+The other nodded. Then he regarded them sharply.
+
+"Same to you," he said. "First white men I've seen in many days."
+
+Mr. Hampton read a challenge in the straight blue eyes under the
+grizzled brows, and met it promptly.
+
+"Yes, and I'll tell you why we are here," he said. "I think our meeting
+with you was providential. If you have been in this country long, you
+may have heard something that will help us. At any rate, here's our
+story."
+
+Whereupon, he proceeded to relate the reason for their presence. He made
+a clean breast of it, keeping back nothing, telling MacDonald of the
+alleged oil discovery by Farrell and Cameron, Cameron's death, Farrell's
+return as guide to Thorwaldsson's expedition, and their presence now in
+an attempt to trace the missing men.
+
+"So that's that," said MacDonald. "So that's the reason for
+Thorwaldsson's 'Lost Expedition.' And it was into this country he come!
+Well, well."
+
+In conclusion, Mr. Hampton told of their recent adventure with Lupo the
+Wolf. MacDonald manifested keen interest. His hand, as he poured tobacco
+into a pipe, shook slightly, and he spilled a little of the precious
+tobacco.
+
+"You ain't heard of it likely," he said. "You wouldn't. But this Lupo
+killed my partner on the Force, an' I asked the Inspector to let me go
+after him myself. I followed him in from Dawson an' lost his trail
+several days ago. Now, well--"
+
+MacDonald averted his face, rose and walked down towards the lake shore,
+and the others respected his evident desire to be alone and did not
+follow.
+
+"Out after Lupo single-handed," whispered Frank. "And the desperado
+surrounded by all his men, too."
+
+Farnum nodded.
+
+"That means nothing to the Mounted," said he.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.--FIRST BLOOD.
+
+
+So tired were all members of the party after their unexpected exertions
+of moving camp and trekking on, coming at the end of a day filled with
+fatiguing labor, that now a haven had been reached and they had relaxed
+from their tension, they were ready to go to sleep at once. First,
+however, preparations had to be made not only to keep guard but to keep
+watch also for Dick and Art. Although the latter did not know
+definitely, of course, where they were encamped, yet it would not be
+difficult for them to follow the trail at least to the shore of the
+lake.
+
+"Look here," said MacDonald, returning to join the conference, "I'm not
+near as tired as the rest of you. I'll keep watch for your friends for a
+couple of hours while the rest of you get some sleep."
+
+"All right," said Farnum, gratefully, "that is, if you promise to wake
+me at the end of two hours. I can use a little sleep right now."
+
+"Turn in, then," said MacDonald. "These spruces give you enough shade.
+And, anyway, I guess you don't need much inducement to go to sleep."
+
+"I could sleep right out in the open sun with my face turned up to the
+sky," said big Bob, yawning. "Well, nighty night, folks."
+
+Nothing occurred during MacDonald's watch, and at the end of the
+two-hour period he awakened Farnum, in keeping with the agreement.
+
+"Thought some of letting you sleep on," he said. "But, to tell you the
+truth, I been travelin' hard myself, and need a little sleep, too."
+
+"Right," said Farnum. "I'd have been peeved if you hadn't waked me."
+
+Several hours later, Farnum keeping lonely vigil among the bushes by the
+lake shore, descried a canoe shoot out of the mouth of the stream down
+which they, too, had come and swing into the lake. At first, as only the
+bow of the canoe appeared, he was startled, believing Lupo's Indians
+already were on the trail. But a moment later, with relief and yet
+surprise to see them there, he made out the two figures in the boat as
+those of Dick and Art.
+
+The pair rested on their paddles a moment, scanning the shore and also,
+Farnum noted, apparently casting anxious glances behind them. He was too
+far away, however, to see whether that were really the case. Farnum
+realized that, with the skin kayak belonging to MacDonald now drawn
+safely out of sight among the bushes, beside their own canoes, Dick and
+Art would not have the same indications pointing to the island that had
+he on arrival. Therefore, he stepped from the bushes and was just about
+to set his cupped hand to his mouth and call when the unexpected
+occurred.
+
+Dick and Art already had dipped their paddles into the water again and
+were making a wide swing with the evident intention of bringing the
+canoe parallel to the shore but some distance out, when Farnum's
+startled eyes beheld another canoe arrive at the mouth of the stream
+behind them.
+
+Action was as quick as thought. Dick and Art evidently had managed to
+obtain one of Lupo's canoes and were being closely pursued. How closely,
+moreover, apparently they did not know. He must warn them, not only of
+his presence and of help close at hand, but also of the danger behind
+them. The course they were taking would bear them away from the island
+and, unless changed at once, would make it possible for Lupo to cut them
+off from their friends.
+
+Although he had left his rifle at camp, as he stumbled out with sleep
+filling his eyes and dulling his brain, Farnum had his automatic
+swinging in the holster at his belt. Whipping it out, he shot three
+times in rapid succession.
+
+At the sound, Dick and Art stared towards the island where Farnum,
+stepping into the open, was vigorously waving his hat to attract their
+attention. Lupo's men also set up a shout, as they churned the water
+racing to cut off their quarry.
+
+"What is it?" cried Frank, first of the aroused camp to gain Farnum's
+side.
+
+Then his glance took in the situation.
+
+"Look here, those fellows might pick off Art and Dick before they can
+gain safety, even if they don't succeed in cutting them off," he said.
+"Let's get our rifles, fellows, and open fire. A long shot, but they're
+coming closer."
+
+"Anyway, it will make them draw in their horns," said Farnum. "Tell you
+what, you boys run and get the rifles, and Mr. Hampton and I will launch
+one of our canoes. We'll go out to help Dick and Art, if those fellows
+keep closing in on them."
+
+The three boys sped away, nothing loath, but when they returned they
+found Farnum's plan unnecessary. As the two canoes had swept along,
+Dick, who was in the stern, suddenly had thrown down his paddle, and
+taken up his rifle, while Art had swung the canoe about with one
+dexterous stroke. Dick immediately had opened fire, and Art had followed
+suit.
+
+The boys heard the shots as they ran down towards the shore. When they
+reached the sand they found Lupo's men already had faced about and were
+hurrying towards the mainland. One of their number evidently was hit.
+
+"Main good shootin' at long range a' so quick after paddlin'," commented
+MacDonald appreciatively.
+
+Content with having beaten off their enemies, the two desisted, resumed
+their paddles and soon were within hailing distance. Greetings and
+congratulations were exchanged, and Dick and Art ran their canoe on
+shore. As soon as the first hubbub of exclamations died away, Mr.
+Hampton led the way to the camp. MacDonald put the coffee pot on the
+fire and between draughts of the strong, hot liquid Dick told their
+story.
+
+After leaving the previous camp, they had gone back to where they seen
+Lupo break camp and start on the back trail. The meaning of this move,
+they had discussed. It seemed to them folly to believe Lupo was
+relinquishing the chase. They believed he would suspect Mr. Hampton and
+Farnum would spy on him, and was merely trying to throw them off guard
+by creating the impression that he was abandoning the chase. Therefore,
+they had gone warily, convinced that at the end of a short withdrawal
+Lupo would call a halt and prepare to 'bout face.
+
+This suspicion proved correct. Some two miles farther on they discerned
+the four canoes of the half-breed halted alongshore while Lupo harangued
+their occupants.
+
+"We wanted to listen powerful bad to what he was a-sayin'," explained
+Dick. "But we couldn't get close enough. There wasn't much cover near
+'em and we had to lay hid where the trees was thickest, quite a ways
+off. Art and I lay there, a-strainin' our ears but without any luck when
+suddenly somethin' happens. Most of 'em was on shore, listenin' to Lupo
+but in one canoe was one man a-huntin' around like he'd lost somethin'.
+
+"What it was we never did know. But suddenly, this fellow shoves off
+with a shout to Lupo. Lupo answers like he was agreein'. So then this
+fellow comes a-paddlin' down stream like mad. As he goes by where we're
+a-layin' low, Art whispers to me: 'This is where Lupo turns his gang
+around. That's sure. Best thing we can do is to beat it back an' warn
+our crowd. An' my legs is tired. I'd like to let my arms work for me.
+Let's go.'
+
+"I nods, and without any more words we backed out and started down
+stream after that canoe. The fellow is goin' like mad, which means he
+ain't intendin' to go far. He's lost somethin' or other and thinks it
+may be floatin' on the water or, maybe is layin' on shore where he
+touched. Anyway, that's what we thought. We never did get to know. For
+after we'd made a bend in the stream and put some distance between Lupo
+and us, we decided it was no use runnin' any farther.
+
+"'Here goes,' said Art. And he let fly over the Indian's head. That
+fellow didn't wait for more. He just jumped out of the canoe an' started
+swimmin' for the other shore. So then Art give me his rifle an' he swims
+out and brings in the canoe. Last we seen of that Indian he was
+streaking it back on the other bank. I got in and--well, here we are."
+
+MacDonald, who had listened in silence, suddenly interrupted:
+
+"How many men has Lupo got with him?"
+
+"A dozen."
+
+MacDonald looked at Mr. Hampton.
+
+"You know why I want him," he said. "For murder. And then there's this
+raid on you. There are eight of us, includin' these husky young fellows
+of yours. Will you help me capture him an' his gang?"
+
+Mr. Hampton looked thoughtful.
+
+"But, MacDonald, what would you do with them? We can't turn aside from
+our own object long? We couldn't help you guard them. And you couldn't
+get twelve or thirteen men back to your Post single-handed, especially
+if any of them are wounded."
+
+MacDonald's face fell.
+
+"Guess you're right," he said. "But when I think o' that skunk--murderin'
+the best pal a man ever had--well, I see red, that's all." His head sank
+to his clenched hands and he sat on a fallen tree, staring moodily at
+the ground between his feet.
+
+"Certainly is a problem, Mr. Hampton," said Farnum, slowly. "If we don't
+do something, Lupo will continue to hang to our trail as we proceed, a
+constant danger."
+
+"I know," said Mr. Hampton. "Let me think."
+
+He, too, sat silent, staring meditatively at the ground.
+
+The boys had been listening with interest. Now Frank nudged Jack, with
+whom he was standing by the fire, and whispered in his ear. Jack's face
+brightened and he nodded.
+
+"I'll bet they have," he whispered. "Ask MacDonald."
+
+Frank turned to the ranger.
+
+"Mr. MacDonald, how far away is your Post?" he inquired.
+
+MacDonald looked up puzzled, but answered readily enough.
+
+"A good four hundred miles to the South."
+
+"Why do you ask, Frank?" Mr. Hampton wanted to know.
+
+"Just a minute, sir, please," begged Frank, once more turning to
+MacDonald. "And how many men are at the Post?"
+
+"Captain and five men."
+
+"Oh, is that all?"
+
+Frank's tone was one of disappointment. MacDonald smiled slightly.
+
+"People think the 'Mounties' must be as many as an army," he said.
+"Well, we keep this wilderness clean with a handful. O' course, when
+necessary, too, we can swear in deputies."
+
+"Have you got wireless at the Post?" asked Frank.
+
+MacDonald nodded.
+
+"Captain equipped us some time back," he said. "All posts or forts, as
+we call them sometimes, have wireless now."
+
+"Good for you, Frank. I see what you're driving at now," said Mr.
+Hampton. "You--"
+
+Frank nodded.
+
+"Yes, sir. I thought if we helped Mr. MacDonald capture Lupo and his
+gang, we could call his Post by wireless and have them send men to help
+him take his prisoners in."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.--A CALL TO THE FORT.
+
+
+"Now," said Jack, "is the time that I wish I had my 20-kilowatt radio
+tube that I have been working on so long."
+
+Mr. Hampton, Bob and Frank nodded sympathetically. An enthusiast on
+radio, Jack had developed a number of new appliances. The latest of
+these was not yet completed. He had worked on it in the laboratories at
+Yale during the Winter and Spring. The lateness of his return to his
+classes, however, inasmuch as he did not arrive at college until after
+Christmas, due to the delay occasioned by his adventures in South
+America in search of "The Enchanted City of the Incas," compelled him to
+devote most his time to catching up in his studies. He did not,
+therefore, have as much time to devote to laboratory experiments as he
+desired. As a consequence, the 20-kilowatt tube had not yet been
+perfected, when time came for him to depart for Alaska with his father.
+
+Jack's 20-kilowatt tube, when completed, would be the most powerful in
+the world, and he expected, moreover, to construct others of greater
+kilo-wattage. A 75-kilowatt tube had been produced in England, it is
+true, but it had not been found practicable. Jack's tube was to be
+steel-jacketed and equipped with a water-cooling device, due to the heat
+produced when in operation. His big dream was that this tube, when used
+as an amplifier in conjunction with an alternator, would make
+trans-atlantic telephonic communication as common as cabling or wireless
+telegraphing.
+
+"If I only had one of my 20-kilowatt tubes now," he mourned, "we would
+be able to talk not only with Mr. MacDonald's Post but with Dawson or
+even Nome."
+
+"Well, Jack," said Frank, "it's too bad. Just the same, let's get busy.
+For, with our 50-watt oscillator tube set we will be able to communicate
+by telegraph up to 500 miles. And, as the Post is only 400 miles away,
+we can reach it easily."
+
+For sending up to 500 miles, the boys knew they could use either three
+or four 5-watt oscillator tubes in parallel, or one 50-watt oscillator
+tube. They had decided on the latter method, in making their
+preparations for departure in faraway Seattle. For one thing, and the
+biggest, transportation was the most important item. And the 50-watt
+tube set was the more compact. Quickly, then, with Mr. Hampton helping,
+they got out the various parts from their baggage and made the
+connections.
+
+Farnum, the Northwest policeman, MacDonald, and Dick and Art, watched
+with puzzled interest and even awe as the four, working in unison, put
+together the aerial series condenser, the blocking condenser, the grid
+condenser, the telegraph key, the chopper, the choke coil in the key
+circuit, the filament volt-meter, the protective condenser in the power
+circuit, the storage battery and the motor generator.
+
+Farnum and MacDonald asked questions, although Dick and Art were content
+to sit silent and watch, keen-eyed, as the construction work progressed.
+Several times, too, Dick arose and went to the water's edge to keep
+watch against surprise. That any would be attempted for the time being,
+nobody believed, as they figured the enemy would consider them on guard.
+
+As they worked, Jack explained for the benefit of the others. His
+description of how the low voltage current from the storage battery
+flowed into one of the windings of the generator and drives it as a
+motor thus generating higher voltage in the other winding both puzzled
+and interested them. By the time, the set was ready for use, Farnum, who
+was something of a mechanic by inclination, had a fair understanding of
+the set, but MacDonald, though interested, was bewildered.
+
+"I'm fair beat," he confessed. "Anyhow, just so you boys can make it
+work!"
+
+"Oh, we'll make it work, all right," Frank assured him. "Well, now, to
+try to call the Post. What's its call, Mr. MacDonald?"
+
+"I happen to remember," said MacDonald. "We were all so interested when
+wireless was put in that Captain Jameson gave us a little lecture on it.
+He said our call would be JSN, abbreviation for his name. We were to
+remember it, in case of need, when we were able to get to a wireless
+station. Well, this is a case of need."
+
+"I'll say it is," said big Bob. "Well, come on, fellows, who's going to
+call?"
+
+It was an honor or distinction that each was eager to have, yet each
+wanted to force it on the others. A friendly argument developed, to
+which Mr. Hampton, smiling, put an end.
+
+"Look here, boys, we are wasting time. Suppose you draw straws for the
+privilege. You all know the Morse and Continental codes, so there is no
+question of ability involved. Here--" breaking three matchsticks into
+varying lengths and offering them--"take your choice. Longest wins."
+
+Frank drew the winning stick. The others laughed, clapped him on the
+back, and without more ado he began pressing the key and sending out the
+signal.
+
+"Is somebody on duty at the Post wireless station, do you think,
+MacDonald?" asked Mr. Hampton.
+
+"Somebody there all the time," the latter replied. "Captain Jameson has
+found wireless so useful in policing his vast district that he wonders
+how he ever got along without it."
+
+"Hurray," shouted Frank, "listen. They're answering."
+
+To those who understood the code, the answer was plain:
+
+"JSN answering. Who are you?"
+
+"MacDonald," tapped off Frank, grinning mischievously.
+
+The receptor sounded almost angry.
+
+"Quit your kidding."
+
+"No, I mean it," replied Frank. "This is MacDonald of the Mounted."
+
+"Prove it."
+
+"That'll stump old Frank," chuckled Bob, in an aside. But he was
+mistaken.
+
+"All right," replied Frank, confidently. "Do you know what my assignment
+is?"
+
+"Yes," answered JSN, impudently. "Do you?"
+
+"I'm after Lupo the Wolf," tapped Frank. "Now call Captain Jameson."
+
+"You're not MacDonald," replied JSN, "because he doesn't know the code.
+But you must be speaking for him, for that's right about his assignment.
+I'll call Captain Jameson. You wait."
+
+"All right," tapped Frank.
+
+Then he turned to the eager MacDonald, who was itching to inquire what
+was occurring, but had restrained himself until he should be appealed to
+by Frank, in order not to interrupt. Like all men unfamiliar with
+telegraphy, whether wireless or by wire, he stood in awe of an operator,
+and believed it would be terrible, indeed, to interrupt that superior
+being. Frank took pity now on his curiosity, as well as on that of
+Farnum, Dick and Art, crowding behind him, and explained what had
+happened.
+
+"And you actually got the Post?" asked MacDonald, doubt in his voice.
+
+Frank nodded.
+
+"My God," said the big policeman. "Think of the weeks I spent toiling up
+here, and now you come along and talk across that distance without the
+loss of a minute's time. Wonderful, well I reckon."
+
+"When Captain Jameson arrives," said Frank, smiling, "I want you to
+stand close and I'll translate what he says, and you help me with the
+replies, will you?"
+
+"Won't I be interrupting you?"
+
+"Oh, no," smiled Frank. "You just come close and wait until I speak.
+It'll be all right. Well"--as the receptor began to click--"I guess this
+is Captain Jameson now. Yes," with a nod, "it's he, all right. He's
+asking where you are, Mr. MacDonald."
+
+"Tell him I'm four hundred miles away and close on Lupo. Tell him about
+yourselves and the fight, and that we're going to round up Lupo's gang
+and ask him how soon he can send men to help me out with any prisoners
+we take, and if he can send any at all, and--"
+
+"One minute," said Frank. "I understand. Just wait a bit now, while I
+telegraph."
+
+To explain at length the details of that telegraphic conversation is
+unnecessary. Suffice it to say, that the situation was fully explained
+to Captain Jameson, and that the latter agreed to start a half dozen
+deputies under a Sergeant to MacDonald's aid, as soon as he should hear
+again as to the outcome of the expedition against Lupo.
+
+"It'll take a while for the men to reach MacDonald," said Captain
+Jameson. "But with game plentiful and the season open, he can camp until
+they arrive, and thus keep watch over his prisoners, providing he makes
+any. You people go ahead with your rounding up of Lupo's gang, and then
+let me hear from you again."
+
+On that agreement, Frank finally closed the conversation, as there was
+nothing further to be said.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.--THE BOYS LEFT BEHIND.
+
+
+"MacDonald, I'll agree to help you round up Lupo and his gang," said Mr.
+Hampton.
+
+They were all sitting in conference, so to speak, about the camp fire,
+over which Dick was busy broiling fish which he and Art and the boys had
+just pulled out of the lake. The appetizing odor made the nostrils of
+the three hungry boys twitch with anticipatory delight.
+
+"Fine," said the big ranger, "that's the way I like to hear you talk."
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Hampton, meditatively, "I've got a very good reason why
+we should cast in our lot and help you, even supposing Lupo flees and
+draws us off our course."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"Well, it's an easy enough one to guess. Lupo evidently is after us.
+That means that he is being paid by somebody to do us in, or at least
+thwart us in our search. I want to know who that somebody is. And the
+only way to find out is to make Lupo prisoner and question him.
+Moreover, it is possible we may be able to learn something about the
+mysterious fate of Thorwaldsson and his expedition."
+
+Farnum had been listening closely. He nodded with satisfaction.
+
+"Just what I was thinking myself."
+
+"You're right, Mr. Hampton," said MacDonald. "But such being the case,
+we'll have to be mighty careful that Lupo doesn't get shot, as then your
+prospective source of information would vanish."
+
+"True enough, MacDonald," said Mr. Hampton. "We'll all have to be on
+guard against that misfortune, for misfortune it would be."
+
+He raised his voice, calling the boys and Dick and Art to him. Then he
+explained how matters stood.
+
+"As soon as we finish breakfast," he said, "we'll start, and you must
+all be very careful not to shoot Lupo, if it comes to a battle."
+
+As they ate breakfast, Bob who seldom spoke but always to the point,
+raised a question which had been puzzling him.
+
+"Mr. Hampton, what will we do with all our outfit?" he asked. "And with
+our radio transmitter, especially? Shall we dismount it? Must we take
+all our outfit along?"
+
+"It would be too bad to dismount the radio, after our trouble in getting
+it erected," said Mr. Hampton. "And to take all our outfit with us would
+be to hamper our movements. On the other hand, we can't very well leave
+everything here, for some of Lupo's men might slip away from the main
+body, in fact, they may already have done so, and they would put us in a
+terrible plight if they raided the camp, in our absence."
+
+There was silence for a minute or two, then MacDonald spoke.
+
+"We can certainly travel faster without your outfit to hold us back," he
+said, "especially if Lupo tries to run away. For then we could gain on
+him at the portages, by traveling light. Look here, Mr. Hampton, this
+island is easily defended. We've been going to the shore to keep watch
+on the mainland against surprise. But just a little ways through the
+trees is a little rise, a knoll, from which you can see the waters all
+around the island. One man alone could keep guard here."
+
+"But one man couldn't keep off an attack in numbers," objected Mr.
+Hampton.
+
+"I don't know," said MacDonald. "With them high-powered rifles of yours,
+it might be done. They carry far, farther than any guns Lupo's Indians
+and breeds will have. Anyway, two men certainly could manage to hold
+this place against all comers."
+
+"And three," added Farnum, with a significant look at Mr. Hampton,
+"could do it even better."
+
+The boys again were at the fire some distance away, helping Dick broil
+more fish. Mr. Hampton looked at them. He understood the significance in
+Farnum's tone.
+
+"You don't think they would be in danger here?"
+
+"Less than they would be in with us, Mr. Hampton," said Farnum, lowering
+his voice as the other had done.
+
+Mr. Hampton considered. The proposal hinted by Farnum, namely, that the
+boys should be left at camp, tempted him. It was most assuredly true
+that they would be in far less danger than if they accompanied him
+against Lupo. And that appealed to him, appealed powerfully. He was
+grateful to Farnum in his thoughts for his solicitude for the boys'
+welfare.
+
+On the other hand, he knew them for resourceful in an emergency, and
+good fighters. And since the idea that information might be obtained
+from Lupo had come to him it had taken firm possession of his thoughts.
+Lupo must be captured. Would it not be folly to weaken their force by
+leaving three young huskies, each of whom, moreover, was a fine rifle
+shot, behind?
+
+Besides, what would the boys say? If necessary, he could command and
+they would obey. But Mr. Hampton was not one to exercise his authority
+dictatorially.
+
+"I confess I don't know what to do, Farnum," he said finally.
+
+At that moment, a laughing hail from the boys announced the completion
+of the second batch of food, and their imminent return.
+
+"Make it a post of honor and danger," whispered Farnum, urgently. "Tell
+them the radio must be guarded, and the outfit, and that if we take
+these things along our movements will be so hampered that Lupo might
+escape. Tell them there is a big possibility, too, that some of Lupo's
+gang may attempt to raid the camp while we are absent."
+
+The boys were so close at hand that Farnum desisted. Mr. Hampton nodded.
+As they ate, he broached the subject of leaving a guard in camp.
+
+"Three of us ought to stay behind," he added. "That will give sufficient
+protection for each other, and provide a sure safeguard against
+surprise. Also, that leaves five of us to go after Lupo. Four of us can
+go in that bigger of our canoes easily, without any baggage. It carried
+three of us, with baggage, so far, MacDonald can go in his kayak. So we
+can hit a fast pace, and make speed at the portages, if any are
+necessary."
+
+"Who do you intend to leave behind, Dad?" asked Jack quietly.
+
+Mr. Hampton realized from his son's tone that Jack understood his
+thoughts.
+
+"Well, you three boys would be the natural ones to be selected," he
+said.
+
+"Oh, I say," protested Bob.
+
+"That's not fair, Mr. Hampton," cried Frank.
+
+Jack was silent. He knew his father. Close association of the motherless
+boy with the older man since boyhood had attuned their minds. He
+understood how troubled his father was over the possibility of running
+them into danger. And he decided he would not add to his difficulties,
+but would keep quiet, although inwardly he felt dismayed at the prospect
+of "missing the fun."
+
+"You see how it is, fellows," said Mr. Hampton, and he proceeded to
+elaborate on the theme furnished him by Farnum. "It's a post of honor
+and danger combined."
+
+Bob and Frank, however, were not convinced. They started anew to protest
+But Jack silenced them.
+
+"All right, fellows, let's be sports," he said. "If the older heads
+decide they don't need us, we won't force ourselves on them."
+
+"But, Jack," cried Bob and Frank in chorus.
+
+"No, I mean it, fellows," said Jack. "Come over here with me, and I'll
+tell you something."
+
+Drawing them out of earshot, he added:
+
+"Don't let us make it hard for Dad. He's got troubles enough. He'll feel
+a lot easier if we aren't along. I know how you feel. I feel the same
+way about it. But let's make it as easy for Dad as we can. Besides,
+there is something in what he said, after all. There is no guarantee
+that some of Lupo's men won't attempt to raid us. For my part, I believe
+some of them must be watching this island right now, and the minute they
+see the others safely out of sight, they'll attack us. For they know our
+numbers, and they will realize the three of us are here alone."
+
+"All right," grumbled Bob. "Have it your own way, let's get some more to
+eat. I haven't filled up yet."
+
+"This outdoor life makes me ravenous, too," agreed Frank. "And I used to
+be such a dainty eater. Why, I just pecked at my food."
+
+"You mean you ate food by the peck," said Bob. "For a little guy, you're
+the heftiest eater I ever saw."
+
+"Little guy, is it?" cried Frank. "I like that."
+
+And without more ado, he made a flying tackle, his arms locking about
+Bob's knees. The big fellow came down in the brush and Frank piled on
+top of him with a shout of glee.
+
+"Come on, Jack. We haven't had a good rough-house for a long time."
+
+Grinning, Jack joined in, and the three went rolling and threshing about
+the bushes like a trio of young bears.
+
+At the fireside, Mr. Hampton's worried look relaxed, and he grinned with
+enjoyment.
+
+"It's all right, now," he said contentedly. "They'll take their
+disappointment out in a grand wrestling jamboree. Well, let's pack up a
+little grub and get ready to go."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.--BOB FALLS ASLEEP.
+
+
+In no time at all, Mr. Hampton and his party were ready to set out. Of
+one thing they were reminded by Jack, the individual radio sets
+constructed along his own lines, the instrument of which was so small
+and compact it was contained in the panel of a ring.
+
+"Only trouble with these," Jack said, "is that you can receive but can't
+transmit. However--"
+
+"However," his father interrupted, "that is all that will be necessary."
+
+"Why?" asked Farnum.
+
+"It is hardly likely that the five of us will get into such a
+predicament that we shall fail to return," explained Mr. Hampton. "But
+the boys may be attacked when we are gone, and may be placed in a bad
+position. Then they can call for us."
+
+"At least we could send out a hurry up call over those sets," said Jack.
+"As for your calling us, well, that will be a little more complicated,
+Dad, but it can be done, if necessary. I insist on your taking that army
+field set. It came in mighty handy in South America. It is no great job
+to set it up. And it weighs little. You are taking no other equipment,
+and you can afford to take it along. It won't be in your way. Here it
+is, you see, all boxed up complete, handle on the box and everything."
+
+"Right, Jack," said his father. "Now we can communicate with each other
+easily enough. Well"--looking about him--"are we ready?"
+
+The others nodded.
+
+"Then," Mr. Hampton said, "I propose that we bring our canoes back
+through the trees, cross the island and make for the mainland on the
+other side."
+
+Farnum and MacDonald nodded agreement.
+
+"This island is pretty long," said MacDonald, "and it will screen our
+departure on the other side, in all likelihood. It is hardly likely, as
+a matter of fact, that we will be seen, for Lupo's party has not shown
+itself since we beat off that canoe, and probably is somewhere back up
+that stream out of which your party came."
+
+"You think they cannot see the mainland on the other side of this island
+from there, Dad?"
+
+"I don't believe so," said Mr. Hampton.
+
+"Even if they do catch a glimpse of us," suggested Farnum, "isn't it
+probable they'll believe we are pushing on? As a matter of fact,
+however, we'll land on the mainland, and carry our canoes inland and
+then up along the lake till we are out of sight, when we can cross
+again, I suppose that's your idea, Mr. Hampton?"
+
+"My idea exactly," answered the other. "Well, let's get the canoe and
+MacDonald's kayak. They have been pulled well up into the bushes, and we
+can bring them across the island without detection easily enough."
+
+"Wait a minute, Dad," said Jack, laying a detaining hand on his arm. "If
+they do see you crossing the channel to the mainland, on the other side
+of the island, they'll know the whole party isn't along, and will
+realize you aren't leaving, but merely carrying out some maneuver."
+
+"Maybe, that's what they will think, Jack. On the other hand, they might
+figure some of the canoes got across beforehand. Anyway, leaving by the
+back door, so to speak, is our wisest plan, I am sure. The channel to
+the mainland on the other side is only a narrow one, and the
+probabilities of our escaping detection are all in our favor."
+
+The largest of the canoes, together with MacDonald's kayak were dragged
+back through the underbrush and carried across the island to be launched
+on the other side. Nor did Jack neglect to load the compact field
+transmitting set in the canoe, as the party pushed off. Then, amid
+farewells from both sides, Mr. Hampton and his party set out for the
+mainland.
+
+Jack watched the canoe and the kayak depart, with something of a sinking
+of the heart. The same feeling, he suspected, possessed his father.
+Neither, however, presented other than a brave and cheerful front. As
+for Bob and Frank, they had gotten over their disappointment at not
+being permitted to accompany the expedition, to a certain extent, and,
+cast for the first time since the start of the trip, on their own
+resources were beginning to enjoy the situation.
+
+"First thing, fellows," said Frank, as the party reached the mainland,
+hauled up canoe and kayak and struck into the trees, "first thing is to
+go to this knoll about which MacDonald spoke, and take a view of the
+field."
+
+"Yes," said big Bob, "then let's divide up into watches, so that the
+pair of us not drawn for the first watch can get some rest."
+
+"You certainly were born in the Land o' Nod, Bob," scoffed Frank.
+
+"Yes," said Jack, grinning, "if you're as sleepy as all that, we'll
+count you out right away. Frank and I will draw for the first watch, and
+you can hit the hay."
+
+"Not so fast," said Bob. "I'll take my chance with the rest of you."
+
+Meantime, they had been mounting the tree-covered hill to which
+MacDonald had referred and now, reaching the top, found that, despite
+its low elevation, it was still so much higher than the rest of the
+island and than the shores of the lake as well, that they commanded a
+sweeping view not only of the nearer shore to which Mr. Hampton had gone
+but also of the farther one whence they had come.
+
+Not a sign of human occupation, however, was anywhere apparent.
+Eastward, although they knew Mr. Hampton and his companions could not
+have progressed far, yet the trees rimming the lake shore were
+sufficiently dense to hide any sign of movement. Westward, toward the
+farther shore, was a thick belt of trees about the mouth of the stream,
+thinning out farther along the shore in both directions. Neither among
+the trees nor on the glades, could they discern anybody although Jack,
+who had been thoughtful enough to bring along their field glasses,
+scanned the prospect through them a long time before passing them on to
+the others, who did likewise.
+
+"Well, so far so good," said Jack, with a sigh of relief. "Evidently, or
+so far as we can see, anyway, Dad and the rest got across undiscovered
+and now stand a fair chance of crossing the lake farther up undetected."
+
+"Maybe so," said Frank. "Maybe, too, Lupo got discouraged and quit."
+
+"Retreated you mean?" asked Jack.
+
+Frank nodded.
+
+"Oh, you fellows are full of prunes," said Bob. "Why should he quit now,
+just because we have added one more man to our forces? He's hung to our
+trail a long time. That means he's not going to quit in a hurry. No,
+we've got to keep our eyes open."
+
+"That's right," said Jack, thoughtfully, "It won't do to get
+overconfident and relax our guard."
+
+"Just the same there's no sign of trouble now," said Frank. "And I've
+got a suggestion."
+
+"Don't lose the idea," said Bob, anxiously. "Hold on to it. Ideas are
+rare."
+
+"With some people yes," said Frank, grinning. "Not with me."
+
+"Huh."
+
+Bob clutched at Frank, but the other wriggled out of his grasp.
+
+"My idea," he said, "is to take a plunge in the channel your father
+crossed, Jack. I'm hot and sticky and tired, and a swim would go fine
+just before I turn in and leave Bob on watch. What do you say?"
+
+"So I'm to have the first watch, hey?" said Bob. "It's been all decided,
+has it? Well, well. All right, run along, Frankie, me lad. I'm not so
+anxious for a swim. I'll just start my watch here and now."
+
+"Bob, you're a good sport," said Frank, throwing an arm over the
+shoulders of his big chum, between whom and himself was a depth of
+feeling which seldom was expressed in words.
+
+"Oh, run along and take your swim."
+
+Bob playfully shoved the pair of them down the hill. Laughing, they
+obeyed. As they disappeared among the trees, Bob selected a spot at the
+base of a spruce on the top of the knoll, sat down with the glasses in
+his lap and his eyes on the westward shore of the lake, where Lupo's
+half-breeds had last been seen, and prepared to keep watch. His back was
+against the trunk of the tree, and he made himself as comfortable as
+possible.
+
+It was a really comfortable position and, when one is tired and sitting
+idle, a comfortable position is conducive to drowsiness. It was so with
+Bob. He had had but little sleep in the last two days. He had worked
+hard. The air was warm and drowsy, as only the air of the short hot
+Summer of the north country, when the sun never sets, can be. Presently
+his head began to nod, and there was a buzzing in his ears as of the
+drowsy hum of bees. He caught himself, and sat bolt upright, rubbing his
+eyes vigorously with his fists. Then he leaned back against the tree
+trunk again, and again began to nod. This time, the jerk with which he
+awakened was longer in coming.
+
+Bob got up and stretched.
+
+"Mustn't go to sleep," he reflected. "Nothing in sight, though. Not much
+use to worry. Ho, hum."
+
+He resumed his seat. Imperceptibly, his eyes drifted shut. He sat
+through the transition period between sleeping and waking, unaware that
+he was yielding to slumber, merely pleasantly conscious of relaxed limbs
+and thoughts. Before he was aware his head nodded, his eyes closed, his
+chin touched his chest, and he slept.
+
+Meanwhile Jack and Frank were thoroughly enjoying their plunge. The
+water was warm, there was no wind, and they swam, dived, floated to
+their heart's content. Neither realized the passage of time until Frank,
+suddenly filled with compunction at their long absence, while Bob kept
+watch, scrambled ashore and looked at his watch, laid out on top of his
+clothes.
+
+"Great guns, Jack," he announced, "we've been gone an hour. Good old
+Bob. He was mighty nice about sending us off to swim while he kept
+watch, but you know he likes to swim, too. He'll be thinking it's a low
+trick on our part to stay so long. Maybe he'll want to come and take a
+plunge himself, when one of us gets back to relieve him."
+
+Jack also had a guilty feeling and, as is the way with most of us,
+attempted to make excuses.
+
+"He might just as well have come along," he said. "Nothing's going to
+happen."
+
+They were pulling on their clothes.
+
+Suddenly they heard Bob's voice raised in a distant shout, calling their
+names. Then followed a brisk outbreak of rifle shots.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.--THE SURPRISE ATTACK.
+
+
+"An attack," gasped Jack.
+
+"And we're not there to help old Bob," cried Frank, in an agony of
+apprehension. "Come on. Don't stop to finish dressing."
+
+Shirt flapping out over his trousers, shoes unlaced, Frank frantically
+buckled on his revolver and cartridge belt, seized his rifle and started
+on a dead run through the trees. Jack did likewise. As they ran, they
+heard the shots continuing intermittently, and then once more--clearer
+and closer at hand, as they neared the knoll--came Bob's voice:
+
+"Frank, Jack, they're rushing me. Look out for yourselves."
+
+There was a crashing in the brush ahead.
+
+"Down, Jack, some of them coming."
+
+The two flung themselves prone behind a spruce whose low branches swept
+the ground. The sounds were off to their left. A moment later the forms
+of four men, hurrying towards the channel whence they had just come,
+could be seen eight or ten yards away.
+
+Jack's face was pale, his lips set. Frank was trembling with excitement
+and fear--not for himself, if the truth must be told, for the plucky lad
+was not thinking of himself, but for his chum, who was holding off the
+main attack alone.
+
+"Steady, Frank," whispered Jack. "Bob's life depends on us. This is no
+time for false compunctions. You'll have to shoot to kill."
+
+"All right, Jack."
+
+Then the two rifles spoke as one, and two of the runners stumbled, flung
+out their arms to save themselves, and pitched forward. The others spun
+about towards the direction whence the boys had fired, but a second time
+Frank and Jack fired, and they, too, fell.
+
+"No time to see how badly they were hit," said Jack. "Come on. Old Bob's
+still alive and shooting."
+
+Forward they dashed once more, not neglecting, however, to keep wary
+watch as they ran. No more of the enemy were seen, however. There was a
+sudden uproar ahead, the shots ceased. Cries of astonishment,
+stupefaction, even a note of fear, went up from several throats. Above
+all was a bull-like roar that they readily identified as coming from
+Bob's throat.
+
+Frank's heart gave an exultant leap. He knew that yell. It came only
+when Bob went berserk, and fought with his hands. He had heard it when
+they fought Mexican bandits, Chinese smugglers, rum runners on Long
+Island and Incas in the Andes. He knew well what it meant.
+
+Almost at the same moment, they burst into the glade at the base of the
+knoll, and came to a dead halt, eyes popping, standing as if rooted to
+the spot.
+
+But only for a moment. Then they started tearing up the hillside, among
+the scattered trees. For at the top was a whirling heap of figures, as
+if caught up in a cyclone, and well they knew what it portended.
+Somewhere in the center of the group was big Bob, at close grips with
+the enemy, and not caring how many they numbered.
+
+Would they be in time? Could they help Bob before some half-breed
+succeeded in sticking a knife into him?
+
+But Bob proved that he could handle his own affairs, for while they were
+still several yards away, first one and then another half-breed was
+spewed from the miniature whirlwind, and then Bob could be seen with
+several men clinging to his legs and another on his back, attempting
+apparently to throttle him. The big fellow's hands went up and back.
+They settled under the other's armpits. There was a sudden mighty heave
+and wrench, and then the man on Bob's back came flying through the air,
+straight for Bob's two comrades. He had been tossed from Bob's
+shoulders, as a strong man would toss a sack of meal. Frank and Jack
+leaped aside, and the man struck the ground, rolled over and over and
+then lay still, crumpled up against the trunk of a spruce.
+
+Recovering from their surprise, Jack and Frank leaped forward. But their
+intervention was unnecessary. Standing like a young Colossus, legs
+apart, with a man wreathed about each, Bob bent down. One big hand
+seized each by the neck. Then the two heads were bumped together once,
+twice. The half-breeds collapsed. Their grip on Bob's legs relaxed, and
+he tossed them aside, and they, too, lay still. He had knocked them out.
+
+Then Bob did a surprising thing. He leaped with a murderous look for the
+two boys.
+
+"More of you, hey?"
+
+They sprang aside nimbly, eluding his grasp.
+
+"Bob, Bob, it's us."
+
+"What? What? Oh, you--"
+
+Bob looked at them, the battle lust dying in his eyes, and recognition
+dawning. It was followed by a wide grin.
+
+"Oh, it's you."
+
+"Bob, old thing, that was the greatest fight in history," cried Frank,
+hysterically, clapping his chum on the back.
+
+"Never saw the like," said Jack, doing likewise. "Thank God, Bob, you're
+alive."
+
+"Never was more alive in my life," said Bob. "Hey, they're running
+away."
+
+He darted away from his chums and sprang downhill. True enough. The two
+whom he had disposed of first, who had dropped out of the fight, had
+gained their feet and were running madly through the trees.
+
+Jack ran after Bob and restrained him.
+
+"Let them go, Bob. They are alone. There are three others here we must
+tie up before they come to."
+
+Bob followed him back to where Frank was bending over the man whom the
+big fellow had tossed over his head. The half-breed was recovering
+consciousness, and beginning to moan.
+
+"Broken arm, I think," said Frank. "He'll not bother us. How about the
+two whose heads you bumped together?"
+
+"They're recovering consciousness, too," said Jack. "Nothing much the
+matter with them. We had better tie them up, so they can't cause us any
+trouble."
+
+"Here, take the other fellow's belt and tie his hands behind his back
+with it," said Bob. At the same time, he suited action to word in the
+case of the nearer of the two, whipped off the fellow's belt and tied
+him with it.
+
+"Won't they try to run away, Bob? Ought we to tie their legs, too?"
+
+"No, we'll just keep an eye on them. Let's take a look at the other. If
+his arm is broken we'll have to set it somehow, I guess. Rather pitch
+him in the lake, though. He's a villainous looking rascal. Tried to
+choke me, too, and darn near succeeded."
+
+While Frank kept an eye on the two other prisoners, who had now
+recovered consciousness and were beginning to realize their situation
+but lay still under the threat of Frank's rifle, Bob and Jack examined
+the third man.
+
+His senses were returning, and he moaned a good deal. Examinations
+revealed, however, that his arm had not been broken, merely badly
+wrenched.
+
+"I'm mighty glad of that," said Jack. "We'd have been up against it to
+set a broken arm."
+
+"Oh, we could do it, all right, if necessary," said Bob. "But I'm glad,
+too, that it isn't necessary. But, say, Jack"--with sudden recollection,
+and an air of anxiety--"there were four more of these scoundrels. We'll
+have to look out for them."
+
+Jack's voice shook a little as he replied.
+
+"I think not, Bob," he said. "Frank and I saw them first. We ambushed
+them, practically. They didn't have a chance."
+
+"You don't mean--"
+
+Jack's gaze was steady but troubled.
+
+"We had to do it, old man," he said. "It was our life or theirs. And
+yours, especially. When we heard your shout, and those first shots,
+Frank went wild with fear that you had been trapped while we were away
+enjoying ourselves. And I guess I felt as bad as he did."
+
+"Hey, fellows," interrupted Frank, hailing them, "the two that got away
+must have been all that were left. They've jumped in a canoe and are
+paddling like mad for the mainland."
+
+"Can you see them?" called Jack, starting to the top of the knoll to
+join his chum.
+
+"How would I know what they were doing if I couldn't?" rejoined Frank.
+"Yes, I can see them. Look there."
+
+He pointed.
+
+"Tie up that other fellow, Bob, and make him walk up here to join his
+little playmates," Jack called back.
+
+Bob complied. The man groaned, but by now he had fully recovered his
+senses, and he obeyed Bob's order to move with an alacrity that showed
+he stood in abject fear of the husky young American.
+
+Frank pointed out the fleeing men, who were nearing the mainland, and
+paddling with superhuman energy, as if fleeing from the Old Nick, no
+less.
+
+"That accounts for all of them, I guess," he said. "So we can sit down
+now, Bob, while you tell us how it happened."
+
+"Not much to tell," said Bob, sinking to a seated position against the
+tree trunk. "Except I went to sleep and was almost surprised, but not
+quite. My first intimation that the enemy was near was when I heard
+somebody talking in the trees at the foot of this knoll. Or, did I hear
+anybody? Was it just the old sixth sense giving warning of danger? I
+don't rightly know. At any rate, I woke with a start and looking down
+through the trees saw a bunch of half-breeds making their way towards
+the other side of the island.
+
+"I tell you I was scared. I felt guilty as sin. Here I had promised to
+keep watch, and, instead, had fallen asleep. As a result, the
+half-breeds had landed on the island, and were heading for where you
+fellows were swimming. I had endangered your lives. What should I do?
+That was the question.
+
+"But I didn't waste must time, puzzling over it. I knew I had to give
+you fellows warning or you would be taken by surprise. So I yelled to
+you as loud as I could to look out. I guess they hadn't seen me up till
+then. But when I yelled, they saw me quick enough, and several of them
+opened fire, and----"
+
+"Wait a minute, Bob," Frank interrupted, his eyes shining. "They hadn't
+seen you, and you could have let them pass without attracting their
+attention, but you yelled, just to give us a chance for our white alley.
+That's, that's--"
+
+"Oh, forget it," said Bob, uncomfortably. "You'd have done the same.
+Anyway," he hurried on, "they split up into two groups, and one kept on
+going, while the other rushed me before I could do much shooting,
+and--well, I guess you know the rest," he concluded, lamely.
+
+"I'll say we do," said Frank, gripping his big comrade's shoulder. "Boy,
+I'll never see the like of that fight again."
+
+"But, Bob, I wonder why they rushed you instead of trying to shoot you
+down," said Jack.
+
+"Search me," said Bob.
+
+"I'll bet I know," said Frank.
+
+"What?" asked both.
+
+"They wanted to take you alive, Bob, for some reason of their own.
+Probably, would have tried to take us alive, too, if they'd gotten the
+chance."
+
+"Well, maybe so," said Bob. "Anyhow, that's that. Now what shall we do?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.--MR. HAMPTON RECALLED.
+
+
+Jack and Frank regarded each other with distaste and even horror in
+their eyes.
+
+"Has to be done, though," said Jack, as if in answer to a remark of
+Frank's.
+
+Frank nodded.
+
+"I know."
+
+"What are you two chumps talking about?" asked Bob.
+
+"Those four men we shot down, you know," Frank explained.
+
+"Think you--"
+
+Bob's question went uncompleted.
+
+"I don't know," Frank replied. "We shot straight. It was your life and
+ours against theirs."
+
+"Well, come on. I know how you feel, but I expect that's the first thing
+to be attended to. If any of them is no more than wounded, it will be up
+to us to do what we can for him."
+
+"Right, Bob," said Jack.
+
+"Come on," Frank said shortly, starting down the hillside, in the
+direction of their successful, though impromptu, ambuscade.
+
+"Go easy," warned Bob. "If they're able to shoot, they'll take a crack
+at us."
+
+Bob's advice was followed, and the trio approached the spot warily. But
+precaution was needless, or, while still some distance away, they could
+see the four bodies outstretched motionless where they had fallen.
+Frank's face went white, and he shuddered. Jack was pale. Big Bob,
+although he had had no hand in the affray, had to take a grip on
+himself, in order to force his laggard steps to continue. Though many
+were the affairs of danger in which they had been, the boys had never
+before shot to kill nor had death been brought so close to them.
+
+Frank stopped. He was trembling violently.
+
+"I--I can't look at them," he gasped.
+
+Bob threw an arm over his shoulders.
+
+"You and Jack stay here," he ordered, gruffly. "I had no hand in this.
+I'm the fellow to attend to it. Wait for me."
+
+At that Frank protested, and started to proceed. But Bob shoved him
+back, kindly but firmly.
+
+"The pair of you have been through enough," he said. "Do as I say. Wait
+here."
+
+And with quick, firm step, keeping himself to the task, he plunged on
+through the trees. For a moment or two both Frank and Jack watched him
+fascinatedly, then Frank sank down to a sitting position, elbows propped
+on his knees, his face in his hands. Jack faced about, and stared
+unseeing through the trees.
+
+Presently, Bob's solid, crunching footsteps could be heard approaching,
+and they looked up. His face was grave, but unflinching.
+
+"Look here, fellows," he said, firmly, "may as well face the facts. All
+four were killed instantly. Drilled through the---- But why discuss it?
+The fact is, they're dead. They were rascals of the first water, and, as
+you say, it was their lives or ours. Self-preservation is the first law
+of Nature. Now, what are we going to do about it? We haven't any tools
+to dig with."
+
+Frank shook himself into alertness.
+
+"Let's get the axes--our outfit has some--and cut off some spruce boughs
+and cover them over. Then we can roll some stones on top."
+
+As quickly as possible, without speaking during the task, and working
+feverishly, the three carried out Frank's idea. Then, back at camp, they
+sat down and brewed a pot of coffee. The hot, scalding liquid steadied
+their shaken nerves.
+
+"Guess we better try to get in touch with your father, Jack," suggested
+Bob, at length.
+
+"How long have they been gone?"
+
+Bob looked at his watch.
+
+"Three hours. Seems like a lifetime."
+
+"Things have certainly happened fast," said Frank. "Thank goodness, that
+party missed our radio. If they had destroyed it, we would have been out
+of luck."
+
+"More luck than I deserve," said Bob, savagely. "Think of going to sleep
+on the job. If I had been awake, they never would have been able to
+land."
+
+"Forget it, Bob. You certainly have nothing to reproach yourself with."
+
+"Oh, that's nonsense," said the big fellow. "I'm always getting you into
+trouble."
+
+Frank smiled.
+
+"Yes, and then getting us out again," he said.
+
+"Well, let's try the radio, anyway," suggested Jack. "They've been gone
+three hours. With the best of luck they can't have made more than eight
+or ten miles, considering the detour they planned to take, and
+everything."
+
+"Couldn't have gotten that far away in a straight line," said Frank.
+
+"No, I guess not. But what if they aren't prepared for a call from us?"
+
+"Oh, with that improved ring set of yours, your father will be
+proceeding fully equipped to hear from you," said Frank. "He need only
+wear the headphone, and I seem to remember he said on leaving that he
+would keep it on most of the time."
+
+Jack nodded. The improvement in the ring set, spoken of by Frank, had
+done away with the necessity for the umbrella aerial.
+
+"All right," he said. "I'll call Dad on 200 meters. If he gets the
+message we ought to hear from him shortly, for he'll at once unlimber
+the field transmitting set and call us back."
+
+While Jack sent out a terse description of the fight and its outcome,
+Frank and Bob decided to steady their nerves by fishing and went down to
+the lakeside. They had reasonable success and had pulled out a number of
+fish when Jack joined them.
+
+"Send out your message, Jack?" Frank inquired.
+
+"Yes, and heard from Father in reply, too."
+
+"What? Why, great guns, how long have we been here? Surely, you can't
+have had time to hear from your father?"
+
+"But, I have," affirmed Jack. "You've been here more than an hour."
+
+Bob and Frank looked at each other. In all that time, neither had spoken
+a word. They had just dozed over their lines, pulling in an occasional
+fish. Frank laughed.
+
+"I guess we went to sleep with our eyes open," he confessed. "Well, what
+did your father say?"
+
+"They made a long trek up the lake before crossing over, and are not
+very far away--somewhere up in that direction--on the other shore, there,"
+said Jack, pointing. "Dad was worried as the deuce at my story, and
+they're coming back."
+
+"Coming back? Why? It's all over now."
+
+"That's what I told him, Frank. But he's coming back, anyway. They're
+going to get back to the lake, and come straight down to the island.
+Ought to be here in a couple of hours or less."
+
+"May as well wait dinner for them, in that case," observed Bob. "Or what
+meal is it? Breakfast, lunch, or dinner? I'm sure I don't know. This
+perpetual sunshine has me all turned around. I don't know whether it's
+day or night."
+
+"Same here," confessed Frank. "I do know, though, that I'm beginning to
+get up an appetite." Then a thought, a thought which his somnolent
+daydreaming over the fishing lines had driven away for the time, crossed
+his mind, and he paled. "I don't know though"--catching his
+breath--"whether I'll ever want to eat again."
+
+Jack looked at him sharply. So did Bob. The big fellows noted with
+apprehension the twisted, stricken look on their slighter chum's face,
+and the haunted appearance of his eyes. To Bob's keen eyes, moreover,
+two hectic spots glowing brightly in the dark tan of Frank's cheeks were
+apparent.
+
+"Look here, old man," said Bob, anxiously, "you want to quit thinking
+about that or you'll be sick."
+
+"Sick?" Frank tried to force a laugh. "I'm the healthiest invalid ever
+you saw."
+
+"No, Frank, I mean it. Put that thought out of your mind, or you will be
+sick. Why--"laying a hand on his brow--"you've got a fever right now."
+
+Jack was worried, too.
+
+"Great guns, Frank, you must take Bob's advice. What if you came down
+sick? We'd be in a pretty fix."
+
+"Oh, you fellows make me tired," said Frank, irritatedly. "I'm all
+right."
+
+But Bob's worry was not routed. He took his chum by an arm and started
+marching him toward camp.
+
+"I'm going to give you a dose of calomel and make you lie down," he
+said. "Come on."
+
+"Calomel? Have a heart."
+
+"Yes, calomel," said Bob, firmly. "That's what you need, that and a
+nap."
+
+Picking up the fish, Jack followed. And at the camp, despite Frank's
+vehement protests, he was made to swallow a liberal dose of calomel, and
+then to lie down on a couch of spruce boughs, over him the little tent
+belonging to Mr. Hampton to provide shade from the northern sun. Jack
+and Bob sat down, some distance away, and started cleaning the fish.
+They talked together in low tones. Presently, after several glances
+toward the motionless figure, Bob arose and tiptoed close to it. On his
+return, he nodded, smiling slightly, at Jack.
+
+"Asleep," he said. "Didn't want to do it, but overworked Nature was too
+much for him. I'm a little bit worried. His nerves got a severe shock.
+But I guess he'll be all right when he wakes up."
+
+Then he glanced more keenly at Jack.
+
+"Look here, you've been through the same experience. I had a nap. Now
+you're going to take one. Sleep will be good medicine for you, too. We
+don't want two sick ones on our hands."
+
+Jack didn't protest, but also turned in beside Frank, and in a few
+minutes was sound asleep. As Bob had said, overworked Nature claimed her
+dues.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.--A REVELATION.
+
+
+This time Bob did not go to sleep on the job, but at the first faint
+indication that somnolence was stealing upon him, arose and stamped
+about vigorously. Once, prompted by a humane inclination, he paused by
+the three prisoners who lay in the shade, hands and feet tied, and
+proffered them a drink of water. The courtesy and thoughtfulness was
+totally unexpected, as Bob could see by the surprise in their eyes,
+although no words were exchanged, and they drank eagerly in great gulps.
+The half-breed whom Bob had pitched over his head was in considerable
+pain because of his wrenched arm, as Bob could see from his occasional
+writhings, and Bob decided to chance trouble by loosening his bonds. In
+addition, he rummaged their stores and brought out a bottle of liniment
+for sprains and bruises, with which he bathed the twisted member.
+
+"You good man," whispered the other, gazing at him, as Bob bent to the
+task, and speaking in a voice barely audible to Bob's ears, and
+certainly not to the other two men a short distance away. "I tell you
+something--not now--bimeby--when they not know."
+
+Bob thought quickly.
+
+"All right," he responded, in the same low tone. "I'll fix it."
+
+"Yes." The other nodded. "You fix it."
+
+"Now what in the world has he got to tell me?" Bob asked himself, as he
+moved away. "Probably, something about Lupo the Wolf. At any rate, I
+can't see what else it can be. Was grateful because I gentled him a
+little--after first maltreating him." He smiled at the irony of this
+thought. "Well, Mr. Hampton will soon be here, no doubt. Then there will
+be a chance to question him apart from his fellows."
+
+And with that, he dismissed the matter from his mind. Jack now rolled
+over, sat up and came out from under the tent, yawning. Frank continued
+sunk in heavy slumber.
+
+"By George," said Bob, looking at his watch, "two hours since you
+started to take your nap. Run down to the shore, will you, and take a
+look to see if there is any sign of your father. We left these fellows
+alone once"--nodding to their prisoners--"but I felt it wasn't wise to try
+it too often. Something might happen. So I've been sticking close to
+camp."
+
+Jack nodded.
+
+"Yes, that time you were fishing. It was foolish for me to run down
+after you, but I just had to tell you about hearing from Father."
+
+He set out for the shore.
+
+A few minutes later, Bob heard his comrade give a joyful shout. It was
+answered by a fainter hail from the water. Faint though it was, however,
+it was unmistakable. Mr. Hampton was approaching.
+
+Presently there was a babble of voices approaching, and the returning
+party came into view, Jack in the lead flanked by his father and Farnum,
+with MacDonald, Dick and Art bringing up the rear. Jack was eagerly
+explaining what had occurred at camp since his father's departure.
+
+"Hello, Bob," said Mr. Hampton, coming up, and gripping the big fellow's
+hand hard. "Had some excitement while we were gone?"
+
+"Yes, we did, Mr. Hampton. Thought this was going to be a loafing
+assignment you left us on--nothing to do but hang around camp and swim
+and fish--and the minute you turn your backs something happens."
+
+"How's Frank?"
+
+"Jack told you, did he?"
+
+Mr. Hampton nodded.
+
+"He's still asleep," said Bob. "The necessity of shooting to kill was a
+shock to his nerves. Nature took him in hand. See." He indicated where
+Frank lay as in a stupor in the tent, unmoved by the arrival of the
+returning party.
+
+"He'll sleep for hours yet," said Mr. Hampton, "if we don't make too
+much noise. I'll caution the others. Best medicine in the world for him.
+He'll be all right when he wakes, I expect."
+
+While Dick put on the fish, for all were hungry, Bob and Jack, in
+lowered voices, told the others all that had occurred. Bob repeated his
+condemnation of himself for having fallen asleep and permitted the enemy
+to land unopposed, but Mr. Hampton rested a hand on his shoulder, and
+told him not to be foolish.
+
+"In the first place," he said, "there seemed to be no reason why you
+should keep strict watch. It hardly seemed likely these fellows would
+boldly approach the island."
+
+"Expect they saw us set out, after all," suggested MacDonald, "and
+figured the whole party hadn't gone, and that them left behind would be
+on 'tother side of the island, so's they could land and surprise 'em."
+
+Nods of agreement followed this statement. It was, indeed, the most
+likely explanation. Over the puzzle as to why Bob had not been slain by
+those attacking him, but who, instead, had tried merely to make him
+prisoner, nobody had any suggestion to offer other than that earlier
+advanced by the boys themselves, that they enemy wished to take them
+alive.
+
+"Reckon Lupo thought he'd get some information from you," said
+MacDonald.
+
+"But he wasn't here," Bob protested.
+
+"No, but you can bet they were actin' on his orders."
+
+Bob bethought him of the prisoner, who had whispered that he had
+something to tell him. He explained to the others. Mr. Hampton thought
+for a moment.
+
+"I have it," he said. "Art, bring the others here and we'll question
+them. At the same time, Bob, do you slip off and talk to your man. We'll
+keep the pair occupied, so that they won't be able to see. Tell your man
+that presently, then, we'll call him up to be questioned, too, and that
+he's to pretend sullen obstinacy and refuse--in the presence of his
+comrades--to answer any questions."
+
+Bob nodded and, as Art went for the pair, he slipped away in an opposite
+direction. Executing a flank movement through the trees, he presently
+arrived on the opposite side of the camp and got behind the tree,
+against which the man with the wrenched shoulder was sitting. In a rapid
+whisper he communicated Mr. Hampton's instructions to the other. The
+fellow comprehended, and then in a low tone, scarcely audible to Bob,
+who strained to hear, communicated surprising intelligence.
+
+Bob heard him out, then with a final word of caution, again slipped
+away, once more skirted camp through the trees, and approached the group
+from the waterside. The two other half-breeds were being grilled, but
+without success. At Bob's approach, Mr. Hampton turned again to Art.
+
+"Bring that other fellow here," he commanded. "See if he knows any more
+than these men."
+
+The man was brought into the council, but, acting on instructions,
+maintained an obstinate silence.
+
+"Oh, take them away, and feed them," said Mr. Hampton finally, as if
+despairing of obtaining any information. "We'll talk to them later,
+after I've eaten. Dick's fish will get cold if we don't fall to, and I'm
+too hungry to delay with these rascals."
+
+The men, whose ankle bonds had been removed, were returned to the other
+side of the camp and, with their hands untied, were permitted to eat
+under the watchful eyes of Dick and Art. Then once more they were tied
+up.
+
+Meantime, Mr. Hampton turned eagerly to Bob, as soon as the trio of
+prisoners was out of hearing.
+
+"Out with it, Bob," he said. "I can see you're dying to tell us. Must be
+important."
+
+"It is," said Bob, emphatically.
+
+"What did he say?"
+
+"Mr. Hampton, you think we're alone in this wilderness except for Lupo's
+gang?"
+
+"I don't know who else would be here. This is country that white men
+never get into."
+
+"Well, Thorwaldsson, Farrell and three followers of their party of ten
+are not more than two hundred miles away; perhaps less than that."
+
+"What! Say that again."
+
+Mr. Hampton was so excited he almost dropped his portion of fish into
+the fire.
+
+"It's true," said Bob. "At least that's what this fellow, Long Tom,
+declares. Long Tom--that's his name."
+
+"How does he know?"
+
+It was MacDonald who asked the question, and Bob turned to him.
+
+"That's what I asked him. He said Thorwaldsson had been attacked before
+he reached the oil country, and Thorwaldsson, Farrell and four of his
+men cut off from their camp. Those in the camp were killed, and
+Thorwaldsson's supplies looted. He says a big band of Indians committed
+the outrage."
+
+"At whose orders?" asked Mr. Hampton.
+
+"Merely operating on their own, says Long Tom. He was with them. They
+wanted the loot. What they didn't understand, they destroyed."
+
+"That's why nothing has been heard of Thorwaldsson," said Mr. Hampton,
+"for his radio equipment must have been among 'the things they didn't
+understand.' Go on, Bob."
+
+"Long Tom thinks Thorwaldsson spent the Winter with the Eskimos up on
+the rim of the Arctic Ocean."
+
+"Where has he been? What became of the Indians?"
+
+"They were a hunting party, as far as I could gather, who, after chasing
+Thorwaldsson up to the Eskimos, left the country. But Long Tom wintered
+with some Eskimos near Union Straits himself, and this Spring started
+out. Then he fell in with Lupo, who he knew, and joined him."
+
+"And how does he know where Thorwaldsson is now? Why does he say
+Thorwaldsson is so close?"
+
+"Says he ran across an Eskimo hunter on his way out, who told of
+Thorwaldsson having wintered with his tribe, and learned Thorwaldsson
+was on his way out down the Coppermine--or up it, whichever you choose to
+call it. Though that was weeks ago, he believes Thorwaldsson would be
+following watercourses that would put him about one hundred and fifty or
+two hundred miles to the northeast of us."
+
+"Well, Bob, you certainly learned a lot," said Mr. Hampton. "Was that
+everything? Or did Long Tom know or have anything to say about Lupo?"
+
+"He doesn't know why Lupo is after us, except that it has something to
+do with Thorwaldsson. That's all I could get out of him. Pretty
+indefinite, but it was the best I could do."
+
+"Indefinite! Nonsense, Bob. That is something to go on, indeed."
+
+"And to think that old Bob got it all just because he was kind to a
+fellow with a sore arm and put some liniment on it," said Jack.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.--MACDONALD TURNS BACK.
+
+
+Taking everything into consideration, Mr. Hampton decided that before
+any further steps were taken, the wisest plan would be for all to get a
+good rest. Frank still lay as if in a stupor; Jack looked and confessed
+to being shaky; even Bob was tired from the strain of the terrific fight
+through which he had gone, coming upon the top of many hours of
+exhausting travel. As for the rest, they had done practically three
+days' work with little or no rest in the short interval between.
+
+"Altogether," said Mr. Hampton, summing up, "we are in no fit condition
+to set out in immediate pursuit of Lupo and the remainder of his men,
+nor even to decide wisely as to what to do. It may be that the best plan
+would be not to pursue Lupo but to set off at once to try and find
+Thorwaldsson. I, for one, am too tired even to think straight. So I vote
+that we make camp, set watches and turn in for a good rest. I believe I
+could sleep the clock around."
+
+"If you think you can trust me with the first watch, Mr. Hampton,"
+muttered Bob, shamefacedly, "I'd like to have it. I'll promise you not
+to go to sleep on the job again."
+
+Mr. Hampton slapped the big fellow on the back in kindly fashion, as Bob
+leaned forward, seated on the ground beside him.
+
+"Forget it, Bob," he said. "You have nothing with which to reproach
+yourself. Certainly you can have the first watch, if you want it. I
+expect the rest of us will be only too glad of the opportunity to turn
+in at once. As to there being any further danger, however, I very much
+doubt it. You boys have given Lupo a terrible blow. With four men killed
+and three prisoners, he must be short-handed. If he had only twelve or
+fourteen, as we believe, his number now is less than ours. The
+consequence is, that I cannot conceive of his attempting again to attack
+us here on the island. However, a watch must be kept, so go to it."
+
+Everybody agreeing with this program, Bob took the first watch and the
+rest scattered around the camp, under the spruces, and soon were
+sleeping soundly. When the time to change watches came, with nothing
+alarming having broken the calm, Bob waked MacDonald, and himself turned
+in. After that, he did not have even a disturbing dream and was
+disturbed by nothing until awakened by being shaken. He looked up and
+found Frank bending above him, his face alight with merriment.
+
+"Hey, which of the Seven Sleepers are you?" demanded Frank.
+
+Bob ignored the query, his mind leaping at once to the picture of Frank
+as he had last seen him. In his voice was a note of thankfulness at
+finding Frank thus carefree, as he said:
+
+"How do you feel, old man?"
+
+"Never better," confessed Frank. "Sleep is certainly the right medicine,
+isn't it?"
+
+"Don't I know it!"
+
+Bob yawned luxuriously, and rubbed his eyes.
+
+"Come on, Bob, let's take a plunge in the channel. Just got up myself.
+It'll wake us up, make us feel good. Everybody's up now, and Dick fixing
+to get breakfast. He and Art and MacDonald are fishing. Mr. Hampton and
+Farnum are talking things over. And here comes Jack, just piled out of
+the feathers, too. The three of us can have a fine swim."
+
+Bob was agreeable to this proposition, and they set out for the place
+where Frank and Jack had gone in for a plunge before. Without referring
+to the tragic little mound beneath which lay the bodies of the four
+half-breeds shot down by Frank and Jack, the boys, as if by common
+consent, lay their course through the trees so as to avoid passing near
+it.
+
+The water, as Frank had predicted, was delightfully invigorating, and
+refreshed and with the young blood tingling in their veins, after a long
+sleep and a good swim, they returned to camp. They brought voracious
+appetites with them, but fortunately the fishermen had pulled in a big
+haul of beauties, and these, together with flapjacks made by that
+skillful chef, Art, and washed down with coffee tasting like none ever
+made in city restaurants, the whole having the tang of the outdoors and
+woodland smoke for sauce, made a delectable repast.
+
+"Now," said Mr. Hampton, at its conclusion, "now for a discussion of
+what's to be done."
+
+Thereupon he set forth the facts of the situation. Lupo with five or six
+men at most was still at large. He might have turned back. He might be
+in hiding nearby. He might have gone on ahead in search of Thorwaldsson.
+In any case, Mr. Hampton declared, he felt it would be a waste of time
+to search for him in view of the fact that they had learned Thorwaldsson
+was somewhere to the north and east and their primary object was to join
+forces with that explorer. He wanted to know what the others had to say.
+
+Farnum, who had been talking matters over with Mr. Hampton, sat silent,
+nodding approval. The other was stating his own views. But MacDonald
+voiced a protest.
+
+"From your point of view, sir," he said, "I reckon you're right. But am
+I to let Lupo escape now that I come so close to gettin' him? And what
+am I to do with three prisoners on my hands?"
+
+"I've been turning that phase of the situation over and over," said Mr.
+Hampton. "I cannot see that we can afford to diverge in pursuit of Lupo,
+now that we have pretty definite information through that fellow, Long
+Tom, of Thorwaldsson's presence alive and with some of his men in this
+wilderness. I know what a blow it will be to you to give up the chase,
+but it can't be helped. You have three prisoners, and can't very well
+watch them and pursue Lupo, too. They are criminals, and as a member of
+the Mounted you must take them in. We can't leave you to handle them
+alone, however, and----"
+
+He paused.
+
+"And what, sir," prompted MacDonald.
+
+"Well, the least we can do, MacDonald, is to leave one of our number
+with you. That will enable you to keep guard against surprise, watch
+over your prisoners, and wait for the arrival of aid from your Post.
+We'll wireless your Captain Jameson full details of all that has
+occurred, give him your position here, and then you can wait for
+relief."
+
+MacDonald looked thoughtful. He was silent several minutes, while none
+spoke, but all watched him expectantly.
+
+"If you won't help me try and round up Lupo, you won't, and that's all
+there is to it," he said, finally. "Not as I blame you, neither. You got
+your job, to git hold of Thorwaldsson and help him. With only a handful
+o' men he may be in trouble, too. Seems natural-like, if whoever is agin
+you fellows sent this cutthroat Lupo to cut you off, he'd likely be
+after Thorwaldsson, too."
+
+Mr. Hampton nodded.
+
+"That's what I'm afraid of," he said, "that Thorwaldsson may need our
+aid."
+
+"Just so," continued MacDonald. "Such bein' the case, your best plan is
+to try and find him soon as you can."
+
+"Then you agree to my plan?"
+
+"Not so fast," said MacDonald. "You'll give me a man, hey?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Why--I----"
+
+"Give me this feller," said MacDonald, laying a hand on Bob who sat
+beside him. "He's a fighter."
+
+"I couldn't do that, MacDonald. The boys must come with me."
+
+"All right. Only that fight he put up--that was a good one. Kind o'
+wished I could have him by me. Well, then, let me have this feller. Kin
+see he's used to big woods and river country. He'd make a good Mounty."
+
+This time MacDonald pointed the stem of his pipe at Dick.
+
+"What do you say, Dick?" asked Mr. Hampton. "It's up to you?"
+
+"I'd have to go out with the Mounties to their Post, wouldn't I?
+Probably have to winter there."
+
+MacDonald nodded.
+
+"Get you a job on the Force," he said.
+
+Dick's eyes shone. Middle-aged though he was, he was alone in life,
+loved the wilderness, and still thrilled to adventure.
+
+"That so?" he asked. "Need men?"
+
+"Always room for a good one."
+
+"All right. It's a go," said Dick.
+
+MacDonald nodded approval, spat in the fire, then turned again to Mr.
+Hampton.
+
+"Such being the case," he said, "when you talk to Captain Jameson over
+that there contraption, just tell him I'm on my way in."
+
+"What?"
+
+"Sure. Think Dick and me would sit here with three no-account breeds on
+our hands and wait for help from four hundred miles away to arrive? No.
+We'll take 'em in."
+
+"But two of you, alone, and with three prisoners on your hands!"
+
+"Nothing to that. Once I brought in four single-handed. Never thought of
+calling for help except I had luck enough to capture Lupo and more of
+his gang."
+
+Mr. Hampton looked astounded. He turned to Dick.
+
+"But how about you, Dick?"
+
+"If MacDonald says so, I'm game."
+
+"Knew you would be," said MacDonald. "That's settled. Now call Captain
+Jameson, and let's get goin'. You want to be on your way, and we may as
+well be on ours."
+
+"But, MacDonald," said Mr. Hampton, trying one last protest, "suppose
+Lupo and the remainder of his gang see you start, and follow and attack
+you. What then?"
+
+"Huh." MacDonald's eyes snapped. "Couldn't ask for no better luck. I'd
+get a shot at him then."
+
+Farnum interrupted at this stage.
+
+"It's no use trying to stop him and Dick," he said. "I know Dick and I
+know these men of the Mounted. They're holy terrors. And the pair of
+them will get away with it, too."
+
+Mr. Hampton knew when he was beaten, and abandoned his protests. Captain
+Jameson once more was called by wireless, and given a full account of
+what had occurred. He approved MacDonald's scheme and promised there
+would be a position on the Force for Dick when he arrived.
+
+"Well, Dick," said Mr. Hampton, after all arrangements were made for
+departure, and he led him aside, "I've been pleased, indeed, with your
+ready help and cheerfulness on the trip. I hate to part company with
+you. Here is a check for the full sum I promised you for this Summer's
+work. And here in addition is something to remember me by."
+
+Into Dick's unwilling hand he pressed a handsome gold watch which he
+himself had worn for some years.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Hampton, this is too good for a rough fellow like me to carry,"
+protested Dick.
+
+"Now, now, nonsense," said Mr. Hampton. "Nothing is too good for you,
+old man. I want you to keep that to remember me by."
+
+"I don't need the watch for that, sir," said Dick gruffly, sticking it
+in his pocket nevertheless.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.--REINDEER SIGHTED.
+
+
+The big canoe which Dick and Art had captured from the Indians was
+turned over to MacDonald. It was easily capable of transporting five--the
+three prisoners, MacDonald and Dick. With the two latter in the bow and
+stern respectively, and the prisoners unarmed between, there was little
+danger so long as MacDonald and Dick maintained reasonable watchfulness.
+Two of the half-breeds were cowed and broken in spirit, moreover, while
+Long Tom was _hors de combat_ on account of the injury to his arm, and
+would be for some time to come. MacDonald's skin kayak was to be towed
+behind, containing his slender outfit, and one of the prisoners could
+carry the whole business alone at portages.
+
+MacDonald had entered the lake by a considerable stream flowing into it
+from the southwest, and not the stream down which the Hampton party had
+come. He set out for this other stream before the others quit the
+island, with the intention of retracing his steps into the wilderness in
+large measure. This would facilitate his travel. Farther to the south,
+he said, was a large river which could be reached by a ten-mile portage,
+and down which they could travel for many miles.
+
+"If you ever want to join the Mounted," he said to Bob, to whom he had
+taken a great fancy, "let me know. I'll fix it for you."
+
+Bob laughed, but he was young enough to be flattered by the sincere
+compliment.
+
+"I may take you up on that some day," he said. "Who knows?"
+
+Then MacDonald stepped into the canoe, goodbyes were said, and the craft
+shot away.
+
+"There go a couple of good men," commented Farnum, as under the powerful
+strokes of the paddles the canoe drew swiftly down the lake.
+
+"One good man, anyhow," said Art, who overheard the observation. "Ol'
+Dick an' me had a li'l talk. I'm going to join up with the Mounted, too,
+when we git back. We been pals fifteen year."
+
+"Fifteen years," exclaimed Frank. "In the wilderness all that time?"
+
+Art nodded absently, his eyes on the retreating canoe.
+
+"Sure," said Art. "It's home to us. Ain't no wilderness. Cities is the
+real wilderness. Dick an' me's been separated now and then, like now,
+but we always come together agin. I expect when we git to be old men
+like some prospectors I seen we'll be together all the time, fightin'
+and jawin' each other, but ready to tear the heart out o' anybody that
+jumps one of us."
+
+"It's a wonder Dick went off with MacDonald like he did, in that case,"
+said Jack.
+
+"Huh. Somebody had to go. He knew we'd meet agin."
+
+Art said no more, but turned away to busy himself with the outfit.
+
+Presently everything was in readiness for departure and then the two
+remaining canoes, with the outfit distributed between them, the three
+boys in one and the three men in the other, started up the lake in the
+opposite direction from that taken by MacDonald and Dick. Previously,
+when in pursuit of Lupo, Mr. Hampton had discovered the lake was of so
+considerable extent that, despite their hours of travel up the side,
+they had been unable to discern the farther end. In fact, the lake
+broadened out considerably some distance beyond the island. It was his
+intention, inasmuch as it followed the general northeastward direction
+they would pursue, to stick to it as long as possible. He believed there
+would be some stream at the farther end sufficiently large to float
+their canoes.
+
+In this he was not mistaken, for after four hours of steady paddling,
+they discerned the outlet of a stream of considerable width, quartered
+across the lake and entered it. Almost immediately Jack called to his
+father, in surprise:
+
+"Dad! Oh, Dad! This stream flows out of the lake; not into it. Do you
+notice?"
+
+The leading canoe slowed up while the boys approached.
+
+"It certainly does, Jack," said his father. "What do you make of it,
+Farnum?"
+
+The latter shook his head, puzzled.
+
+"I don't know," he said. "You must remember this is unexplored country.
+We're liable to find anything here. But, maybe----"
+
+"What?"
+
+"I don't know. We're near the Coppermine, aren't we, Art?"
+
+"Figure we must be."
+
+"Maybe this stream flows into the Coppermine."
+
+"I'll bet that's it," Art approved. "The waters of that lake empty into
+the Coppermine. Yes, sir; I'll bet that's what it is. Well, that makes
+travel easy for awhile, anyhow."
+
+Two days of travel, unbroken by any but routine incidents such as the
+occasional shooting of wild duck Or geese, brought the party at camping
+time at the end of the second day to a pleasant, open, grassy prairie
+between two low-wooded hills. Here it was decided to make camp.
+
+After the evening meal was over, and while Mr. Hampton, who was feeling
+out of sorts, retired to his little tent to try and sleep without taking
+part in the usual desultory conversation about the fire--which was kept
+going for the companionship and cheer it imparted and not from any need
+of warmth you may be sure--Jack arose and stretched.
+
+"My legs are stiff from that position in the canoe all day," he said. "I
+want to stretch them a bit. Who'll come with me to the top of that
+nearest hill? The sun is pretty low, but we ought to get a considerable
+view."
+
+Bob and Frank both volunteered to accompany him. Farnum sat, smoking his
+pipe and staring into the fire absently. He didn't care to go. But Art
+arose and joined the party. It was not far to the top of the hill,
+although a stiff climb through the trees and brush. The crest, however,
+was bare of timber.
+
+Frank, who lighter than the others, was first to reach the top, stood
+struck with amazement. He turned to beckon the others forward with one
+hand, while laying the other over his mouth in a gesture enjoining
+silence.
+
+"For the love o' Pete," whispered Art, eyes bulging, as he stood beside
+Frank and peered down into the grassy vale beyond, half overgrown with
+young willows.
+
+"Are they caribou?" asked Jack, low-voiced. "They don't look like the
+caribou we've run across along the streams."
+
+"They ain't, neither," said Art. "They're reindeer."
+
+"Must be Santy Claus's," chuckled Bob. "Always did believe there was
+something to that story about the old boy living up here near the North
+Pole, even though people insisted on calling it a fairy tale. Now I
+know."
+
+His joke was ignored, however, as Art continued:
+
+"Yes, sir, reindeer. Caribou are always brown. Some o' these are white,
+some brown, and some spotted. Then they ain't the size o' caribou.
+Besides, I know they're reindeer. I see 'em often enough in Alaska to
+know."
+
+"Alaska? Do these reindeer come from there?"
+
+Art nodded.
+
+"Look at 'em. They're tame. Must'a winded us, but that don't scare 'em
+none. They're used to humans. No more scared o' bein' hunted than cattle
+are back in the States."
+
+"Tame?" queried Frank. "What do you mean?"
+
+"Why, the Eskimos in Alaska, not the wild one, of this Far North, but
+the regular ones that come in touch with the white man, they keep herds
+o' reindeer just like a farmer in the States keeps cows. Look at 'em.
+Must be two-three hundred there right now. They're eight-ten hundred
+miles from home, too. Must 'a wandered away. Bet you there's a desprit
+Eskimo lookin' for 'em right now."
+
+Jack looked thoughtful.
+
+"What a shame for a man to lose a big herd like that," he said.
+
+"Yes, sir," affirmed Art emphatically. "Must be six-seven thousand
+dollars worth o' tame reindeer there. Pretty tough."
+
+"We can't do anything about it, though," said Bob.
+
+"Seems a pity-like we can't ride herd on 'em till some Eskimo shows up
+to claim 'em," said Art. "But it can't be done. Yore father, Jack, is
+all for pushin' on fast as we kin."
+
+After some further discussion, the party retraced its steps, with Art
+explaining to the boys the big difference existing between the
+semi-civilized Eskimos of Alaska and the little that was known of the
+wild Eskimos of the Arctic.
+
+"Folks think Alaska's right up next to the North Pole," he said.
+"Leastways folks in the States do. People comin' to Nome from the States
+every so often give me that knowledge. But they're shore mistaken.
+Alaska's great country that'll be settled up some day. Shore, we got
+hard Winters. But boys, in the Summer, with the sun a-shinin' all the
+time, everything grows just three times as fast as in the States. My Pap
+was a farmer back in York State, an' I was raised on a farm. We had hard
+scratchin' an' our Winters was long an' hard, too. An' we didn't have
+Summers like in Alaska to make up for 'em. I'll bet if my Pap were
+livin' today an' farmin' in Alaska he'd find life a lot easier than what
+we had it on the old farm."
+
+"But why don't more people live in Alaska, then?" asked Frank.
+
+"Oh, I don't know. Hard to get to, for one thing. Ain't developed up
+with railroads, neither. Some day, though, you'll see 'em forced to come
+here, the way they're a-crowdin' up down in the States. Why, we got only
+60,000 people in all Alaska, yet she's quarter as big as the States an'
+could darn near feed the whole push herself, if she was put to it and
+farmed right."
+
+"Art, why don't you go to farming? I'd think that would be the thing for
+you to do."
+
+"Mebbe I will some day," said Art. "But I'm an old batch. Got no wife,
+an' kind o' like to feel free to knock around instead o' bein' tied to
+one place."
+
+It was a feeling with which the boys could sympathize. They were young,
+with life ahead of them, and they wanted to see the world. In fact they
+had seen a good deal of it already, as those who have followed them
+through their various adventures, know. Of this they spoke as they made
+their way back to camp, where they discovered Farnum ready to turn in,
+and merely awaiting their return before doing so. Since their first
+encounter with Lupo, and their discovery that they were not alone in the
+wilderness, a watch was always kept, and Farnum had combatted sleepiness
+in order to keep guard until their return.
+
+"Art, you've got the first watch," he said, when they appeared. "The
+rest of you better turn in, and not sit up talking. With luck we ought
+to make the Coppermine tomorrow, I figure, and then we'll do some
+traveling. We've got to hit a fast pace from now on, for already we are
+having real twilight, and pretty soon we'll be having short nights while
+the sun dips entirely below the horizon. That means the season is
+growing short, and we have not got much time left before we'll have to
+start for the outside."
+
+Jack and Bob heeded the injunction and followed Farnum's example
+shortly, but Frank, who did not feel sleepy and, moreover, loved to
+talk, sat up a considerable time gossiping with Art and telling him of
+some of their previous adventures.
+
+Suddenly, as he talked along, low-voiced so as not disturb the nearby
+sleepers, Frank noticed Art was not paying attention, and stopped.
+
+"Oh, well," he said, half petulantly, "if I'm boring you----"
+
+Art leaned close, and laid a hand on his arm.
+
+"Sorry, Frank," he said, in a whisper, "but I was a-listenin.' I got a
+strange feelin' like as if somebody had his eyes on the back a' my head.
+I wasn't payin' no attention to you but a-listenin' to see if I could
+hear anything."
+
+He was so intense that he communicated some of his trepidation to Frank.
+Instinctively, the latter reached for his rifle as Art half stood up to
+peer at their twilit surroundings. They were camped in a tiny grove of a
+half dozen spruces, like an islet in a midst of long, matted grass.
+
+As Art stood up, a single shot rang out, shattering the stillness. He
+threw himself prone, dragging Frank down with him. Then a fusillade was
+poured in on them, seemingly from all sides.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.--SURPRISED.
+
+
+"Watch my back, Frank. Keep low behind that nearest tree and let 'em
+have it. They're in that long grass."
+
+As he spoke Art, worming his way rapidly forward to a position behind
+the trunk of one of the spruces, began firing rapidly.
+
+Frank, in the opposite direction, fired several shots into the long
+grass. He had an uncanny feeling, for he could see no forms at which to
+fire, and the preliminary volley poured into the camp was not repeated,
+so he had no index as to the enemy positions.
+
+Jack, Bob and Farnum, rolled over, awakened by the shots, but Frank
+called fiercely: "Keep down."
+
+Realizing something of the situation, the three grabbed their rifles,
+laying by their sides, and, keeping down, prepared to fire as soon as
+they could see something at which to aim.
+
+Mr. Hampton stirred in his tent a moment later. He had been sleeping
+hard, and had not awakened instantly as had the others. Moreover, a dull
+ache gripped his head, preventing him from thinking clearly and from
+comprehending instantly what was occurring. He lay a moment, wondering
+what had awakened him. All was still outside, for Frank and Art had
+ceased firing to await some sign from the unseen enemy. Mr. Hampton
+decided to peer out and investigate what had disturbed him. He crawled
+from his dog tent and stood up.
+
+At his appearance, a ragged volley burst once more from the long grass
+surrounding the tiny grove, for his figure stood forth clearly and made
+an excellent target. Spinning about, Mr. Hampton fell heavily to the
+ground.
+
+A wild yell of triumph went up at this indication that the leader had
+been hit. Jack leaped up regardless of consequences and ran to his
+father, dragging him into the tent, while bullets whipped around him.
+Bob ran to his assistance. To the hidden enemy it must have seemed as if
+their opponents were demoralized. At any rate, they grew more
+courageous, and started a rush.
+
+From three sides, it came, the figures of the oncoming men only
+partially seen as they crouched low and darted through the grass. But
+the long stems waving above them marked their paths, and there were
+three still on watch who would have to be dealt with.
+
+Frank, Art and Farnum marked where the waving grass indicated the enemy.
+Each guarded a side of the little grove. On the fourth side lay the
+stream.
+
+"Wait'll they're close, fellows, then give it to 'em," cautioned Farnum.
+"Ready. Let's go."
+
+The three repeating rifles spoke as one, and from the long grass came
+howls and shrieks of pain and terror. What followed was brief but
+lively. Each of the three pumped his rifle as fast as possible, and the
+bullets poured into the grass almost as fast as if sprayed from the
+throat of a machine gun. The return fire was heavy but high, whipping
+through the branches of the spruce trees overhead.
+
+Reinforcements added to the strength of the defenders, for Bob darted
+out of the tent, crouched over, and flung himself beside Frank,
+beginning to shoot even as he talked.
+
+"Mr. Hampton escaped by a miracle," he said. "Bullet creased his head
+and stunted him. He'll be all right."
+
+The rush was broken. Whoever was in the grass, feared to advance farther
+in the face of that fire. The long grass ceased to wave, indicating the
+attackers had come to a halt. But they did not retreat. The menace was
+still there.
+
+"Anybody hit?" Farnum called out.
+
+"Not me," said Art.
+
+"Nor me," answered Frank.
+
+"Thank our lucky stars for that," answered Farnum.
+
+They all lay in a semi-circle, facing different directions, but close
+enough to each other to make communication in ordinary tones possible.
+Relieved to discover that all were untouched, despite the bullets that
+had rained on the camp, Farnum next inquired anxiously after Mr.
+Hampton, and Bob answered he had been only stunned.
+
+"I reckon these fellows are Lupo and his gang," Farnum remarked. "But he
+must have had more men than we expected, or he wouldn't be attacking us
+like this."
+
+"What'll we do?" growled Art. "Looks like they got us penned in."
+
+"Oh, but we stopped their rush," protested Frank.
+
+"Yes," said Art, "but they ain't beatin' it as I can see. An' when we
+want to up an' leave camp, what's goin' to happen?"
+
+Frank was about to reply, when Bob who was beside him, pointed with his
+rifle toward the gap between the two hills, from the top of one of which
+they earlier had seen the reindeer herd in the next valley.
+
+"Look there, Frank," he exclaimed excitedly. "What do you make of that?"
+
+"Where? I don't----Oh, yes; now I see. Something moving."
+
+"Sure is something moving," Bob said.
+
+Already the short twilight was beginning to lighten, as the sun after
+its dip to the edge of the northern horizon now swung higher.
+
+"Bob."
+
+"What?"
+
+"I believe that's the reindeer herd."
+
+"From that valley over the hill? The reindeer we saw when we were up
+there on the hill top?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"But how in the world?"
+
+"Why, I noticed that the other valley swung around between those two
+little hills. The reindeer are just grazing along, hunting new pasture.
+And, say, Bob!"
+
+"Well, what now?"
+
+"I've got a bully idea."
+
+Abruptly, Frank wormed his way around to face Art on his right, who was
+keeping watch against surprise on his side of the little clump of trees
+sheltering them.
+
+"Art," said he, "look over there, between those two little hills. Are
+those reindeer? The reindeer we saw from the hilltop?"
+
+"Reckon so," said Art, after a critical inspection.
+
+"Well, Art, can reindeer be stampeded? Like cattle, I mean."
+
+"Reckon so. Why?"
+
+"Well, I'm going to try it," Frank declared in a determined tone. Still
+prone, he began to wriggle out of his clothes, and pulling up his legs,
+to unlace his boots and kick them off.
+
+"Are you crazy, Frank?" Bob demanded, puzzled, while Art and Farnum took
+their eyes from the coverts ahead to look at Frank in astonishment.
+
+"Crazy? No more than usual," Frank replied, as he completed disrobing,
+and now lay naked under the spreading branches of the spruce. "But I'm
+going to slip into the water and float down to that hill, then get in
+behind the reindeer and stampede them. You see what'll happen then,
+don't you?"
+
+Bob stared at his companion, wide-eyed. Dawning comprehension crept into
+his eyes, and he began to smile. Then he chuckled.
+
+"You little hound," he said, employing a pet expression among the boys,
+denoting admiration.
+
+"But, say, what's the idea?" demanded Art sharply, from his position
+several yards away.
+
+Frank had started wriggling forward, and waited until he was close to
+Art and Farnum before replying. Then he repeated his assertion that he
+intended floating downstream until behind the slow-moving herd of
+reindeer, when he would land and attempt to stampede them.
+
+"You see how it is," he said. "You yourselves admit that we're in a
+tight place. Lupo's forces have cover in that long grass, and can wait
+us out. Here among the trees there is no grass to hide us. The minute we
+get up and start to move around, we expose ourselves. Therefore, the
+best thing to do, is to drive them out of their cover, isn't it?"
+
+"Sure," said Art. "But how you going to do it with----"
+
+He was about to ask how Frank intended to drive their enemies from cover
+by stampeding the reindeer, but Frank grinned at him, and he paused.
+Dawning comprehension came into his eyes, too.
+
+"That's it," Frank said. "I see you get my idea."
+
+He turned his gaze toward Farnum, farthest from the center, but who had
+overheard the conversation.
+
+"You see, Mr. Farnum," he said, "when the reindeer come dashing down,
+Lupo's men will have to run for it to get out of the way. A stampeding
+herd isn't anything to monkey with, I expect. Then you'll have your
+chance. But the reindeer won't dash in among these few close-set trees,
+so you'll be safe. No, sir; as I figure it, they'll just head right on
+past here and try to get through the hills beyond."
+
+Farnum's glance approved.
+
+"A fine idea," he said, but then he added in a tone of doubt: "I don't
+know as I ought to let you go, though. Mr. Hampton wouldn't like it,
+maybe, putting yourself into danger like that."
+
+"Oh, nonsense," said Frank. "I can slip unseen into the water. And I can
+swim like a seal. Ask Bob."
+
+And at once, to prevent any interruption of his plans, he resumed
+worming his way to the bank of the river.
+
+The river ran at this point between six-foot banks, and the clump of
+trees in which camp was situated stood so close to the water that the
+roots of several projected through the soil of the land. Frank had
+little difficulty in getting down to the water, and felt sure that he
+accomplished the feat unseen by the enemy. He let himself into the
+stream, which was of sufficient depth right up to the bank to enable him
+to float downstream under the protection of the high bank, without the
+necessity of wading out to get to deeper water.
+
+"For God's sake, be careful, boy," whispered Farnum, as Frank
+disappeared.
+
+Frank was naked, and unarmed except for a long knife. He had not figured
+out how he would set about stampeding the reindeer. He was leaving that
+to chance. What concerned him now was to get to a position behind the
+herd without discovery. He stuck close inshore, floating, his eyes
+roving along the edge of the bluff above him for signs of the enemy.
+
+None was to be seen. After all, he thought, it was hardly likely that
+any of the enemy lay in hiding here, as none of the shots fired at them
+had come from so close to the river. On the contrary, the enemy lay
+inland, showing they had come upon the camp from the landward side.
+Becoming bolder, therefore, he turned over and struck out, swimming
+strongly, the long knife in a sheath at his belt. He felt for it several
+times, to reassure himself it was there and had not fallen out.
+
+Frank was a strong swimmer. Indeed, this was the one athletic sport at
+which he excelled both Bob and Jack, although they, too, were excellent
+swimmers. It did not take him long, therefore, aided by the current, to
+come abreast of the trees clothing the first of the two hills between
+which the reindeer had entered their valley. The hill sloped abruptly
+down to the water, and Frank had marked from camp how trees clothed it
+entirely, even dipping into the stream. When he had passed, as he
+believed, beyond a point at which there was any possibility of his being
+seen, he seized a branch of a willow tree and pulled himself ashore.
+Then, after climbing a short distance up the hill, he began working his
+way around it through the trees. Presently he was on the hillside facing
+the valley where were his friends in the distant clump of trees, and the
+enemy hidden in the long grass. The reindeer had not moved far. They
+were only a short distance from him, and Frank hurried forward at the
+best pace he could command.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.--THE STAMPEDE.
+
+
+For the first time since starting on his wild project, a doubt as to its
+success entered Frank's mind. But he put it resolutely aside as he sped
+forward, crouching, sliding under the low branches, determined to make
+the best speed possible. His companions were in a ticklish situation. He
+wanted to do what he could to relieve them as soon as possible. As to
+his own danger, he gave it not a thought.
+
+What worried Frank was the possibility that he would be unable to
+stampede the reindeer herd. This was the thought which he put aside. But
+it kept recurring. And when he had come into position behind the herd,
+and saw them feeding quietly below him, not a stone's throw away, at the
+foot of the hill, where the trees ended abruptly and the grassy plain
+began, he was still without an idea as to what to do.
+
+Originally, he had thought that stoning the herd might set them into
+motion and stampede them forward. But doubt as to the workability of
+that method had seized him as he first climbed from the water and, from
+among the trees, obtained his first view of the herd. The animals,
+grazing quietly, were so well spread out that he feared stoning them
+would not alarm them sufficiently to start a stampede.
+
+"Well, here goes for a try, anyway," he muttered to himself.
+
+Fortunately, there were numerous pieces of rock lying about. Collecting
+a heap of these, he began pelting away at the nearest reindeer, a brown
+and white spotted cow. His aim was good, and the startled animal, struck
+on the flank, snorted, tossed her head and gave a little jump. She went
+forward only a step or two, however, and then settled down to grazing
+again.
+
+Once more Frank let fly, and this time the stone caught her on the side
+of the neck. She tossed her head angrily, and sidled forward again. The
+movement brought her sharply into contact with another cow, and for a
+moment Frank was filled with hope that the pair would start fighting and
+alarm the rest of the herd. He was disappointed. The first cow sheered
+away from the other, and both resumed grazing.
+
+What should he do now? Frank was perplexed. He had already considered
+the possibility of startling the reindeer by shouting at them, but had
+given up that idea because it would apprise the hidden enemy in the
+grass ahead of his presence. He wanted them to know nothing of the
+menace in their rear until the stampeded herd should sweep down upon
+them.
+
+"I wonder----" he said, muttering the words for the comfort of hearing his
+own voice.
+
+Then he fell silent, thinking. Art had said they were tame reindeer,
+accustomed to the presence of man. Yes, but of man clothed and in his
+natural state. And of Eskimos at that--men dressed a good deal
+differently from the way in which he ordinarily clothed himself. What
+would those reindeer think if they saw a naked, white body dash down
+upon them suddenly?
+
+"I'll do it," he said. "That's the only way. And it will work, too, I'll
+bet."
+
+Drawing his long knife from the sheath, he looked around and selected a
+tough branch the thickness of his thumb. This he cut off, stripped from
+it the projecting twigs, and made of it a long, pliant whip.
+
+Whip in one hand, knife in the other, eyes gleaming and determined,
+Frank made his way to the edge of the trees, and then stole out into the
+long grass, crouching low. He did not want the reindeer to see him until
+he was upon them, and as they were grazing away from him, this was not
+so difficult. In fact, he was within several yards of a clump of cows
+before one swung about and looked at him.
+
+The minute that occurred, Frank realized there was no longer any
+possibility of concealment, and that the time had come to strike. And
+strike he did. Jumping to his feet, he bounded forward, swinging his
+whip so that it sank through the air.
+
+Bringing the whip down with a cruel lash on the flank of the nearest
+reindeer, Frank swung it around on all sides. Every swing landed. The
+swish as the pliant green wood struck the animals reminded him oddly of
+the sound of a stick beating rugs at home. Many a time he had heard that
+same thud-thud from behind his house.
+
+Not a sound did he make as he lashed about him, for he felt that if no
+sound indicating that he was human came from him, the consternation of
+the reindeer would be increased.
+
+And that he had not miscalculated became at once apparent, for the
+reindeer near him lifted up their sharp little hooves and sprang to get
+out of the vicinity of this strange animal with the lash. Naturally, to
+escape him, there was only one way for them to go, and that was forward,
+so forward they went. Right into the main body of the herd they dashed,
+with Frank prancing and bounding behind them, with each leap bringing
+his whip down upon the flank of a laggard.
+
+Suddenly, one reindeer, nearer than the rest, dashed by so close on his
+right as to brush Frank. He was not being charged. The animal was
+panicky, and merely seeking to escape. But he had to leap nimbly aside
+to avoid being bowled over. And as he leaped, the long knife clutched in
+his hand pricked the animal's flank.
+
+The reindeer screamed, a shrill, terror-stricken cry, and launched
+itself forward like a thunderbolt into the midst of the disturbed herd.
+That, apparently, was all that was needed to complete the impending
+panic. Frank's inexperienced eye could not have told the composition of
+the herd, but Art, when they had first caught sight of the reindeer from
+the hilltop, had pointed out the majority were cows, and the bucks
+numbered only a handful. If any buck had a masculine curiosity to
+discover what this strange white-skinned animal that looked so like and
+yet so unlike a man was, he did not get the chance to gratify it. For
+the now thoroughly frightened cows started forward in a rush that would
+have overborne any animal foolish enough to try to stem it.
+
+And then Frank did what might have been considered a foolish thing.
+Carried away by the enthusiasm engendered by seeing his plan to stampede
+the herd work out successfully, he continued to bound along behind, at
+first able to whip the bunched-up stragglers, but soon falling
+hopelessly behind as the herd picked up speed and swept forward like the
+wind.
+
+Straight toward the clump of trees sheltering Frank's friends dashed the
+reindeer. And an exultant throb filled his breast. For the hidden enemy
+lay in the long grass between the herd and the trees, and inevitably,
+therefore, the stampeding animals would drive them out.
+
+Regardless of the risk to himself, Frank continued on his way, running
+as fast as the nature of the ground permitted. The herd beat the long
+grass flat in its advance, as flat as if a great board had been pressed
+down on all, and the going was easier than he had looked for.
+
+Suddenly a shot rang out, then another, and a little wisp of smoke
+showed the young fellow the discharge came from the trees. His own
+friends were shooting. At what? Again an exultant thrill swept over him.
+He felt certain his friends were firing at the enemy, and that the
+stampeding herd was driving the latter ahead of it, although because of
+the presence of the animals between himself and the enemy he could not
+see whether such was the case.
+
+That Frank's surmise was correct, however, was soon borne out. For the
+first shots fired from the trees were succeeded by a rapid rattle that
+told him everybody was in action.
+
+Then followed a confused medley of shots interspersed with shouts and
+cries, and Frank, pausing a moment to peer ahead and listen came to the
+conclusion that the enemy was desperately shooting at the reindeer in an
+effort to turn the herd aside. If that was the case, however, their
+efforts were unsuccessful, for the animals filled with the unreasoning
+spirit of panic did not swerve from their course.
+
+"By golly," Frank exclaimed aloud, "I believe I can reach camp all
+right."
+
+And once more he began to run forward. For it seemed to him that the
+herd, sweeping the enemy before it, would leave the ground free for him
+to reach the clump of trees and rejoin his friends.
+
+On swept the herd, and on ran Frank in the beaten down grass behind it.
+His eyes were strained towards the trees. He began to wave and shout, as
+he came closer and made out the outline of Mr. Hampton's tent. He paid
+no attention to his surroundings.
+
+Then a form rose up from the long grass beside the swathe beaten down by
+the reindeer, there was a shot, and Frank fell forward on his face, a
+buzzing in his ears, and lost consciousness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.--LUPO'S END.
+
+
+When next Frank opened his eyes, he lay on a blanket in camp and the
+sight of Bob and Jack bending anxiously above him while Mr. Hampton and
+Farnum worked at his shoulder greeted him.
+
+"Hello," he said, trying to grin, but wincing as a sharp stab of pain
+passed through his shoulder.
+
+"Don't move, Frank, We'll have you fixed up right in a minute," said Mr.
+Hampton soothingly.
+
+"Is it bad, Dad," Jack anxiously inquired.
+
+"Just grazed the bone," said Mr. Hampton, putting the finishing touches
+to the bandage, and straightening up. "There, Frank, now you'll be all
+right."
+
+"What happened to me?" asked Frank, struggling to a sitting position,
+and finding his right arm bound across his chest.
+
+"Bullet through your shoulder brought you down," said Mr. Hampton. "And
+your head struck a rock hidden in the grass, so you were knocked out."
+
+"Good enough," said Frank, "but who shot me? I was dashing along,
+yelling to attract your attention, and never knew what hit me."
+
+"I guess you didn't," said Jack. "If it hadn't been for Art, you might
+have been finished. But he shot down the fellow that winged you."
+
+"Yes, and your two pals ran out as if there wasn't an enemy in sight and
+carried you in," said Art, as he saw Frank about to thank him. "Give
+your gratitude to them."
+
+Frank smiled.
+
+"I guess I owe it to you all," he said.
+
+"You were foolish to follow the reindeer herd so closely, Frank," said
+Mr. Hampton, reprovingly. "Unarmed, too."
+
+"Well, I was stampeding 'em, Mr. Hampton," said Frank. "I couldn't do
+that, you know, without being there."
+
+The older man shook his head.
+
+"If I had been myself, Frank, I wouldn't have let you take that chance,"
+he said. "No, Farnum," he hastened to add, "I'm not criticizing you.
+When these boys take it in their heads to do something it's hard to head
+them off. However, it all turned out for the best."
+
+"Tell me about it," Frank said. "How did my scheme work out?"
+
+"Couldn't have been better, old thing," said Bob. "Lupo's men ran like
+rabbits when those reindeer swept down on them. They tried a few shots
+in an attempt to head them off, but seeing the uselessness of their
+efforts, turned and ran. We gave them a few shots to help them on their
+way. We counted nine."
+
+"And they got away?"
+
+"All but the man Art shot," said Jack. "The fellow who shot at you. And
+you haven't heard who he was."
+
+Jack's eyes were bright. Frank looked at him questioningly.
+
+"Not----"
+
+"Yes," said Jack. "It was Lupo himself. Art wounded him in the chest. He
+died before we could do anything for him. But Dad got some information
+from him first."
+
+He looked at his father. Mr. Hampton's face was both grim and sad.
+
+"Yes, Frank," he said. "We learned who set these men on us, and who
+plotted against Thorwaldsson. But let us not discuss it now. It's bad
+business all the way through."
+
+Mr. Hampton turned aside, taking Farnum with him, and the two fell into
+a low-toned discussion. Bob and Jack, meanwhile, helped Frank to resume
+his clothing which still lay where he had discarded it before taking to
+the river. Art busied himself at packing up the camp equipment.
+
+Presently, the two older men called Art to them and, after a few words
+of discussion, rejoined the boys.
+
+"Boys," said Mr. Hampton, "we want your opinions on this, too."
+
+"On what, Dad?"
+
+"Well, we saw nine men go bounding off away from the reindeer, and we
+accounted for Lupo. That makes ten, and it doesn't seem likely there
+were more. Yet there is the bare possibility that out there in the grass
+may be one or more badly wounded men, fellows whom we shot at one time
+or another, who were too hard hit to escape. If there are any such, we
+can't go off and leave them there to die. I wouldn't treat a dog like
+that."
+
+"They're not dogs," muttered Farnum, bitterly. "They're wolves."
+
+"Mr. Farnum considers we would be taking too great a risk," Mr. Hampton
+continued. "He says that if we go out to search for wounded, we are
+likely to be shot for our pains."
+
+"Oh, surely not by a wounded man whom you were going to help," protested
+Jack.
+
+"You don't know them," said Farnum.
+
+"Well, just the same," said Jack, "I think Dad is right. It would be
+shameful for us to go away without investigating."
+
+"I'd feel like a murderer," said Bob. "Shooting 'em down in a fight is
+one thing. It was their lives or ours. But leaving a wounded man to die
+in the wilderness is something entirely different."
+
+Farnum made a gesture of surrender.
+
+"I guess I seem hard-hearted," he said. "But you don't know what I've
+been through in the past. All right, we'll make a search. But I warn you
+to be on guard."
+
+"Hardly likely after all that there are any wounded out there," remarked
+Frank, taking part in the discussion for the first time. "They must have
+been in hiding right in the path of the reindeer, and you can't see any
+forms there now. If there were any too badly wounded to escape, they'd
+also have been too badly wounded to drag themselves to the side."
+
+Mr. Hampton nodded.
+
+"The grass is so beaten down, too," he said, "that if there were anybody
+out there, we could see him. However, I cannot rest easy without making
+a search. Now, you three boys remain in camp and keep watch. The rest of
+us will take care of the search."
+
+To this the boys made no objection. As a matter of fact, it was one time
+that exclusion from activity did not irritate them. They had no stomach
+for what they might discover. Frank and Jack, especially, thinking of
+the terrible affair on the island in the lake, kept silence. Bob
+protested, but more as a matter of form and because he considered
+manliness demanded it, than otherwise.
+
+Mr. Hampton shook his head.
+
+"None of us want to do this, Bob," he said. "It has to be done, however.
+But I certainly don't want you boys along."
+
+The three men, revolvers clasped in their hands for use in case of
+emergency, set out, while the boys watched from the trees. Keeping close
+together, they quartered the plain, going far beyond the beaten down
+stretch of grass left by the passing of the reindeer herd. Presently,
+the boys saw them return, and with a sigh of relief, Jack said:
+
+"Well, thank goodness, that's over."
+
+Mr. Hampton's spirits were considerably higher on his return, as the
+boys could see by his features.
+
+"Nobody anywhere," he reported, "and we made a thorough search, too."
+
+"More thorough than there was need for," said Farnum, grumpily.
+
+Mr. Hampton smiled slightly. On long trips into the wilderness, where
+men are thrown into intimate contact every hour of the day and night,
+they get to know each other better than would be the case through a
+lifetime of association under ordinary circumstances. It was so here.
+Mr. Hampton had come to love the silent, capable Farnum. Behind the
+latter's bitter hatred of Lupo and his like, the easterner knew there
+was some good reason. He sensed a tragedy in Farnum's past, about which,
+perhaps, the other would some day speak in a moment of confidence. And
+he forgave the man's seeming brutality accordingly.
+
+"All right, everybody," said Mr. Farnum, cheerily. "Let's pack up and be
+on our way."
+
+Thanks to Art's previous preparations, the business of breaking camp was
+speedily concluded, and the party embarked in the canoes and once more
+got under way. Farnum and Art both considered that, because of Frank's
+wounded shoulder and his inability to paddle, Art should take his place
+in the canoe with Bob and Jack while Frank went with Mr. Hampton and
+Farnum. But to this arrangement the boys protested vigorously, and Mr.
+Hampton settled the matter by supporting them.
+
+"Bob and Jack are splendid canoeists," he said. "They have given plenty
+of evidence of that on this trip, and at home they are always in the
+water when they aren't flying. No, let Frank stay with them. They don't
+like to be separated."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.--IN THE FOG.
+
+
+Another period of uneventful canoe travel followed, corresponding in
+time to the passage of a day, although there was nothing to mark the
+lapse except the slightly-deepened twilight preceding the reascension of
+the sun. Camp was pitched on an island in the stream which was small and
+compact and could be easily defended in case attack on them was renewed.
+
+Of the latter contingency, however, Mr. Hampton felt there was little
+danger. With Lupo gone, the rascals composing his party would no longer
+be held to their purpose, and start to make their way out of the
+wilderness and back to their accustomed haunts.
+
+When travel was resumed after an undisturbed camp, everybody felt rested
+and in a more cheerful frame of mind.
+
+"We ought to be reaching the Coppermine soon," Farnum exclaimed, as they
+set out.
+
+His words were prophetic, because at the end of two hours, on rounding a
+bend, they discerned not far ahead a broad and rapid river, into which
+emptied the stream they had been following.
+
+"The Coppermine beyond a doubt," said Farnum.
+
+In this diagnosis, Mr. Hampton and Art agreed. And, before long, all
+question of doubt was conclusively settled by the discovery of great
+rocks of a dull reddish color lining the banks. These were the copper
+deposits from which the river took its name.
+
+"Sometime, when the transportation problem has been solved, this region
+will be supplying copper to the world," Mr. Hampton observed.
+
+The canoe containing the boys was close alongside, as the older men had
+let their paddles swing idly to enable Bob and Jack to catch up with
+them.
+
+"Why can't it be taken out now, Dad?" asked Jack.
+
+"Because," explained Mr. Hampton, "the only method would be by ship
+through the Arctic, and even in the short Summer that is a passage often
+blocked by ice. No, development of the copper resources of this
+wilderness, as well as of the oil we hope to find, will have to wait on
+the building of a railroad."
+
+"But ice and snow will block the railroad."
+
+"Not nearly to the same extent," Mr. Hampton said. "Throughout the
+Summer, such a road could be in continuous operation. Even in Winter,
+with properly designed equipment, the road could be kept open--perhaps.
+That, however, is doubtful, for of the continuous severity of Winter
+here you boys can have no conception."
+
+"Well, if we don't turn back soon, they'll get some idea of it, all
+right," said Farnum, grimly.
+
+"You mean we'll be caught by Winter before we can get out?" asked Mr.
+Hampton.
+
+"When the old North Pole starts sliding south, she slides fast," said
+Farnum, sententiously.
+
+As if spurred by the specter of approaching Winter, all dug their
+paddles into the stream with renewed vigor, and the two canoes swept on
+between the dismal, rocky banks hour after hour.
+
+That night there was real twilight, and a sharpness in the air to which
+the party was not accustomed. Art pointed skyward, as he and the boys
+worked at building the campfire. Their gaze followed whither he
+indicated.
+
+"The moon," he said. "Sure sign the season's getting late. That's the
+first time you could see it real good."
+
+"How late in the Summer is it, anyway?" asked Frank. "I, for one, have
+kept no track of time. And I don't see how anybody else could with the
+continuous daylight we have had."
+
+"Dad religiously checks off the days every twenty-four hours," said
+Jack. "I've seen him do it."
+
+Over the evening meal, Mr. Hampton explained that from Long Tom, the
+Indian they had taken captive on the island in the lake, he had gotten
+directions as to where the latter believed Thorwaldsson and his men to
+be. The explorer, according to Long Tom, was making his way along the
+Coppermine, in an endeavor to get out to the south before caught by the
+Winter. He had started late, and in all likelihood, Mr. Hampton's party
+was still to the south of Thorwaldsson.
+
+"From now on, however," said Mr. Hampton, "we must keep our eyes open as
+we proceed for any signs along the way which would indicate Thorwaldsson
+already had passed, going south. Not that I consider that to be likely,
+however," he added. "On the contrary, if Long Tom wasn't lying, and I
+believe he was telling the truth, Thorwaldsson should be close at hand,
+and we ought soon to encounter him."
+
+Camp again was uneventful, but when the boys awoke in the morning they
+found a thick wet fog over all. Their blankets were wet with it, the
+rocks were wet, and the river which had lain spread out before them
+under the moonlight when they turned in for the night, now could not be
+seen. Only a gray wall of fog greeted them, blurring the outlines even
+of Mr. Hampton, Farnum and Art, who stood in anxious conversation.
+
+When the boys joined their elders, they found the question up for
+discussion was the question of whether to proceed or remain where they
+were until the fog lifted.
+
+"We've had unexampled good weather so far, Mr. Hampton," said Farnum.
+"But this fog may mark the breaking-up. We may be in for it from now
+on."
+
+"I realize all that," Mr. Hampton said, his slight impatience mute
+evidence to Jack, at least, that his Father was worried. "What I'd like
+to know now, is whether to move on or wait till the fog lifts."
+
+"Why not move on, Dad?" asked Jack.
+
+"Oh, you boys up, hey? Well, for one thing, if we travel in this fog we
+run the danger of being caught in rapids and sucked forward before being
+able to reach the bank. For another, we might--just might--pass
+Thorwaldsson, in the fog, without knowing it. He might be traveling,
+too."
+
+After some further discussion, it was decided the party should remain
+until the fog lifted, and that all should be on guard to catch any sound
+of movement out of the fog which would indicate somebody, presumably
+Thorwaldsson, was passing. Following breakfast, in fact, all but Mr.
+Hampton, who remained in camp, as a guide in case the others blundered
+and lost their way in the fog, took up positions along the bank of the
+river, some twenty yards apart to maintain "listening posts."
+
+An hour passed, and then another, with no indication that the fog was
+thinning out, and with no sound coming to straining ears except the lap
+of the water along the rocks at their feet. It was nerve-trying work in
+a way, to sit there for so long a period, isolated, as if entirely alone
+in an unpeopled world. The boys, at their various stations, felt the
+strain considerably, more so, indeed, than did Farnum or Art who were
+old hands at the wilderness game.
+
+In assigning all their stations, Mr. Hampton had decided, because of the
+greater experience of the two older men, that they should take up their
+positions at the south end of the line. If any party south-bound along
+the Coppermine escaped the attention of the boys, Farnum and Art would
+be pretty likely to remedy the oversight.
+
+To Bob fell the most northerly position. And, as he sat there, hunched
+up on a rock, staring out into that thick greasy wall of mist, he felt,
+if anything, more lonely than his companions. Jack and Frank, at least,
+had the consolation of knowing there was someone to either side. But,
+with none of his friends beyond him on the north, Bob felt very much
+alone, indeed.
+
+All sorts of reflections entered his mind, reflections that had no
+bearing whatsoever on the situation in which he found himself. He
+thought of sunny days on Long Island, of flights in his airplanes or
+zipping trips along the coast in his speed boat. He thought of one thing
+and another, classroom, Mexican mountains, that strange city of another
+world found immured in the Andes, and--of Marjorie. Ever since his first
+meeting with his sister's friend, Miss Faulkner, she had occupied a
+position of growing importance in Bob's scheme of things. Someday----
+
+"Some girl," Bob said to himself. "I'll have to see more of her."
+
+He leaned forward, elbows planted on his knees, eyes staring into the
+fog. In reality, his thoughts, as can be seen, were far, far away. But
+presently, a sound, muffled and faint, pierced his consciousness and he
+sprang into instant alertness. He listened, holding his breath,
+straining to hear.
+
+It came again.
+
+Bob started on a stumbling run for Jack, the first man to the south.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.--A WAILING CRY.
+
+
+"Jack, Jack," he shouted, as he ran through the fog, blindly, but
+remembering to veer away from the river bank a little to avoid the
+danger of tumbling in. "Jack, Jack, where are you?"
+
+A shadow, fog-distorted, loomed before him, big, enormous. A hand
+gripped his shoulder and brought him to a halt.
+
+"Here I am, Bob. What's the matter?"
+
+Bob rubbed the back of a big hand across his eyes.
+
+"I heard something out there," he said, pointing into the fog upon the
+river. "I guess I'd been asleep, or daydreaming, anyway. I couldn't be
+sure I had heard anything. It came twice--that sound. Then there was
+silence. So I came down here to ask whether you had heard, too."
+
+"But, Bob, what was it? What did you hear? I heard nothing."
+
+"Jack, it was the sound of a baby's cry."
+
+Bob's voice was solemn. A shiver ran through Jack, as if a breath of
+cold air had fanned him. In that fog-enwrapped isolation, in that far
+northern wilderness, what could a baby be doing? It was preposterous.
+More, it was uncanny.
+
+"Bob, you were asleep. Yes, sir, you certainly were dreaming. A baby.
+Huh."
+
+"Maybe so," Bob said, reluctantly. "But, true as I live, Jack----"
+
+The other's grip on his shoulder tightened.
+
+Out of the fog came a wailing sound, distant, thin, but unmistakable. It
+was the cry of a baby, if ever there was such a thing.
+
+But this time it came not from the river, but from inland. The two
+listened, straining to hear, but the cry died away without being
+repeated. They looked at each other, an unnamable fear gripping them.
+
+"Jack, I'm afraid," confessed Bob in a whisper. "I don't know--there's
+something strikes a chill into me--I--I----"
+
+He paused. Jack nodded.
+
+"I feel the same way, Bob," he said, low-voiced. "What a pair of fools
+we are, though," he added, brightening. "That must be some bird, or
+animal, perhaps."
+
+Almost unconsciously, they had been making their way southward and now
+another figure rose up in the fog before them--that of Frank. He was
+about to speak, when once more the wailing cry rose, and this time it
+came from two quarters, from the river and from farther inland. The
+three stood, silent, speechless, and in that moment, while the echoes of
+the cries still rang in their heads, Farnum and Art materialized out of
+the fog.
+
+"Good, there you all are," said Farnum, in a low, tense voice. "Follow
+me to camp."
+
+And without a word of explanation he started at right angles away from
+the river, for they had taken their stations in such fashion that Frank,
+holding the middle position, would be directly opposite the camp. This
+was in order to enable them to reach it without losing their way in the
+fog.
+
+"What is it, Art?" asked Jack, his voice matching Farnum's.
+
+"Indians," answered Art, tersely. "Stick close together and don't make
+no noise."
+
+It was a situation to tax the nerve of the bravest, and the three boys
+hurrying along in the wake of Farnum and Art could not be accused of
+cowardice for experiencing a chill premonition of trouble ahead. Often
+had Farnum spoken of the cruelty of these far northern Indians. Bitter
+had been their experiences with Lupo's half-breeds, in whose veins
+flowed the blood of the Indians of the north.
+
+As they hurried along, there flashed through their minds some of the
+stories Farnum had told. Had they gotten so far, so near the end of
+their quest for the "Lost Expedition" only to be wiped out by Indians,
+on the very eve of success? Such thoughts raced through the mind of
+each. But they were determined fellows, accustomed to confront danger,
+used to tight places. The first onrush of panic was swept aside, and, by
+the time they tumbled into the little hollow in which camp had been
+pitched, and where Mr. Hampton awaited them, each had himself well in
+hand.
+
+Mr. Hampton looked at their determined faces, and a smile of grim
+approval was his greeting.
+
+"Indians, boys," he said. "Farnum told me. I suspected as much. Now, we
+have no trees here for bulwark, but this little hollow is good enough.
+Let us lie down and line the edge of the pit. We'll be pretty close
+together, and if any Indians stumble on us they'll get a warm reception.
+Listen." He spoke in a low voice. "There goes that cry again. Does it
+sound closer? Yes," as the other nodded, "I thought so. Quick. Take your
+positions. Jack, my boy, you stay beside me."
+
+There was a little tremor in his voice. That was all. But Jack
+understood. He clasped his father's hand strongly, then threw himself
+prone beside him, while the others ranged themselves in a circle as
+commanded.
+
+Once more came the wailing cry from the inland. Once more it was
+answered in kind from the water. But to all it was apparent that the
+sounds were farther removed, and Mr. Hampton broke the painful silence
+with a whispered:
+
+"They're moving on, moving away."
+
+"Look, Dad," Jack exclaimed excitedly. "I can see those rocks ahead
+where a minute ago was only the white fog. Why, the fog's lifting. It's
+lifting, Dad, sure enough."
+
+"You're right, Jack," his father replied, low-voiced, but there was
+anxiety rather than jubilation in his tone. "That will make it bad for
+us. We'll be exposed to sight."
+
+Once again came the wail, faint and far away. As faint came the reply
+from the water. Both cries were to the north. Originally they had come
+from that direction. Now they were withdrawing whence they had come.
+What could it mean?
+
+The next minute a rattle of rifle fire broke the silence. At the same
+time a cold breeze blew across the crouching figures in the shallow pit
+and the fog began to shred out fast before it.
+
+Farnum sprang upright, gazing to the north. The others also gained their
+feet. The shooting now was fast and furious.
+
+"I can't understand," said Farnum, in a puzzled tone.
+
+With an exclamation, Jack seized his father's arm.
+
+"Dad," he cried, "you said Thorwaldsson might be near."
+
+"Yes, why--"
+
+"That's it," said Art, in a tone of conviction. Mr. Farnum turned
+towards him.
+
+"You mean?"
+
+"Jack guessed it. Thorwaldsson's being attacked."
+
+Jack nodded.
+
+"That's what I meant, Dad."
+
+"You're right, Jack," said his father. "Come on. It can't be anything
+else. Nobody but Thorwaldsson is in this wilderness. We must help him.
+Stick close together."
+
+And scrambling out of their shallow pit, Mr. Hampton started on the dead
+run towards the direction of the shooting, with the others at his heels.
+
+The ground was bare of verdure, and great rocks of the copper ore were
+scattered around. On this account their view was restricted, but the
+sound of the rifle fire grew momentarily louder, apprising them that
+they were nearing the scene of conflict. Suddenly Bob, who was in the
+lead, having out-distanced the others several yards, rounded a big rock
+and found himself on a bank above a narrow strip of beach.
+
+Below lay a number of forms, as of men dead or wounded. Two canoes were
+drawn up on the beach, and behind one of these, using it as a bulwark,
+crouched a man, rifle to shoulder. Farther down the beach were three
+other canoes grounded, and beside them several forms of wounded men, and
+five or six men, crouching, firing at the lone defender of the attacked
+position, creeping up on him.
+
+Just as Bob reached the edge of the bank, the attackers mustered up
+courage for a rush, and with wild shouts swept forward. It looked dark,
+indeed, for the lone defender of the upturned canoes. Bob looked back to
+see how close were his companions, but they were not yet in sight. His
+dash had carried him farther than he had believed to be the case.
+
+It had taken only a glance to show Bob which way the land lay. The lone
+defender was the survivor of Thorwaldsson's party, if the explorer's
+party it was, of which Bob had little doubt. He was a white man. The
+others were half-breeds, and if Bob was not mistaken they were of the
+same gang which he had encountered before.
+
+It was distinctly up to him to lend a hand. Throwing his rifle to his
+shoulder, he prepared to open fire on the crushing enemy. But as his
+finger pressed the trigger, he groaned. The mechanism of the rifle had
+became jammed in some fashion. Desperately he worked to release the
+trigger, but to no avail.
+
+Then the light of battle came into big Bob's eyes. The half-breeds were
+just below him now. Several of their number had fallen in the rush, shot
+down by the defender of the canoes. Four were left, and they evidently
+were bent on polishing off their lone opponent. So absorbed were all in
+their own drama, they had not seen Bob.
+
+Clubbing his rifle, Bob leaped. He came down on the back of one of the
+attackers, and bore him to the ground. With catlike swiftness, Bob, who
+himself had fallen on his hands and knees, gathered himself together,
+regained his feet, and swinging his clubbed rifle, let out a yell fit to
+"frighten a wolf pack," as Frank later described it.
+
+The stock of the rifle came down with a thud on the shoulders of another
+of the half-breeds, felling him as if he had been struck by lightning.
+So tremendous was the blow, that it tore the rifle from Bob's grasp. But
+he leaped for another of the enemy, a fellow whose startled face was
+close to his, seized him about the waist and whirled him aloft to be
+tossed aside as if he were a sack of meal. The fourth man was dropped by
+a shot from the defender of the canoe.
+
+"Attaboy, Bob," came Frank's voice, from the bluff above.
+
+One after the other, Bob's friends leaped to the beach.
+
+As Frank and Jack clapped him on the back, and tried to grasp his hand,
+uttering enthusiastic praise the while, Bob looked around.
+
+"Say, where's that chap? Why, he's fainted."
+
+Freeing himself from his companions' clutches, Bob leaped over the
+up-ended canoe and bent above the recumbent body of the doughty
+defender.
+
+"Why, he's badly wounded," he cried.
+
+Mr. Hampton pushed him aside.
+
+"Here, let me look, Bob," he said. "You fellows help Farnum and Art in
+looking after the others. The place is a shambles, with wounded men
+everywhere."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.--OUTWARD BOUND.
+
+
+It was a week before the wounded could be moved. At close range though
+the fight had been, none had been killed. When the boys exclaimed in
+amazement at this, Art shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"More bullets fly in a fight than ever reach their mark," he said. "I've
+seen men, tough fellows, regular two-gun men, shoot at each other in
+Alaskan saloons in the old days without anybody being killed. When a man
+sees red, he don't take no good aim."
+
+The majority of the wounded were not hit in vital spots, but
+Thorwaldsson had been shot in so many places that his recovery at first
+was a matter of doubt. It was he who had been the last of his party to
+keep firing, he whom Bob had rescued in the nick of time.
+
+From Farrell and others of Thorwaldsson's five companions, however, the
+story of what had occurred had been obtained. They had been on their way
+down the Coppermine when they, too, had been overtaken in the fog. They
+had landed in the little beach to wait for the fog to lift. There the
+half-breeds, survivor's of Lupo's gang, who had been dogging the trail
+of Mr. Hampton and his party, had come upon them.
+
+The surprise had been mutual, for the half-breeds had been looking for
+the Hampton party and not for Thorwaldsson. However, they had attacked,
+the majority from the canoes, and three who had been scouting along
+shore, from the land. Surprised thus, Thorwaldsson's party had put up a
+game fight, but one after the other had been shot down until only the
+leader was left. He, barricaded behind the canoes, had held off the rest
+of the attackers until the final rush and Bob's timely arrival.
+
+As the days passed by, with the twilight deepening into short nights,
+Art and Farnum both grew increasingly anxious to be on their way for the
+outside. They knew their North, and they realized that the time
+remaining to them before Winter set in was narrowing down to a
+perilously small edge.
+
+"We'll have a mighty hard job of it, Mr. Hampton," Farnum pleaded. "What
+with wounded on our hands, and prisoners to guard, it looks almost
+hopeless as it is for us to get out. But, anyway, we can't afford to
+waste time. Can't Thorwaldsson be moved? He'll be all right in a canoe."
+
+"As long as the traveling is easy, yes," said Mr. Hampton. "He will be
+all right. But how about at the portages? He's lost lot of blood
+already. He can't afford to lose any more. However, I expect that with
+care we can prevent his wounds from reopening. We'll start tomorrow."
+
+Accordingly, on the day appointed, camp was broken, and the party got
+under way. Frank's shoulder was healed sufficiently to permit him once
+more to wield a paddle, although still a trifle stiff, and he took his
+place in the canoe with Bob and Jack. They had another passenger this
+time in Farrell, whose right arm had been broken by a shot in the
+sanguinary fight on the river beach. Thorwaldsson was taken in the canoe
+occupied by Mr. Hampton and Farnum, Art going in one of the other craft
+with members of Thorwaldsson's party. Several of the latter had been
+creased by rifle bullets and one shot through a leg, but all could wield
+paddles.
+
+And so the long trip out of the wilderness began, with the half-breeds
+in three canoes, deprived of arms and closely watched by their captors
+in the four canoes bringing up the rear. With reasonable care, it was
+felt, the prisoners could be controlled until they should near
+civilization. Without weapons they would be in a hopeless plight in the
+wilderness, unable to defend themselves against wild animals, unable to
+provide food for themselves. Therefore, no attempt on the part of their
+captives to escape was looked for by the others, until they should near
+the outlying settlements of the inhabited country.
+
+"When that time comes," Mr. Hampton had warned the boys, "we must be on
+the lookout, for the half-breeds, unless closely watched, will try to
+get back their weapons and make a break for it. And I am determined to
+take them into civilization as witnesses to prove my statement of the
+murderous conspiracy against us on the part of an eminent gentleman in
+faraway New York."
+
+Mr. Hampton spoke bitterly, for from all that had occurred and from the
+accounts, first of Long Tom and of the dying Lupo, and again of Farrell
+and the surviving members of Thorwaldsson's party, he had pieced
+together the story of the conspiracy against them.
+
+To the boys he confided this tale, the main theme of which was that when
+Farrell had told his story to Mr. Otto Anderson concerning the discovery
+of the oil-bearing region in the Arctic, Mr. Anderson's confidential
+secretary had gone to a New York financier and sold him the information.
+He had not been able to tell definitely, however, the location of the
+oil region, for the very good reason, as before related, that Farrell
+was not certain of it himself, his vicissitudes in getting out of the
+country having unsettled his mind. Therefore, this financier had sent
+his agents westward with word that Thorwaldsson be tracked.
+
+"Perhaps this financier, Old Grimm, ordered the mere tracking of
+Thorwaldsson," said Mr. Hampton. "But I doubt it. The attacks on
+Thorwaldsson's expedition, the disappearance of his ship and crew, all
+look like parts of a deep-laid plan to attain Grimm's ends at whatever
+cost in human life. And, on top of it all, the attack on us by Lupo, who
+was paid a handsome sum down in Dawson by Anderson's former secretary,
+acting as agent for Grimm, show the latter aimed to put us all out of
+the way."
+
+"And all for money," said Jack. "It's hard to believe."
+
+"Ah, you don't know Grimm," said his father. "The man who develops this
+Arctic oil region may become the richest in the world. Grimm is
+ambitious for that position. He's got a lot of money so far, in one
+crooked way or another. But he's not one of the big ones yet, not one of
+the richest. And he wants to be supreme. Well, he has overreached
+himself this time, for I've got the evidence, and I'll see that we get
+more in Dawson and Seattle and New York. Mr. Grimm will no longer have
+the power or freedom to toy with men's lives when I get through with
+him."
+
+Although Thorwaldsson lay as in a stupor and could not be questioned,
+the full account of what had befallen his expedition since it set out
+from Seattle was learned from the others. First of all, they had
+succeeded in retracing Farrell's earlier footsteps, and had found the
+oil region and the river running through it. A thorough survey of the
+country had been made, with maps showing the outlet by water to the
+Arctic Ocean.
+
+In fact, the party had made its way out the river into the Arctic Ocean
+and around the coast into the Coppermine. There they had encountered and
+made friends with a tribe of Eskimo. They had started down the
+Coppermine, or rather up, as it flows north into the Arctic, but had
+been attacked, losing half the members of their party and a large part
+of their equipment, including the radio. It was after this that the
+aviator of the expedition had attempted to fly to the outside with news
+of Thorwaldsson's plight, the latter meanwhile being cared for through
+the following Winter by the friendly Eskimo at the mouth of the
+Coppermine, to which they had put back. The death of the aviator, near
+the MacKenzie, of course, was not known to the Thorwaldsson party until
+the news was imparted by the boys.
+
+The course followed as they struck southward was not that pursued by
+Farrell when he had made his way back to civilization. On that occasion
+he had frequently been light-headed, and it was felt it would be unwise
+to trust now to his guidance. Instead, Mr. Hampton and Farnum decided to
+retrace their own trail back to the island in the lake where MacDonald
+had been encountered, and thence follow his course to the Fort of the
+Northwest Mounted Police.
+
+Day after day they pushed ahead, the nights ever growing longer and
+colder, with frost on the ground in the mornings. The honking of the
+wild geese overhead, as they made their way south, also was a warning
+that the mantle of Winter soon would settle down.
+
+"You see," Art said to the boys one day, "Winter in this country not
+only means dreadful cold for which we ain't prepared in the matter of
+clothing or snowshoes or nothing, but also it means there ain't no food
+to be had. Yes, there's plenty of game now, geese and duck everywhere
+along the streams, caribou plentiful. But you notice they're all going
+south. When Winter strikes, there'll be nothing in this wilderness but
+rabbit and beaver. Beaver's all right--if you can dig 'em out o' their
+huts. But rabbit--huh! Well, you can starve fine on rabbit."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.--LONG JIM APPEARS.
+
+
+Winter, after all, caught them in its icy grip far north of where they
+had planned to be when the cold should really set in. This was due to a
+variety of circumstances. The slowness of Thorwaldsson's recovery was
+one of the retarding influences, which prevented them making the desired
+speed. After weeks of travel he was still in a comatose condition, and
+Mr. Hampton feared his brain had been affected by a bullet that ploughed
+along the left side of his head. The other wounded, although quick to
+recover, also acted as a hindrance, especially at the first.
+
+Then, too, the season was unusual. Winter arrived weeks ahead of the
+expected time. And daily, as the ice on stream and river thickened, it
+became increasingly hard to break a way. Yet the canoes could not be
+abandoned, for, once snow began to fly, the travelers would have been
+helpless on land, without sleds or snowshoes. Sleds of a sort could be
+constructed, of course, and makeshift snowshoes made, too, but neither
+would be worth much, and the manufacture of them would take a good deal
+of time.
+
+Two sentries were always posted at night now; one by a fire around which
+slumbered the prisoners, the other by a fire in the midst of a circle
+composed of the Hampton and Thorwaldsson parties combined. It was Jack's
+turn to keep guard one cold but clear night, after a heavy snowfall,
+which had caused a great deal of suffering to all, and had brought them,
+indeed, to the verge of despair. For they were insufficiently clad, even
+though the skins of many animals slain for food in the past weeks had
+been saved and roughly cured for wraps; and, in addition, with the
+closing-in of Winter game had become so scarce that the camp was
+virtually on the verge of starvation.
+
+Jack was mounting guard by the fire around which lay his friends. One of
+the Thorwaldsson party, Swenson, did sentry duty by the other fire.
+Looking across the little space which separated the two parties, Jack
+could see the huddled figures of the half-breeds lying so close to the
+fire, which Swenson fed constantly with fuel, that they seemed almost to
+be in it. Around him the members of his own party were similarly
+disposed.
+
+With a sigh, Jack arose, caught up an armful of wood and tossed it into
+the fire. The flames at once shot high and, as if that were a signal,
+out of the darkness beyond came a robust hail.
+
+"Hello, there. Keep 'er goin', sonny."
+
+Into the light of the fire a moment later strode a big fur-clad figure
+of a man on snowshoes. On his back was a pack which he dropped to the
+ground with a sigh of relief. Then he leaned his rifle in the crook of
+an elbow and, pulling off great fur mittens, spread his hands to the
+blaze, working his fingers gratefully back and forth.
+
+"Cold an' gittin' colder," he announced, casually. "Got a nice fire
+here."
+
+Jack was nonplussed. In the first place, to find another wanderer in
+this wilderness which they believed unpeopled was exciting enough. But
+to have him walk in casually and without vouchsafing any explanation of
+his presence took Jack's breath away for the moment. Yet Jack knew
+enough of the woodland lore to realize that hospitality is the first law
+of the wilds, and that questions distinctly would not be in order. He
+decided the best thing for him would be to wait for the other to take
+the lead in the conversation.
+
+This the intruder was not slow to do, beginning even as he eased his
+stiffened fingers in the warmth of the fire.
+
+"Didn't know there was anybody else in this country," he said. "Been
+around here long?"
+
+A look of clumsy craft from under shaggy brows accompanied the question.
+Jack had to smile to himself.
+
+"No; not long," he said composedly. "And you?"
+
+"Oh, I been huntin' an' trappin' 'round here," the other said.
+
+To Jack it seemed the man was an honest enough, even a likeable, type,
+and yet that he was acting evasively. He decided it would be a good plan
+to get a more experienced head to help him deal with the situation. None
+of his party apparently was awake, all being worn out with the terrific
+strain of the day's travel. But Art lay near him. In fact, his foot was
+not six inches from Jack.
+
+Unostentatiously, in order not to attract the newcomer's attention, Jack
+moved his foot to a position where with his toe he could tap on Art's
+ankles. It was sufficient for the purpose apparently, for, out of the
+tail of his eye Jack saw Art's body stiffen and his head lift up
+slightly from the ground. For what followed, however, he was totally
+unprepared.
+
+Art sprang to his feet, leaped forward and began thumping the newcomer
+vigorously on the back.
+
+"Why, you ol' son-of-a-gun," he cried. "You ol' son-of-a-gun."
+
+"Li'l Artie, or I'm goin' blind," cried the other, seizing Art by the
+hand and pumping up and down.
+
+Jack turned in amazement to Art.
+
+"Why--why--you know each other!" he cried.
+
+"Know each other? Har, har, har," roared the giant, in a guffaw that
+aroused the others about the campfire. "Know each other? That's a good
+one."
+
+Mr. Hampton, Farnum, Bob and Frank, Farrell and several of the others
+gathered around, looking their questions, and Art turned to satisfy
+them.
+
+"Ever hear o' Long Jim Golden?" he asked. "Well, this is him--the
+daggonedest trapper on the face o' the earth. Ain't seen him in years
+since he left Circle City in the rush. Where you been, Jim?"
+
+"Trappin'." Jim looked around at the interested faces. "You tol' who I
+am," he said. "Now tell me who's your friends, Artie."
+
+"Sure," said Art heartily, effecting introductions. "Here we all are,"
+he concluded, and then his face fell as he added: "but where we'll be
+soon, I don't know, nor what's to become of us."
+
+Long Jim looked first at one, then at another, then his eyes roved over
+the camp.
+
+"How come?" he asked. "No sleds nor dogs nor snowshoes nor nothin'. How
+come?"
+
+"Sit here by the fire and I'll tell you, Jim," said Art. "The rest o'
+you, we won't bother you none with loud voices. We'll jest whisper-like.
+You'll want to turn in and sleep, so go to it."
+
+Nothing loath, the others with the exception of Jack, who moved to one
+side so as not to intrude on the two old acquaintances thus strangely
+reunited, turned in and soon were once more asleep.
+
+Briefly as possible, Art explained to Long Jim the circumstances leading
+up to their present position. From across the fire, Jack watched them.
+He saw that Long Jim paid close attention to Art's narrative and that,
+indeed, it seemed to affect him strangely. For over his open, rugged
+features, not constructed to conceal their owner's moods, swept doubt,
+uncertainty, indecision, as if within the man was going on a fight
+between two contending forces. Jack was puzzled. What could Long Jim be
+thinking of?
+
+Then Long Jim slowly rose to his feet, placing a hand on the shoulder of
+his companion who remained seated but looking up at him. Jack
+unconsciously moved closer as the big trapper appeared about to speak.
+He did not want to eavesdrop, but Long Jim's expression had puzzled him
+greatly. What could it mean?
+
+"Artie," said Long Jim in a louder tone than that in which their
+whispered conversation had been carried on, and one that reached Jack's
+ears, "Artie, my boy," he said, "I wish you didn't have them skunks with
+ye."
+
+"Them breeds," said Art, jerking a thumb back over a shoulder to
+indicate the prisoners sleeping about the other fire.
+
+"Them same," said Long Jim. "Cause why, you asks me? Cause I got a
+paradise to take you all to, where you can spend the Winter lapped in
+comfort. An' I don't want to take no rascals like them half-breeds
+there. But----"
+
+Art was on his feet, excitement struggling with disbelief.
+
+"What? What you mean, Long Jim?"
+
+"Jest what I says," answered the other emphatically. "A paradise, I
+calls it. An' a paradise it is. An' the quicker we git there the better,
+so wake up your friends an' let me talk to 'em. If we have to take them
+skunks, why, we'll take 'em."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.--A TALE OF PARADISE.
+
+
+At the insistence of Long Jim, Art and Jack, who had been called to join
+the pair, speedily re-aroused their friends.
+
+"I ain't no hand for talkin'," Long Jim declared in answer to Art's
+requests for further information. "I got to tell this. But onct oughter
+be enough. No use my tellin' you an' then tellin' the rest o' them all
+over agin."
+
+Jack smiled discreetly. Long Jim claimed he was "no hand for talking,"
+yet his tongue wagged continually. However, his heart seemed in the
+right place, and certainly he spoke emphatically enough of a haven not
+too far away to which they could go for refuge. What was it he called
+it? "Paradise." Jack was anxious to hear, and wasted no time on gentle
+methods in arousing the sleepers.
+
+"Lookit here," said Long Jim, as the circle gathered around him. "Art's
+been tellin' me the trouble you folks is in. Looks to me like you
+moughtn't be able to make it out o' this country."
+
+Mr. Hampton nodded grave confirmation.
+
+"Well, I know of a place that's paradise," said Long Jim, impressively.
+"An' I'll take ye all there, an' ye can spend the Winter--warm, game,
+everything there. Only thing, like I tol' Artie here, is I hate to have
+to take them skunks o' half-breeds in there. They'll be a-comin' back
+later an' ruin the country."
+
+"But I don't understand," said Mr. Hampton. "What is it you are talking
+about?"
+
+"Don't blame ye," said Long Jim. "Think maybe the ol' man's crazy, don't
+ye? Don't blame ye for that, neither. But, look here, night's dyin' an'
+if ye stand up an' look where I'm pointin' ye'll see somethin'."
+
+Mr. Hampton arose wonderingly, and the others also stood up.
+
+"Thar," said Long Jim, stretching an arm to the westward. "What d'ye
+see?"
+
+"Why--a great bank of fog," said Mr. Hampton, after gazing intently. "How
+strange. Fog in Winter. I don't understand."
+
+"An' ye all think that's fog, hey?" asked Long Jim, turning to the
+others.
+
+Nodding heads answered.
+
+"Well, it ain't," he said. "That's the vapor from hot springs."
+
+"Hot springs?" Mr. Hampton sounded frankly incredulous.
+
+"Wait'll you see for yourself," said Long Jim, tolerantly. "I wouldn't
+believe it, neither, when I first saw it. I thought it was fog, too. But
+bein' as how heavy fog in the Winter were strange, I went to
+investigate. An' I found paradise."
+
+Then, under Mr. Hampton's skillful questioning, Long Jim told his story.
+He declared he had lived in this region now these two years, and that
+since first arriving he had seen nobody except themselves. Drawn by the
+seeming fog to investigate, he had come upon an almost tropical valley
+through which ran not only one but several rivers of water forever at
+the boiling point. These rivers, moreover, he said, were fed by hundreds
+of hot springs, which bubbled out of the ground in all directions. It
+was the steam from these which, condensing as it rose above the valley
+and struck the cold Winter air, had formed the fog which first attracted
+his attention.
+
+"Once I were in South America," said Long Jim. "Down clost to the
+Equator. Well, I'm tellin' you, it were that hot all last Summer right
+in that valley. As for right now, ye'll find it mighty pleasant an'
+warm, an' when snow falls it's only rain by the time it passes through
+the heat hangin' over that valley all the time."
+
+"Hurray," cried Frank, exuberantly. "Let's go. No snow fellows. Get
+that? I've had all the snow I need for one season, anyway, and I guess I
+can get along without any more for some time to come."
+
+Mr. Hampton smiled, but, disregarding Frank's jubilation, proceeded with
+his questioning. And Long Jim, delighted with an audience to which he
+could talk all he pleased, after having been without companions for
+several years, continued unfolding new wonders.
+
+This valley, he declared, was about 200 miles long and 40 miles wide.
+They were now near its upper end, to which point Long Jim had made his
+way by slow travel and exploration during the two years since his
+arrival at the southern end.
+
+Game?
+
+At the question, Long Jim grew even more eloquent.
+
+He declared that, due to the heat generated by the hot springs and the
+boiling rivers, the fertility of the soil was amazing. The vegetation,
+in fact, achieved a jungle growth. Wild rose bushes grew tall as trees,
+with stems as thick as a man's forearm and so dense that it was
+impossible to force a way through them. Willows grew to the size of big
+trees, with branches so thick it was possible to walk along them.
+
+"An' birches," added Long Jim, "git to be hunderds o' feet tall, so
+tall, in fact, they can't hold themselves up but bend over an' touch the
+ground.
+
+"Likely you think I'm out o' my head. Oh, I kin see it in your eyes. But
+I'm tellin' you the God's truth, men." And Long Jim spoke with such
+honest sincerity, they were compelled to believe him. "In sich a place,"
+he continued, "it ain't likely there wouldn't be no game. Why, the
+animals there is thick as flees on a ol' hound.
+
+"Mountain sheep, goats, caribou, moose, bear, deer, wolves, foxes, oh,
+every wild animal o' the whole North kin be found there--down in that
+valley an' in the mountains enclosin' of it. An' I tell you the truth,"
+he concluded, his voice sinking for effect, "the moose git so fat
+they're almost square an' they're so darn tame ye can almost touch 'em."
+
+As Long Jim's speech came to a halt, Mr. Hampton turned and stared
+across the brightening landscape to the distant bank of vapor. Soon the
+short days would end entirely, and the perpetual night of the Arctic
+would arrive. Only a miracle could save them from perishing, all
+unprepared to face further travel as they were. Could it be possible
+that miracle had occurred, and that this trapper was telling the truth?
+
+Jack looked at his father, and sensed what was passing through the older
+man's mind. Truth to tell, some such thoughts were in his own. He went
+up to him and laid a hand across his shoulders.
+
+"Come on, Dad," he said. "I believe Long Jim is telling the truth. And
+we better make the effort to get to this valley. He may be exaggerating
+a little, but certainly it looks like a promised land."
+
+"That's right, Jack," said his father, shaking off his reverie, and his
+alert self once more. "We'll have a hard enough struggle getting there,
+what with having to cross this waste of new-fallen snow without
+snowshoes or sleds. Well, let's see what can be done."
+
+Eventually, the party got into motion. The canoes were cached, where
+they could be recovered in the Summer. There was little likelihood
+anybody else would pass that way, to appropriate them. Equipment was
+made into packs shouldered by everybody except Art and Bob. These two
+were to carry Thorwaldsson on a stretcher, improvised out of poles cut
+on the river bank, and blankets.
+
+Fortunately, the crest of the valley to which Long Jim was guiding them
+was distant not more than five or six miles. Even at that, however, the
+going was tremendously difficult because of the mass of new-fallen snow.
+Had it not been for Long Jim to break the way on his snowshoes,
+moreover, it is doubtful whether they could have made it, heavy laden as
+they were. But Long Jim worked patiently backward and forward, breaking
+down the snow, and packing it a second and even a third time with his
+webs.
+
+"How come you were out here, ol' timer?" asked Art once, as Long Jim
+paused, and he caught up with him.
+
+"Well, I git lonesome a leetle," said Long Jim. "I was prospectin'
+around in the mountains rimmin' the valley yestiddy, an' I saw you
+across the snow. Jest leetle specks you were, but agin the snow I
+thought you were humans. I couldn't hardly believe my eyes, but I come
+along investigatin'. An' then when night come on, you lit your fires,
+an'----"
+
+"Sure was lucky for us, Long Jim, if you ain't a-lyin'," said Art.
+
+Long Jim stiffened, and for a moment was prepared to stand on his
+dignity but then he smiled in a jolly way that sent crinkly wrinkles all
+around his blue eyes.
+
+"Don't blame ye for that, Artie," he said. "Sounds like I were crazy,
+don't it? But jest wait till you see."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.--VOICES FROM THE WILDERNESS.
+
+
+But Long Jim had not falsified. The valley proved, indeed, to be more
+even than he described, for as the world now knows important mineral
+deposits were discovered, including gold, silver, copper, coal, iron and
+oil. But of the development going on to bring not only this marvelous
+region but the vast oil region beyond the Coppermine into the world's
+resources naught need be said now. Suffice it to say that such
+development is under way, for Mr. Hampton had the ear of the great
+financiers, and was able to bring it about; and also that Farrell and
+Long Jim are receiving handsome incomes from their shares in the various
+projects.
+
+Here the party settled down, constructed huts, and prepared to await the
+coming of Spring when the snow should disappear from the vast wilderness
+separating them from the northern edge of the civilized lands and the
+ice in the rivers be unlocked.
+
+One of the first things done by the boys was to erect their radio plant,
+and they succeeded without much difficulty in opening communication with
+the little Fort of the Northwest Mounted Police on the farthest rim of
+the settled country. MacDonald and Dick, with their prisoners, had
+arrived only a day or two before communication was opened, and the two
+parties exchanged the stories of their adventures by radio.
+
+To Long Jim the radio was as great a source of wonder as Long Jim's
+valley was to the boys. He could never get over marveling at it, and
+every time that it was brought into use, Long Jim, if he were in the
+vicinity, was on hand, sitting in rapt and open-mouthed astonishment
+while the boys operated the instruments.
+
+Much time was spent in exploring this wonderful valley, at the resources
+of which Mr. Hampton could never express sufficient astonishment.
+
+"It is a freak of nature, of course, boys," he explained on one
+occasion.
+
+"How wonderful that it should have remained undiscovered for so long,"
+said Jack.
+
+"Not so marvelous," said his father. "Few, indeed, are the people who
+ever have penetrated any distance into all this vast wilderness of
+northern Canada. It was supposed, and still is generally supposed, to be
+bleak and uninhabitable. You know from experience that the contrary is
+the case. It is delightful country in Summer, and man is so constituted
+that, if properly clothed and housed, he can stand any severity of
+Winter. Some day, I predict, all this vast wilderness through which we
+have been making our way will be settled. That day is far off, of
+course, but it is coming. The growth of world population will force the
+conquest of the sub-Arctic."
+
+The one thing making their stay in this valley of marvels unpleasant was
+the constant rainfall. For in the Arctic storm succeeds storm, sweeping
+down from the North Pole in never-ending succession. And these storms
+which they knew were burying the land beyond the valley under a pall of
+ice and snow poured torrents of water on them. The peaks of the mountain
+ranges rimming the valley were buried under snow, gleaming wan in the
+occasional moonlight between the storms, for by now the long night had
+come. But on them no snow fell, for as Long Jim had foretold the snow as
+it passed through the temperate air created by the eternally hot rivers
+and springs was transformed into rain.
+
+Two events of importance marked their stay. One was the escape of their
+prisoners, together with some rifles which they succeeded in stealing.
+Pursuit in the darkness, and through the jungle-like reaches of the
+forest was almost hopeless and was quickly abandoned. Nor, although
+vigilant watch was kept to prevent surprise, did they ever see sign of
+the half-breeds again.
+
+"It's a big valley," said Mr. Hampton, "and I doubt whether they will
+attempt to attack us. Rather, they will keep out of our way. They are
+poorly armed and inferior in numbers, since we have all come together.
+Their escape, I imagine, was incited by a fear of what awaited them if
+we succeeded in getting them back to civilization and the courts. Well,"
+he said, with a sigh, "I regret, of course, the loss of witnesses to
+substantiate the charges of deviltry which I shall surely bring against
+Grimm. Nevertheless, I am glad to be rid of them."
+
+It was a sentiment in which all concurred.
+
+The other event referred to was the opening by means of relayed messages
+via the Mounted Post and Edmonton of communication by radio with Mr.
+Temple in faraway New York. When word reached Bob's father that the
+Hampton party was safe and sound and wintering in the wilderness, he
+quit work for the day, despite the fact that a big business deal was
+clamoring for his attention, and sped by motor down to his Long Island
+home.
+
+Bob's sister, Della, was sitting in the library, staring spiritlessly
+out at the Winter landscape. Mr. Temple stole up behind her and,
+reaching over her shoulder, thrust the message from the radio
+corporation under her eyes.
+
+Della's glance fell and she began to read the printed words. Then she
+leaped up, whirled around, her eyes like two stars, and threw her arms
+around her father's neck.
+
+"Oh, Daddy, Dad-dee," she screamed.
+
+He held her off at arm's length and looked at her. Her eyes began to
+fill up with happy tears, and once more she threw herself into his arms.
+
+"Well, kiddy, cry all you want to," he said, comfortingly, patting her
+on the back. "I guess that's the medicine you needed. You'll be all
+right now."
+
+Mr. Temple's words bore reference to the fact that for months Della's
+health had been failing, and she had shown so little interest in her
+studies that it had been considered wiser to take her out of the
+boarding school which she attended, and bring her home.
+
+"Oh, yes, Dad-dee," she sobbed, her face buried in his coat. "I'll be
+all right now."
+
+Then she lifted her tear-stained cheeks and asked anxiously:
+
+"It says they are all safe--_all_? Doesn't it?"
+
+Mr. Temple nodded, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
+
+"Yes, kiddy," he said. "Frank's safe, too."
+
+"Oh, Dad-dee, I didn't mean that," said Della, blushing furiously.
+
+"No need to fib to me, kiddy," said her father. "Bob is only a brother;
+but Frank----"
+
+"No, you shan't say it," laughed Della, and she placed a hand over his
+mouth.
+
+Nevertheless, it was to be noted that from that time on Della no longer
+moped and looked ill, but took an intense interest in all the daily
+affairs of life, even wanting to return at once to school.
+
+"Marjie Faulkner will be dying to talk things over with me," she
+explained to her mother.
+
+"Why, dear, what do you mean?"
+
+"Well--you know--she's sweet on Bob."
+
+"Oh, you girls," said Mrs. Temple, with a sigh. "You'll be the death of
+me. At your age----"
+
+"At our age you were engaged to Father," said Della. "Now don't deny it.
+Dad has even told me how you planned to elope, but were overheard by
+your mother who persuaded you to be conventional and have a wedding at
+home."
+
+Mr. Temple looked across the dinner table at his wife and grinned
+shamelessly.
+
+"George, did you tell her that?"
+
+"Why not? It was the truth."
+
+"Oh, George. Aren't children nowadays hard enough to handle as it is,
+without letting them know how silly we older people were once?"
+
+"Now, Mother," said Della, rising quickly and going to her mother's
+side, and kissing her. "Don't scold Father. Can't you see he's dreaming
+of that day again?"
+
+And dancing to her father's side, Della dropped a kiss on the spot where
+his hair was thinning out, and then danced gaily from the dining-room.
+
+Once more Mr. Temple grinned at his wife, as he sipped his coffee. Then
+putting down the cup, he leaned forward and said confidentially:
+
+"You do remember that time, don't you, dear?"
+
+Mrs. Temple started to say something sharp by way of reproof for his
+silliness, but a softened look came into her eyes as she stared back.
+The years that intervened since their youth seemed to slip away.
+
+"Why, George," she said. "You look positively handsome."
+
+As for Della, a telegram to her friend, Marjorie Faulkner, apprised the
+latter of the message from the Far North to the effect that the lost had
+been found. And Della soon followed her message in person. Thereafter
+the two girls were never tired of talking about the possible adventures
+that had befallen the boys, and while Marjorie sang Bob's praises, Della
+sang Frank's. Poor Jack, it is to be feared, was somewhat slighted in
+these discussions.
+
+"I'll warrant you that Bob saved the day for them all," Marjorie said on
+one occasion. "He's so big and strong."
+
+"Well," flashed Della, "Bob's my brother, and that's all right. But if
+they ever got in a tight pinch, I'm _sure_ it was Frank that got them
+out. He's got more brains than all the rest put together."
+
+"Oh, Della, how can you say that?" cried Marjorie.
+
+"Well, just because Bob is my brother must I be always praising him?"
+demanded Della.
+
+For a moment the two girls positively glared at each other.
+
+Then the twinkle began to come, and they laughed.
+
+Then they were hugging each other.
+
+And then they were at it again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.--TREED BY WOLVES.
+
+
+One more adventure, and that a serious one, was to befall the boys as a
+final taste of life in the wilderness. One day towards the end of
+Winter, when the sky cleared after several days of tremendous rain, the
+three boys who had been cooped up in their quarters and had worn out
+even the amusement of listening to the Edmonton radio concerts or
+communicating with the Post of the Mounted, announced they were going
+hunting.
+
+The supply of fresh meat had fallen pretty low, and additions to their
+larder would not be unwelcome. Accordingly, Mr. Hampton made no
+objection to their departure, but insisted that Art or Long Jim
+accompany them.
+
+"I'd be no good," said Long Jim. "Sence I did that fool trick o' cuttin'
+my hand with the axe a couple-three days ago, I cain't set finger to
+trigger. You better go, Art."
+
+"All right, boys," said Art. "I'd like to stretch a leg, too."
+
+The four, accordingly, set out. In the forest surrounding the spot where
+they had chosen to erect their huts, there was no longer any game, for
+the animals had come to learn that these strange creatures brought
+destruction and had decamped elsewhere. Finally, after they had
+proceeded some distance without sighting anything, Art suggested they
+strike for a higher level on the adjacent mountain side. The huts had
+been erected near the foot of one of the ranges rimming the valley.
+
+"Maybe we'll run into a mountain sheep or a goat," he said. "Anyhow, we
+can see better from a higher lever, for this forest down here is so
+thick you can hardly see a yard away. The moon's out an' up there the
+trees is thinner."
+
+With Art leading the way, the party began its upward climb. For some
+time they toiled upward until presently they reached a level unaffected
+by the more temperate air of the valley floor, and where, as a
+consequence, snow covered the rocks. Across a bare shoulder of rock from
+which the wind had swept all but a trace of snow they made their way and
+then plunged into a thick woods beyond.
+
+Frank, who was in the rear, laid down his rifle and bent over to adjust
+the clumsy lacing of a thick shoe pack of the kind they had made for
+themselves from the skins of slain animals. The others plodding along,
+head down, did not notice he had stopped, and kept on going. He spent
+more time at the task than he had anticipated, and when finally he
+straightened up and picked up his rifle, they were not in sight.
+
+Frank was not worried, however, for he felt sure he would be able to
+trace them in the snow and would soon catch up with them. He set out at
+a brisk pace. The snow grew deeper, however, where the wind had not had
+a chance to whisk it away, and the going was hard. He had proceeded some
+distance before he noticed that he had gotten off the trail left by his
+companions. Angry with himself for his carelessness, but still not
+worried, he halted to consider what was best for him to do.
+
+"Shucks," he said aloud. "Guess I better go back over my steps till I
+find where I left their trail."
+
+And with this intention, he turned to go back. Even as he did so, he saw
+a pack of long gray bodies racing through the trees in his direction. At
+the same instant they gave tongue. It was a pack of wolves. They had
+scented him and were now lifting the cry which announced their prey was
+near.
+
+Frank started to fling the rifle to his shoulder, but then he lowered
+it. The flitting forms were still yards away. And although moonlight
+sifted through the bare limbs of the trees, it did not sufficiently
+illumine the scene to make the wolves good targets. He decided his best
+plan would be to seek refuge in a tree first of all, and then he could
+fire at the wolves at his leisure and with a sureness of aim that would
+not now be his. These thoughts or reflections flashed through his mind
+in an instant. The next moment he was putting his plan into execution,
+and climbing into a tall fir.
+
+He was not a moment too soon, either, for the baying came closer and
+closer and even as he struggled frantically to climb higher the leader
+of the wolf pack reached the foot of his refuge, and sprang high into
+the air. Frank heard the snap of the great jaws, and looked down into a
+yawning red cavern of a mouth.
+
+The next moment his rifle slipped from his grasp, and fell on the snout
+of the wolf who leaped aside in temporary panic. Then the rest of the
+pack arrived on the scene, jumping and snarling, their heads in the air,
+their wicked eyes agleam as they scented the prey they had treed but
+which temporarily had escaped them.
+
+Frank threw an arm around the main trunk of the tree to steady himself,
+for he was sick with vexation at his own carelessness in not having
+properly, secured his rifle. Meantime the wolves circled close about the
+tree, looking up, and one big fellow even put his forefeet against the
+trunk and reared high till his head rested on the lowermost branch. Then
+he retired to join the others, and all squatted in an expectant ring
+close about the foot of the tree.
+
+When his vexation had passed, Frank set himself to a serious
+consideration of his position. And at once he realized that he must try
+before it was too late and they got out of earshot to attract the
+attention of his comrades. Perhaps already they had gotten beyond reach.
+At that he had a moment of panic. Then he grew calmer. If they had moved
+away, he told himself, they would discover his absence presently and
+retrace their steps in search of him.
+
+He still had his revolver. At first he did not trust himself to handle
+it, because of the trembling of his hands. Then he grew cooler. His hand
+steadied. He thought he would shout to attract his companions' attention
+first of all. And raising his voice, he sent call after call ringing
+through the forest.
+
+The wolves gave back yelp for scream, and soon the whole pack was
+snarling and yowling and making a terrific, demoniac din.
+
+The sound steadied him.
+
+"Good," he thought, "the boys will know there are wolves, anyway."
+
+Their own snarls reacted on the wolves, exciting them. And once more
+they came up to the foot of the tree, rearing their forefeet against it
+and leaping upward. It was Frank's chance, and he took it.
+
+With one arm clasping the trunk of the tree, he leaned forward and took
+careful aim at the biggest of the grey shapes below. At that moment, the
+wolf opened his mouth in a jaw-clashing howl. It was his last. Frank's
+bullet plunged down his throat, and the wolf rolled over in the snow.
+
+His mates without a second's hesitation deserted their attempts to get
+at Frank, and began snarling over the dead body. The sight sickened
+Frank, and he closed his eyes a moment. Then the thought occurred that,
+if he added several more corpses to the ghoulish feast, he might divert
+the attention of the rest of the pack to such an extent that he would be
+able to slip away unseen, perhaps by making his way through the trees
+for a short distance before jumping to the ground.
+
+There was no need now for care in aiming, as the wolves were in a thick
+mass over the body of the fallen, so Frank fired several shots in rapid
+succession into the mass. The effect was instantly apparent, for two
+more wolves went down, and the tearing and crunching announced a renewal
+of the awful feast.
+
+Now, thought Frank, was his time to escape, if possible. He had heard no
+answering replies, and believed his companions must have gotten out of
+earshot. If so, he must depend on his own resources to make his escape.
+He was about to start swinging to a nearby tree, the branches of which
+interlocked with those of the tree in which he had found refuge, when
+the thought occurred that, perhaps, he would be able to obtain his rifle
+undiscovered by the wolves.
+
+Cautiously he started to descend, his eyes alternately on the snarling
+wolf pack several yards from the tree and on the limbs he must grip in
+his descent. He had almost reached the lowermost limb when his grip
+slipped and he fell.
+
+Frank thought his end had come, but as he struck the ground his hands
+closed on the coveted rifle, and he scrabbled to regain his feet,
+flinging the rifle to his shoulder as he did so.
+
+His fall had been seen. One of the wolves turned aside from the
+outskirts of the pack, where he was not getting his share of the
+gruesome feast, and sprang for him. The next moment, as a shot rang out
+from behind Frank, the wolf dropped quivering at his feet.
+
+"Steady, Frank," cried Art's voice. "Give 'em all you've got."
+
+Without looking around, mastering his trembling by a supreme effort,
+Frank brought the rifle to his shoulder and began firing into the pack,
+even as the three rifles of his companions also opened fire.
+
+At that close range every shot told and not a wolf escaped. Eleven
+bodies, including the mutilated remains of the three which Frank had
+slain with revolver shots, were stretched on the snow under the trees.
+
+When it was all over, his companions gathered about Frank and
+explanations followed. Then they made their way back to camp.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII--CONCLUSION.
+
+
+Far to the southward, late in the Summer, the party containing our
+friends and the Thorwaldsson party as well as Long Jim Golden, all
+bronzed and hardy, and with Thorwaldsson recovered in body and mind,
+swung around a bend in a river and came to the landing which marked the
+first outpost of civilization--the trading post where was also located
+the Fort of the Mounted.
+
+A little boy playing on the edge of the pier was first to see them, and
+whooping and shouting he ran up the bank towards the store. Out of the
+door of the trading post came a figure in uniform.
+
+"Dick."
+
+"Art."
+
+The two pals were reunited.
+
+And then followed the biggest surprise of all, for out of the store came
+Mr. Temple and Della. For ten minutes the kissing and hugging went on,
+while Farnum, Thorwaldsson, Farrell and the rest stood to one side,
+their faces set in wide grins.
+
+"What in the world?" demanded Mr. Hampton, at length, holding his
+partner and neighbor at arm's length. "What in the world brought you
+here?"
+
+"A motor boat," said Mr. Temple. "That was a surprise for you. When we
+received your radio message via the post here, which relayed it to
+Edmonton--that first one, you know, announcing you were leaving for the
+outside--I decided I would have to be on hand to greet you. So I got into
+communication with Captain Jameson, and learned from him that I could
+reach one of his posts farther south by motor car, and then come up the
+river in a launch. So I decided I would come here to the edge of the
+wilderness."
+
+He looked at his son, Bob, about whom he still kept an arm, and smiled.
+
+"Good old Dad," said Bob, giving him a hug. "But what brought Della?"
+
+"Oh, the same means," answered his father.
+
+"No, Dad. You know what I mean. Was it love for her straying brother?"
+
+"Well, now, Bob, you'll have to form your own opinion," said Mr. Temple,
+eyes a-twinkle.
+
+Della who had been standing close to Frank, her hands clasped in his,
+looked calmly at Bob.
+
+"Marjie wanted to come, too, you know, Bob," she said. "But her mother
+wouldn't let her. She sent you a message."
+
+"Huh."
+
+Big Bob blushed, and let the conversation drop. Nevertheless, at the
+first opportunity he got his sister to one side, and, snatching the
+letter she tendered him, went off by himself to read it.
+
+There was room for Mr. Hampton and the boys on the launch, and in a
+canoe towed behind, and so, after a short rest, a start downstream was
+made at once. Thorwaldsson and the others set off with them, but soon
+fell behind amid a gay waving of farewells. Mr. Hampton was to make
+arrangements for their reception at the next post and at Edmonton. The
+launch would be sent back for them when the post was reached.
+
+At Edmonton, a thriving city which in the comparatively few years of its
+existence has grown to the proportions of a metropolis, the boys got
+their first taste of the publicity which was to pursue them across the
+continent, reaching its height on their arrival in New York. For word of
+their coming had gotten out, and hosts of reporters awaited them,
+representing the great newspapers and news-gathering syndicates of not
+only North America but of Europe, too.
+
+"You see, boys," said Mr. Hampton, in their hotel rooms, when they
+protested to him at being besieged every minute of the day by reporters,
+"you are the center of the romantic interest of the world. You rescued
+the Lost Expedition and discovered strange new territory. You have had
+the wildest kind of adventures. How do you expect the world to take that
+calmly? It can't be done. No, you may as well submit gracefully, and
+talk when questioned."
+
+The romance of Frank and Della also was exploited by the newspapermen,
+and pictures began to appear throughout the country, showing the daring
+young explorer and his sweetheart. When they were taken, neither Frank
+nor Della knew, but the truth of the matter was that they were together
+so much of the time it was the easiest matter in the world for a
+photographer to snap them.
+
+In New York the same thing was gone through with again, only, if
+anything, worse. And this time, the reporters finding that Marjorie
+Faulkner appeared to greet the returned heroes, scented a new romance,
+and questioned the boys about it. Bob and Frank refused to answer, but
+Jack slyly tipped off the newspapermen that between Marjorie and Bob a
+real romance was, indeed, budding.
+
+In reprisal, Bob and Frank put their heads together, and gave the
+newspapermen a story to the effect that Jack was champing at the bit to
+be off to old Mexico, there to greet a sweetheart who awaited him, none
+other, in fact, than the Senorita Rafaela y Calomares, daughter of an
+old Don who had a palace in the Sonora mountains. And in support of the
+story they told the newspapermen of their adventures several years
+before on the Mexican border, when they had rescued Mr. Hampton from
+captivity and Jack, they said, had fallen in love with the daughter of
+the Mexican leader responsible for Mr. Hampton's capture.
+
+It all made good copy for the reporters, who had about exhausted the
+possibilities of the northern adventure, and who now plunged head first
+into this former adventure, of which nothing had been known at the time.
+
+Jack was furious, and threatened to wreak dire vengeance on Bob and
+Frank. But the latter pointed out that they had but turned the tables on
+him.
+
+"Well, anyway," he said, finally, beginning to smile, "you haven't got
+the best part of the story yet."
+
+Their curiosity aroused, they tried to get him to tell what he meant.
+But he refused. Several days later he disappeared. When they asked Mr.
+Hampton what had become of him he finally surrendered and gave the
+secret away.
+
+"Well, boys," he said, "when we returned I found a courteous note from
+Don Fernandez y Calomares, saying he was in Washington on business
+connected with the government, and asking me to call. I guess Jack has
+taken a train for Washington, and gone calling."
+
+With which happy forecast of good luck to come to all three of the Radio
+Boys, we shall leave them for the present, secure in the belief that if
+at any future date they go adventuring they will be well able to take
+care of themselves, and also that they will get into adventures well
+worth reading about.
+
+
+                                THE END
+
+
+
+
+The Radio Boys Series
+
+BY GERALD BRECKENRIDGE
+
+A new series of copyright titles for boys of all ages.
+
+Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs.
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+POSTAGE 10c EXTRA
+
+    THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER
+    THE RADIO BOYS ON SECRET SERVICE DUTY
+    THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE REVENUE GUARDS
+    THE RADIO BOYS' SEARCH FOR THE INCA'S TREASURE
+    THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION
+    THE RADIO BOYS IN DARKEST AFRICA
+    THE RADIO BOYS SEEK THE LOST ATLANTIS
+    THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE BORDER PATROL
+    THE RADIO BOYS AS SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+The Golden Boys Series
+
+BY L. P. WYMAN, PH.D.
+
+Dean of Pennsylvania Military College.
+
+A new series of instructive copyright stories for boys of High School
+Age.
+
+Handsome Cloth Binding.
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+POSTAGE 10c EXTRA
+
+    THE GOLDEN BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL
+    THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE FORTRESS
+    THE GOLDEN BOYS IN THE MAINE WOODS
+    THE GOLDEN BOYS WITH THE LUMBER JACKS
+    THE GOLDEN BOYS RESCUED BY RADIO
+    THE GOLDEN BOYS ALONG THE RIVER ALLAGASH
+    THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP
+    THE GOLDEN BOYS ON THE RIVER DRIVE
+    THE GOLDEN BOYS SAVE THE CHAMBERLAIN DAM
+    THE GOLDEN BOYS ON THE TRAIL
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+The Lakewood Boys Series
+
+By L. P. WYMAN, Ph.D.
+
+A new series of copyright stories for boys of High School Age by the
+Author of "The Golden Boys Series."
+
+Cloth Bound with Attractive Cover Designs.
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+POSTAGE 10c EXTRA
+
+    THE LAKEWOOD BOYS ON THE LAZY S
+    THE LAKEWOOD BOYS AND THE LOST MINE
+    THE LAKEWOOD BOYS IN THE FROZEN NORTH
+    THE LAKEWOOD BOYS AND THE POLO PONIES
+    THE LAKEWOOD BOYS IN THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS
+    THE LAKEWOOD BOYS IN MONTANA
+    THE LAKEWOOD BOYS IN THE AFRICAN JUNGLE
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+Boy Scout Series
+
+By LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON
+
+A series of stories in which self-reliance and self-defense through
+organized athletics are emphasized, also depicting an accurate
+description of Boy Scouts activities.
+
+ATTRACTIVELY BOUND IN CLOTH
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+POSTAGE 10c EXTRA
+
+    THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE EAGLE PATROL
+    THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE RANGE
+    THE BOY SCOUTS AND THE ARMY AIRSHIP
+    THE BOY SCOUTS' MOUNTAIN  CAMP
+    THE BOY SCOUTS FOR UNCLE SAM
+    THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE PANAMA CANAL
+    THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN MEXICO
+    THE BOY SCOUTS ON BELGIAN BATTLEFIELDS
+    THE BOY SCOUTS WITH THE ALLIES IN FRANCE
+    THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+Border Boys Series
+
+By Fremont B. Deering
+
+Mexican and Canadian Frontier Stories for Boys 12 to 16 Years.
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+POSTAGE 10c EXTRA
+
+With Individual Jackets in Colors.
+
+Cloth Bound
+
+    BORDER BOYS ON THE TRAIL
+    BORDER BOYS ACROSS THE FRONTIER
+    BORDER BOYS WITH THE MEXICAN RANGERS
+    BORDER BOYS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS
+    BORDER BOYS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
+    BORDER BOYS ALONG THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+The Ranger Boys Series
+
+BY CLAUDE H. LA BELLE
+
+A new series of copyright titles for Boys 12 to 16 years telling of the
+adventures of three boys with the Forest Rangers in the state of Maine.
+
+Handsome Cloth Binding.
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+POSTAGE 10c EXTRA
+
+    THE RANGER BOYS TO THE RESCUE
+    THE RANGER BOYS FIND THE HERMIT
+    THE RANGER BOYS AND THE BORDER SMUGGLERS
+    THE RANGER BOYS OUTWIT THE TIMBER THIEVES
+    THE RANGER BOYS AND THEIR REWARD
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+The Boy Troopers Series
+
+BY CLAIR W. HAYES
+
+Author of the Famous "Boy Allies" Series.
+
+The adventures of two boys with the Pennsylvania State Police.
+
+For Boys 12 to 16 Years.
+
+All Copyrighted Titles.
+
+Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs.
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+POSTAGE 10c EXTRA
+
+    THE BOY TROOPERS ON THE TRAIL
+    THE BOY TROOPERS IN THE NORTHWEST
+    THE BOY TROOPERS ON STRIKE DUTY
+    THE BOY TROOPERS AMONG THE WILD MOUNTAINEERS
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+Frank Armstrong Series
+
+By MATTHEW M. COLTON
+
+Six Exceptional Stories of College Life, Describing Athletics from Start
+to Finish. For Boys 10 to 15 Years.
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+POSTAGE 10c EXTRA
+
+Cloth Bound
+
+With Attractive Jackets in Colors.
+
+    FRANK ARMSTRONG'S VACATION
+    FRANK ARMSTRONG AT QUEENS
+    FRANK ARMSTRONG'S SECOND TERM
+    FRANK ARMSTRONG, DROP KICKER
+    FRANK ARMSTRONG, CAPTAIN OF THE NINE
+    FRANK ARMSTRONG AT COLLEGE
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+The Boy Allies
+
+(Registered in the United States Patent Office)
+
+With the Army
+
+BY CLAIR W. HAYES
+
+For Boys 12 to 16 Years.
+
+All Cloth Bound
+
+Copyright Titles
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+Postage 10c extra.
+
+In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads unable to
+leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the soldiers of the
+Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. Their experiences and
+escapes are many, and furnish plenty of good, healthy action that every
+boy loves.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE;
+    or, Through Lines of Steel.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE;
+    or, Twelve Days' Battle Along the Marne.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS;
+    or, A Wild Dash Over the Carpathians.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES;
+    or, Midst Shot and Shell Along the Aisne.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL;
+    or, With the Italian Army in the Alps.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN;
+    or, The Struggle to Save a Nation.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME;
+     or, Courage and Bravery Rewarded.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN;
+    or, Saving France from the Enemy.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES;
+    or, Leading the American Troops to the Firing Line.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS;
+    or, The Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE;
+    or, Over the Top at Chateau Thierry.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH;
+    or, The Closing Days of the Great World War.
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+The Boy Allies
+
+(Registered in the United States Patent Office)
+
+With the Navy
+
+BY ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE
+
+For Boys 12 to 16 Years.
+
+All Cloth Bound
+
+Copyright Titles
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+Postage 10c Extra
+
+Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, meet each other
+in an unusual way soon after the declaration of war. Circumstances place
+them on board the British cruiser, "The Sylph," and from there on, they
+share adventures with the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake,
+the author, is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably
+the many exciting adventures of the two boys.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL;
+    or, Striking the First Blow at the German Fleet.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS;
+    or, Sweeping the Enemy from the Sea.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON;
+    or, The Naval Raiders of the Great War.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA;
+    or, The Last Shot of Submarine D-16.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA;
+    or, The Vanishing Submarine.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC;
+    or, Through Fields of Ice to Aid the Czar.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND;
+    or, The Greatest Naval Battle of History.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS;
+    or, Convoying the American Army Across the Atlantic.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32;
+    or, The Fall of the Russian Empire.
+
+    THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS;
+    or, The Fall of the German Navy.
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+The Oakdale Academy Series
+
+BY MORGAN SCOTT
+
+A series of real boys' stories at the Oakdale Academy. Ben Stone, the
+hero, wins his way under peculiar circumstances and against great odds.
+
+Clean-cut stories of real experiences in athletics and sports of academy
+life, with adventures, mysteries and clever descriptions.
+
+Just the kind of books a boy 12 to 16 years would like to read.
+
+HANDSOME CLOTH BINDING.
+
+JACKETS IN COLORS
+
+PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
+
+POSTAGE 10c EXTRA
+
+Copyright Titles
+
+    BEN STONE AT OAKDALE
+    BOYS OF OAKDALE ACADEMY
+    RIVAL PITCHERS OF OAKDALE
+    OAKDALE BOYS IN CAMP
+    THE GREAT OAKDALE MYSTERY
+    THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
+Publishers
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK
+
+
+The Rex Kingdon Series
+
+By GORDON BRADDOCK
+
+A fine series of stories for boys of High School age, written in an
+interesting and instructive style.
+
+Rex Kingdon, the hero, a real, wide-awake boy, interested in outdoor
+games, enters into the school sports with enthusiasm. A rattling good
+baseball story holds the interest to the very end. Rex and his Ridgewood
+friends establish a campfire in the North woods; there, mystery,
+jealousy and rivalry enter to menace their safety, fire their interest
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+Stories boys will want to read.
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+CLOTHBOUND. JACKETS IN COLORS.
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+    REX KINGDON OF RIDGEWOOD HIGH
+    REX KINGDON IN THE NORTH WOODS
+    REX KINGDON AT WALCOTT HALL
+    REX KINGDON BEHIND THE BAT
+    REX KINGDON ON STORM ISLAND
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the
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