THE EXPEDITION STRIKES A SNAG IN EDMONTON
At three o'clock the fast express pulled out of the big depot at Calgary
on its way to Edmonton, then the northern limit of railroad transportation
on the American Continent. A part of the train was the sealed baggage car
carrying the airship. In the day coach, with their bags in their laps, and
still stolid of face, sat Moosetooth Martin and old La Biche. For the
moment their pipes reposed in their vest pockets. Each was eating an
orange. Far in the rear of the train, Colonel Howell's little expedition
was making itself comfortable in a stateroom. Somewhat to the surprise of
the younger members of the party, Mr. Zept had joined them.
The corners of the stateroom and the near-by vestibule of the car were
crammed with the personal belongings of those headed for Fort McMurray.
Even in the excitement of leaving and the farewells to the members of
their families and friends, neither Norman nor Roy failed to notice that
the young Count's face again bore the flush that did not come from
exertion. Mr. Zept's face also bore the look that the boys had come to
know, the expression that they could not fail to connect with the
indiscretions of his son.
If Colonel Howell saw these things, nothing about him indicated it.
Having divested himself of his coat, he put himself at once in charge of
the party, and was full of animation.
Within a few moments young Zept left the stateroom, without protest from
his father, and the two boys partly lost themselves in a close view of
the country through which they were passing.
"Things are changing very fast in this region," explained Mr. Zept,
motioning to the irregular hill-dotted country, in which patches of
vegetation alternated with semi-arid wastes. "See how irrigation is
bringing the green into this land. Ten years ago, for fifty miles north
of Calgary, we called this The Plains. It's all changing. It's all going
to be farms, before long. You'll be surprised, however," he continued,
addressing the boys. "Long before night we'll run out of this onto the
green prairies. Long before we get to Edmonton, we'll be in some of the
best farming land in the world. And it goes on and on, more or less," he
added with a faint smile, "a good deal farther than we know anything
about--maybe as far as Fort McMurray," he concluded.
"There isn't any reason why Fort McMurray can't be a Calgary some day,"
replied Colonel Howell; "that is, when the railroads start towards
Hudson's Bay."
"You'll have to have some land too," suggested Mr. Zept. "If you just had
a few good prairies and some grass lying loose around up there, that'd
help."
"How do you know we haven't?" answered the colonel.
"I don't," exclaimed Mr. Zept. "If you have, just send me word. We might
start a few horse ranches up there."
As the train sped on and all had adjusted themselves to the limits of
their little room, after a time Mr. Zept spoke again: "I wish I had the
time to go up there with you," he began, "but of course, that's
impossible. I'm going to see you away from Edmonton in good shape. By the
way," he remarked, "I've been wondering just how you're going to find
things up there, after a year's absence. You say you left three men
there. What are they doing?"
"Well," answered Colonel Howell, "they're all on the pay roll. One of
'em's an Englishman from Edmonton, and two of 'em I brought from the gas
fields of Kansas. The Kansas men have worked for me for several years."
"Must have had a pretty easy job, with nothing to do but punish your
provisions all winter," suggested Mr. Zept.
"Don't you think it," exclaimed his friend. "They had plenty of work cut
out for them. In the first place they had to build a cabin, and they had
the tools to make a decent one--tar paper for a roof too. I don't care
for bark shacks. Then I'm taking a boiler and engine up this time and we
can probably use a lot of firewood when we get to drilling. They can put
in a lot of time cutting dry cordwood."
"They doing any prospecting?" asked the ranchman.
"They couldn't do much except look for signs," answered Colonel Howell.
"And, of course, if they have any extra time, the Kansas men have been in
the business long enough to know how to do that. They might save me a lot
of work when I get up there, if they're on the job," concluded Colonel
Howell.
"A good deal like grub-staking a man, isn't it?" asked Mr. Zept.
"Not much," retorted the oil man with decision. "They're all on my pay
roll and they're all working for me. There isn't any halves business in
what they find, if they find anything. It all belongs to yours truly--or
will, when I prove up on my claim."
"What are the names of the men?" asked Roy with sudden curiosity.
"The Edmonton man I don't know very well," answered Colonel Howell. "He
is a kind of a long range Englishman and I think his name is Chandler.
The other men are Malcolm Ewen and Donald Miller. Ewen and Miller are
good boys, and I know they'll give me a square deal, whether Chandler
sticks or not."
In spite of the general conversation, Norman fancied that Mr. Zept's
annoyance did not grow less, and it was not hard to conclude that this
was due to Paul's absence. Finally both Norman and Roy excused themselves
to visit the observation car. They really wanted to find Paul. He was not
in the rear car, which fact the young men learned after describing their
companion to the colored porter, who smiled significantly when he
announced that Paul had left the car some time before.
The young men then went through the train and at last found the Count in
jovial companionship with Moosetooth and La Biche. It was plain that both
the Indians had been drinking, but there was no liquor now in sight, and
the three were enjoying their pipes and their cigarettes. The Count had
discovered that the Indians knew more French than English, and he was in
high conversation with them. The boy himself was even more jovial when he
greeted Norman and Roy with hearty slaps on the back.
For some moments the visitors attempted to join in the conversation
between the Indians and Paul, but the conditions were such that the young
aviators soon lost interest and they invited young Zept to return to the
stateroom for a game of cards.
"Not now," protested the Count, dropping into a seat opposite the Indians
again. "My friends here are great Frenchmen. They have been telling me
about the Barren Lands. Besides," and he frowned a little, "I didn't know
the governor was coming. I don't think I ought to see him just now. He
ain't much for this sort of thing."
"What sort of thing?" asked Norman somewhat brusquely.
"You know," answered the Count. "I was just telling the boys good-bye.
I'll be all right in a little while, and then I'll come back."
"You aren't fooling anyone," broke in the quick-tongued Roy, "and I think
Colonel Howell wants to see you."
Count Zept's laugh ended and he at once arose and followed the young men
back to the stateroom. His reappearance seemed to ease his father's mind,
and when the three young men and Colonel Howell began a game of auction
the incident seemed almost forgotten.
At six o'clock, the superintendent of the dining car came to announce to
Colonel Howell that his special table was ready, and the party went in to
dinner.
When this elaborate meal was concluded, an hour and a half later, the
warm afternoon had cooled and the train was well into the fertile farm
land that distinguishes the great agricultural regions south of Edmonton.
Somewhat after ten o'clock, the long daylight not yet at an end, the
journey came to a close in the city of Strathcona. They had reached the
Saskatchewan River. Loading their baggage into two taxicabs, they made a
quick trip across the river to Edmonton and the King Edward Hotel.
It was with a feeling of happiness that Norman and Roy found themselves
on what is now almost the frontier of civilization. Their joy did not lie
in the fact that hereabouts might be found traces of the old life, but
that they were at last well on their way toward their great adventure.
Rooms were at once secured and Mr. Zept and Paul immediately retired.
Norman and Roy lingered a while to learn from Colonel Howell the next
step.
"The crates will come across the river early to-morrow morning," he
explained, "and we'll catch the Tuesday train at eight thirty for
Athabasca Landing. We'll be there to-morrow evening. Turn in and get a
good night's sleep."
It was no trouble for the boys to do this, and at seven o'clock the next
morning they were waiting for their friend and patron in the office. When
he appeared he was in company with Mr. Zept and Paul, having apparently
just aroused them.
"Well, boys," he began, using his perpetual smile, "we've struck a little
snag. But remember the philosophy of the country--what you can't do
to-day, do when you can. It's the train!"
"What's the matter?" exclaimed Norman.
"Well," explained Colonel Howell, "you know they're just finishing the
railroad and I was told that the trains are running to Athabasca Landing.
They were running a passenger train about twenty-five miles out, but
beyond that there hasn't been anything but a construction train. There's
a new Provincial Railway Commission and it decided only the other day
that no more passengers could be carried. The road hasn't been turned
over yet by the contractor and they're afraid to let anyone ride on the
construction train. We could get as far as the passenger train goes and
there we'd be stalled. Looks like I'd have to do some hustling."
"You can go in an automobile," suggested young Zept, who apparently had
secured some information about the country.
But Colonel Howell shook his head. "There are only two automobiles in
that service and they're both stuck somewhere in the mud between here and
the Landing. Besides, that wouldn't do us much good. I find that my two
carloads of oil machinery are yet in Edmonton and then there's the
airship crates."
"Can't we carry it all by wagon?" asked Norman.
"Hardly," responded the colonel. "It'd make a caravan. We might get
through in good weather but the trail is impassable now. We've got to go
by train."
"And can't!" commented Roy.
"Not to-day," laughed Colonel Howell, "but the season's young yet.
There'll be another train starting out day after to-morrow. We'll have to
turn up something. Meanwhile, let's have breakfast."
This meal over, Norman and Roy accompanied Colonel Howell out into the
city. As they well know, Edmonton was the town from which all were forced
to take their start into the northern country and, as the colonel had
already discovered, they soon confirmed the fact that transportation
facilities were in a chaotic condition. A stage was to leave that day,
but its passenger facilities were wholly inadequate, and what there were
had been engaged for many days.
The first visit of the investigators was to the offices of the Hudson's
Bay Company, that great trading institution which is at once the banker
and the courier for all travelers in the great Northwest. Although
altogether obliging, at the present time the Company was helpless. The
agent thought he might arrange for teams, but it would require several
days. Then Colonel Howell visited the offices of the railroad
contractors, where he ascertained definitely that passage on the
construction train was out of the question.
"Maybe we'll have to stay here until the mud dries," laughed Colonel
Howell.
The two boys almost groaned.
"But something may turn up," continued Colonel Howell, "and I'll be
enough to look after things. You boys had better take a run over town. If
I don't see you at noon, I'll see you at dinner this evening."
The boys returned to the hotel, found that Mr. Zept and his son had
finally gone out with friends, and they put in the rest of the day
inspecting the lively young city.
Colonel Howell's acquaintances were not confined to the Northwest--he
also had friends in Winnipeg. After leaving the contractors' offices, he
went to the Dominion Telegraph Building and sent this message to a
business friend in Winnipeg: "Please see the Canada Northern officials
and tell them that I am stranded in Edmonton with a party of friends and
would like to get to Athabasca Landing."
In two hours, he was called up at the hotel by the general superintendent
of that road, located in Edmonton, who said he had just been ordered by
the Winnipeg officials to extend every facility to Colonel Howell and his
friends in their advance to Athabasca Landing.
"We're running a mixed train to a little village twenty-five miles out
from Edmonton," explained the superintendent, "and when it goes again,
Wednesday morning, I'll put an extra car on this train. Meet me that
morning at eight thirty, at the depot, and I will escort you personally
as far as this train goes. Then I'll arrange to have your car attached to
the construction train. There has never been a passenger car in Athabasca
Landing. You can have the distinction of finishing your journey in the
first passenger car to touch the great rivers of the Mackenzie Basin."
Colonel Howell proceeded at once to the superintendent's office,
expressed his gratitude at the courtesy shown, and arranged that the
other cars containing his outfit and the airship should be carried
through at the same time.
When the members of the party returned to the hotel late in the
afternoon, and received the news of the happy solution of their
difficulty, congratulations rained on Colonel Howell. The boys had a new
respect for the influence of the man with whom they were casting their
fortunes and who had so little to say about himself.
The effect was a little bit different on the Count, who had rather
persisted all day in a theory of his own that automobiles were the things
to be used. He had canvassed liveries and accosted chauffeurs, but he had
made no practical advance in securing help of this kind.
"Our own private car!" was one of Norman's outbursts. "That'll be great."
"And the first one into the North!" added Roy. "That's greater yet. And
it gives us another day in Edmonton."
"Which isn't very great," commented the Count. "I've seen all I want to
of this place. It's nothing but banks and restaurants. What's Athabasca
Landing like, Colonel Howell?" he added a little petulantly.
"Oh, the Landing's nothing but saloons and the river, and beyond it," he
added significantly, "there's nothing but the river."
At seven o'clock that evening, Mr. Zept and Colonel Howell with the three
boys attended a baseball game, leaving it at nine thirty in full
daylight.
"To-morrow is vacation," explained Colonel Howell, as they separated for
the night, "and Wednesday at eight thirty we'll board our private car."