ON THE SHORE OF THE SALTY SEA.
"Tell me about that, will you?" remarked Jimmy, as he carefully stepped
ashore; "according to my mind it was cleverly done, if I do say it that
oughtn't."
You would certainly have thought the little chap had covered himself
with glory, and that the success of the whole undertaking depended on
him. But then the other scouts knew Jimmy from the ground up, and seldom
took offense at anything he said, because they realized that much of his
bragging and "joshing" did not "spring from the heart," as he naively
confessed many a time.
Ned was wise enough to see that each canoe, before being abandoned there
amidst the friendly rushes, was securely staked, so that it could not
drift away, through the action of wind or current.
"Seems to me that is about all we have to do here," Jack remarked, after
these matters had been carefully attended to.
"And the next thing on the programme is to hike out in search of a
wonderful old copper mine that, chances are, doesn't exist at all
outside the minds of that lot of fakirs," Frank observed; for he had
never taken much stock in the alleged "proofs" shown to Jack's father by
the parties who were exploiting this new and sensational discovery of
amazingly rich ore.
Ned gave a last look around. He was careful at all times to make doubly
sure; and, since they intended cutting loose from their boats for a
while at least, he wanted to make no mistake that would cost them
dearly.
"It's all right," he told his mates, "and we seem to have everything
necessary. Of course we're going as light as we can, and no blankets are
allowed, or tents either; but we've looked after the eating part of the
game; and besides, we've got our guns, in case we have to knock over a
caribou or other game to help out."
"Then say the word, governor, and we'll be beating it," Jimmy advised.
So Ned raised his hand, and made a sign that the others easily
understood. In the scout language it meant "go ahead!" Even Francois and
the Cree chief so interpreted the sign, for they immediately started
forth.
They left the reed patch in a sinuous line, each stepping directly into
the tracks of the one preceding him. In this fashion their passage
caused very little disturbance amongst the "bullrushes," as Jimmy
persisted in calling the thick growth. And Tamasjo, coming now in the
rear, did much to smooth over the trail, so that it would take a pair
of unusually keen eyes to have guessed that one or more persons had
issued forth at this point.
Having left the tall reeds behind them, the little party now found the
woods in front. The ground rose abruptly, and they were standing where
they could have a fair view of the river.
Ned gave a last look up and down the stream. As far as he could see
there was not a sign of human life in either direction, only the calm
peaceful flow of water moving majestically toward the great bay that
undoubtedly lay not a great distance away.
Thus they started off, Ned having arranged his plan of campaign so as to
confuse the enemy, possibly awaiting their coming further down the
stream.
It was no idle saunter through the Northern woods. The leader of the
Wolf Patrol had conferred with Francois, and arranged matters so that
they would be able to return this way when ready.
Under ordinary conditions this might be easily accomplished by using a
camp hatchet, and "blazing" a tree occasionally. In this manner the
pilgrim would be able to always sight a white mark ahead, and pick his
way without difficulty. But for numerous reasons they did not wish to
attempt this well-known method now; since it might excite the curiosity
of any one chancing to run across a freshly blazed tree, causing him to
start in and follow the cuts all the way to the concealed canoes.
Consequently, Francois picked out certain features of the landscape
which he occasionally pointed out to Ned, who in turn impressed them on
the attention of his chums.
An odd looking bunch of birches that could not be easily mistaken told
them in the first place that the reed bed was only a few hundred feet
away. Then, shortly afterwards, it was a rock that had the appearance of
"round table," which Jimmy insisted on calling it. They jotted this down
on the tablets of their memories, as the second striking feature of the
trail.
So it went on. Scouts as a rule have good memories, because they have
been shown early in their career when joining the organization how
useful it is to be able to recollect a host of things without confusion.
Indeed, one of the requisites to gaining advance marks in the patrol is
the possession of this faculty. A tenderfoot will be given a chance to
stand in front of a window containing hundreds of small objects,
possibly connected with a hardware establishment in town. After
impressing the picture on his mind, after a certain fashion for a full
minute or so, he must walk away, and later on write out a list of every
object he can remember.
Practicing after this manner boys have learned to widen the scope of
their memories so that they become able to describe an array of things
never seen before to an extent that is astonishing.
This was the practice that became valuable to Ned and his chums as soon
as they started through that Canadian "bush." Each fellow began in a
systematic way to make a list of the various "signs," so that when
called upon to give his opinion he would be able to repeat the entire
assortment, just as a sailor, forward or backward, is able to rattle off
the thirty-two points of the mariner's compass.
There were many other features connected with that hike, which brought
out their knowledge of scoutcraft. They noticed everything around them,
as they moved along in a steady fashion. Never an arctic hare sprang up
and bounded away, but the eye of every scout was instantly fastened on
the little animal; and each boy mentally figured out how it must have
been peaceful in this section of the woods, or that timid little
creature would not have been lying asleep there, to be disturbed by
their coming.
"We're heading almost due north, ain't we?" Jimmy asked, when some
twenty minutes had elapsed since the start.
"About as near that as we can go," answered Ned.
"I knew it by the lay of the sun, and the way the moss hangs to one side
of nearly all the trees, the northwest, where most every storm comes
from," was what Jimmy went on to say, as though desirous of letting the
leader know he had never forgotten valuable lessons learned long ago.
"You can tell direction from the general slant of the trees, if you
notice them close enough," Jack Bosworth ventured; "because in the long
run they are bound to show some deviation from a straight perpendicular,
on account of these same storms. There's a good example of what I say
right before you, Jimmy; that big tree standing high up above all the
rest. See what I mean?"
"'Tis an easy mark you'd be taking me for, Jack, if I couldn't grab that
idea and pull it down," the other remarked.
"Fact is," put in Frank, "a wide-awake scout need never get lost, if only
he keeps his wits about him. I've even told direction by using my watch.
And there isn't one of the bunch but who carries some sort of a compass
along with him, unless Jimmy here, who forgets so many times, has left
his with the duffle in the boats."
"You're off your trolley there if you think that, Frank," chuckled the
scout in question, as he tapped his pocket suggestively. "I've
experienced the fun of gettin' lost twice in me life, and I don't mean
to ever take chances again. Goin' without a bite of grub from one
sunset to the next was a lesson to me I'll not soon forget. I thought I
was bound to starve to death."
"Well, let's talk less and look more," advised Ned, who knew how easily
Jimmy could be drawn into an argument, or be induced to start one of his
stories that concerned strange things experienced in the past.
After that they moved along almost in silence. Once in a while, Ned
would think it the part of wisdom to call their attention to something
that was apt to impress itself on their memories, so as to be easily
recalled later on. He did this in a quiet way, for Ned disliked any show
of authority. As the leader of the strange expedition into these
Northern wilds, he was in complete charge of the little party; but,
then, these other young fellows were boon comrades, with whom he had
encountered numerous perils in times gone by, so that he hid the iron
hand under the velvet glove as much as possible.
All of them could speedily see that the character of the country was
gradually changing as they continued to advance. This gave Ned assurance
that his theory was founded on correct lines, and that they must be
drawing very near the shore of the great bay to which his mission had
drawn him.
Up to now they had not discovered the first actual trace of others
besides themselves in that region; though twice the Indian had hovered
over half-washed-out footprints, showing that at least they were not the
first ones to pass along under these trees.
Ned was all this time observing the nature of the land, with the design
of making up his mind concerning the chances of rich copper deposits
being found there.
It did not seem altogether unlikely, from what he knew of such things.
Before he left home he had been shown all sorts of copper ore; and on
the way the patrol leader had stored up in his mind many minute
descriptions he had read of the famous country north of Superior, where
such valuable mines were being worked. Thus, he was pretty well posted
on the subject, though, of course, one who had had actual practical
experience in copper mines might have put him in possession of many
other useful facts.
So far as he could tell the rocks looked very like those around the
Mesauba region, and samples of which he carried along with him for
comparison when the proper time arrived.
If this affair were indeed a gigantic swindle, then those who were
running the game had been smart enough to pick out as the field of their
operations a country that at least gave outward evidences of being
capable of producing a high grade of copper ore. Ned had at one time
fancied the whole thing was a myth, but now he realized that the
supposed owners of the new discovery had at least been on the ground.
They had carefully selected their site to conform with such conditions
as would at least be required, should an expert secretly visit the
scene.
Ned was satisfied with the way things were working. If only he could
find where the mine was located, and make his investigations secretly,
without the others being aware of his presence, he believed he would
have no complaint to foster.
An encounter with armed guards who would be hostile to his mission was
the last thing he wanted to have happen; though, of course, should this
come about he believed he could depend on his chums to give a good
account of themselves. They had in the past stuck to him on many
occasions through thick and thin. Not one of them but who had done his
part manfully, in season and out. The record of their past achievements
had been one of almost unbroken successes. He had every reason to expect
that this latest enterprise would be along the same order, and that the
little party of explorers might return again to the metropolis, bearing
with them such a concise and complete report, that Mr. Bosworth, and
those interested in the proposed new mine, would have all the
information required in order to know just how to act.
Most of the scouts were by this time beginning to look ahead with the
idea of being the first to discover the big water that they knew must
lie near by. Ned could have undoubtedly made the discovery some time
back, because he carried his field glasses slung over his shoulder, by
means of a strap; but he preferred to let one of his chums enjoy the
sensation.
Jimmy was craning his neck more or less, for being shorter than any of
his companions he felt that he labored under a disadvantage. The growth
of trees was of a nature to hide what lay beyond, yet all of them could
actually feel the presence of salt water. Besides, if other evidences
were lacking, their ears told them of waves running up on the shore, to
gently break there; though the breeze was from a poor quarter to carry
these sounds to them.
All of these lads, living in New York, were accustomed to seeing the
ocean, and familiar with the "tang" that usually accompanies the
presence of an arm of the sea. For weeks now they had been moving over
the interior, and the prospect of sighting this Northern sea, that had
ever been the home of mystery to all mariners, thrilled every boyish
heart.
In the course of their various travels they had gazed upon strange
scenes. Once not so very long before, fortune had been kind enough to
take them to the regions of the Polar ice, in carrying out a mission
entrusted to their charge; so that this would not be their first
introduction to the Northern ocean. But they had heard so much about
the unexplained things that took place in Hudson Bay, that one and all
grew more anxious, the nearer they drew to their destination.
Ned had already made a discovery that gave him a thrill. He had found
that some of the landmarks set down in the description of the wonderful
mine were right before his eyes, and this fact gave him renewed
confidence in his plan of campaign. The climax must be close _at hand_.
Before many hours had passed by, he would be in a position to know the
truth; whether this affair were a gigantic swindle gotten up and
engineered by the combine, with the idea of loading a worthless property
on Mr. Bosworth; or, actually what it claimed to be--a rich deposit of
copper ore that seemed to lie in vast quantities among the rocks above
the shore of Hudson Bay, and with shipping facilities at the very door
of the proposed mine.
After all it was Teddy, the explorer, who turned out to be the fortunate
one fated to be the first to glimpse the water. He happened to see a
small opening to one side and ahead, to which he immediately called the
attention of his mates.
"There's the sun glinting on something out there, boys," was the way he
put it, "that looks mighty like water to me. Yes, you can see it seems
to move up and down, just like we've often seen the ocean do over Long
Island way. How about it, Ned; do I count first blood?"
"It's the bay, all right, Teddy," remarked the other, quietly, after
giving one look in the direction Teddy was pointing.
Five minutes later and they stood on the border of the tree line,
staring out over the vast heaving salty sea that they knew must be the
far-famed Hudson Bay.