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.