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.