THE PLATINUM MINE
Because of the experience that Bob and Bill had had, Mr. Waterman
thought it best to stick around Lac Parent and take it easy for a few
days. This they did. They found the trout fishing very good and
concluded that after all there was nothing like fly fishing for the
speckled beauties. Fishing for salmon was a change but they all felt
that if they were to fish for a summer they would much prefer the
smaller fish. There seemed to be no lessening of the supply. On
Wednesday they all went into Escoumains. They went by the trail,
carrying their canoes through the first two lakes so that they had only
about six or seven miles of walking. They did this because they made the
trip more for the sake of a change than because they had to go to the
village for supplies. Sandy MacPherson still talked of the German spy.
"I have to admire both his nerve and his cleverness," said Sandy.
"To come here for that purpose and to do so for several years simply
proves the excellence of the German spy system, considered by far the
greatest and most far-reaching of any nation's in the world," said Mr.
Waterman.
"Sure," said Sandy, "that's the point. Field has been here for the last
five years so when he came in early this spring we thought nothing of
it. The way he got me--me, the representative of the law, to help him in
with those wireless instruments four years ago was the height of
audacity. How did he know that I knew nothing about wireless?"
"He had probably talked to you about it," said Mr. Anderson.
"Well, I bear him no ill-will," concluded Sandy, "especially as the
German submarines did not get a single troop ship that left either
Halifax or Quebec."
"Did those revenue officers question you about us?" asked Mr. Waterman.
"I should think they did," replied Sandy. "I got mad at last and asked
them if they suspected me of being disloyal. That shut them up. I guess
the thing is over for good."
They all went back to the camp via the short route with the exception of
Mr. Waterman, who went back via the road with a load of provisions. As
he left, he stated that he would camp at the ford that night and would
expect them all over there very early in the morning to help him with
the stuff. The party separated and the next morning even before
daybreak, they all left the home camp and headed for the ford. The fact
that the boys were quite willing to go along and would really have felt
slighted had they been left behind showed how much they had developed
since coming up to the camp. They not only thought nothing of getting up
before daybreak and going off over two lakes but they knew that when
they got there, they would merely load themselves down with grub and
come back. What would have seemed to them a big day's work only a few
weeks before, they were now eager to do before breakfast.
Such is the way of the wilderness. Men get to see that every one must do
his share and a little discomfort is scoffed at. The boys enjoyed the
early morning paddle through the two lakes, while the portaging of the
canoes was by this time mere child's play to them. They really thought
nothing about it and took their turn when traveling light just as a
matter of course. The improvement in Pud was the most noticeable. He had
lost weight and was quicker on his feet and handled himself much better.
They arrived at the ford to find Mr. Waterman busy getting everything
ready to move out. He had things in good shape and in ten minutes they
were on the back trail. There were so many of them that the weight
assigned each was comparatively light and they walked away at a rapid
pace. Before seven o'clock, they were back on Lac Parent and with
appetites that would have been the delight of an epicure.
Jack was the only one that had remained behind and as soon as they
disembarked, he called them. They all came running. He had salmon
steaks, hot biscuits, porridge with milk and apricots. They certainly
enjoyed the meal, went fishing as usual. Coming back about eleven
o'clock, they went in for a swim and got a lot of enjoyment out of this.
In spite of the northern clime in which they were, the shallowness of
the lakes permitted the water to get pretty well heated by the hot July
and August sun, and swimming was a real pleasure. It was only now and
then when they struck a lake fed mainly by springs that they found the
water too cold for swimming.
The next day, Pud suggested that they should go over to the cabin in the
gulch, called by all the German spy's hut, and explore.
"That's a good suggestion," said Mr. Waterman.
"We can easily do it in a day," said Pud.
"Possibly not," said Mr. Waterman. "We'll take sufficient grub for a
week for we do not know just where our search may lead us. We may come
out on the Portneuf River, fifty or sixty miles away."
"I didn't think of that," said Pud.
They were soon ready. Mr. Waterman and Pierre brought along their guns.
The party was made up of the three boys, the two leaders just mentioned
and Mr. Anderson. They were soon over in to the second lake. There they
stopped to fish, except Mr. Waterman, who went off to one end of the
lake as he thought that he was pretty sure to bag a duck or two there.
He was right, as his gun was heard occasionally during the next two
hours. The fishing was fine and when Mr. Waterman returned with six fine
young ducks, the boys knew that they were going to have a big supper
again. They had lunch and then went on to the cabin. They determined to
stay there all night and just explore the gulch.
"I have often been up on the sides of this gulch but I have never been
down here to see what was here," said Mr. Anderson.
Behind the cabin they found an excellent spring with a little stream
leading away from it.
"I guess we'll make no mistake if we take this spring for a starting
point to-morrow. This stream will surely lead us out of the gulch, as
it must have an outlet," said Mr. Waterman.
"There is sure to be an outlet because there is no lake here," said Bob.
The stream led them further down the gulch and they found themselves
going down even further. When they had reached a point about a half mile
from the cabin, they found that the path they had been following stopped
and turned up the hill. This was not the path they had previously noted
as leading to the top of the mountain.
"Let's follow this path," said Bill.
"All right," said Pud.
They turned off and they had not gone far before they came to what
seemed like a mine. The boys were very excited as it seemed to them that
they had discovered the reason why Field and his friends had made their
summer home in this gulch rather than in some other that would have been
just as suitable from the wireless standpoint.
"This looks like a mine to me," said Bob.
"It certainly does look that way," replied Bill.
"He has a lot of quartz over here," said Bob as he went over to a little
pile that had been made to one side.
"It looks as if this were a recent discovery," said Bill.
"It certainly does," said Pud.
They examined the quartz but it did not look like anything they had ever
seen.
"Let's take some of it back with us," said Bob. "Mr. Waterman is quite
an expert on metals, rocks, etc., and he will probably know what it
is."
"That's a good idea," said Bill. "He told us the first time we climbed
the mountain to the west of this gulch that it looked as if there should
be some kind of minerals down here. From above, this gulch certainly
looks like many a mining camp site in Colorado."
"I remember his saying that," said Pud.
The boys hurried back to the cabin and they had hard time restraining
their impatience until Mr. Waterman returned. Bob handed him the quartz
without any comment. Mr. Waterman took it and after a short examination,
he said,
"Where did you find this, boys?"
"We found it off the little stream," said Bob. "Evidently Field has
recently discovered a mine of some sort and he has just started to work
it, for not very much work has been done yet."
"You have made a valuable discovery," said Mr. Waterman. "If I am not
mistaken, this quartz has streaks of platinum and you know, platinum is
more valuable than gold."
"What!" yelled Pud. "We've discovered a mine that is better than a gold
mine."
"Now don't get excited," said Mr. Waterman. "It is most probable that
Field has had this place regularly staked out and claimed by some friend
over here."
"How can we find out?" asked Bill.
"We'll have to look it up at Tadousac, where the records are kept," said
Mr. Waterman. "Lead me to your platinum mine," concluded he.
They all went over to the hole in the ground and Mr. Waterman looked
over the quartz that had been taken out. "I have no doubt that this is
platinum," said he at last. "I may be mistaken, but I hardly think so."
"Let's hustle back and get out of Tadousac right away and put in a
claim," said Bill.
"Now, don't hurry. It will keep, no doubt," said Mr. Waterman. "In any
case, it will not be necessary for all of us to go to Tadousac. I would
suggest that Mr. Anderson and Bill take the back trail and get out to
Tadousac in due time and put in a claim for the mine in the name of Pud,
Bill and Bob."
"Not on your life," said Bob. "You and Mr. Anderson are in on this as we
would never have come had it not been for you. In addition, you would
have been sure to discover the mine yourself before the afternoon is
over."
Bob spoke with such sincerity and he was backed up by the two other boys
so earnestly that at last Mr. Anderson and Mr. Waterman gave in and
consented to be given a share in the mine.
"Now don't go building any great castles in the air," said Mr. Anderson.
"We may be mistaken and this quartz practically worthless."
"I'll wager that that German knew what he was doing," said Bob. "Mr.
Waterman thought that he was from the west by the way he knew the woods
and woodcraft and I bet he did not dig that big hole himself without
feeling that he had something worth while."
"You are probably right," said Mr. Waterman. "But here is another
thought. If we put in a claim for this gulch, we may have a hundred
mining sharks down here right away and that would spoil the whole thing,
especially if there is more of the stuff."
"Well, let's lay claim to the whole gulch," said Mr. Anderson. "I'll
give them the impression that we are buying this gulch because it is so
picturesque and centrally located."
"You may be able to get away with it if you go about it carefully," said
Mr. Waterman.
"Don't you think that those revenue officers noticed that mine?" asked
Mr. Anderson suddenly.
"They probably did but thought nothing of it as they were so intent on
catching Field and finding out what he had been doing," said Mr.
Waterman.
"We can't be sure of that," said Mr. Anderson. "I think it would be best
for Bill and me to get out as fast as we can without attracting
attention and put in a claim for this gulch at once."
"You'll have to put in a mining claim for this to be any good," said Mr.
Waterman.
"I'll fix that," was the reply. "I'll put in a full claim, which means
that if any minerals are found on the land, they belong to the owner of
the land if found by him and half the same if discovered by any other
person."
"Do you think that we can get to Lac Parent to-night?" asked Bill.
"If we start right away," said Mr. Anderson.
Everything was full of excitement until the two had departed on the back
trail. We shall not follow them but merely mention that in due course of
time, Mr. Anderson filed a claim for the gulch, the same to be paid for
at the regular settler's rates. It seemed that the big timber companies
had had men down into the gulch and because of the difficulties in
getting out the lumber they had not bought the timber on this particular
part of the country. This was very fortunate, for Mr. Anderson was thus
able to buy the land outright, to be paid for after it had been
regularly surveyed. The preliminary papers were signed and the two then
heaved a sigh of relief as they now knew that they were secure in their
discovery.
We shall thus leave them and return to the others. These latter spent
the rest of the afternoon exploring the sides of the gulch. Mr. Waterman
saw further evidences of mineral wealth and grew very enthusiastic over
the prospects. They slept in the spy's cabin that night and were very
cozy around the open fireplace that had been built at one side of the
room.
"This is some cabin," said Mr. Waterman the next morning. "Field was
very comfortable here, I'll bet."
"It must have been lonely," said Bob.
"It probably was after the revenue officers had rounded up his mates,
but prior to that time, I have no doubt that they had a very fine time.
They could get out to the north and go fishing, leaving one man to
listen to the wireless, and they probably had their share of game. Well,
let's be going," finally said Mr. Waterman.
They determined that the best way to travel would be to go right down
the stream. Pierre was detailed to go ahead and clear a trail where
necessary. Pud carried one canoe and Bob the other. They also carried
their packs, while Mr. Waterman carried the pack and a big load of
grub. Pierre carried only his little pack, which left him free to swing
the ax. They made fair progress, though it was rough going. They found
that the gulch was not so deep as it looked. In other words, the stream
led them down and down. Under other circumstances they would have found
the scenery very beautiful. It is one thing to find a beautiful bridal
veil falls fifty or sixty feet high when you have nothing to do but
admire it. It is another thing altogether to come upon such a fall and
to have to pick a way down the precipice carrying a canoe and other
load. There seemed no end to the trail on which they were. Down they
went, and Pierre was heard more than once to exclaim "Sacre! Mon Dieu!"
and a few other favorite expressions with him when he was exasperated.
They went along at least five miles in this way and there seemed no end
to the trail.
"I take it back," said Mr. Waterman. "Field and his pals did not come
out this way to fish. That is sure. There is no sign of a trail."
"It's a good thing we brought that grub along," said Bob. "This trail is
hard enough coming down, but it would take us all day to get back to the
cabin."
"You're right," said Pud. "I'm getting into good shape but this trail is
getting my goat."
"Don't worry," said Mr. Waterman. "I've been within a few miles of this
place, and it can't be very long before we hit either the Portneuf River
or some lake that drains into it. I'll wager that the Portneuf is within
twelve miles of here."
"Twelve miles!" said Pud, with a sigh.
"That's nothing," said Mr. Waterman. "I think, though, that we'll soon
hit a lake, for I have never had to portage more than six miles in this
country without striking some lake or river."
"Oh, let it be soon," said Pud. "Not that I care. But simply so that Bob
won't play out."
"Don't worry about me," said Bob. "You haven't heard me kicking, have
you?"
They stopped for lunch at the base of a forty-foot fall.
There was a deep pool, flecked with foam, as was to be expected. Mr.
Waterman got out his line and in fifteen minutes he had six fine trout
out of the water. Pierre soon had them cleaned and they had them for
lunch. On they went again, but they traveled more than another five
miles before they came to a small lake. Mr. Waterman looked at his
compass and decided that the lake must flow into the Portneuf River.
They went to the far end of the lake, where a little stream flowed out.
"I'll wager that we'll hit the Portneuf River in less than an hour
to-morrow," said Mr. Waterman.
"To-morrow?" queried Pud.
"Yes, I think that we have done enough for to-day. Here is a fine place
to camp and I think that the best thing for us to do is to fish for a
couple of hours and then have a good dinner."
This they did, and when they returned to the camping place they found
that Pierre had the ducks steaming in the pot and that supper was
practically ready. They enjoyed that supper most heartily, for they had
had a very hard day. They sat around the camp fire that night until a
little later than usual for it was a wonderful night. The stars seemed
right above them. One big planet stood right over the top of a distant
mountain and it looked exactly like a big incandescent light hung there
to light the travelers on their way.
Pierre was more talkative than usual. He told them that he had been on
this lake and that he now recognized that he had been half way back to
the gulch. He told of killing a big bear nearby one summer. He pointed
off to a distant mountain and said that it had occurred over there. He
had seen the bear while scouting for timber for one of the big lumber
companies. The bear, when he saw him, was about two miles away on a
mountain opposite to him. He determined to get him if possible. He
crossed over to the other ridge and had great trouble in locating the
bear again. Finally he did so. He worked around to the other side of the
bear so that the wind would not carry his scent to the bear. Finally he
got within one hundred yards of the bear. The latter then showed signs
of uneasiness, and as there were some thick woods near Pierre thought
that he had better not take a further chance.
He gave the bear one shot, which hit him in the shoulder. The bear, in a
frenzy, rushed straight at him. He had only an old-fashioned rifle and
before he could break his gun and put in another cartridge the bear was
only a few feet away. Taking hasty aim at the glaring eye of the bear,
he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the bear plump in the eye and he
dropped dead in his tracks.
"Gosh!" said Pud. "I don't know what I'd do if I saw a wounded bear
coming right at me. I guess I'd drop my gun and run."
"That would be the worst thing you could do, for in spite of their size,
bears are remarkably active, and they go through the woods like a
streak," said Mr. Waterman.
"I bet that you'd stand your ground, all right," said Bob. "You've lots
of nerve, Pud, and that's all that's necessary in a pinch."
"I suppose I would, but at the same time, I am not aching for the
experience," answered Pud.
"Men are generally braver than they think," said Mr. Waterman. "I've
known pretty poor sort of fellows that would stand up in a pinch and
fight like sin, either against some animal like the bear, or even
against their fellows."
"I think that that's so," said Bob. "You know that in time of war,
practically everybody enlists."
"Yes," said Pud, "but some of them are really forced to do it by public
opinion."
"That's very true," replied Bob, "but even the fellows that do not care
to enlist are just as brave as the others when a battle comes."
The conversation drifted on until at last Mr. Waterman looked at his
watch and piled them all off to their blankets. They were up early the
following morning. After a hearty breakfast they set out down the
stream. This proved so small that they were compelled to get out of
their canoes and portage. A half hour later they came into another lake,
which both Pierre and Mr. Waterman recognized at once.
"I've been here before," said Mr. Waterman. "The outlet of this lake
leads directly north, so that we shall hit the Portneuf River some
seventy miles from its mouth. They journeyed on, and by that night they
had reached the river.
"We'll have some fast water that we had not counted on when we left,"
said Mr. Waterman.
"Very fast rapide," assented Pierre.
"Can we make them?" asked Pud.
"Can a duck swim?" replied Mr. Waterman, with a merry twinkle in his eye
that betokened that he was ready for the fun ahead.
"Are these the rapids you told me of?" asked Bob.
"You bet," said Mr. Waterman. "There are some dangerous spots, but we'll
manage them all right."
Once more they carefully packed their bags and the grub. Practically all
of the duffle was put into Mr. Waterman's canoe and it was all tied to
the thwarts, so that if an upset occurred things would not be lost. Bob
went, with Mr. Waterman, while Pud was with Pierre.
"I like this," said Pud, with a frowning glance.
"Never mind. Pierre and you will manage all right," said Mr. Waterman.
"You'll find that the paddling will be easy. It is more a matter of
steering. We'll hit some water this morning that will make that fast
water in the Escoumains look like a mill pond."
"Lead me to it," said Bob. "Come on, Pud! Don't stand there."
They set off, and for some time they paddled along on a smoothly running
current. It then began to get faster, and soon they were into the thick
of it. Bob and Mr. Waterman went through the first rapids just like
ducks. It was most exhilarating sport. They waited at the foot of the
descent for the other canoe, and they soon saw it shooting towards them.
"That looks pretty dangerous," said Bob, as he saw the canoe dash
through a foam-flecked bit of water with sharp rocks on both sides.
"It's a game for small children," replied Mr. Waterman. "In the hands of
experts there is really not much danger in this water."
"Is there worse water ahead?" asked Bob.
"Sure thing," said Mr. Waterman. "This was a pretty good one, but you'll
know what real fast water is when we have passed through the Devil's
Cauldron."
"Some sport," said Pud, as their canoe swung alongside. "I'm trying to
do my share, but I have full confidence in Pierre, so why worry."
"You're right," answered Bob.
"That had the Escoumains Rapids beaten hollow," continued Pud.
"Mr. Waterman says that there's some real sport ahead," said Bob.
"Go ahead. I'm game," said Pud.
They went on and they came to a long series of rapids. Down they went at
railroad speed. Bob was kept busy doing as directed by Mr. Waterman.
Several times they burst right through between rocks when Bob could see
nothing but a wall of mist before him. Then at last they came to the
famous Devil's Cauldron. Here the river seemed to rise almost between
cliffs, and the water boiled up on all sides. They rushed down what was
practically a cascade, broken here and there by jagged rocks. Mr.
Waterman steered the canoe most skillfully and they emerged at last on
the smoother reaches below. Once more they turned around and Bob could
hardly believe that he had come through such a swirl of waters in their
frail canoe. Just then the other came into view. It was most exciting to
watch it dart from wave to wave, shooting now like an arrow and then
stopping in its course as if held back by invisible hands. Pierre sat in
the stern and wielded the paddle just as calmly and nonchalantly as if
they were paddling across a pond. His hand seemed sure, and the canoe
came through like a swallow on the wing.
"Some sport," yelled Pud, as they drifted past.
"You bet my life," said Pierre. "Dat is ze grand sport. 'Dat is ze
life,' as my fren, Monsieur Waterman, sing."
"That was the most exciting time I have ever had," laughed Bob, as they
ranged alongside and paddled on together.
"That is the worst we'll find on the river," said Mr. Waterman.
"We'll hit two or three more short stretches that will keep us busy."
On they went and before the sun was low in the sky they had gone over
fifty miles.
"It's hard to believe that we have gone so far to-day," said Bob.
"The water is fairly high now," said Mr. Waterman. "That makes the river
run fast, and it is easy to cover distance under such circumstances."
"It's been the best day that I have ever spent," declared Bob, as they
stepped out of the canoe on a fine sandy beach, where they were going to
spend the night.
"I've enjoyed every minute of it," said Mr. Waterman. "Fast water makes
very fascinating sport. It's the danger, I suppose."
"It's dangerous, all right," said Bob. "If we had been tipped over going
down that Devil's Cauldron, it would have been five to one against our
ever getting out."
"It would have been a hundred to one," replied Mr. Waterman. "At the
same time, if no accident occurs, one should come through all right if
one knows how to handle a canoe. I have been tipped over three or four
times in all my life, and generally the accident was due to my own
carelessness."
They spent another happy night around the fire, with Pierre telling them
more of his experiences.
"It is only on small trips like this that one can get Pierre to talk,"
said Mr. Waterman. "When a bunch is along he either feels that he has no
right around the fire with the others or he is too busy to get into the
humor."
"He has certainly had some experiences," said Bob.
They determined, before they sought their blankets, that the next day
they would go down to the mouth of the Portneuf River and then get the
St. Lawrence steamer up to Escoumains. They decided to do this so that
they would save time, as Bob and his party had to leave the woods in a
very few days. Then again, they were all eager to find out what luck
Bill and Mr. Anderson had had in getting in a claim on the gulch.
Nothing exciting occurred the next day, as it was smooth sailing, or
rather canoeing, until they hit the St. Lawrence. At this place the St.
Lawrence is about forty miles wide. There was a southerly wind, so they
kept to their original plan and took the river boat to Escoumains,
arriving there about four o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. Waterman hustled
around and soon had a pair of little Canadian horses. These hustled away
with them and the two canoes, and by dark they were at the ford once
more.
The next morning they were up early, and by seven o'clock they were back
on Lac Parent. Jerry's cheery halloo proved to them that they had been
expected. They found Bill and Mr. Anderson already back, and Mr.
Waterman was very much pleased with the way they had gotten results.
"The gulch is ours, then," said Mr. Waterman. "We can easily raise the
money, as land is cheap down here."
"We won't have to pay the money until it is regularly surveyed, and that
will not be until next summer, I expect," said Mr. Anderson.
"I hope that it will keep, for I want to have three or four days' good
fishing before I go," said Bob.
"I'd like to go over to the cabin again and get some more samples of
that ore, so that we can have it examined in Philadelphia when we get
home," said Bill.
"We'll do that too," said Mr. Anderson.
The next four days were quietly spent. Fishing and a side expedition
over the gulch furnished only moderate excitement, but everybody enjoyed
himself. Then one morning our three boys awoke to the fact that they had
to leave the woods where they had had such a good time and in which they
had learned so much and had such exciting experiences. As usual, they
got up early. It really was not a happy party that left Lac Parent that
morning. They went into Escoumains over the old trail. The fact that
they portaged the canoes through two lakes and then carried their duffle
bags the rest of the way, showed in what excellent condition they now
were. Pud was as hard as nails. He walked along at the head of the
party, with no more signs of being winded than Bob or even Mr. Waterman.
The latter was with them, and he was going to accompany them as far as
Quebec to get the samples of ore into the hands of some expert assayist.
After reaching Escoumains it was with sincere feelings of regret that
the boys had to get into their civilized garments again. Nothing of
importance or special interest occurred on their way to Quebec. They
once more went up to the Frontenac Hotel and waited there for Mr.
Waterman, who had gone at once to the assayist. In less than two hours
he came back smiling.
"What luck?" asked Bob.
"Come up to the room," was the reply.
When they got up there they all fired questions at him.
"Not all at once," he said. "I saw the assayist or geologist, and at the
first glance he told me that the samples of ore were genuine and very
valuable. He tried to find out where I had gotten them so I had to do
some tall lying to lead him off the scent. When I left his office I was
careful, and I looked around several times. I thought that I was being
followed, so I went into stores and out again, and I think he will have
his troubles finding out where the mine is."
"If we really have made such a valuable discovery," said Bob, "we must
be careful not to say anything about it. When we have once gotten full
title to the gulch we can then let others know where the mine is."
"You're right," said Mr. Waterman. "According to the statement of the
expert, we really have a big thing on our hands, and with careful
handling, we can get rich through it."
That evening the boys, with Mr. Waterman, went to visit the St. Ann de
Beaupre cathedral. The boys, as well as Mr. Waterman, were deeply
impressed with the solemn dignity and massive beauty of the church's
interior. They also noticed the look of deep, sincere devotion on the
faces of the worshippers as they paid homage to the blessed saint.
It was hard to say good-by to their pleasant companions, but finally Mr.
Waterman saw them off on the train the next morning, and the following
evening they were back in Philadelphia. Here Bob had to leave his
friends, as he lived farther south. On shaking hands with them they
promised to meet again the next summer and go north to develop their
mine. They each declared that they had enjoyed the summer in the woods
most heartily, and they swore eternal friendship to one another as young
men of their age are apt to do.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes
1. Punctuation has been changed to conform to contemporary standards.
2. The Table of Contents was not provided in the original text.