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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. rrata :o pelure, 1 d a 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 6 6 ER 1 lO Oeixt«s» NE:Ti>ETECTivEt.lBPAfe^ ^ lET & SMITH r -. PUBLISHERS ,/ ,y MMET LIBRARY A wuekly pubUcsllon devoted toDbtecttve llteratare lly Mtilwcrlptlon $S per year. 8»pt. 1, 1897. Eoteiuil as 8»coiid-('Ia88 matter at 5. Y. post-oOBce, NO. 1 n^he Ten Cent Novel = \ //^s Come to Stay. As a further demonstration of the fact that a J2mo copyright novel can be sold to the pub- lic for Ten Cents, Messrs, Street &c Smith take pleasure in introducing; to your notice, Che lllagnet (Detective) Cibrary Sjl'^ OF COPYRIGHT STORIES BY THE yf/ /is MOST Jt CELEBRATED ^ WRITERS /(S The books in this series are (2mos, bound in uniform style, with ornamental and attractive covers of special design, printed, bound, and in every respect the equal of books which retail for 25 Cents. 2.- 4- -^ A / A KLONDIKE CLAIM A DETECTIVE STORY BY NICHOLAS CARTER NEW YORK STREET & SMITH. Publishers 29 Rose Street OOPTRTOHTBD 1897. By Stbebt & Smith. AUi RIOHTB BB8KBVBD. CONTENTS. CHAPTEB. PAGE. I.— Old Glory Mine 7 II.— Saved From a Bullet By a Lariat 15 III.— Stokes Gives a Key To His Suspicious 20 IV.— An Electric Purse 26 v.— In a Pack of Snarling Dogs 36 VI. — A Prescription That Failed 43 VII. — Handicapping a Steamer ^'j VIII.— Fowler Tries to Play Pilot 57 IX.— Old Glory Afloat Once More ; 61 X. — Stolen Papers '. 69 XI. — Stokes as a Window Breaker 74 XII.— Bellows Surprised and Mysterious 80 XIII. — A Strange Attempt at Capture 87 XIV.— An Exploded Safe 94 XV.— A Frozen Thumb for a Plug 99 XVI. — A Night In An Esquimau Hut 106 XVII. — A Chase On the Snow Crust 113 XVIII. — At the Bottom of the Glacier 119 XIX. — A Quiet Conversation 122 XX. — De Bilkyou Appears 129 XXI.— A Puzzler for Harvey "Stokes 135 XXII.— Ole's Discovery I4O XXHL— A Pitfall I47 XXIV.— De Bjelkja's Gold Mine ! 155 XXV.— Stokes Wins the Pot 162 XXVI.— Outwitted By a Woman 167 XXVII.— Checkmated 176 XXVIIL— Sailing in a Kayak 183 XXIX.— The Battle With Wolves 193 XXX.— Kotuk's Peril 20^ XXXI.— A Voyage On An Iceberg 208 207^46 • # A KLONDIKE CLAIM CHAPTER I. OU) GI,0RY MINK. "Lookout, Da , water's risin'." "Humph ! I should t'iuk 'ti:.. Hes dehull divide bruk loube?" The speaker, up to his knees in the bed of the stream, sLaggered as the fierce current surged against him with great force. Like his companion, he had ho7d of a rowboat; havirg rowed until their oars were not strong enough for the current they had got out and were now wading, pulling the boat along in the hope of finding smooth water above the rapids. In this way they had traveled for two days, rowing or pad- dling when the water was smooth enough, and towing the boat over rough places. They were in the wilds of Alaska, many miles above Circle City. Two American miners hunting for gold. Dan Fowler and John Carney were young men in years, but old when it comes to reckoning by hard labor and experience in searching for the precious yellow metal. Having experienced various ups and downs of fortune in the gold fields of Wyoming and Colorado, they had drifted with the new tide of treasure hunters to the north, and 'or some months had been prospecting in the frozen North. When they started on this search each had a comfortablc'5take, the result of a lucky find at Cripple Creek, > : I s OLD GLORY MINE. '1'^" Fortune had not favored them in Alaska at the itart, and the time came when they saw the bottom of their pile approaching; then with the true spirit of adventure they invested every cent they had left in an outfit for exploring the interior. This included a boat and a plentiful stock of provisions, and a small supply of mining tools. It took them two or three weeks after leaving Circle City, to reach a point of the interior where it seemed worth while to begin the serious hunt. Their way had been by a most crooked course among the islands, and as neither of they was a mariner, it was very doubt- ful whether they could retrace their course by the same way they had come. This point, however, did not disturb them at all. If only they could find gold they were certain that they could somehow find their way back to civilization. They had tested the dirt at the mouths of several streams until finally they found one where there was a faint show of color. This was enough for them, and they started inland. During the first day their journey had been comparatively easy, but on the second they found the land rising more and more abruptly and the stream becoming more and more difficult of navigation. Their experienced eyes told them that if they could only sur- mount those particular rapids they would probably find a long stretch of comparatively level water above it. They were struggling hopefully with the boat, when all of a sudden it was almost wrenched from their hands by what seemed to be & wave rushing down stream. The water rose suddenly to their armpits. They had no more than cried out in the words set down above, when they were lifted fiom their feet end swept away. With fierce determination they clung to the boat, and after pounding over the rough bed of the stream for a few rods they came to a sudden halt at a bend. The boat was jammed against a bank with Fowler under it on one side, and Carney clinging to it on the other. . and the roaching; ivety cent r. This a small ; City, to 1 while to mong the ery doubt- way they at all. hey could earns until of color. iparatively more and re difficult I only sur- 5ind a long ;n all of a iiat seemed own above, , and after ( rods they ander it on OLD GLORY MINE. 9 "Are you hurt, Dan?" panted Carney as he tried to get around the end of the boat to help his comrade. Fowler blew about a quart of water out of his mouth and responded : "Purty nigh drownded, John, but no bones bruk. " Fortunately for them, the fierce current held the boat against the bank until Carney reached Fowler's side and helped him to his feet. Then, pulling together, and assisted partly by the current, they managed to get the boat half out of the water. •'What's happened to the durned stream, anyway?" growled Fowler, looking in amazement at the wildly rushing water. 'Looks as ef some fellow's flume hed give way," remarked Carney, thoughtfully. ".'Tain't likely," responded Fowler, "thet any fellow's got a flume up above yeie. More likely we're the fust white men es hev ever set foot in this yere country. ' ' "Then," said Carney, "I reckon thet some lake hes bust her banks. ' ' Both men looked critically at the roaring stream. "It suttinly is just es ef a dam hed give way, " remarked Fov7- Icr after a moment. "Yep," responded Carney, "an' it's got over the worst ov it, I reckon." It did seem as if the force of the torrent was decreasing. "Look yere, Dan," cried Carney, suddenly, "this yere's our time to try the pan agin." Without another word he waded into the stream and plunged his hands down to the bottom, bringing them up filled with gravel and bits of rock, which he tossed into the boat. With a glance at the boat to see that it was secure from being swept away. Fowler followed his comrade into the stream and operated in a similar fashion. Presently one of them held up a small fragment of quartz that looked as if it had been torn off from a ledge recently. "By gum!" he exclaimed, with suppressed excitment, "but this yere's got the shine an' no mistake." to OLD GLORY MINE. The other came to his side, and, standing waist deep in the torrent, they looked at the little piece of rock with greedy eyes. The streaks of dull yellow upon its surface could be mistaken by nobody. It was gold ! ! "It's just been ripped off some ledge by thet wave," exclaimed Fowler, excitedly. "Exactly what I was thinkin'," responded Carney, "an' thet was why we tried the gravel. Let's see what the pan says." They hurried to the boat, and for several minutes thereafter they occupied themselves in shaking their sieve-like pans in order to dispose of the worthless gravel. When they had finished they found to their amazement several particles of pure gold, which, though not large, were sufficient to assute their experienced eyes that they had made a valuable discovery. "We've hit it at last, Dan," said Carney. "Thet we hev, " was the response, "an' the only thing we hev got to do now is to find where it come from." "Up stream, of course. " "Yep, but how far?" Again they looked at the current, and again at the fragment of gold-bearing quartz. "Thet was an all-fired powerful wave, " remarked Fowler. " But all the same it couldn't hevbrung thet piece of rock more'n a mile or so'. ' "No, I reckon not." Without further discussion they left their boat where it was and climbed along the bank of the stream t-:itil they came to the top of the rapids. There they found, as they had expected, a stretch of compara- tively smooth water ; but it was so short that it did not seem sens- ible to drag the boat up to it. Les.s than a hundred yards from the top of the rapids they saw the water was boiling and churning in a way that indicated another rapids of much greater force and depth than the one that had just blocked their way. OLD GLORY MINE. II p in tlie :dy eyes, mistaken t wave," •'an' thet lys." ;af ter they I order to nt several sufficient a valuable igwe hev agment of iwler. of rock lere it was me to the compara- seem sens- they saw indicated' e one that They decided that the on« thing to do was to faston their boat where it lay, cache tbeir provisions, and proceed up stream on foot until they should find the ledge from which the gold in the river bed came. This they proceeded to do, and about the middle of the after- noon they reached a point, perhaps two miles from the boat, where the stream flowed through a narrow cleft in a ledge. On the other side of the ledge was a small lake, and it took them but a moment te again, and after ools also of miles ftota any other human being. Yet as they worked eagerly they were watched every minute by unseen eyes in the surrounding thicket. For three days the miners worked almost incessantly. When it was dark they built a bonfire and drilled and blasted by its light. They slept only when fatigue completely overcame them. The reason for their tremendous labors lay in the fact that their blasts revealed more and more gold, and considerable quan- tities came out in what is known as the free state — that is, it was gold unmixed with any other metal and needing only the opera- tion of the mint to turn it into money. Such particles they stowed in the big belts they wore around their waists. * Quartz containing the color they heaped into a pile near the bank of the stream; selecting from it such samples as they intended to take back to Circle City for assaying. It need hardly be said that it was not their plan to develop this wonderful mine with only the few tools that they had brought with them. They meant to work it sufficiently to prove its value and then to return to Circle City to organize a company which should sup- ply sufficient capital to bring smelting machinery to the spot and, if necessary, to build a railroad to take the ore from the mine to the seashore. They named their mine "The Old Glory," and set up other stakes beside the one that bore the flag, in order to include as * much of the gold-bearing ledge as possible in their claim. Day after day the unseen ?yes glared at them from the thicket. It W4S |ust about sundown on the third day when the miners first became aware that their operations were observed. They were standing close together, examining a piece of quartz that had been loosened by their last blast. Two shots rang out from the top of the ledge and Carney dropped to the ground. Fowler was not hit. A hasty glance toward the thicket sho^^ed him a little cloud of 14 OLD GLORY MINE. blue smoke rising, and another glance at his companion showed that Carney had been instantly killed. It flashed upon Fowler's mind that the assassins had mis- takenly aimed at the same man, and that as soon as they had dis- covered their mistake his own life would not be worth a candle. He instantly jumped aside and darted into the forest at the base of the ledge. Hardly had he done so when his fears were justified by other shots from behind, and he heard bullets clip, ping the leaves and scarring the bark above his head. SAVED FROM A BUI^I^ET BY A I^ARIAT. 15 CHAPTER II. SAVED FROM A BUI.I.BT BY A J^AKIAt. Fowler ran, as any man would whose life was in danger. He kept well within the line of forest that bordered the bank of the stream, and for fully a mile he was aware that pursuit was hard and earnest behind him. More than once there was a shot that was meant for him, and only escaped its mark by being turned aside by the trees. When at last he reached the place where the boat lay against the bank he was well-nigh exhausted. He had no doubt whatever that his enemies would be upon him soon, and as his comrade was beyond help he hastily untied the boat, shoved it into the stream and jxmiped in. The current promptly set it going, and using a paddle simply to guide it, he sped down the rapids with the speed of a locomo- tive. It took all his skill and strength to prevent the boat from being wrecked upon the numerous rocks that lined the rapids, and when he was in comparatively still water he paddled for all he was worth. All night long he kept at his task, and when morning came he could see Circle City faintly in the distance. Fortunately a considerable portion of the provisions taken by him and Carney was left in the boat. Living was, therefore, an easy matter as long as the weather held good. On the third day after the tragedy at Old Glory Mine he landed in Circle City and went at once to the one hotel of the place, where he expected to find friends. He found not only friends, but many others who gathered around and listened to his story eagerly. •'The p'int is," he concluded, "that there's nothin' lost except i6 SAVED FROM A BULLET BY A LARIAT. poor Carney's life. The beastly redskins thet did for him an' druv me out can be cleaned out by a dozen men ; an' what we want to do is to get up a company thet will not only work the mine, but fight for it. " There were plenty of hearty, determined men in the party of listeners who agreed to this proposition ; among them, however, were some who listened seriously and looked doubtful. One of these was a magnificently built young man. His face was well-featured and strong, his muscular development hercu- lean. It could be seen at a glance that he was new in Alaska. He said nothing until the others had discussed the situation at considerable length. Then he asked : "Did you, see the redskins, stranger?" Fowler hardly glanced at the tenderfoot as he answered : "No, I didn't. I 'low freely thet I cut an' run es fast es I could, for I'm not hankerin' to face a gang of bloodthirsty Indians." "Thet's right 'nuff," remarked the athlete, thoughtfully, "but how many shots was thar?" At this question Fowler looked sharply at him and was appar- ently displeased ; he noticed, however, to his surprise, that the other men in the toom were listening attentively, as if they had considerable respect for anything that the tenderfoot might have \.o say. "I didn't stop to do no countin', young feller," Fowler said, curtly. "But ef you're anxious to keep tab on 'em, I should say es it might hev bin a dozen all told ; but let me tell you ef you had been thar you wouldn't hev counted more'n three or four before you'd hev got tiled of countin', you hear me!" A The listeners smiled grimly at this, and the athlete nodded quietly. It was evident that he took no offence at Fcwlet's remarks, and that he was determined to get a satisfactory answer to his questions. "A dozen shots all told," he said, slowly, "means thet you included the shots fired at you es you was hittin' it up through the timb^?" "H'm, h'm.'» . SAVED FROM A BULLET BY A LARIAT. 17 him an' what we 7ork the party of aowever, His face t hercu- 1 Alaska, ation at d: fast es I adthirsty lly, "but s appar- that the they had jht have ler said, lould say I ef you or four ; nodded Fowler's y answer* thet you through Fowler turned his back partly on him as if disgusted with his impertinence. "Well, now," the other persisted, "you needn't be so uppish^ for I may be j'inin' your expedition, and I want ter know about it." "You!" exclaimed Fowler, turning sharply upon him and looking at him contemptuously. "H'm, h'm," murmured the athlete. "You'd better answer him, Dan," said one of the men. • ' Harvey Stokes is a feller who hes seen a durned sight more of the world than the rest of us put together, an' what he don't know about American Indians could be printed in a vest-pocket- book." Fowler's contempt turned to surprise as he eyed the man before him. "Well, Harvey Stokes," he said,' slowly, "ef thet's your name ' ' ' ' Either one goes, patdner, ' ' the young man interrupted. "I'm jest a-thinkin' thet thar's somethin' peculiar about thet attack on your mine, an' ef so be you keer to, I'd like to hev you tell us once more about them shots." "Well," responded Fowler, "tharwas two first off an' them both hit Carney, es I reckon one of 'em was meant fer me, but the fellers what was picked ter do the firin' got mixed up in thar orders an' both picked off the same man, see?" "Plain es day," assented Stokes; "but thar was only two, was thar?" "That's all, until after I got to runnin'." The athlete gave a little grunt and thought a moment. "Hear any yelliu' or hootin' ?" he asked. "Nary a hoot." There was a pause here for a moment, and then one of the men asked : ' ' What be ye drivin' at, Harvey r ' * "Oh, nothin'," he responded; "I was jeut a thinkin', thdt's all." i8 SAVED FROM A BULLET BY A LARIAT. ,v He edged his way out of the group and disappeared from the room without another word. "^eems to be rather a peart youngster." remarked Fowler after Stokes had gone. "Who is he?" "He's a college chap," replied one of the men, "an' he got sick o' Latin an' Greek an' only played football an' boxed an' rowed. So the college bosses chucked him, an' his folks wanted to put him to business, but he got stuck on chemicals and drugs and such things, an' went in for the detective business, for the fun of it. The market's glutted out East, he says, so he came here to try a trick or two. He's got a little dust to keep off the wolf, but he don't make no bluffs, and he's rather a favorite here, 'cos he kin fight like a bull-dog." • "Well," said Fowler, "sech a feller might have likely ideers, hay?" "We all hev found that Stokes is purty bright," said one of the men. "Wonder what 'twas he was a-thinkin' of?" "He'll tell you when he gets good an' ready, and not before," declared one of the bystanders; "an' when he does tell you it'll be worth listenin' to." "Call him back!" cried Fowler. "I ain't got no objection to takin' advice from a tenderfoot ef he's got good advice to offer. Wharishe?" But Stokes was nowhere to be found. The conversation about Old Glory Mine was continued until after dark. Fowler exhibited the free gold that he had stowed in his belt as evidence of the quality of the mine, and a good deal of excite- ment was aroused for recovering the property. It was along toward midnight when the discussion ended, and Fowler set off to go to a cabin on the outskirts of the city, where there was a friend with whom he intended to lodge. When he left the hotel a stalwart figure slipped out from a dark doorway and followed silently behind him. Almost nobody was stirring upon the streets, and presently Fowler turned into a road that was wholly unoccupied. SAVED FROM A BULLET BY A LARIAT. 19 He had gone but a few paces when there was a sudden whir in the air behind him. The miner knew the sound and would have jumped aside, but before he could so much as stir a muscle a lariat bound itself about his shoulders, and he was pulled sharply to the ground. At'the same instant there was the flash of a gun a few feet dis- tant from him. A loud report, and a bulFet whistled harmlessly over the fallen miner's body. Quick as a flash, Harvey Stokes, who had thrown the lariat, leaped forward and knelt for an instant beside Fovler, to dis- cover whether the man was injured. "I've saved you from thet bullet," exclaimed Stokes, hur- riedly. "Now let's see ef I can find the feller thet fired it." •o •TOKES GIVES A KEY TO HIS SUSPICIONS. CHAPTER III. STOKES GIVES A KEY TO HIS SUSPICIONS. Powler was so surprised about what had happened, and his sudden fall had so knocked the wind out of him, that he could not say a word. He lay on the ground, staring and gasping as Stokes knelt over him. When the brave fellow stood up, he added : ' ' Get on your feet, pardner, and leg back to the hotel as fast as you can go." Without waiting to see whether his advice was taken, S :e8 sped down the street, following the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps. The man who had tried to murder Fowler had turned and run the moment he fired. One could have told by the sound of his steps that he was making the best time possible, but his speed was as nothing com- pared to that of his pursuer, who ran as of old for a touchdown. It is doubtful whether there was an Indian in all Alaska who could have beaten Harvey Stokes in a sprint, and this man, who- ever he was, had no show whatever for escape. Stokes, running as lightly as a cat, was upon him within a hundred yards. The fellow apparently did not know that his pur- suer was near until Stokes leaped upon him. The would-be murderer was a medium-sized, heavily-built man, and in a straight wrestling match might have worried his antagonist; but as both were running at full speed and Stokes not only threw all his weight against him, but struck him sharply on the head at the same time, the fellow stumbled and f«U fulUength. Stokratbkeep himself from falling also, bounded over him and STOKES GIVES A KEY TO HIS SUSPICIONS. 21 run wa« carried two or three paces beyond. He turned quickly, and none too soon, for his antagonist was only stunned by V e colli- sion, and had fallen in such a way that it happened to be the simplest thing in the world for him to get on his knees and draw his revolver. It was altogether too dark to observe the man's exact move- ments, but Stokes could see the dim outlines of a figure rising from the ground, and he knew only too well what that meant. He had had sufi&cient experience in knocking about the world, and especially in mining camps, to know that this fellow would shoot first and make explanations afterward. Accordingly, Stokes jumped with all his might directly against the fellow, landing just in time to knock his revolver arm aside. The weapon was not fired. The athlete's movements had been too quick for that. This second attack sent the would-be murderer again to the ground, and Stokes went down with him. They grippled there, the young fellow doing his best to wrest the weapon away from the other, and the latter trying with all his great strength to point the muzzle at Stokes' heart. Close as the r faces were to each other, it was impossible for Stokes to recognize the features of his enemy. Neither of them spoke a word, for both of them were fighting too desperately. The struggle had continued but a few seconds, although to each man it doubtless seemed minutes, when somebody came up hastily. Stokes was just a'vare of the approaching footsteps, when he was knocked clean away from his adversary by a terrific blow upon the head. Just as drowning men will clutch at straws, the young fellow, as he half staggered and half rolled across the street, clutched at whatever was in his reach. He went down in a heap at last, and icA a few seconds lay per- fectly still. He was not entirely 4inconscioua; there was a loud buzzing in his ears, minglerl with which he had a vague senae of reteteating footsteps, white a million stare danced btefore Hi9-eyes. . 2a 8T0KBS ^IVES A KEY TO HIS SUSPICIONS. Presently he got to his feet, and with one hand upon his head, reeled to the side of a building against which he leaned for a moment. "Gee whiz!" he muttered; "that was the worst cyclone that ever come my way. I didn't suppose they raised such things up here. ' ' For a moment longer he held his aching head, and then he began to laugh. "The laugh is on me dead for certain this time," he remarked to himself. "I'm glad I didn't let on to the fellows at the hotel what my suspicions were. I've had a scrap and I've been licked. I'm the only fellow that knows anything about it so far, and if I can find that man Fowler, I'll see that he keeps his mouth shut about the whole thing. ' ' He started to walk, but found that his brain was still reeling from the effects of the blow, and again he reached out his hand to the building for support. He laughed again in amusement at his queer plight, and then for the first time realized that his left hand was clutched tightly, and that something was in it. "Hello!," he said, "I wonder what I've brought away?'* He opened his hand and felt of the object it held with his fin- ger ends. "A button," he murmured, "and a small bit of cloth clinging to it Humph 1 this may come handy if I take a hand in this thing after to-night. "I reckon I shall do just that same, for I'm more certain than ever that there's the worst kind of crookedness afoot here, and besides that, *hese fellows have got my blood up. ' ' He thrust the button and fragment of cloth into a pocket and started on. He had now recovered 8u£Sciently to walk without any special difficulty. As he went his mind was busy in reviewing the situ- ation. "There mnst have b««n two of them," he reflected. '*0f course tber'? were; for that fellow I bad oo the growi4 ceuldn't have hit uie any such blow. STOKES GIVES A KEY TO HIS SUSPICIONS. 23 bead, For a that s up :n he irked hotel rked. iif I shut eliug band then htly, fin- ding this than and and scial situ- "Of dn't "I wonder if they thought they did for me? I wonder, too, if they knew who I was? I reckon not, for they couldn't see me any more than I could see them, and it's not likely that they sus- pect me of coming to Fowler's defense. "Which way am I going, anyhow?" He stopped abruptly in his walk, realizing suddenly that he had been so stunned by the blow that he was not aware of the direction he had taken. Standing thus and looking about in the darkness to discover some familiar object, he saw a figure move stealthily away from a building a few paces distant. "Hello, there!" called Stokes, instantlr alert "I've got you covered, stranger," he added, "and you'd bet- ter halt where you are, or you won't get any farther." The figure stopped at once, and after a very brief pause Stokes heard a voice saying: "I reckon I knows that voice; ain't you the young feller thet lassoed me? Ef you be, it's all right" Stokes recognized Fowler's voice and promptly went forward. Just as he came up to the miner the moon came from behind dark clouds and showed him Fowler standing there with his arms bound close to his side, the Jakiat being still around his shoulders and body. "Well," said Stokes, with a laugh, "I'm glad to see you, but what are you atAndiiig thar for ?' ' " What in thunder should I do, I'd like to know'" returned Fowler, indignantly. " Do ! " reiorted Stokes. ' ' I told you to go to the hotel. ' ' "In this shape?" "Well, you could take off the cord." "Oh, could I?" Stokes laughed again. "Is it too tight foit you?" he asked. "Tight!" returned Fowler; "it's worse than a steel chain. I wasn't goin' to go along to the hotel an' show myself pulled up just es ef I was a steer at a roundup. " "I don't blame you," said Stokes, "and I'll &x you.' 24 STOKES GIVES A KEY TO HIS SUSPICIONS. He began to undo the cord, which had knotted itself behind Fowler's back. While he was at work at this, Fowler went on : "You'ie a mighty smart young feller, but I'd like to know what in thunder all this is about. It ain't the most pleasant thing in the world to hev a lariat flung at you when you're on your way home. ' ' "There's one thing," responded Stokes, "that isn't half so pleasant as that." "Eh?" "If it hadn't been for this lariat you wouldn't hev been able to complain of it." "Thet don't mean nothin'," growled Fowler, stretching his arms, which were now free. "Don't, eh?" exclaimed Stokes. " Now look here, pardner, if you don't undertsand what's happened, I shall hev to tell you. ' ' I hed a notion of my own that somebody would try to do you to-night for the dust you've got on you, see?" "I ain't got no more dust," returned Fowler, "than plenty of other men that are now in Circle City." "No, but you showed your pile, and besides that " Stokes hesitated a moment; he was on the point of explaining to Fowler his own suspicions as to the attempt at murder, but an instant's reflection convinced him t lat he had better keep his thoughts to himself, so he added : ' ' No matter about that. The point is that I felt certain thet you would be done, and so I followed along. I wanted the attack to be made on on you, so es to be certain thet I was right, but I didn't want you to get hurt. "Now, you were moseyin' along, and you didn't hev any notion you were in danger, and you didn't hev your eyes peeled. I did. And though 'twas too dark to see much, I did manage to catch sight of somebody dodging behind a building a little ways in front of you. ' ' Thet means an ambush, says I to myself, and I flung the lariat simply for the purpose of yanking you out of the way of thet fellow's bullet and I reckon I did it." STOKES GIVES A KEY TO HIS SUSPICIONS. 25 "Yes, I reckon 3'ou did, an' I'm obleeged to you. I wasn't complainin' of it so much es I wanted to git an understandin' of the thing; and thet's the reason es much es anything why I stayed around yere hopin' you'd come back." "Well, I'm yere," said Stokes, "and now you want to go back to the hotel. Don't show yourself again to-night." "Well, but," Fowler protested, "what's in your head, young feller? You was askin' questions at the hotel thet seemed mighty peculiar. Now, I reckon you'll allo^v thet I'm the most inter- ested party. Give us your idees. ' ' "Perhaps I ain't got any." "Oh, yes, youhev! You're a college man and a detective; 'tain't likely thet you hevn't got some smartness; in fact, I know you hev. I'm certain thet one idee out of your head would be worth twenty of mine or any other feller's in Ciicle City." ' ' Thanks ! ' ' responded Stokes, dryly. "I'm not so sure of thet. I never did any real detective work in my life, ' ' "Ition't s'pose this is a detective job," remarked Fowler, thoughtfully. "I hevn't looked at it in thet light. It s es plain es day thet I was driven away from Old Glory Mine by savages ; an' it's also es plain es day thet some galoot yere in Circle City made a break for my pile. I'd like to hev thet feller caught an' strung up, an' I'd like to hev the savages cleaned out, an' thet's all there's to it." Stokes gave a little grunt that was as much as to say that he did not think Fowler knew as much about the matter as he thought he did. "Thar you go again!" cried Fowler. "You're hddin' back idees that I want to know about Ef it's any question of gettin' paid for your work " "Oh, rats!" interrupted Stokes, impatiently. "I'm not out for stuff; I'm knockin' around the world for the fun of it and to see what I can learn. "This thing interests me, and I've a mind to take a hand in it, an' thet will be for ■ ^e fun of it, too. "Ef I can help you get possession of your mine, I'm goin' to do it, but I'm not in it for pay. " a6 AN ElyECTRIC PURSE. "Well, I didn't mean to give no offence," said Fowler, "but I do think es you ought to give me the benefit of your idees. ' ' "I'll tell you just one thing," said Stokes, after a moment's thought, "but thet must be on the understandin' thet you don't let it out to the crowd; keep it to yourself, will you?" "I will, so help me." "All right, then; it's simply this: It wasn't Indians or any other kind of savages thet fired on you and yout pardner at the Old Glory Mine." CHAPTER IV. AN El^EC^RIC PURSB. For a moment Fowler stood speechless. Then he exclaimed: "What the mischief makes you think thet?" "Two or three things," Stokes replied. "In the first place, the American Indian doesn't make any mistake when he sets out to slaughter white men. Two Indians who hev made up their minds to kill two men would never accidentally pick out the same man — thet's a white man's mistake." "Well, maybe 'tis," said Fowler, "but we hed no reason to s'pose there were any white men in thet part of the country. We didn't see any signs of any." "Didn't see any signs of red men, did you?" ' ' Nary a one. ' ' "And you were there yourselves, weren't you?" "Reckon we were, Stokes." ' ' What were you there for ?' ' 'Gold, of course." "And isn't that reason enough some other white man should be thar?" "Yes," admitted Fowler, doubtfully. "But it don't seem es ef white men would murder prospectors like thet ' ' "We're not talkin' of decent men," Stokes responded, "Now, AN ElyECTRIC PURS«. «7 thar's another thing to convince me thet red men had no hand in it." "What's thet?" ♦'Efithad been Indians who pursued you they would have caught you. " "Thet looks likely." "Indians can beat -n'hite men any time in running through a forest. " "Tbet's so." "And besides thet, ef it had been Indians, they would hev bed the mine surrounded so thet no matter what direction you ran in you would hev been headed off. ' ' "By gum, Stokes! 'Pears to me you're talkin' reason." "You bet I am. But keep thet to yourself.'* "I will " "Hist!" A man was slowly approaching. He proved to be one of the local police officers. He looked at Stokes > "How much, for instance?" AN ELECTRIC PURSE. 31 cated?" ranee of is much ed. "I re while see him hastily; e he was tiying to t Stokes. a bit?" ike shares m simply r my way. liere yours you to let !t an inter- ''Well, my partner and I are willing to let a good share of the mine go for a very small sum. We need a few hundred dollars, just to work the thing sufficiently to show what it is worth, and then we can get ten times — yes, a hundred times more than is put up for it by selling the mine to a syndicate." "Sounds like a good scheme!" "Indeed it is, Mr. Stokes. Now, a young man like you couldn't be traveling about this way unless you had a few hun- dred dollars handy. ' ' All you would need to do would be to guarantee the use of it for a couple of weeks, and before the time came when you would have to draw on your next allowance, why, you would have a fortune in your pocket." "That's interesting." "You'd better come in, Mr. Stokes; the opportunity won't be open very much longer; we shall find somebody in Circle City who will back it. ' ' "I reckon you will." "You could easily put up, say, a thousand dollars, couldn't you?" . "Shouldn't wonder.»' "If you would," and here Berkeley's voice became very confi- dential, "we won't mind giving you qauarter interest in the scheme. ' ' "Generous," Stokes remarked, dryly. "We mean to be," responded Berkeley, earnestly. "Think it over, Mr. Stokes." "I will." Stokes moved away from the bar. "You're not going so soon, are you?" called Berkeley. "Yes, I was only loafing around long enough to get sleepy, and' now I'm going to bed. " The young fellow had stayed as long in the place as he cared to. His one purpose in going there was to find, if possible some man whose coat was minus a button and fragment of cloth. There was nobody in the place when he entered whose coat appealed to have suffered such a loss. 3a AN ELECTRIC PURSE. A man had come in while the conversation with Berkeley was in progress, and Stokes eyed him with especial care ; his name was Mark Slote. He also was an Englishman, and, as Stokes believed, a partner of Berkeley's. Slote had been among those at the hotel when Fowler was tell- ing his story. Berkeley appeared to pay no attention to Slote when he entered, and Stokes felt a little disappointed. "If I'm mistaken in all this," he thought, "I shall be more glad than ever that I've not given my suspicions away." "I'll see you to-morrow, Mr. Stokes," said Berkeley, as the detective started toward the door. "All right," replied the latter. "When do you intend to start for this mine of yours ?" "That isn't decided yet." Stokes halted ; it occurred to him that it might be a good plan to get further information from Berkeley while the man was in a talking mood, so he asked two or three questions in an indifferent manner, but ifkrkeley had suddenly become very silent. He answered no questions directly. After a minute or two Stokes again started for the door; he noticed then that Slote had disap- peared ; at the time Stokes thought nothing of this, but a little later he had reason to regard the man's movements as extremely suspicious. After the legal closing hour no one was permitted to come in or go out of the bairoom by the main door. An entrance at the back was used that opened upon a crooked lane or alley that led around to the street at some little distance from the barroom. This alley seemed to be desetted when Stokes left the barroom, but just as he rounded a bend he found himself confronted by two men. They were walking rapidly, and he stepped back a pace to avoid a collision. "Hello!" said one of them suddenly, as if surprised at meet- ing anybody; "what time is it, stranger?" "That's an old gag," thought Stokes; "do these fellows think AN ELECTRIC PURSR. 33 that thii is the Bowery and that I am a jay from Hayaeedville?" Whatever the fellows thought, they did not give him time to answer their question or get out of their way. One of them threw his arm across Stokes' throat and slipped around behind him, pulling his head back violently. "Hands up, there!" said the other, suddenly. Stokes hands promptly went into the air, and as he threw them up he said to himself : "I never was garroted before, but it strikes me this is a clumsy way of doing it." He made no attempt whatever at resistance, but stood like a statue. The man in front of him drew a revolver and pointed it straight at Stokes' face; the muzzle was so close that he could almost feel it. The other, still holding his arm across Stokes' throat, thrust his hand into the man's pocket, where he carried a purseful of coins. Stokes did not budge. All at once the arm across his throat was released, and the fel low who stood behind him jumped about a foot in the air and uttered a sharp cry of pain. He tried to get his hand out of Stokes' pocket, but could not succeed ; and for a moment or two he danced wildly around cursing and groaning. The cry of pain was followed instantly by the report of a revolver, and the weapon held by the man who was facing Stokes fell to the ground, while the man himself jumped back and held his bleeding hand wonderingly before his eyes. "There are five shots more where that one came from," Stokes remarked, coolly, "and you fellows can march along ahead of me to the barracks or take these shots in your hearts, just as you like." At this moment the garroter managed to get his hand out of the detective's pocket. He leaped to one side, and in doing so ' stumbled and fell to his knees. ' ' You might as well stay in that position, ' ' remarked Stokes m- 34 AN ELECTRIC PURSE. as he lowered his hands. It appeared then that he had a revolver in each hand. The two ruffians stared at him in amazement. "Funny, isn't it?" said Stokes, sarcastically. "I don't mind telling you fellows all about it ; this is what I call an improve- ment on the scheme of concealing barkers in one's sleeves. "Mine are so fixed that when I raise m}' hands above my head the weapons come right up from my wrists, so that I can get h'--'' of them. "You didn't see that, and I don't suppose anyboay would who wasn't looking for it. Now march !" He spoke in such a determined voice that the men were confi- dent that.he would end their lives on the spot if they did not obey, so they slowly turned about and started toward the street. The one of them whose fingers had been wounded by Stokes' bullet reached his well hand toward a pocket, probably to draw a handkerchief for the purpose of stemming the flow of blood. "Stop that!" Stokes commanded, sternly; "jou've both got sore hands, bat you've got to let them alone until the surgeon at the barracks can attend to them. " The men cursed under their breath, but went along immedi- ately. Stokes, excited and rejoicing over the success of his device, could not help joking the fellows sarcastically : " 'Twouldn't be so easy picking pockets if every fellow cat rietl e purse ftke mine, eh?" he asket!. The response was an angry grow!, "I suppose your fingers are BLchln:* too much to make you feel pleasant," Stokes continued, "and no wonder, for unless you know how to take hold of my purse it will reach out iron claws and grip you worse than a lobster, and as the thing works by a little electric battery inside the purse, you get the advantage of a shock as well as a thundering tight pinch. • "Good scheme, isn't it?" Neither of the men answered any such questions, and so driv« ing them before him Stokes brought them at last to the door of IN A PACK OF SNARIyINO DOGS. 35 the barracks ; there he handed them over to the military authori- ties. They proved to be tough characters who had done time before. They were either too much hurt to talk freely, or they had some other rea on for saying little. The usual questions put to prisoners were answered shortly and in a surly manner. Stokes was convinced from their manner that there was more to the affair than a mere attempt at robbery, and when he left the barracks to go to his hotel it was with the determination to pump the prisoners, if possible, on the next day. From the way they acted it seemed to him that somebody must have put them up to the job. CHAPTER V. IN A PACK OF SNARI.ING DOGS. The next morning pretty nearly the entire population of Circle City tried to get into the court-house to hear the proceedings against the two toughs who had attacked Stokes. • Ordinarily the arrest of such fellows in the mining town attracted no more attention than such events do in a city like New York; but on this occasion there was a double reason .for interest in the matter. In the first place, Stokes, during his few days' stay in town, had become a general favorite with all classes. He was eagerly received at the barracks and everywhere else that the soldiers gathered ; and no one was more welcome ia the loafing places of the mining population than the young traveler from the States. There was, therefore, a gteat deal of interest aroused in the adventure through which Stokes had come triumphantly, and in which many another might have lost not only his valuables, but his life as well. 36 IN A PACK OF SNARIylNG DOGS. ■I . In the second place, Stokes, for reasons of his own, had taken pains to spread the news of the affair among all classes of the population. He was not only convinced that these two ruffians had been put up to the job, but that in some way their attempt was con- nected with the attack on the Old Glory Mine. He wished to make certain that all friends of the prisoners should be in court so that he could observe their faces. In this effort he was successful so far as packing the court- room was concerned. He did not accomplish what he hoped to, but that is not to be set down to his discredit ; it is rather very much to his credit that he should have undertaken so shrewd a plan for gaining a single point in his investigation. When the prisoners were undei examination they hung their heads and answered in low tones, and no bullying or threatening by the district attorney could make them modify their answers or accuse any one of having a hand in the affair except themselves. The trial ended, of course, in the sentence of both men to severe punishment, and when the court adjourned Stokes found that nearly half the day had been spent. He had already had some little conversation with Fowler, and one result of this was that while the trial of the garroters was in progress. Fowler was scouring the place in search of some kind of a boat, big enough and swift enough to take a party of men for the purpose of recovering possession of Old Glory. As he was leavxng the court-room, Stokes encountered Berkeley in the crowd. "Have you thought about that matter, Mr.' Stokes?" Berk'iley whispered. ^'Yea," Stokes replied. "I'm in a hurry just now; I'll see you later." "Well " began Berkeley; but Stokes had elbowed his way through the throng and was out of hearing. "He's still anxious to get hold of my wad," thought Stokes, "as long as he feels that way I think we've got timt to do what's necessary. ' ' The datectivt was now trying to find Fowltr. IN A PACK OF SNARLING DOGS. 37 lad taken es of the had been was con- prisoners the court- hoped to, rather very shrewd a When the heads and ing by the rs or accuse ves. )oth men to okes found Powler, and )ters was in some kind irty of men 7. red Berkeley ?" Berk»5ley I'll see you wed his way light Stokes, to do what' 3 As he hurried from one place to another many complimentary remarks were made to him and many an admiring glance was sent after him. His carriage was as superb as his build was strong. His muscles were firm as steel. He was not thin or even slender, yet there was not a waste ounce of flesh upon his body. As a grizzled old miner put it : he was all bone, muscle and nerve, "and three-quarters nerve, sir." He had seen a good deal of the world, therefore, and had learned long since to depend upon himself. Having no need to work for a living, he had not seriously thought of becoming a detective, though ma'ny times he longed for something in that line to do. He found the work more inter- esting and exciting than the best football he ever played. About noon Stokes found Fowler returning from one of the docks. "Well," said Fowler, "I've got a boat." "Good! What's she like?" "A schooner that's big enough, and, in her time she was swift enough. ' ' "She ought to do for us, then." "Well, I don't know; when she was in the service of taking seals and keeping out of the way of the Government patrol boats, I reckon she could do a handy bit of runnin', but she hain't got the rig for it now, an' she's seen a good deal of nasty weather." "She's the best you could find, I suppose?" "The best an' pretty much the only one." "Let's take a look at her." They returned to the dock together and Stokes went over the craft from stem to stern. She was called the Frozen Spray. Evidently an old tub, but apparently sound and still capable of showing good speed if prop- erly handlcv' "She'll uj,' Stokes remarked. "Now the thing to do is to fit her out. How many men have you got who have promised to go?" "A £oB«a, countin' you and vie." 38 IN A PACK OF SNARLING DOGS. "Don't get any more, then, for that will be an unlucky num- ber." "Will a dozen be enough?" "I haven't a doubt of it, if they're good ones." "They're the pick of the best men," said Fowler, gravely, "who've come to Alaska from the mines iti the States." Stokes nodded in a satisfied way, and they started back toward their hotel discussing the plans for provisioning and fitting out the vessel. Fowler wanted to delay the departure long enough to put on board a considerable quantity of mining implements, so that the work at Old Glory could be pushed to the utmost. Stokes advised against this. "You want to get hold of your mine first," he said. "When you're sure you've got it and that you can hold it, then you can leave part of your men theie and return to Circle City, hunt up ; capitalists, and sell the mine, or work it, just as you choose. ' ' Fowler argued that there would be a better showing for a profit- able sale if the ledge at Old Glory could be tunneled to a consid- erable distance before bringing capitalists to inspect it; but Stokes! was obstinate in his advice to get th« expedition off with aii little j delay as possible. Fowler yielded and immediately after dinner went to various j stores, where he purchased provisions and ammunition and] ordered them stowed on board. It was understood that, if possible, the expedition would start j early the next day. Stokes did his share in making matters ready and contributed] not a little from his own purse to the expenses of the expedition which were necessarily heavy. A good deal of his time and attention, however, was spent inj roaming about Circle City, always in the hope of meeting some! man whose coat was minus a button, or of finding some otherl information which should strengthen his suspicions as to the] truth about the attack on Old Glory. He was passing a telegraph office when the sound of a distBnt| steam whist! . came to his ears. f^tlj- IN A PACK OF SNARI.ING DOGS. 39 icky num- r, gravely, ick toward atting out to put on 30 that the I. "When ;n you can y, hunt up! choose. ' * for a profit- o a consid- ; but Stokes ith ai£ little I to various lition and i would start contributed expedition^ ^as spent in ;eting some some other iS as to the of a distant This attracted the attention of everybody in his vicinity, and almost immediately ail tCTvn was rushing down to the docks. The arrival ctf a steamboat there is such a rare event that when it happens everybody turns out to witness it. Stokes did not join the crowd of curiosity seekers at once. His attention was taken by Berkeley, who at that moment came from the telegraph office. His face showed signs of great excitement, and in his hand he held, crumpled, a slip of manilla paper — undoubtedly a tele- gram he had just received. 'Tomething's up with him," thought Stokes, and he crossed X\i . 'et to speak to Berkeley. . ;'i . had nothing special to say, but he hoped that Berkeley woild drop into conversation and so give up some hint as to whit was on his mind. Berkeley saw him as he approached and instantly his face became grave. He thrust the telegram into a pocket, or rather he tried to do so, for some one passing at the moment jostled his hand and the sKp of paper fell to the ground. Berkeley apparently did not notice the accident. Stokes quietly put his foot upon the paper and said: "Have you j^oi time to talk about that mining matter now?" "You're too late, my man," was the contemptuous response. "He d^'etn'^ 1'. ink it worth while to mister me any longer, " thought Sokes, 'You've got your stuff, have you?" "We're am^i sur .'ied with capital," replied Berkeley, stiffly. 'I mentioned tb . matter to you simply because you were a young man and I thought that you might like the chance of getting rich suddenly." "Tlianks," responded Stokes, dryly, and as Berkeley turned away he picked up the telegram. It wo;v \ have been almost impossible to avoid seeing what wk« written "i^tn it, even if he had not tried to do so. As a matter of fact, bo .?^r, vStokes did not hesitate to read tke Message. It said simpiy : "Colonla dus to-day. Go." 40 IN A PACK OF SNARLING DOGS. There was no signature, but the message was addressed to Berkeley. ' * I say, Mr. Berkeley, ' cried Stokes, running after the man, •'isn't this yours?" And he held up the dispatch. "Lord Harry, yes!" Berkeley answered, nervously feeling in his pockets. "Where did you get it?" "It was on the ground near where you were standing. I thought it must be that you had dropped it." Berkeley took f 2 dispatch, eyeing Stokes suspiciously, and then, with a muttei a ' ank you, ' ' he turned on his heels and hurried toward the doc . "Colonia due to-day," mused Stokes. "Now what does that mean ? It's probably the name of a boat. "Gee whiz! Suppose it should be the steamer that ju»t whistled and that Berkeley is going to have control of her!" This thought excited him very considerably, and he started for the docks, hurrying as hard as any of the rest. Stokes had told nobooy but Fowler of his suspicions that white men had been the attackers at Old Gloiy. He had become convinced of that while Fowler had been tell- ing his story in the hotel the evening before. He had also felt that there was something wrong in the intense interest displayed in the story by the Englishman Slote. He had seen Slote leave the room shortly after Fowler opened his belt and displayed the free gold that he carried there. It was this action more than anything else that had led Stokes to shadow Fowler later in the evening. He had succeeded in saving fowler's life, but he was not cer- tain that Slote had had anything to do with the attack; never- theless, putting together such circumstances as he knew, and Berkeley's talk about a rich mine up the river, he was com- pelled to think that Berkeley and Slote were aiming to get pos- session of Fowler's property. He believed, also, that they were the men who had committed the murder there, and that they had hired the two rufiBans to gar- rote himself. These matters were all pure suspicion with him up to this time, IN A PACK OF SNARLING DOGS. 4i iBsed to e man, ling in ling. I sly, and ;els and oes that hat juit ;r!" e started hat white een tell- e intense r opened d Stokes not cer- k; never- new, and was com- get pos- lommitted ins to gar- this time, and it was difficult for him to make his theory hang together but he clung to it obstinately, and he felt that if the steatner now coming into port should be one in which Berkeley was inter- ested, the fact would go a long way to justify his suspicions. The steamer, a small affair, very much like a harbor tug in appearance, lay a few hundred yards from the dock when Stokes put in an appearance. A small boat had put out from her and was now coming ashore ; and then he saw Berkeley and Slote get into it together, and start back to the steamer as fast as the boat could be rowed ; then Stokes turned about and hurried to the hotel, where he expected to find Fowler and the other men who had promised to join the expedition. Thinking to make a shortcut, he left the main street and started along a winding road, on which the houses were compara- tively scattered. The dwellers along this road were mostly Indians and civilized Esquimaux. Ashe was passing one of the cabins an Esquimaux came to the door and tossed a handful of bones into the middle of the road. They were instantly seized by a pack of shaggy yelping dogs, which leaped from the house and fought and wriggled and tugged against each oifier for possession of the bones. Stokes, who at the moment was running at full speed, could not turn aside before one of the dogs had run full tilt against him, with the result that he fell directly in the middle of the yelping pack. For an instant the brave detective who had faced a revolver without flinching, and who feared nothing that a man could do in the way of violence, felt a terrible glow of alarm. These dogs seemed as mad and savage and bloodthirsty as wolves, and Stokes confidently believed that he was in for an encounter that would cost him many ugly wounds, if it did not end his life. Two or three dogs that he struck as he fell leaped aside, bark- ing and snarling only to turn upon him again. Stokss half rose and threw out his left arm, thus knocking two 42 IN A PACK OF SNARLING DOGS. of the dogs end over and backward, while with the other hand he brought a revolver into play. He would have fired at the nearest dog within reach, but just as he was about to pull the trigger he was astonished to notice that one of the brutes, whom he had hit in his fall, was licking his . hand. i He realized from this instantly that the animals were not i unfriendly, and without waiting for the warning word of the Esquimau, who shouted in alarm when the stranger fell into the pack, he put up his weapon. By the time the revolver was again in his pocket the dogs were leaping playfully upon Stokes, trying to lick his face, and in various other ways showing their friendly disposition. "Well," said Stokes, getting on his feet, "if I could get out of! all scrapes as easily as I have out of this one, I shouldn't have any trouble; I thought I was going to be eaten up," he added to| the Esquimau who had strode forward to drive the dogs away. "Doits play— play like babees, " the Esquimau said, with a| gria. A PRESCRIPTION THAT FA1L«». 43 er hand lie but just as lotice that ickiiig his 3 were not ord of the ill into the e dogs were ace, and in • d get out of , didn't have he added to igs away, aid, with a CHAPTER VI. A PRKSCRIPTION THAT FAII^ED. Stokes went on to the hotel and found Fowler and his men taking tljings t sily. " Pardner, " said the detective, leading Fowler a little to one side, "is the Frozen Spray ready?" . "Thunderation! Stokes," Fowler exclaimed, "what do you expect? I don't s'pose the stuff is any more than put on the drays at the stores." "Well, it ought to be aboard now," Stokes declared. "Now look yere, " exclaimed Fowler, "I'm jest es anxious about thet thar mine es you be, but I don't see any reason for sech all-fired huiry. " "Well, I do, " responded Stokes. "Do you know that there Is a steamer in port?" "I heerd the whistle," Fowler admitted. "Well, I don't want it to go any farther, for I don't want my suspicions to be known outside our party, or in it any more than is necessary, but you've got to race with that steamer to get to Old Glory first." "You don't say so!" "I do, and I mean it. I've not the slightest doubt that the Colonia — that's the steamer's name — will sail from this port to take possession of your mine. " "How in creation hev you found thet all out?" "Never you mind how. But get your men together and take them to the stores with you and hustle everything on board as fast as you can, then keep your men there and wait for me. ' ' "The Frozen Spray can't beat a steamboat," gasped Fowler, in despair. ^ "It would be a bad handicap, I 'low," Stokes responded, "but 44 A PRESCRIPTION THAT PAILBD. something may happen ; if the Colonia don't put out this sfter- noon I think we'll get along. •'You must have everything ready to start by nightfall." "We couldn't find our course by night," protested Fowler. "I ain't no sailor, an' it will be all I can do to make the course out by daylight." Stokes grunted impatiently. "Then we'll hev to start at daybreak," he said. "But you must be ready to sail this evening. " Without any further words the detective returned to the dock, where he spent -the next hour or two in watching movements on board the Colonia. There was little to be seen. She evidently had more men on board than would be necessary for a crew, but all told, they did not number as many as Fowler's party, though that fact seemed of little importance to Stokes. What interested him more was the fact that the vessel was said to be on an exploring trip and that she had stopped for coal and provisions. Berkelt came on shore before Stokes left the docks, and took pains to aunounce that the Colonia had friends of his on board who were going to look around for gold, and that quite likely he should join them. "When is she going to leave?" asked Stokes, indifferently. "To-morrow morning," replied Berkeley. This satisfied Stokes, and he was about to withdraw, when Berkeley said suddenly : "What did you ask for?" "Oh!" replied the other, "I was wondering if you wouldn't like to have me join them. " Berkeley smiled sarcastically. "You'reAhe kind of fellow," he said, "who likes to gamble on a sure thing, aren't you?" "I'd like to go aboard the Colonia," admitted Stokes. "I'm afraid you're too late," and with this Berkeley went up into the city. f Stokes hung around long snougli to see that what Berkeley had self it' A PRESCRIPTION THAT, FAILED. 45 after- er. "I irae out But you e dock, lents on men on they did t seemed was said coal and and took on board likely he rently. aw, when wouldn't o gamble s. went up keley had said was true so far as stocking the boat with prorisiout was concerned. It was evident that a good many articles besides provisions were being put on board, and that there was some hurry about it; however, he was not anxious when, as night came on, he saw that Berkeley and several of the men who had come to port on the Colonia were arranging to spend the evening on shore. Indeed, it seemed to be their plan to make a night of it, for late in the evening they were still gathered around a table iu the private room of a bar drinking freely. "If there is any way to do it, " said Stokes to himself, "I would like to make certain that these fellows are playing just the kind of game that I think they are. ' ' It would surprise me if it should prove that after all they have nothing to do with Fowler's mine, and yet that thing is pos- sible. "I wish old Berkeley still had a notion that he would like to have me invest in his scheme. If that was the case I might be in there with them now and piping off all their plans." Stokes wondered if it would not be worth while to go boldly to the private room where Berkeley and his friends were passing the evening, and try to get admittance on the plea that he was eager to put a lot of money in a mining venture. A little thought convinced him that this would not do. Berkeley already seemed to be a little suspicious of him, and Stokes previously had been so shy about mining talk that it would arouse suspicion more than ever now to try any such device. "There's more than one way to skin a cat," he said to him- self, suddenly. With this he set off down the street until he came to a drug store; he entered there and bought various articles such as face powder, rouge, a hare's foot, in fact a complete set of make-up. " This is pretty poor stuff for making up with," he thought, "but it is the best I can do under the circumstanced, and I reckon it'll be good eaovt^.** 46 A PRESCRIPTION THAT FAILED. When these had been wrapped up Stokes called for another article. The drug clerk opened his eyes. "What do you want it for?" he asked. "I reckon that's my business, pardner, " Stokes answered, good humoredly. "I reckon it is, too," responded the clerk, "but when it comes to poisons it's our business also." "You don't call that stuff a poison, do you?" Stokes asked. " Of course we do ; if you should take enough of it, it would kill you." "I 'low that, " said Stokes, "but if I should take enough whisky it would kill me, too, wouldn't it?" "Cert." "Well, I don't propose to do that, either." "I'm glad to hear it." "Then you'll let me have the stuff, won't you?" The clerk shook his head. "Not without a prescription," he said. Stokes argued and begged in vain. The clerk knew what his customer asked was against the law, and he could not be persuaded or bribed to sell the article. Stokes accordingly left the store considerably disappointed; but with characteristic energy he set about finding a way to obtain the stuff he wanted. He hurried back to the hotel, made certain that the men that he was interested in were still there, and then went out to the house of a physician with whom he was acquainted. "Well, what can I do for you?" asked the physician, pleas- antly. " I want a prescription put up. " "What's the matter?" "Oh, nothing is the matter with m«, but I want this >o quiet the nerves of a fellow that I'm interested in." ' ' What's the stuff you're after ?' ' Stokes told him. "That's dangerous stuff," the physician said. "Ikn^wall about it," Stokes replied, confidently, "and I A PRESCRIPTION THAT FAILED. 47 wouldn't for an instant take any risk with it. A few drops will do for him. ' ' The physician looked at the detective earnestly for a moment, then took a pad of paper from his pocket, wrote something upon it and handed over the leaf, remarking : "If it was anybody else I wouldn't do this, but I think I know you well enough to believe that nothing worse will come of it than innocent mischief. ' ' "That's right, doc," exclaimed Stokes, cheerfully, and he hurried away for fear the physician might change his mind and take back the prescription. He returned at once to the drug store, where the clerk promptly put up the article desired. It amounted to but a few drops of liquid, all contained in a tiny bottle that could be carried in the vest pocket. With this Stokes returned to the hotel, where he sought out the proprietor, with whom he was very well acquainted. They held a whispered consultation, in the course of which Stokes dropped a handful of gold coins into the proprietor's purse. Then Stokes went to a wash-room and worked upon his face and hands with the toilet articles that he had bought at the drug store. With the aid of some shabby clothing that he borrowed from one of the Esquimau employees of the house, he transformed himself soon into a very fair imitation of a native. He had no wig, but he made up for this by brushing his hair the wrong way and by coloring it liberally with a dark powder. Thus made up, he showed himself to the proprietor; the latter looked him over critically and exclaimed : "By gum! young fellow, your own mother wouldn't know you. ' ' "Then I shall get along," Stokes responded, "I don't know about that, " was the reply. "They've got bottles in there and aren't sending out for anything. "What excuse will you have for going in?" "Leave that to me." 48 A PRESCRIPTION THAT FAILED, With this Stokes turned away and went to the room where Berkeley and his companions were seated. As he approached the door he noticed that a voice within was speaking in a high tone, "Sounds as if there was a row coming," he said to himself. He paused for a moment outside the door to listen. "Thar's get to be a square diviav^ as the Americans say, or I don't go any farther. ** These words came distinctly, as well as the response, in which Stokes recognized Berkeley's voice. "The divide ^,111 be square enough, so what's the use of get- ting hot about it?" "Well, but how are we goin' to know thet thar ain't no trick bein' put up?" Stokes would have liked to hear the answer to this question, but just at this moment some one approached rapidly along the corridor, and rather than be caught in the act of listening, he opened the door of the room and stepped boldly in. The men looked up in surprise and anger. "What the " began one of them. "You ring?" Stokes inquired, smiling, using the characteris- tic accent of the Esquimau. "Ni >, we didn't ring. What are you here for?" This was spoken by the man who had evidently been insisting upon the square divide. "Me thought you ring — want whisky — somethin'," Stokes answered. "He's one of the ignorant servants employed in the hotel, " said Berkeley to his companions. Then, turning to Stokes, he added : "We don't want anything, my man; you can go." "Me go?" Stokes repeated, and he looked with a grin at the bottles on the tables. One of the men in the party saw this glance and gave it just the meaning that Stokes desired. "Tke Esquimau means well," this fellow taid, "unless it A PRESCRIPTION THAT FAILED. 49 m where thin was tnself, ;ay, or I in which ; of get- no trick question, long the niing, he aracteris- insisting " Stokes lehottl," tokes, he in at the ve it just unless it happens that he came in just for the sake of getting a drink; if he did he deserves one for his boldness. ' ' Step up, you son of the snows ! "Step up and take something." ' ' Me much obliged, ' ' Stokes responded promptly, making for the bottle. "Fill him up and have some fun with him," remarked another the party. All but Berkeley and the one who had been insisting on a square divide, seemed to think that this was a good thing to do, and they gathered round Stokes, laughing and nudging each other as if they anticipated a good deal of amusement. " Have done with the nonsense as soon as possible, "growled Beikeley. "Oh, go on. We've got all night before us, " exclaimed one of his companions. Stokes played his part to perfection. 1e got the whole crowd laughing by his clumsiness and prt- tended eagerness in pouring him.self a drink. When he had drained the glass he smacked his lips, took up the bottle, and said : "Me go now; take this for company." ".No, you don't," cried one of the men. "We want that sort of company for ourselves. ' ' The man attempted to take the bottle away from Stokes, who resisted for a moment ; it was a good-natured struggle and lasted but a short time, but in the course of it Stokes managed to empty the contents of his bottle into the liquor flask. "If that don't p^t them to sleep, " he said to himself, "then I'm mistaken, or something was wrong with the prescription." When the little struggle was over and the men returned to the table, laughing and joking, Stokes stood near the door, still grinning, as if he wanted another invitation to drink. "Go Out, now," commanded Berkeley. "Oh, let him stay, " said one of the men. "He don't know enough to be of any harm. " "Me like whisky," remarked Stokes, pleadingly. ■■I 50 A PRESCRIPTION THAT FAILED. He really did not care much whether he remained longer, for if only the men would all take a drink from the doctored bottle he was quite certain that they would become too sleepy to leave the place for many hours, and for himself, he had no desire to risk any such effect. Stokes had other work to do. Serkeley and the chief speaker in the party would not consent to the supposed Esquimau's remaining, and accordingly Stokes was hustled oui of the room, but as he went he saw to his satis- faction that every man in the party v^as preparing to drink from the doctored flask. Much pleased with the success of his adventure, Stokes returned to the wash room and removed the disguise, and then before leaving the hotel he passed once more through the corri- dor on which was the room occupied by Berkeley and his com- panions. To his infiuite surprise the sounds of talking within were louder than ever. "That doesn'i sound like going to sleep," bethought. "What can it mean ?' ' As he listened he heard plenty of disputing as to the terms of a divide, but what was to be divided he could not make out. "I think I can see one thing," he said to himself after a, while; "that doctor did not give me a prescription for the stuflf I asked for; I shouldn't wonder if the clerk gave me plain w'lter or some- thing equally liarmless. ' ' Long aflerward Stokes found that this was tbf: cast. The doc- tor had not dared to give him an order for the drug which he desired. For the moment it was enough for Stokes to know that the drug was not doing its work, and he felt that he must hear more of that conversation than could be heard by lingering in the hall, where at any moment he might be interrupted. While he was in the room he had noticed that, like most Alaskan buildings, it was heated by a huge fireplace. A fire had been burning there earlier in the evening, but it was out now. A PRESCRIPTION THAT FA-r.ED. Sr nger, for id bottle to leave desire to t consent ly Stokes his satis- ink from re, Stokes and then the corri- his corn- thin were It. "What 5 terms of e out. er a, while; iflp I asked er or some- The doc- jr which he w that the hear more in the hall, , like most ding, but it It seemed to give him a way to be present at the meeting of the party without being seen by them. He made his way to the roof and so to the chimney that went straight down to the room where Berkeley and his friends sat. The chimney was big enough to allow him to go down easily. It was not built of brick excepting at the very top part, but of roughly-hewn stone. It was not a very difficult task, therefore, for such an athlete as he was to make his way down until he was just over the fire- place, where he paused with his knees and elbows resting against projecting stones. It was still rather hot there, but Stokes did not mind that, for the position enabled him to l;iear everything tlir-t was going on. Indeed, he had heard everything from the time he had entered the chimney ; but not one wcrd as yet had been ij ttercd to show exactly what business it was that brought Berkeley and the men from the Colonia together. That they were having a lively dispute was clear as day. "You fellows ought to have confidence in me," Berkeley was saying just as Stokes came to rest near the top of the fireplace. "Confidence be durned!" retorted a voice almost, it seemed, btneath the listener. "I hain't got confidence in nobody." "You haven't, hey?" "No." "Well, that don't maiter, anyhow— you're no good!" "No good, am I?" "You ain't worth a nail in an Esquimau's coflSn." "Don't talk that way to me — I'll dance on the graves of every one of you " "Oh, shut up I" These quarrelsome remarks had been exchanged in highvo :c« and very rapidly; at last there was a sound of a blow. It was followed by one of .the men staggering against the fireplace vio- lently. He came up against the wall with such force, in fact, that the stone upon which one of the detective's knees was resting dropped, aaA Stokes, losing his support thus uuexpoctedly. was 5« A PRESCRIPTION THAT FAILED. tumbled into the fireplace in full view of Berkeley and all the others. The ashes from the wood fire that had been burning there were stirred up in a dense cloud by his falling, so that he was for just an instant obscured from /iew and the surprise of the party was so great that they probably would not have recognized him even if it had not been for the ashes. Stokes knew that it would not do to be recognized. His thoughts were like lightning flashes and his actions equally quick. Before the cloud of ashes had more than risen, Stokes threw up his hands, caught his revolvers just as he had done in his adven- ture with the garroters, and fired both simultaneously at the two lamps by which the room was lighted. The bullets not only shattered the cL:mneys, but cut the wicks, this putting out the lights, and the place was in absolute dark- ness. The wildest confusion ensued, of course, and long before it had quieted down and new lights had been struck, Stokes was out of the room and, in fact, out of the building. He hung around outside for a few moments until he was satis- fied that Berkeley and his companions had decided to remain there for further discussion. Then he gave up any attempt to listen to their proceedings, and started off to execute a plan he had made for checkmating the Englishman if other plans should fail. It was a bold, even, dangerous derice, but be was determined to attempt it. "More than half of Berkeley's gang," he said to himself, "are now on shore, and if only those on board — well, I'll go out to the Colonia and see." HANDICAPPING A »TBAMER. 53 CHAPTER VII. HANDICAPPING A STEAMER. He went directly to the dock at which the Frozen Spray was moored and whistled to the skipper. It was a signal that had been arranged beforehand, and in response to it a small boat put off from the schooner and took Stokes on board. Most of the men of Fowler's expedition were at that time asleep. "You're not going to try to start now, Stokes, be ye?" said Fowler. "No," he replied. Stokes was in a rowboat alongside. He told the sailor who had rowed him from shore to go on board. "What's up now, Stokes?" whispered Fowler. "I'm going to try to fix the handicap for this race so .at it will be in our favor, ' ' Stokes replied. He did not stop to explain himself further, but rowed away in the darkness. It was at least half a mile from that place to the spot in the harbor where the Colonia was anchored. There was so little shipping there that Stokes had no diflBculty in locating the steamer by her lights. When he came near enough to distinguish objects on the deck, he rowed completely around the boat and saw no sign of any human being, unless possibly an irregular object near the bow might be that of a man asleep. Stokes rowed his boat to the stern and made it fast to a cleat on the top of the rail. The steamer lay so low in the water that he had no difficulty in climbing on board. 54 HANDICAPPING A STEAMER. i It was not possible to do this without making some noise about it, and when he was once on the deck he lay flat down anA remained motionless for a moment to learn whether his coming had attracted attention. Nobody stiu^d. From the partly-opened door of the gangway leading to the cabin came the sound of snoring, to show that at least one person was on board ; whether that irregular object near the prow was a watchman who had fallen asleep could only be guessed, and in any event, the risk of wakitig him must be taken. Stokes arose, and crouching as he went, made his way to a spot about 'midships, where there was a narrow opening that led to the engine-room. He stepped through this upon an iron grating, and again stood still to listen. All he could hear was the very slight sound that always accom- panies steam machinery when the fires are low. Satisfied thus far that he had aroused nobody, the young fel> low took a dark lantern from his pocket which was already lighted, drew the slide, and shot the rays carefully below and around him. He saw that the grating on which he stood was merely a plat- form, and if he had taken one step farther he would have dropped six feet downward to another platform which was evidently the place where the engineer stood while on duty. An iron ladder led straight down to this spot. Stokes closed his lantern, dropped upon his knees and descended the ladder. Once upon €be lower platform, he set the lantei n so that its rays would not reach the door to the upper deck, and took three or four articles from his pocket. One was a small oil can and another ^^as a tiny, but very strong steel saw. He laid these on the platform and then began to inspect the machinery. He found to his satisfaction that the device for tuminj!; on and shutting off the steap) C9nsi8ted of a tbree>%uarter-inch iron rod HANDICAPPING A STEAMER. 55 projecting from the side of the engine wall, and ending In a small wheel with a handle on its rim. This suited his purpose much better than if the starting appa- ratus had been a lever, as is the case in some steamboats. He did not touch the wheel at first. He scanned the engine very attentively for a full minute to satisfy himself that there was no mistake about it. He was suie he was right. He knew that if that wheel should be turned from right to left the engine would be started and the boat would go ahead. A lever at the side of the room was evidently used to reverse the current of steam. Having made up his mind that he could not be mistaken, Stokes poured a quantity of oil upon the iron rod close to the engine wall ; then he applied his steel saw to the rod and began to cut it off as close to the wall as he could get it. In spite of all his care, the saw made a noise that seemed to him was sufficient to wake up all the inhabitants on shove. He dared not work fast, and yet he dared not lose time, so he stood with the oil can in one hand constantly dripping oil upon the rod, while with the other he plied the saw. This kept the noise down as much as was possible, and so min- ute after minute he worked away, pausing only when the strain of holding his arms in one position became impossible to bear longer. There is no telling how long it took him to cut off this bar; it seemed hours to him, but as the iron was not tempered metal and as the saw was of the finest workmanship, it is hardly likely that he spent more than one hour altogether with the task. The job was finally done, and as he looked at the engine wall and held the starting wheel in his hand, he said to himself: "Now, then, there is only about half a pound of iron that I'm go:ng to take away from this craft, but it strikes me that it will takt a long time to fix a handle on to that starting rod that will make the boat go, and even if they are able to make it go at once, which they might by drilling a hole and putting a tpike into it, they would not dare put to sea unless their startinf (ear was in perfect order. " 56 HANDICAPPING A STEAMER. He replaced his tools and put the iron wheel in his pocket with them. Then he closed the lantern, cautiously mounted the ladder, and emerged upon the upper deck. As he did so he glanced forward and dimly saw the huddled- up figure that he had observed before rise and stretch its arms. "Hope he's had a nice nap," thought Stokes, with an inward laugh. He crept along the rail to the stern and was about to let him- self down into his rowboat, when the light motion of the boat upon the waves caused the rudder chain to rattle. This gave Stokes a new idea. His sense of triumph in damaging the engine was so great that it struck him that it would be a splendid thing to wind up the job by disabling the rudder. He felt along the inner edge of the rail until he found the rud- der chain, and then with his fingers examined it for the space of a foot or two, trying to discover some way by which he could break it readily. He had an open pocket knife in his hand, for he thought there might be a possibility of prying open a link somewhere. Suddenly he was startled by a harsh voice demanding: "Who's there?" Stokes had attempted just one thing too much. He should have been satisfied with spoiling the engine. The brief period that he had spent in examining the chain had given the watchman forward time to wake up thoroughly and come aft on a tour of inspection. Stokes realized instantly that lie had overdone the thing, and that the Colonia was no longer any place for him. With his open knife he slashed the cord that bound his row- boat to the steamer and leaped over the rail. As he went he heard the report of a revolver from the deck. The watchman had fired at him. The detective's feet struck the gunwale of the rowboat, and the result was that instead of landing in it he tipped the boat bottom up and himself disappeared beneath it. FOWIvER TRIES VO PI^AY PILOT. 57 CHAPTER VIII. I'OWI.RR TRIBS TO PLAY PII,OT. The watchman's shot aroused all on board the Colonia, and in half a minute later the deck was wild with excitement. There were only three or four men there, to be sure, but they were tremendously stirred up, and they peered over the taflFrail in vain endeavors to get sight of the strangei ./ho had leaped over- board at the challenge of the watchman. "He must just have come on board," the latter exclaimed, "for I was making my round when I seen him leaning beside the rail." There was no reason to doubt the watchman's word, and as the others on board supposed that he had been awake all through his turn of duty, there was little attempt made to discover whether the stranger had done any mischief. It was naturally supposed that the unknown man had come on board for the purpose of robbery. The men found that nothing had been disturbed in the cabin or the wheel house, and that nothing had disappeared from the deck. No one thought of going to the engine-room. One of the Colonia's boats was then on shore, waiting for lierkeley and the others to finish their session at the hotel. The other boat was lowered and a couple of men rowed out to the rowboat Stokes had used. It could be seen dimly in the darkness, floating swa^ upon the tide. No sound came from that direction, but the lapping of the waves against the steamer's side made the men on board tliink thvy heard somebody struggling in the water not far away. "Look sharp!" they cried to the two in the searching boat; 58 FOWLEB TRIES TO PLAY PILOT. "anybody that's desperate enough to board the Colonia at nlfbt won't hesitate to shoot ye!" The men stopped rowing for an instant and peered forward into the darkness. They could see nothing but a bulky object upon the surface of the water. "His boat has upset," said one of them, "and it's lying there bottom up. ' * "Look out that he ain't behind it," came the warning from the Colonia' s deck. The searchers rowed cautiously, therefore, and one of them fired a revolver so that the bullet split a splinter from the keel of the detective's boat. The shot brought out no reply, and the men then advanced to the upturned boat, made fast to it, and towed it to the Colonia. Then it was hauled on deck and examined. Nothing about it then indicated the owner or what had become of him. Next morning they discovered marks upon it to show that it belonged to the Frozen Spray, but by that time the discovery was of no use to them. It was about the same time that the engineer found that it was impossible to start the machinery. It is hardly to be supposed that a man of Stoke 's character and experience would be seriously troubled by a ducking. The men on board the Colonia believed that he had been killed by the watchman's shot. As a matter of fact, the bullet went wide of its mark. When Stokes overturned the rowboat, the upset, of course, threw out of the boat every loose aricle. Among them was a short, loose plank that had lain in the bottom vf the boat as a brace to the rower's feet. When Stokes came to the surface his head struck this bit of plank. He did not need such an article to help him in swimming, but as he wore very heavy clothing and the water was intensely cold, FOWIyER TRIES TO PLAY PII,OT. 59 he thought it best to cling to it for a while until he should have managed to get beyond range of the Colonia. The first thing that occurred to him was that the men on board might fire into the water at random in the hope of some chance shot hitting him. They did not do this, and while they were searching to see what the supposed robber had taken away, and while they were towing back the overturned boat, Stokes, lying on his back and easing himself by holding to the bit of plank, was kicking him- self as fast as he could toward the Frozen Spray. It was a long, long swim in the cold and darkness. He abandoned the plank when he was well away from the Colo- nia, and struck out on his &ide in the style employed by the best swimmers. He had not gone far in this way before it occurred to him that there was one more thing he could do to cause delay to the Eng- lishmen. Acting on this new thought, he changed his course and swam for the shore. No one was stirring around the docks at that hour. He made his way without attempt at concealment to the place where another small boat belonging to the Colonia lay. It was the one in which Berkeley and his companions had come ashore. When they should have finished their discussion they would expect to return in it to the steamer. Stokes got into this boat, knelt upon the bottom and began to bore a hole in it with a little gimlet attached to his pocket knife. He had no more than begun this when a better plan occurred to his daring mind. Wthout hesitation he put it into execution. Cutting the rope that made the boat fast to the lauding, he took up the oars and rowed away. He was hardly a dozen yards from the dock when he heard footsteps coming from the direction of the city. The oars creaked loudly in the locks. 6o FOWLER TRIES TO PLAY PILOT. Stokes could just see a dim form standing at the edge of the dock. "He's trying to see me," thought Stokes as he stopped row- ing; "wonder if he's one of the Colonia fellows? If so, I reckon it's just as well that I took the boat. " He shifted his seat to the stern, where he used one of the oars silently as a paddle. "Who goes there?" demanded a stern voice from the dock. "Find out, Petey," was Stokes' response; but it was spoken to himself. He was not so foolhardy as to risk the success of his undertak- ing at this stage by any nonsense. "Who goes there?" came the command in a louder tone. Stokes paddled vigorously, but the noise of the oar in the water was no louder than the rippling of wavelets against the pier. The man on the dock turned suddenly and ran back. "He's going to get a boat and give chase, " thought Stokes; "now for a race!" He leaped to the forward seat again and pulled at both oars with all his might. No matter how much noise he m^de, he was determined now to get to the Frozen Spray ahead of his pursuer. The latter evidently found a boat at once, for a moment later Stokes saw a dark object emerge from the blackness near the pier. The pursuer had a light boat, Stokes a very heavy one. The detective was heavily handicapped. "Swimming's best," he said to himself, and promptly dropped overboard. • The result was that when the pursuer, a police oflScer, came up to the Colonia' s boat he found it empty, and no noise or other sign thereabout of the man who had been in it. The puzzled oflScer towed the boat back to shore and in due time reported the matter, but long before that Stokes had reached the Frozen Spray, He was thoroughly fagged out when he arrived thtre, and at racted the attention of the watchman and FOWI.ER TRIES TO PIvAY PII,OT. 61 Fowler, both of whom were on the alert and watching for him. He was rigged out ptomptly in ill-fitting but dry clothing, and very soon felt none the worse for his unexpected bath. He told Fowler and the skipper of the craft what he had done, and at his urgent demand sail was raised at once, and before sun- rise the Frozen Spray was miles from Circle City. This much was satisfactory to Stokes for the time, because his first purpose was to get far enough away to avoid the possibility of capture if the men on the Colonia should suspect him of hav- ing done the mischief. Once daylight came, however, he was anxious that the course of the vessel should be laid directly toward the shore, where the stream fiom Old Glory emptied into the river. Then the detective found himself facing the worst obstacle in the whole adventure. Fowler was indeed no sailor. He had never been in these waters until his trip with his part- ner, Carney ; and although he could remember that they had explored some of the shore, for the most part he could not tell one piece of land from another. "We went zigzaggin' and criisscrossin' along through yere," ,he said, doubtfully; "but durn ef I know whether we went to the right hand or the left hand of that island forward. " Stokes was ^n despair. ' ' I don't think we stopped anywheres yere, ' ' Fowler said, about midday. "It makes a man think," growled Stokes, "that there's no such mine as Old Glory. ' * "Now, see yere," cried Fowler, firing up, "that don't go. Smart as you be, I won't hev you doubtin' my word " "Oh, well, I take it back," retorted Stokes, impatiently. ^ "And I'll go to sleep. Steer the old tub for the shore, and when we get there we'll tow her along until we find the stream that you went up. " With this he went below. The others, who realized as fully as Stokes that their chances were slight unless luck favored them, decided to take his angry PW 69 FOWIvER TRiEvS TO PI,AY PIIyOT. advice seriously, and the skipper was directed to steer as straight for the shore as he could go. When darkness came it was decided to lay to for fear they might pass the mouth of the stream which they wished to redis- cover. The next morning Fowler was as helpless in his confusion as before, and Stokes began to wish heartily that he had never taken part in the expedition ; it seemed like throwing away so much good time and energy — the money part of it he did not care for. He was extremely anxious to hv . omplish something, and there seemed no hope for it. They say it's always darkest just before the dawn, and it seemed to be something like that in this case. About the middle of the afternoon the wind fteshened consid- erably from tUe northwest, thus giving the schooner the best sailing breeze it could have. At about the same time Fowler gave vent to a loud hurrah. "Is Old Glory coming out to meet us in a small boat?" asked Stokes, sarcastically. "No, durn your sassy tongue, " returned Fowler, "but I seen thet hill over yonder when I was yere before." And he pointed to an elevation lying at a considerable distance to the southeast, "Make for it, then!" cried Stokes, excitedly; "take the glass, Fowler, and search the shore, and the minute you see any signs of that stream of yours let's know about it." The next three or four hours the schooner sped swiftly over the waves, and Fowler hardly lowered the glass. It was nearly sundown when he said at last, very quietly : "We've got thar at last!" "Where?" asked Stokes. Fowler pointed to a spot almost ateam. "The stream comes out thar," he &Aid, "right whar it looks like a little beach." The skipper, who was listening, was beginuiug to put the boat about in order to go directly to this beach. FOWLER TRIES TO PLAY PILOT. «3 " Hold on a minute, " said Stokes. And he took the glass. He had often and often during the journey strained bis eyes to the north and west for any sign of the Colonia. He had seen none. Now with the glass he repeated the opera'.ion. Far away he distinguished a thin line of smoke. There was no mistaking it. TU% smoke came from the funnel of a steamet. It might not be the Colonia; she was hull down behind the islands; but it ^vas not likely that any other craft of her kind was prowling aiound in these waters at this season. "Fowler," said Stokes, " have you got your bearings so that you could get to Old Glory without following up the course of the stream?" "You bet!" was the response. "Then we won't put in here." Stokes looked forward. "Make for that rocky point," he said. "Thp* lies just to the port of our corrse, \vn drop anchor some where behind it, where the schooner cau oe seen from this side." "What's your object in all thet, Stokes?" inquired Fowler. "It will be easier to go up the stream in small boats for es far eg Carney and me went. It will be thunderin' difficult to lug all our provisions over that ledge and up the hill to Old Glory." "I don't care how difficult it is," was the detective's response, "we've got to do it," ' ' But why ?' ' persisted Fowler. "Well, if you want to know," Stokes replied, "it's a hundred to one that the Colonia will drop anchor off this place inside of three hours; if her men get sight of us, very likely they'll hurry up to the mine; if they don't, there is just a chance that they will lie here until morning; then we'll be in possession." "Possession or no possession," responded Fowler, "the mine is mine, for Carney and me staked oif the claim. ' ' ' ' And your stakes have undoubtedly been pulled up, ' ' retorted Stokes, "and according to law in this part of the world actual possession counts a good deal more than right, doesn't it?" "I reckon it does," 64 OLD GLORY AFLOAT ONCB MOR«. Ih'. CHAPTKR IX. • OI,D GLORY API,OAT CNCE MORK. Prom then until the time the Frozen Spray dropped anchor around the rugged headland, Stokes was all nervousness for fear the breeze would go down and leave them becalmed. No such bad luck occurred, however. The breeze held steadily. At no time during the rest of the tripwa^. there any sign of the distant steamer except the first line of smoke on the horizon. The men forming Fowler's expedition went on shore immedi- ately, carrying only a small supply of provisions, but as much ammunition as could be packed upon them. Stokes believed that it would be wise to be prepared for a hot fight, tor if Old Glory were anywhere near as rich a mine as Fowler represented it to be, the men on the Colon ia would cer- tainly maice a desperate effort to obtain possession of it. As the expedition began to make its way up the ledge in the night, Stokts felt jus;t one moment of doubt as to whether his suspicions about Berkeley and the Colonia were correct. "It would be an awful laugh on me," he thouf^ht, "if after all it proved that they weren't connected with the case at all." The men found it an exceedingly tiresome journey; the forest was very dense and thickly strewn with fallen tre;^; it was impossible to pursue a straight line of march; having clinibe«l the ledge behind which the schooner was sheltered, they had to descend a considerable distance before they came again to rising ground. In spite of all their haste in getting away from the schooner it was late at night befo*x; the; started, and after several hours of tramping, follo'ving a direction indicated by Fowler and keep* OLD GLORY AFLOAT ONCE MORE. 65 ijig it according to compass, they found their progress blocked l)y what appeared to be a wide, deep and rapid streani. "There's no fording," remarked Stokes, standing on the bank. " What stream is tliis, Fowler^"' "I'm blessed if I know," he said; "it's putty nigh daylight, and I might tell then, but in the dark " "In the dark," interrupted Stokes, "you reckon it's the stream that comes from Old Glory, don't you?" "I shouldn't surprised ef it was." "If you could only make certain of it," exclaimed Stokes, "we could follow up the bank, but ef it's the wrong stream it would be taking us out of oui course to go up. ' ' " 'Twas a mighty crooked stream," remarked Fowler, "an' p'r'aps ef you should throw the light of your lantern around yere a bit I might recognize somethin'." vStokes produced his dark lanterti and did as requested. "It seems like it," raid Fowler. Just then one of the men cried out : "Durn ef I haven't found a handkerchief!" "A what?' cried several voices in astonishment. "How long since hev the Indians in this part of the country took to usin' pocket handkerchiefs?" asked one of the men, sarcastically. "That's what it is, though," said the man, and he approa':^!ied tho lantern with the handkerchief clinging to a root. "A handkerchief!" shouted Fowler, in wild excitement. "You onery galoot, thet's OM Glory! Don't you know your country's flag when you see it?" He shook the water fron; the dripping cloth and held it up by two corners. It was indeed the Stars and Stripes. "That's the very flag," declared Fowler, .solemnly, "that vay jH)or pardner, Carney, liitchcd to a slick to mark our claim, an' 'twas thet thet give it its name of Old Glory." "Then we're on the right stream," .said Stokes, (iuietly.** and I can tell you what's happened. "The fellows that fired at you tore down the flag and threw it into the brook, and that shows what I've believed all along, that tliey were Englishmen." "Up the stream to the mine!" was the instant cry of all. The sun was just rising when at length they came to the ledge ■iiid found the beginning of a shaft that Carney and Fowler had I)lasted there two weeks and more before. "This is the spot, " said T'owler, gravely, "and they've done j(.'st es you said; they tore down our stakes— — " 66 OLD GLORY AFLOAT ONCE MORE. He paused and went forward to a stick set in the ledge at the spot where Old Glory had formerly floated. "Durn me," he cried angrily, "ef they hevn't used our own stakes an' put a new name to the thing. " He pointed down to the ground at the base of the stakes where a piece of paper lay, held in place by a fragment of quartz. It had been rained on, but the words upon it were still plainly to be seen. Stokes picked up the paper, and read : The Queen's Own Miue. Discovered and claimed by Archibald Berkeley and Mark Slote. "Slote!" two or three of the men exclaimed, and "Berkeley!" e»elaimed the others. "They're the men I've had my eyes on all this time, " said Stokes, "and it won't be long before we'll see them here." "We'll give them a taste of bullets," muttered one man. "There's a better way than that," said Stokes. All looked at him with some surprise. "I'd like to give these fellows a rap as well as any of the rest of you, but what's the use of shedding blood when you can take them alive? I'd rather see Berkeley and Slote hang than to shoot them down here, even in a fair fight." The men were so delighted with the detective's shrewdness and success in managing the expedition thus far that they agreed to obey his orders still farther. "I'll keep this paper," said Stokes, putting the Englishmen's claim in his pocket. "And we'll put up Old Glory where it flew before." The American flag was again fastened to the stake, and but for Stokes' persuasions the men would have given the colors a volley by way of salue. "If we must use our guns," said Stokes, "let uses them wtten they'll do some good." Then he stationed some of the men in the thicket from whence the shot had been fired that killed poor Carney. The others he concealed elsewhere among the rocks and trees. "We shan't have long to wait," he .said. It was a true ])re(Hction. Less than half an hour after the men had taken their places they heard approaching voices and foot- steps. Presently seven or eight men came into view toiling up the bank of the stream with mining implements and packs of provis- ions on their bucks. At the head of the party were Berkeley and Slote, and another man who was evidently not a mining prospector, fbr he whs OIvD GI^ORY AFI^OAT ONCE MORB. 67 dressed in much better style and looked unaccustomed to march- ing. "This is the place," cried Berkeley, and then he halted in astonishment, for his eyes saw the American flag floating on the .same spot where he himself had torn it down many days before. vStokes did not give him or the others a chance to recover from their surprise. He quietly arose from behind the pile of quartz that had been thrown up by Fowler, and holding a revolver in each hand, said: "Now, gentleman, every man of you is covered, just as the two Americans were covered when they were at work on this mine. The first one of you that stirs simply gives a signal for the death of every man in your gang. "This mine is on American soil, it was discovered and is owned by Americans, and they are here to fight for it." He raised his hand, and at that signal the men concealed in the thickets fired a volley over the heads of the :tartled English- men. The shot seemed to come from every direction. It was as cer- tain as could be to Berkeley and his men that they were sur- rounded and that resistance was hopeless. Accordingly, at another command from Stokes they threw tlieir weapons upon the gronnd, and Fowler and his men came out from the thicket to take possession of them. In the confusion that followed this Slote attempted to break away. One of the men in the expedition promptly sent a bullet into his shoulder that disabled him and ended the trouble. To his great satisfaction, Stokes found that Slote was wearing a coat from which a button and a fragment of cloth was missing, and the piece of cloth that he had been carrying in his pocket lor several days matched the tear exactly. It proved later that Berkeley and Slote were two members of the gang that had been driven out of the illegal sealing business, and liad taken to hunting tor gold without any knowledge of mining. They had discovered Fowler and Carney at their work, and had watched them long enough to see that the Americans had made a gooil find. Then they had attempted to kill them both. Fbiliug. in this they had carrietl away specimens of the quartz, and by reason of knowing the sailing route among tbe islands, had got to Circle City in advance of Fowler. There they tried to raise money on the strength of the speci- mens they had brought with them, in order to develop the m|jie sufficiently to sell it. Meantime they had sent word to other members of their gang 68 OLD GLORY AFLOAT ONCE MORE. ill British Cohitnbia, and had heard no word from them until the leltfj^rani came which Stokes had picked up. If it had not been for the way that Stokes disabled the Colo- nia, Berkeley and his gang would have been in possession of the mine for at least two days before Fowler's expedition could have arrived. The well-dressed man in the party was a swindler from British Columbia, who had fitted out the Colonia to go to Berke- ley's assistance. The end of Stokes' first adventure as a detective in Alaska was the return of all the English party as prisoners to Circle City, where Berkeley and Slote Vvere convicted of murder. It was also proven during the trial that Slote had hired the toughs to garrote Stokes. The others were released, because there was no legal charge that could be sustained against them. Fowler, of course, maintained his rights to the mine, and shared it among the men who had joined the expedition to recover it, forming t?!e Old Cory Mine Company. Suet was the beginning of the great Klondike discoveries which have set two continents gold-mad. On the spot where Fow- ler and the unfortunate Carney with patriotic; devotion erected the flag of their country over their mine, other and more success- ful prospectors have struck it rich. The luckiest of these was perhaps Dawson, after whom the town that grew up like a mush- room in one night, has been called Dawson City. Another result of this affair was that the whole course of Har- vey Stokes' career was changed. After the trial and conviction of the criminals the brave and handsome detective was received with the acclaim an opera tenor is accorded in more civilized regions. He rapidly became the most talked of man in all Alaska. In fine the hero-worship became so repulsive to the unassuming young sleuth that to rid himself of it, he went off on a shooting expeany which is yourselves?" "Right." "Did you purchase the property from Esquimaux?" "Oh, no!" "Then is it possible thet the papers could hev been stolen by the people who formerly owned the property an' who hoped to get possession of it again by destroyin' the evidence of your own- ership?" "No," was the prompt answer. "The fellers thet discovered thet the island of Taska hed gold on it hain't in his yere part of the world at all. The Esquimaux hevn't made no claim to it in thirty year. I reckon no Esquimau could do anything with those papets except demand a reward for 'em?" Stokes thought a moment, and during the silence there was a light ticking noise upon one of the windows. It was much as if a branch of a tree had been blown by the wind so that the leaves scraped the glass. 76 STOKEvS AS A WINDOW BREAKER. Nobody in the room paid any special attention to the noise, although two or three men turned curiously toward the window. Nothing was to be seen there except the darkness of ,.'ie night out- side, and nothing was said of the matter. Stokes himself appeared to pay no attention to it, although he did raise his eyes toward the window. His thoughts were evidently far away. Presently he asked: "Where is this island of Taska?" Murdock suddenly became interested and active. "I can tell you all about thet," he said, sitting up and putting both hands upon his knees. "It's about forty miles to the northeast of yere. It ain't a very big island. ' ' Stokes looked quietly at the speaker and asked. ' ' Do you fellers own the whole of it ?' ' "Every bit of it," Murdock answered, quickly. Murdock was looking restlessly about the room and Stokes was struck with his action and his sudden liveliness. "Tell me all you can about the island," he said. "Well, it's jest like a hill thet's stuck its nose out of the water. It's mostly rock with a few scrub pines growin' on it yere an' thar, an' the only buildings on it are those thet belong to our camp. Thare's huts for the Esquimaux laborers " "How many are thare of them?" Stokes asked. "Esquimaux?" "Yes." "Nine." "Are there other white men thar besides yourselves?'' "Oh, yes, half a dozen." "Are they partners?" "No. They work by the day. " "We hev really done a good deal with the mine, Stokes," remarked Fowler. "It's in good shape to pay, but it needs jest a little money to develop it, an' thet's why we're tryin' to sell " "Never mind thet now," Stokes interrupted. "You've hed something stolen thet you want to recover, an' what I want to get at is whether thar is anything on the island to hide the papers in so thet a good search couldn't find 'em." "Well, I don't know " Fowler began, when Murdock interrupted : "I can make thet j^t fes clear," he exclaimed, "es ef you were on the spot yourself." He arose and took from his pocket a paper which he unfolded and laid upon the table. It proved to be a map of the island, STOKKvS AS A WINDOW BRKAKER. 77 showing clearly the locatiou of the buildings and the mining slifds, etc. All the men gathered around th(, table and looked curiously at it. Stokes, of course, began to study it at once. "Don't crowd," exclaimed Murdock, rather impatiently; "let Mr. Stokes liev a chance to get what he can outen the map. tiive him room, the rest of j'ou." "Oh, thar's room enough," muttered Stokes, with his eyea upon the paper. A dozen men might have looked over his shoul- der while he was studying the map and he would not have been disturbed by their presence. Murdock, however, seetned to feel that there should be no crowding around the table, and he set the example by returning to his own corner, where he stood with his hands in his pockets watching Stokes. The others followed his example, just as men almost always will do when somebody takes the lead, and retired to other parts of the room, leaving Stokes stooping over the table in the very middle. He had one forefinger on the map and was rapidly committing to memory the lay of the land as it was marked theie. "What is this little circle " he began, when everybody was startled by the sound of a pistol shot from without. vStokes felt a hot tingling upon his right cheek, as if somebod)' had struck him with a whiplash. Both of his hands were upon the table and he was facing one of the two windows. Those in the room were so startled by the sound of the shot that for just an instatit nobody moved or spoke. Stokes, who had raised his head when he began to ask his question, saw a little lound hole in the pane of glass directly opposite him. He himself acted so quickly that those who .saw him said after- ward that it seemed as if he leaped the very instant that the shot was fired. As Payton put it : "It seemed jest es ef Stokes knowed the shot was comin' an' jumped the minute the feller pulled the trigger." What the detective did was to vaidt over the table, take one leap toward the window, and then folding his arms before his face, take another leap that carrieil him straight through it and out into the alley that ran alongside. There was a tremendous crash of broken glass atid splintered sashes, and the startled men within the room hurried to the wrecked window and looked out. 78 STOKES AS A WINDOW BREAKER. They could see nothing, but they heard the light sounds of hurrying feet and knew that Stokes must have landed upright, and that he was now in pursuit of the fellow who had fired at hiui. When Stokes struck the ground he saved himself from falling by taking another leap, which brought him almost against the building at the other side of the alley. He put out his hands to the waP, caught his balance in the flash of a sec^^nd, and turned liis head towanl the street. He had been so quick about it that the felloe; who had fired had not mor:i than started to run by the tiuv Stokes came crash- ing through the v/indow affer him. Jt v.as a Jiavk i ight, but the would-l o aiurdercr had to pass a lighted window, and in the rays of the lamp »Stokes saw him. He 'vas then lest^ th ;n twenty feet away. It would have been -ui easy matter for Stokes to shoot him on the spot, but it suited his purpose better to pursue and capture the fellow alive. Accordingly he sprinted after the fugitive with all the speed of his wiry frame, and overtook him just at t)ie edge of the .street. The main street is not particui*^''y lively at nigh;., and at this moment there appeared to be nobo »,■...• ""kly that they had had no more time to recover from their astonishment at Stokes' exit through the window, avvi hurry through the hallway to the street. "Whj^ hello!" said Fowler, who came up 6rst; "yere's Mr. Hellows! For Heaven's sake, Stokes, don't plug him with lead, for he's the feller we want to sell our mine to." So BELJ^OWS SURPRISED AND MYSTERIOUS. CHAPTER XII. BELI-OWS SURPRISED AND MYSTERIOUS. 'I don't care who he is," retorted Stokes. "Ef he don't look sharp he'll be durn tired of the uiinin' business in Alaska." "Ah, Fowhir!" exclaitned Bellows, "I'm glad to .see you. I suppose I've no business to get mixed up in frontier rows, but I couldn't .stand it when I saw that ruffian abusing an Esquimau. I demand that you have him arrested, and I'll appear in court against him myself for carrying concealed weapons and threaten- ing a citizen. I don't propose to be treated in this way by any- body." "Haw! haw!" cried Payton, bursting into a loud laugh. "What's the matter now?" demanded Bellows. "Nice time you'd hev, " said Payton, "of tryin' to convict a man in this yere country of carryin' concealed weapoi.s. Why, pardncr, it's the otdy way thet \f(i can preserve the peace." During this short dialogue Stokes stood defiantly in front of Bellows, still holding his revolvers in his hands. The Esquimau, who had recovered consciousness partially, had his hands before his face and was leaning against the building. "Is this the galoot thet did the business, Stokes?" asked Fowler, poijiti'.,^i ^o the P^squimau. "Tliet'shim." "Tlien why do'i't you sock it to him vi *•' a dose of lead an' explain njatters afterward 'i"' " 'Cause I want him to tell us about those missing papers," was the detective's response. "Oh, ho! /o'i've got an idee about a clue, hev ye?" "I want the chance to talk to thet feller," said vStokes ; "take him inside before the row brings anyl)0(1y around yere." Bellows caught the words "mi.ssing papers" and suddenly became greatly interested. "Has this something to do with our business, Fowler?" he asked. "I reckon it has," was the response. "An' we'd better adjourn back to the office an' talk it ov'.r. " "B 'ore yon go," said Stokes, ])Utting up his own weapons and again picking up the revolver tliat hud been thrown away, BELLOWS SURPRISED AND MYvSlEKlOUS. di an* " I just want you to mulersland thet this gun was thrown away by tlu' Es(juiinau when I overtook him; you can see <'or yourselves' wlieiher it has been fired within a few niinutes. " He handed the weapon to I'ayton, who examined it and said: "Five shooter, one cartridge empty, an' by the feelin' of it anybody wouKi know thet it bed jest been fired." "That's enough," huiJ Stokes. "Now take the man inside, .'Ml' we'll see wbat he sayi about it." "You come in, too, Mr. Bellows, " said Fowler; "you'll find this interestin'." Stokes took the Esquimau by one shoulder and I'owler by the othei. He kept hi!' hands before his face and lield back, but the two pushed him along and so conducted him across the street. In the doorway of the other building was Murdock. He had ronie frotn the office with his partners, br.t had not gone beyond ilie doot He wa^ ; I the approaching group, evidently as much inter- ested as any one. Suddenly he exclaimed : "Why, durn me ef it ain't Cadloo!" At this the Es(iuimau lowered his hands from his face and glared sullenly from Murdock to those who surrounded him. "Know him, do you?" asked Stokes. "1 should think I did," was Murdock's answer. "What are you ttying to do with him?" "Ask him what he tried to do to nie," L'tokes retotted. "He ain't the feller thet fired at you." "Ain't, eh?" "Course not." "What makes you so .sure?" "Why, 'cau.se he's one of us; he's the feller that rowed me over from Taska today. " ' Oh!" Stokes won id have liked to say more, for there was a good deal upon his mind just then, but it was natund for him to keep bis .suspicions and thoughts pretty much to himself. He took his hand from Cadlno's shoulder and remarked sim- ply: "ICf he rowed you over perhaps you would like to hev him row you back. Ef yon do, you'd better keep your eyes on him, or liL-'ll get away from you." "What are you doir.g around yere, anywaj', Cadloo?" tleinanded Murdock in a blustering manner. Cadloo answered with a meaningless grunt. Munlock's partners had cro'. /deil closely aiound the l-'squimau the nu)ment it became known who he was. They were considerably excited, for their confidence iu Stokes 82 BELIyOWS SURPRISED AND MYSTERIOUS. was increased by his daring leap through the window into th(> dark and his speedy capture of the man who, without doubt, had tried to murder him, "Thar' 11 be one Esquimau less in Alaska to-morrow mornin', I reckon," remarked Payton, significantly. "He ain't no friend of yours, Murdy, an' you'd bettci not try to back his hand." "i ain't a-backin' nobo, " he said, "you know well enough I'll stand up for you ; ef you ain't, there ain't uuthin' tuat can help you, and you'd better auswer. " "I no shoot," mutter .'d the Esquimau. "I told you he hadn't anything to do with it," excluin.ed Murdock. "Oh, nonsense," said Stokes. "Here's your revolver thet you say yourself you gave to Cadloo, I saw liiui throw it across the street. He was the only man in the alley when I jumped through tlie window, an' there's one cartridge empty." "What hev you got to say to thet, Cadloo?" asked Murdock. ' ' I walk by, ' ' replied the Esquimau, evidently very much fright- ened. "I hear gun; I take out pistol, for I ' fraid some man shoot ine. ' This man jump on me, I get scared, throw gun away, an* thets all. "How does it happen." Stokes asked, Bnrcastically, "thet one cartridge in the gun is empty?" "' shoot chicken this afternoon," Cadloo responded in alow voice. Stokes looked contv'mptuously at the K^uimou, and every ■e in the room was certain that h« wa-'^ ^ying. m 84 BELLOWS SURPRISED 'AND MYvSTERIOUS. •'Perhaps 2 can straighten this out," remarked Bellows, speak- ing for the first time since he had come in. "I was a little way t'rotri here and I saw these two men having what looked like a tiji^ht. They came out from beyond the shadow of the building almost together, and one went down. Then Mr. Stokes grab1)ed the other by the collar and dragged him across the road. I was not afraid because I thought it was a case of some intoxicated white man abusing an Esquimau. 1 can see that I was mistaken, for I don't thinV. 'lere was any doubt, from what 1 heard since, that the Esqu'r p" had tried to kill this man." Payton was sc angry and excited that it was all he could do to keep from attacking the Ks(iuiniau on the .spot. " Let him alone, " said Stokes, coolly; "we'll give him one more chance. The Esquimau looked as if he was afraid that his life was to be ended then and there, when Stokes sternly asked : "Who toid you to .shoot at me ?" This question sin-prised everybody in the room. They became death}y silent, waiting for the Esquimau's answer, "I shoot," he muttered after a restless glance around the roon:, "because I think }'ou somebody else; I no know you; I think you somebody, that's all." "Who told you thar was somebody yere thet you ought to shoot?" demanded Stokes again. The EBcpiimau shook his head and trembled so violently that he caught at the table for support. "Search him," said Stokes, "an' see ef he hes got the missin' papers about him." Payton and I'owler promptly executed the detective's com- mand. They found nothing whatever about the Es(piimau that con- nectetl him in any way wiih the lobbery. "Let's string the murderiu' galoot up 'thout any more talk 'bout it, " cried Payton, exasperated by their failure to get the evidence they wish^nl for. "Not on your life!" exviaimed Stokes; "let him alone." "But such fellers hex »o bttsincss to live," urged Payton. "Thet's right 'noughl' Stokes admitted, "but «f you want me to tak any hand in Iryin' tofinkes ■was driving at, but his confidence in him was unshnken. BELLOWS SURPRISED AND MYSTERIOUS. 85 "When you get through with this discussion, " said Stokes, "we'll hand Cadloo over to the barracks, an' ef I can attend to it I'll see thet thar's a charge against him on which he can be licld es long es we want him. ■'Meantinie I want to get at the lay of the land on Taska, an' I reckon I'll go over there to-morrow." With this he stooped over the table and began again to exam- ine the map as quietly as if nothing had happened. He spent a few minutes in this way «««king questions about the location of buildings upon the island, and at last said that the only way by which he could get any satisfactory idea of fin- (. ase would be by going to the mine and making an examination ou the spot. The question then arose as to how he could get there, for the only mode of reaching the island was by small boats. Payton thought that he knew of a boat that could be engaged for the purpose, and at the detective's request he went out to secure it, and a ciew, and have it ready to sail in the early morn- ing. Fowler suggested that they should all go along, but Stokes shook his head. "I'd rather be alone," he said; *'I can get on better at the start ef thar's nobody with me. Vou see " he added, as if tak- ing everybody into his cotifidence, "thbse papers were taken by somehcHly who was on the island yesterday. "Now, so fi.L as we know about it, the only one who left the island was Murdock, yere, an' Cadloo. "Of course Murdock didn't take the papers '• "What's thet?" exclaimed Murdork, angrily. "I'm simply arguin' the matter, and said of course you didn't lake the papers," replied Stokes. "An' we've proven that Cadloo hasn't got 'cm." "You'd better not be too fly with your suspicious, young fel- ler," Murdock growled. "I hevn't said anything about suspicions," Stokes responded, <|uiftly. "I'm simply tcUin' you the man who did this business is probably on the island of Taska now, an' I can probably get at liim l)etter ef I'm thar alone fer a few hours. Ef the rest of you conif on half a day later it'll do no haruj. "The only business we've left to do to-night is to see thet Cad- loo i.s locked up. ' ' It was immediately arranged that Cadloo should be taken to the barracks, ajul th*- entire party, except Payton, who hail gone to engage the boat, left the office for tnis purpose. Mellows, v,''o had been listening to the conversation very care- 86 BELLOWS SURPRLSRD AND MYSTERIOUS. fully, followed along and took Stokes by the ami as they left Ihe building. The others, surrounding Cadloo, were just in front, "You've got n cool head, Mr. Stokes,." remarked Bellows in an undertone. "HevI?" returned Stokes. "Yes. And I wanted to say two things to you." "Fire away." "In the first place, I don't want you to feel ugly about the way I interfered with you and the Esquimau. I didn't know what was up, you see, and I admit now that I was mistaken and that you were just right; in fact, I admire your nerve and daring immensely." "Oh, well! thet's all right; say nothing more about it." "I won't, but this is the other thing. " He halted and tapped Stokes on the clu;st with his forefinger as he added : "I'll make it worth your while if you find those missing papers. ' ' "I don't suppose I know exactly what you mean," Stokes responded, "but I've already told the men, who are more inter- ested in the papers than you arc, that I would try to find them, and as I understand it, my arrangements are with them rather than with you. I don't pretend to be a professional detective, and in any case, no extra compensation that you could offer would make me work any harder than I shall work now for the fun of it." Bellows looked at him in the utmost astonishment. "Your language surprises me," he said. "I thought you were a wild western, uneducated cowboy. And you certainly did not speak like that inside there." "Didn't I?" Trim returned, with a grin. "Perhaps I didn't, but you see, when I'm with Romans I do as Romans do. "What was it you were .i[oing to say to me?" Bellows still stared in astonishment at the detective, evidently finding it hard to realize that the chap who could fight so des- perately and who was able to lead these rough men should at the SAUie time be capable of conversing like an educated gentleman. "We won't talk more about it now, Mr. Stokes," said Bel- lows, presently, '"but I want you to see me when you get through with this undertaking, and if you fi.nd tho^ papers I repeat that I'll make it worth your while." A STRANGE ATTEMPT AT CAPTURE. 87 CHAPTER XIII. A STRANGK ATTEMPT AT CAPTURB. Bellows notlded mysteriously and left the party. Stokes continued with the miners until they had conducted Cadloo back to the barracks. Immediately after he went to bed at his hotel, for the purpose of getting as much sleep as possible before what he believed would be a hard day's work. At sunrise he was on the river with an Esquimau for a skipper — man and boat were new to Stokes. During his stay at Circle City he had had occasion to engage a boat for fishing and other excursions several times, and generally had used one particular boat That craft now, however, was away from port, and he had been obliged to take the best that was offered to him. The skipper was, like most of the Esquimaux, a silent fellow, and he appeared to understand less English than most of his race. Stokes gave him scarcely a thought, confining his attention wholly to the problem that would confront him when he should arrive at the island of Taska. The wind was not only exceedingly light, but it came from the north, so that the little craft had to make a great many tacks in order to cover the course. They had just rounded a little island when Stokes saw a small moving object on the water at a considerable distance, he strained his eyes to dis/inguish what it might be, but for a moment could not make out for a certainty. He turned to the skipper and asked : "Is that a rowboat off there to the northwest?" The skipper turned his head toward the northeast and looked vacantly. "The otlier way," exclaimed Stokes, sharply; "I said to the northwest. ' ' The Esquimau slowly turned his head, fixed his eyes upon the distant boat, and then looked straight before him without answer- ing "Well?" said Stokes, impatiently. . "What?" inquired the skipper. "I wked you if you thought that WM a rowboat,** 8d A vSTRANGE ATTEMPT AT CAPTURE. ' ' Mebbe, ' ' wtis the unsatisfactory response. "Of course it may be, but do you think it is?" AK'>in the lilsciuiniau looked at the distant boat, shrugged his shoulders, and said : "Don't know; mebbe." Stokes gave up in disgust. "The fellow's stupid," he thought; "if he thinks it is not a boat he might just as well say so, but it don't make any differ- ence, anyway. "There is no reason why some natives shouldn't be out there fishing, and that's probably the case, although it does look as if the boat were being .shoved along at a pretty rapid gait." Stokes occasionally glanced in the direction of the distant boat, if that was what it was, but paid no especial attention to it, and a little later it vanished from view. About midday Stokes tried another (juestion on the skipper. The detective had kept a careful watch upon the course they had taken, and knowing in a general way the distance to the island of Taska, it seemed to him with all their windings that the island should be now in sight, so he pointed to u speck of land far away to the north and asked : "Is that Taska?" The skipper shook his head. "Is it in sight now?" Another shake. "How far away are we?" The Esquimau shrugged his shoulders, looked doubtfully, and answered : "Don't knov;." "Can't you give a guess?" Another shake of the head. "Say, " said Stokes after a pause, "do you think we'll get there to-day?" This question was followed by a grunt which sounded as much like "yes" as anything else, and Stokes had to be sati.sfied with it. He sat forward in the boat and most of the time kept his eyes ahead. The wind was now blowing in such a way that they could pur- sue an almost direct northern course, and after noting that there was a considerable stretch of open water before them, across which the boat wa* pointed, he stretched himself out iu the bottom of the boat. He had been lying thus perhaps a quarter of an hour, when the irregular motion of the boat caused him to look up and around quickly. A STRANGE ATTEMPT AT CAPTURE. a# He saw at once that the course had been considerably changed, and that they were now heading directly for an island that lay to the east of the course which he believed to be the right one. The change in the motion of the boat had been due to cutting across the water at a different angle than had been the case before. "Well," said Stokes, "is that Taska?" A grunt from the Esquimau seemed to mean yes, and Stokes looked with lively interest at the nearing land. "That doesn't seem to be like the land described on Mur- dock's map, " thought Stokes. "But I suppose it is, and that before long I shall see the buildings connected with the mine." A moment later he said to himself: "Either this is not Taska or Murdock's map is all wrong, for according to the map there should be some kind of a dock and a small building on this southern shore. I can't see any sign of a dock now. ' ' He looked over his shoulder at the skipper, and saw that the Kscjuimau was holding the boat steadily on her course, evidently with the intention of landing upon this island. "Are you sure that's Taska?" Stokes inquired. There was again an unintelligible grunt. Stokes might have demanded a clearer answer to his question if it had not been that just then the boat heeled far over as a Utile gust of wind struck it, and for a moment it rocked violently. Stokes saw what the trouble was. The water was getting shal- low as they neared the shore, and that made the waves rougher. The land also caused the wind to blow irregularly, and the skip- per apparently was not attending carefully enough to his work. At the same moment, too, the foresail sheet gave way, leaving the sail flapping and making it pos.sible that if another gust of wind should come unexpectedly the boat would capsize. Knowing just what had to be done, Stokes gave up any attempt to question the skipper, but crept out upon the little bowsprit, caught the sail and with considerable difficulty made it fast again. it was the one thing to do at the time, and while it was being done there was no possibility of questioning the skipper. It took so much time that when at last the sail was made fast again the boat was very near the shore. A glance in that direction showed Stokes that there was a row- boat hauled up on the beach. This showed that the land was occupied, and the probabilities seemed, therefore, that it really was the island of Taska. "See here!" Stokes cried, "where do you intend to land?" li. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ ^ // :/ % & ^ LO 1.25 ■^ 1^ 12.2 I "- IIIIIM 1.8 1-4 illll.6 V] 3 WE&l MAIN SYREET WEBSTER, NY. H580 (716) 872 4S03 1 vV d 90 A STRANGE ATTEMPT AT CAPTURE. "Look out," the Esquimau responded; "we land pretty quick." As he said this the skipper threw the helm over, and the boat changed her course so suddenly that Stokes was almost thrown ovei board. He caught the main sheet and thus held on for an instant, silently growling at the stupidity of the skipper. "He doesn't seem to know how to sail a boat," Stokes thought; "he'll have the craft aground before he knows what's happened. ' ' The thought was hardly formed in Stokes' mind when the boat did indeed go aground with a jolt that threw the detective upon his knees. The Esquimau let go of the tiller and jumped into the low surf. ' ' Must pull ashore now, ' ' he cried as he ran through the water and laid hold of the boat's prow. Under ordinary circumstances Stokes would have jumped in also without any hesitation and would have helped to bring the boat toward the beach ; as it was, he threw himself upon the seat in the stern and quietly prepared both his revolvers for action. He did not like the way his skipper acted, and it seemed to him necessary to prepare for trouble. The fact that Stokes sat in the stern enablrd the Esquimau to drag the boat several feet farther toward shore, and as he was doing this two men came running from among the trees a little way up the island slope. They were white men, and none that Stokes had ever seen before ; they stopped at the water's edge and looked on for a moment. Stokes' skipper paused in his work long enough to wave his arm toward the men, whereupon one of them ran to the rowboat that lay out of the water, took a rope from it, and tossed it to the Esquimau. The latter made it fast to a ring bolt in the prow of the boat, and the two men on shore prepared to drag the boat farther up ; it was even then grating upon the bottom. Up to this time Stokes had not spoken a word. Now he sang out: ' ' Hold on a minute ! * * The men on shore looked at him curiously and the Esquimau turned around with an inquiring expression. "Is this the island of Taska?" :.sked Stokes. At this the Esquimau quickly turned his head toward the shore. The two men who seemed to be surprised at the question, A STRANGE ATTEMPT AT CAPTURE. 91 looked first at one another and then at the Esquimau, and at last one of them responded: "It's all right, stranger. Come along!" With this they began to pull again, "No, you don't," Stokes shouted. "Let go, there, or there'll be trouble. ' ' The men paused an instant, and Stokes took pains to hold his revolver in such a way that they could see the gleam of its barrel. The Esquimau said something in a low voice which Stokes could not understand. "Yes, this is the island of Taska, right enough, stranger," shouted one of the men. The other added : "You'd best let's drag you on shore, or you'll get spilt." "Well," thought Stokes, "if this is Taska, the less fuss I make about landing the better. ' ' So he leaned back in the boat as it he was satisfied, and the men began to pull. In two or three seconds the boat was high enough on the beach to be out of danger of capsizing ; then the two on shore made their end of the rope fast around a stump and stepped down to the water's edge, where they could climb on board if they wished to without so much as wetting their feet. Stokes still sat in the stern seat. They looked at him expect- antly, while the Esquimau stood with his back to Stokes. The detective was quite certaixz that the skipper was saying something to the two men in whispers. "If this is Taska," said Stokes, "thar must be a mine around here somewhars, ain't thar?" " Oh, yes, " responded one of the men, promptly. "It's jest over the ridge thar. ' ' He jerked his thumb toward the centre of the island. "Come along, and we'll show it to you," said the other. Stokes slowly rose and walked toward the forward part of the boat; apparently he had put up his revolvers, for his hands appeared to be empty. The Esquimau stood aside as Stokes approached, and the two men stood close to the prow with their arms akimbo. Stokes seemed to be in no hurry; he paused a moment just as he came in front of the mast and asked : "How far away is the mine?" There was something in the expression upon these rough men's fnces to make him feel that the utmost caution was necesvsary. His prudence was justified almost instantly. The expression on one of the men's faces changed to a look of 92 A STRANG]^ ATTEMPT AT CAPTURE. ferocity as he leaped toward the boat with outstretched arms and cried : "Come ashore, you tenderfoot, an' we'll show you." Taking the cue from his companion, the other man also leaped to the boat, and both evidently would have laid violent hands upon Stokes and carried him ashore by main force. The detective stepped back with a light laugh, thus avoiding their clutch and, at the same instant brought his hands up and down with the motion so familiar to him, but so startling to his enemies. "I wouldn't be in a hurry," he remarked, grimly, and both men seemed to conclude very suddenly that there was nothing to hurry about so much as getting out of the range of the two revol- vers that were pointed at them. They leaped back to shore, and as they did so Stokes could see that one of them was reaching for his belt. "Stop that!" the young fellow commanded, and he explained his command by sending a bullet that tore a hole in the sleeve of the fellow who was about to draw his gun. This warning shot had the desired effect. Both men stood still and threw up their hands without waiting for the command to do so. "Now," said Stokes, "you two fellows hev got to speak the truth or be bored where you stand. "This is not the island of Taska, is it?" "No, 'tain't," muttered one of the men. "Whar does it lie?" " 'Bout five miles to the north." "Thet's all right, then; stand whar you are. You, " addressing his skipper, "climb on board!" Stokes knew that the Esquimau was unarmed and too much of a coward to make anj' attempt at a fight. The order was obeyed promptly. While the Esquimau was get- ting to his place in the stern of the boat, Stokes kept his eyes and weapons upon the white men. "Now," he said, " come forward, you two, cast off this line and shove the boat out. "The first sign that either of you makes of crookedness will be his last move." The men's swarthy faces were pale with fear. There could be no doubt that this stern young fellow on board the little boat meant what he said. " It's all a mistake, stranger, " muttered one of them as he advanced to obey the command. "See thet you make it right, then," was Stokes' only response. / A STRANGE ATTEMPT AT CAPTURE. 93 He stood with his back against the mast, so that he was out of reach of any treacherous movement they might make. The line was cast loose quickly, and both men put their shoul- ders to the boat's prow to push it back into the water. As the tidj was rising and the boat was light, there was no great difficulty in effecting this; so that in a few seconds the craft floated again and the sail caught the wind. Stokes turned as the boat filled away so as to keep his revolvers ])ointed toward the white men ; he stood thus withou'; asking (juestions or giving «ny farther commands until the boat had gone so far from shore as to be out of range of pistol shot. "Now, then," he said, sitting down upon the forward deck and addressing the skipper, "you make for the island of Taska, and if the next land you strike is not the right place your voyage will stop there; you'll die of an overdose of lead, understand?" The Esquimau shivered. It was plain enough that he under- stood his passenger's threat. "All a mistake," he muttered. Stokes grunted contemptuously and made no response. "There's been some treachery at work here," he said to him-. self, "and the time will come when I shall find out all about it and learn something about the real character -of those men on that little island." From that time on the skipper made a straight course, and late in the afternoon a lauding was made at Taska. ■■'ir 94 AN EXPIyOD^D SAFB. CHAPTER XIV. AN EXPI^ODED SAFE. A group of laborers, white men and Esquimaux, gathered at the rough dock as the boat approached. Most of them spoke to the skipper familiarl)', as if they knew him, and all of them eyed the passenger curiously. " Well, boys, " said Stokes in an offhand way, as he stepped ashore, " this yere is the island of Taska, I'm told, and I hear thet thar's a mine somewhars around yere thet can be bought for good money." The men heard him in silence, and there was a considerable pause before anybody responded. At last one of the white men said : "We reckon you'll find the man you want to talk business to up to the super's ofiBce. ' ' This struck Stokes as being rather a curious remark, and in fact the action of the entire party seemed to him to be peculiar. "Whar is the super's office?" he asked. He knew, in fact, exactly where it was, because his study of Murdock's map made him familiar with the little island. "Over the hill thar, " the men replied, pointing inland. "Show me the way, will you, pardner?" Stokes asked, addressing this question to one of the men who to his keen eye seemed most likely to prove a useful acquaintance. "We'll all go along witli you together," this man responded, and they did. Stokes and the man to whom he had spoken went ahead, and the rest trailed on behind. "Kind of a lonesome spot up yere, "said Stokes, by way of beginning conversation. "Kind of," ws the only reply. "Hev any difficulty of gettin* supplies from Circle City in the winter months?" "Some." "Any good shootin' yereabout?" "Duck an' other water fowl." AN EXPLODED SAFE. 95 "Don't you get snowed in sometimes in the winter?" "Some." "Well," thought Stokes, "there's no use tryin' to get much out of this feller, at least not now. Perhaps the row that Mur*. dock kicked up here yesterday morning has scared them all. ' ' They walked on a few paces in silence, and then Stokes, wh< had quietly counted the men in the group, asked : "Are all the men who work in the mine yere now?" "Most of 'em," was the unsatisfactory reply. Just then they came to top of the hill, and Stokes saw a man approaching them slowly from the direction of the superinten- dent's oflQce. In an instant Stokes understood what had happened to make the miners so dumb. The man approach ng them was Murdock. "He has stolen a march on me," thought Stokes; "now, there is something crooked in that fellow, or I've no business to take this kind of a job. Murdock quickened his pace when he saw the group approach- ing and came up with a pretense at friendliness. "Hello, Stokes!" he said. "I got yere ahead of you. ' ' I see you did, ' ' Stokes responded. "You came in a slow boat," continued Murdock, "an* I tell you in this kind of weather sails ain't no account compared with oars. ' ' ' ' Did you row yourself ?' ' "Oh, no! I hired an Esquimau to do thet." ' ' How long hev you been yere ?' ' "About two hours. " vStokes was disgusted and disappointed. He had hoped that he could make an investigation on the spot without letting any of the men on the island suspect what he was up to. Now he feit certain that Murdock had informed them of his coming, and that this explained their curiosity and silence. Murdock turned around and walked beside Stokes, while the others fell back. ' ' I hope you've not given your men the tip thet I was comin' ?' ' said Stokes in a low voice. ' ' I told you I wanted to start in alone." "Oh, I hevn't said a word," replied Murdock. "I've kept just es mum es an oyster. Probably they think you 're some feller with a roll es wants to buy the mine, see?" ' ' All right, ' ' Stokes responded, but he added to himself : "Murdock takes too much pains to tell me thet he hesn't given these fellers the tip. He's crooked somehow, es sure as a gun." 96 AN EXPI.ODED SAFB. "Well," said Stokes, aloud, after a moment, "I'll tell you frankly thet I'm sorry you came up, but thet can't be helped now." "Why, I ain't goin' to stand in your way!" protested Mur- dock. ' ' I thought likely es how I could help you a bit. ' ' "Did the others know you were comin' ?", "Certainly. Fowler and the rest thought it would be a good idee, so I started after you did, knowin' well enough by the way the winds were I would get yere ahead of you." "I don't believe it," thought Stokes, "Anything happened?" he asked, aloud. ' ' Not a thing. The men, of course, know thar was a robbery, an' thet it's a serious thing, for I made thet clear enough yester- day mornin', but so far es I know thar hes been nothin' found; the safe an' tie office is just es I left 'em." "Hes anybovly left the island?" "Not a soul." By this time they arrived at the superintendent's office, and Murdock led the way inside. It was a small building, a story and a half in height, and there was only one room upon the ground floor. At one side there was a shed which answered to the room beside the safe referred to by Murdock when he was explaining the robbery to his partners. It was the room in which he had said that he had passed the night. The office was furnished with an ordinary plain table and two or three chairs, and a small old-fashioned iron safe was the only other article of importance in the room. "Thar's the article you're interested in," Murdock remarked, pointing to the safe. Stokes approached it and knelt down. It was evident that the lock had been blown to pieces by blasting powder. The charge had been a small one, just suffi- cient to dislocate the bolts and the combination apparatus. A small hole had been drilled in from the outside, through which apparently the powder had been poured. "It is plain enough how it was done, you see," Murdock said, and he, too, knelt beside the safe. "You probably know thet the workiw' of a steel drill wouldn't make any noise, an' in consequence I didn't hear it. At any rate, I slept right through it all, and es for the blast itself, why, I reckon thar wasn't powder enough used to make much of a racket, 'specially when you consider thet the sound of it would be deadened when it went off on the inside of the safe." "I see," Stokes responded. AN EXPLODED SAFE; 9^ Murdock went on talking, saying nothing new and repeating in one way and another how the job must have been done. Stokes let him talk for a while and then asked: "Whar are the tools with which the job was done?" "You mean the drill?" Murdock asked. "I give it up." Stokes stood ixp and looked around the rboni. In a corner on the floor was a small pile of quartz that had been blasted from the mine. The pieces of rock were kept here, apparently, to exhibit to visitors, for it was evident at a glance tint they contained ore in considerable quantities. "Suppose you look around and see ef you can find the drill," said Stokes; "it might be among thi ie stone thar. " "I reckon not," Murdock replied, doubtfully, but he neverthe- less went to the quartz and began to pill it over. The moment he was thus occupied Stokes stooped over again opposite the safe, and taking a slender lead pencil from his pocket inserted it in the hole that had been drilled into the iron door just below the lock. It was the work of a second, but it meant a great deal to the detective. When the lead pencil had '. -een pushed into the end of the hole, Stokes closed his thumb and forefinger upon it at the point where it came out from the safe; then he drew out the pencil, and holding his finger and thumb in the same place, laid the pencil against the iron door. This proved what he had already suspected. Tbe hole was not drilled far enough into the iron to reach the cavity id which the lock was placed. In other words no powder could have been poured into the safe through that hole, and Stokes instantly concluded that the hole had been diilled after the explosion and not before it. "Crooked, crooked, crooked," he said to himself as he placed his pencil in his pocket. Murdock, who had not noticed the operation, at this moment uttered an exclamation of surprise and took a small drill and bit stock from underneath the quartz, and said : "By gum, Stokes, you hit it right." The detective smiled. ' ' That was a pretty good guess, ' ' he said to himself. Stokes took the drill from Murdock's hands and examined it carefully. He put his fingers on the tip of the drill. He could not be certain about it, but it did seem as if the drill was warmer than a bit of unused steel ought to be lying iu that room where there was no fire. "If I'm not mistaken," he said to himself, "this drill has not 9S AN EXPLODED SAFE. yet cooled of! from the heat it took on while making that hole in the safe. "I can't be certain about it, however, and I miisn't make any mistake by jumping before I know where I'm going to land. "Suppose, as I suspect, that Murdock took those papers and that he drilled this hole afterward to make it appear that the safe had been robbed, what then ? "Why, in the first place, he isn't going to own up to it, and if he's got the papers concealed, he isn't going to tell where tlie papers are or give* them up. "I'm not going to gain anything by letting him see that I sus- pect him or that I doubt his word. "Besides all that, I may be mistaken. In any case, it don't stand to reason that those papers are at the present moment any- where on this island where they can be easily found. " While thinksng thus, Stokes was examining. the drill. After a time he handed it back to Murdock and remarked: "I believe you said that nobody had left the island?" "Thet's right." "Well, then this thing must have been done by somebody who is now on the island, and unless the robber came yere in the night in a boat an' went away again immediately after crackin' the safe. ' ' "Thet's quite likely," said Murdock, eagerly. "I don't think so," Stokes returned, coolly. "It isn't likely, " Murdock persisted, "thet any of these men would dare blow up the safe with me sleepin' right alongside of it. " "No, but somebody dared, " said Stokes. "Hevall the men lined up in front of the office and let me look 'em over '* "All of 'em?" "Yes.." **i. don't know es they are all " Murdock hesitated. "Some of 'em may be in the shaft now," he added, awk- wardly. "Send for 'em, then." Murdock placed the drill upon the table and left the office. The group of workmen were still in front of the little building. Stokes had seen at the start that there were six white men and five Esquimaux among them. He saw Murdock go out and give a command to one, who hur- ried away itf the direction of the shaft; a moment later this one returned in company with three Esquimaux; when they were on hand, Murdock came in and said- "Thar you are, Stokes; thet's the whole population of Taska outside waitin' for you to lo A at 'em. )> A FROZEN THUMB FOR A PI^UG. ^9 CHAPTER XV. A FROZEN THUMB FOR A PI,UO, Stokes went to the door and glanced at the men. "You see they are all yere, " Murdock said nervously. "Yes," said Stokes. "I remember you said last night thet that were nine Esquimaux and six white men beside yourself on the island." "Thet's it." "An' I see," Stokes continued, "thet thar are six white men yere and eight Esquimaux." "Exactly," Murdock responded, with some eagerness, "an* the missin' one, of course, is Cadloo, who's locked up in the bar- racks. ' ' 'Thet's right, " Stokes responded ; "but whar's the chap who rowed you over to-day?" "Who?" "Whar's the man that rowed you over?" "Why," Murdock replied, "he must have gone back.** Stokes looked sharply at Murdock and then said: "Stay yere a minute!" and left the office. Murdock would have followed, but Stokes closed the door in such a way that Murdock was left inside. Speaking quickly, so that Murdock might not have time to interrupt, Stokes said : "Which of you rowed Mr. Murdock up here to-day?" "Me," said one of the Esquimaux, promptly. "Come yere!" The Esquimau stepped from the line readily and approached Stokes. The latter opened the door of the office and told the Esquimau to step inside. Murdock scowled darkly at this maneuvre, but presently recov- ered his presence of mind and exclaimed, as if in great surprise: "Great Scott! but these Equimaux look so much alike thet I didn't notice thet fellow who rowed me was in the gang thar. " "Well, you recognize him now, don't you?" asked Stokes, shai-ply. "Yes, I do. '» "And you know what thet means?" "I don't know whether I do or not** lOO A FROZEN THUMB FOR A PLUG. Murdock said this in rather a savage tone, and Stokes respoiid'-d, quietly: "You needn't get hot aboiij^it ef you would help me es you say you are " "Well, Ibe, " interrupted Murdock. "All right, then; tell me where your missing man is." "Missin* man?" repeated Murdock, blankly. « ' ' Certainly. Thar should be eight Esquimaux in youi company, besides the one who rowed you here, you understand ?" "Well, let's see," hesitated Murdock. "Thar's Cadloo, and he's now behind the bars " "Come! come!" interrupted Stokes, impatiently. "It don't need no figurin' to show thet thar's a man gone out of this lot; nor was he gone when you came yere. ' ' ,"I s'pose he must hev been," said Murdock, slowly. "Who was he, then? What's his name and what hes he gone for?" Murdock opened the door and looked out at the waiting group. "He acts," thought Stokes, "es ef he was try in' to light for time." Murdock stood in tlie door for a moment and then said : "Boys, Where's Amorak?" The men, Esquimaux and whites as well, looked at each other without replying. "Whar's Amorak?" repeated Murdock. The Esquimaux stood motionless anr he whites shifted about uneasily ; at last one of them said : "1 dunno, ' ' and he glanced queerly at Stokes, who was looking at them from beside Mur- dock. "See here, Murdock," exclaimed Stokes, sternly, "this farce hes got to come to an end! One of your men is missin' and he's got to be found. •'I'm in this business to find him and themissin' papers which I believe are in his possession. Ef you don't care to help to find him, I'll go about it my own way." "By thunder, Stokes, I think you're right!" cried Murdock, changing his whole manner. "It's Amorak who did this whole business, and no mistake. I hadn't thought of it before, but jest now its come over me. Come inside, an' I'll tell you, " He pushed the. boatman from the room and closed the door, and continued, excitedly : "Amorak is Cadloo's brother!" "Indeed!" '*' Certainly. And Amorak is the only feller among the work- men who's at all mischievous. "We never hed much to complain of about him, but I do see ?" A 1»kOZUN thumb for A PI,UG. loi ninember tbet he's appeared rtiscontcnted lately; he wanted more wages an' wanted to get a month's advance, and so on. "I conldn't advance him any stuff, an' thet probably explains why he took to stealin'. Now, then, don't you see?" Murdock became quite excited as he continued his argument. "Amorak probably did this business, and gave the tip to Cad- loo before we started for Circle City. Then, don't you see, Cad- loo, knowin' a detective was engaged to investigate the matter, thought thet he must put you out of the way to save his brother, see?" vStokes was not at all convinced by this argument, but he felt that there was at least this in it: that the missing man, Amorak, had possession of the papers. "It don't make any difference now," he thought, "whetliw Cadloo was trying to defend his brother, or whether he was pu' up to the job by somebody else, but the fact seems to be pr y cer tain that Amorak has gotten away with those papers. "The thing fr 'to do, then, is to 6nd Amorak." Aloud he said : "You \. v.it to stir around lively now and find where your man Amorak has gone." Murdock immediately dashed out of doors and questioned his men excitedly. Stokes followed him, and speedily learned that Amorak had left the island two or three hours before. vSotne of the men seemed to think that he had gone previously to Murdock' s return, others that he had gone just after it. The one fact that was certain was that Amorak had started in a rowboat, and had headed toward a point on the mainland a few miles away where there was a small Esquimau settlement called Vilnak. Stokes made certain that Amorak had gone alone; then he said to Murdock : "I'm goin' to this town of Vilnak right away." With this Stokes started back toward the dock where he had, left his boat and his skipper in charge of it. He had gone but a few paces before he halted and remarked: "Thar's no wind at all now, and my boat is too big for row- ing. I suppose you've got plenty more yere?" "Oh, 3'es," replied Murdock; "we can fix you out with a boat easy enough." "Do it, then, and give me a man who's a g.'^od oarsman." Murdock seemed to be very much in earnest now. He hurried around giving orders to the various men, who started away to execute them. "The boat will be ready for you in ten minutes, Stokes," Mur- i -ii I02 A iJiOZEN THUMB FOR A PLUG. dock said, presently. "Better come in and get a bite of sumthin' to eat before you start. " . "I'm not hungry," Stokes responded. "I had all I wanted on board." "Well, but come into the office a minute," Murdock insisted. "I want to show you something." "Will it take ten minutes to get a boat ready?" Stokes asked. "Yes, about thet. I want to give you the best boat we've got, and thar's some things in it thet will hev to be unloaded. You'll save time by takin' thet boat, for it's the fastest one in the lot." Stokes was sorry that there should be any delay whatever, but as long as he was going to get a swift boat that would save him time in the long run there was nothing to do but to wait. So he went into the office again. "What do you want to show me?" he asked. "Why, " said Murdock, "thar's the safe right in thet comer, an' this door yere leads into the shed whar my bunk is. " Murdock opened the shed door and showed Stokes his sleeping quarters. "Now, then," Murdock continued, "you can see just how 'tis. I'm a sound sleeper, an' 'twould be easy enough for Amorak, who knows the lay of the land perfectly, to come in yere an' drill thet hole; then he could touch off the charge and skip out until he could see whether the noise woke me up, an' the blast goin' off on the inside of the safe, you see, would not make much of a noise, anyway " "You've told me all this before," interrupted Stokes. "Well, perhaps I hev, but I wanted you to be satisfied." "I am satisfied," Stokes responded. "I reckon I'll go down to the boat and help 'em unload. "I don't believe thar's no good of hurryin'," Murdock remarked. Stokes believed that there was need of hurry. He left the office and walked rapidly up the slope, from the top of which he could see two Esquimaux at work in a small boat that was lying half out of the water. No others of the men were in that vicin- ity. Murdock, who had come along behind Stokes, shouted, loudly : "Are you most ready, thar?" The Esquimaux looked up, threw one or two articles out of the boat, and pushed it into the water. Stokes ran down the hill and got into the boat at once. One of the Esquimaux sat in the middle seat with the oars in his hand. i"g, A FROZEN THUMB FOR A PI.UG. 103 "Now you're off," said Murdock, and he gave the boat a shove which sent it several feet from "the shore. The Esquimau began rowing at once as Murdock called after them : "Good luck to you! I hope you'll find Amorak!" "You row as fast as you can," said Stokes to his oarsman, "an' I'll give you more money when we get to Vilnak than you ever saw before in your life. " The Esquimau looked at Stokes in what seemed to be a fright- ened way and responded in a grunt. He was rowing, at the time, apparently as hard as he could, and the boat was making good progress. Stokes looked over his shoulder, and saw that TVIurdock and the other Esquimau were making their way up the hill. A moment later they had got beyond the summit. Stokes looked across the water toward the shore, and then again turned his eyes toward the island of Taska. He was thinkiug over the many things that Murdock had said and done and was beginning to wonder if it were not possible that Murdock had sent him off on a wild-goose chase after this man Amorak, when suddenly the oarsman gave a cry of alarm and began to change the direction of the boat. "What's the matter?" said Stokes, facing about. The Esquimau did not stop rowing, but glanced down at the bottom of the boat. Stokes looked, too, and saw that the craft was leaking rapidly. Water was already over the soles of his boots. "We drown!" cried the Esquimau, excited. "Boat sink before we get two mile. ' ' The oarsman was putting the boat about with the intention of returning to the island. "Hold on a minute!" cried Stokes. "Keep the course as she is. " "We drown!" repeated the Esquimau. "Well, if we drown," returned Stokes, "we'll drown together. Head for yonder shore, you rascal, or I'll blow your brains out." The Esquimau utte- -d a cry of horror as he saw his passenger aiming a revolver at him. "We drown! we drown!" he stammered, but he kept on row- ing, nevertheless. "Head for Vilnak!" Stokes commanded, sternly. The Esquimau, who was trembling with excitment and fear, obeyed. As soon as the boat was again directed on its proper course, Stokes knelt upon the bottom and felt with his bare hand along 104 V FROZEN THUMB FOR A PLUG. the planks for the leak. He had already suspected what was the matter, and presently his fingers came upon an auger hole. "That was what was the matter, "he said to himself. "I know I'm on the right track now. Amorak has got those papers. Murdock knows it! ' ' He wants to give Amorak as good a start of me as possible, and for that reason he had a hole bored through the bottom of this boat so that we should have to lose half an hour or so in turn- ing to shore to get a new one. ' ' All right, Mr. Murdock. Now that I know that the papers are not on the islai.d of Taska, but are in the possession of this man Amorak, I'm not going ashore even if the boat has been scuttled. ' ' Thinking thus and watched with growing alarm by the excited Esquimau, Stokes was feeling farther along the planking. He feared that he might find a second auger hole, in which ca.«5e his plan for continuing the journey would be upset. He did not find one. His haste in leaving the office had prevented the Esquimau from boring more than one hole. While he was thus searching he had not been able to give his attention to the oarsman, and when he looked up again he saw that the Esquimau was making another attempt to put the boat about and head for Taska. Again Stokes brought his revolver into play. "You make for Vilnak, " he cried, "or I'll stuff a part of your worthless body into this hole!" There was not enough water in the boat at that time to make any very great difference in her speed, but there was quite enough to chill the passenger as he knelt in it. He had thrust his left thumb into the auger hole, while in his right hand he held the revolver pointed at the oarsman. "Now," said Stokes, "there's no more water coming into this boat. If you capsize her or play any trick on me, I'll put a bul- let into you before you can drown! The best thing for your health is to keep on rowing." Convinced, at last, that his passenger meant business, the Esquimau strained at the oars with all his might, and Stokes had the satisfaction of seeing that the boat was making progress. He kept his revolver raised for a moment or two, and then laid it down upon the seat behind him and looked around the boat for something with which he could make a plug for the auger hole. There was nothing whatever there that could be used for such a purpose. He thought how easy it would be to wind a handkerchief A FROZEN THUMB FOR A PLUG. 105 uround a thole pin and stuff it into the hole, but the only thole pins on board were those fitted into the Esquimau's oars. There was not so much as a sliver of loose wood at command. "If there was only time for it, " Stokes reflected, "I could whittle a plug from one of the seats, but while I am doing that the boat would half fill with water. ' ' If there was a pail here I might bail het out. "It might be possible to cram a handkerchief into this hole, but the pressure of the water would probably push it away, and in any case there would be a leak, "The only thing that 1 can do is to hold my thumb there until we get to land, for my thumb is the only plug that I can use that completely fits the hole." Even as he came to this conclusion, Stokes shivered violently with the cold. It was late in the autumn, and in that far north region the water was almost like ice. The intense cold may be understood better when it is stated that there had been snow flurries upon the previous day, and thot even now a few flakes were falling. It was not long before his thumb ceased to pain him. It was thoroughl_, immb with cold, but his knees and the rest of his body ached and quivered with it. It seemed to him that he could not stand the pain any longer, and yet as he glanced ovei his shoulder at the island of Taska he knew that the boat had not made anywhere near half the dis- tance to the shore. xo6 A NIGHT IN AN ESQUIMAU HUT. CHAPTER XVI. A NIGHT IN XS ESQUIMAU HUT. * • "You freeze," said the Ksquiraau when Stokes looked around again. "Keep on rowing, you lubber, " cried Stokes, reaching again for his revolver. The Esquimau had rested on his oars, evidently in the expecta- tion that is passenger would order him to give up the attempt to reach the distant shore. He dug his oars into the water again with great vim, in obedi- ence to the detective's command. But there was an expression of deep terror on his face. •'Me tell you," he stammered, hardly able to make himself heard, so great was his fright — "me tell you something." "Speak up, then," commanded Stokes, "but stick to your work. ' ' "You freeze," the Esquimau said, with short pauses between the words. * ' Hand freeze — all freeze — same dead — half hour. ' ' "Well," returned Stokes, "if my hand freezes and I freeze with it, and I become a dead man in an hour, I reckon that's my business, ain't it?" The Esquimau shuddered. "You no can stand it," he exclaimed, rowing all the time for dear life. " Bymeby you feel great pain — you give up — you take hand out hole — water come in — then we be in middle — no way throw water overboard — no get to shore — no getTaaka — both drown." Stokes smiled, in spite of the pain he felt, at the Esquimau's way of explaining the situation. "I tell you what it is, my friend," he said, less sternly than he had spoken before, "this pain is considerable, I'll allow that, and I'm not enjoying myself a little bit, but I'll give you a tip about me that perhaps you can understand. "I ain't made of the kind of stuff that gives up, I'm going to hold my thumb in this hole until this boat gets to the shore if I freeze to death on the way. "You'll be safe enough; you'll be simply rowin' a dead man instead of a live one. ' ' A NIOHT IN AN ESQUIMAU HUT. X07 ^ :, T . K "No like i^," returned the Esquimau. "Like it or not, you've got to keep on rowing," retorted Stokes. "I know perfectly well that if I take my hand out of this hole when we're in the middle of the strait we'll sink before we can reach land in either direction, so don't you fret. I'm goin' to itay where I am, an' ef you don' like the idee of luggin' a corpse to shore, you want to put on more steam. That's all." It is not probable that the Esquimau, with his imperfect know- ledge of English understood all that Stokes said, but he gathered enough from it to be certain that the man would stick to his post, and that the only safety for either of them, therefore, was to get to the shore as soon as possible. So the journey continued, the Esquimau rowing until the per- spiration started ftom every pore, and Stokes kneeling in the water and feeling a terrible numbness overcoming all his muscles. Men never know how much they can endure until they have been put to some terrible test. Before this journey was finished, vStokes felt that he would give all that he was ever likely to possess if he could only take his thumb from the auger hole and throw himself down full length upon dry land. The agony became so great that during the last quarter ot the trip he was hardly conscious of what was going on. He knew simply that he was like a cake of ice, with the exception of his face, on which the extreme pain caused the sweat to gather. His forehead was hot ; the rest of his body seemed to be frozen. He was dimly conscious, too, that the light snowfalls that had occurred earlier in the day had now turned to a heavy, down- pour. By the time they reached the shore the Esquimau was as white as a snow man, and at last, wfc nn the boat grated on the pebbly beach at.u ^he Esquimau leaped into the low surf to drag it ashore, Stokes did not rise. He was so chilled and so stiffened from being so long in one position that he could not rise, and, moreover, he had come so near actual freezing that his mind was in that curious condition where he did not seem to care much whether ot not he should survive his adventure. The thought of his undertaking came vaguely to his brains and with a desperate desire to be up and after Amorak and the miss- ing papers, he made a feeble attempt to move and failed utterly. It was the dusk of evening when the boat touched the shore. The Esquimaux living in Vilnak had seen it crossing the water, and as it drew near their curiosity wft» aroused by the 3o8 A NiaHT IN AN ESQUIMAU HUT. ♦Touching figure of the passenger, as well as by the evident strug- gle that the oarsman was making to cover the distance in short time. It happened, therefore, that sevetal natives were on the beach when the boat arrived, and when the oarsman excitedly explain'-.d the situation, they promptly jumped into the boat and lifted vjtokes from his place. He tried to speak to them, but only a choking sound issued froin his throat. The Esquimaux are, on the whole; a kindly race, and these people stopped to ask no questions, but set to work in the best way they knew to restore the detective to consciousness. One of them hurried ofif to the village, which consisted of less Ihan a dozen huts, at a little distance, while the others proceeded to roll him in the snow. After they had rolled him over and over several times, they placed him on his back and began to rub his hands and face with snow with great violence. Stokes made no resistance to this rough treatment. It was effoptive speedily in restoring his consciousness partly, and as he became able to think he realized that this was the surest way to prevent him from being frozen throughout. He knew to get warm quickly after a terrible chill was almost as dangerous as not to get warm at all, so although the rubbing and lolling caused him to feel the sharpest pains throughout his whole body, he stood it patiently, closing his eyes and grating his teeth hard together to prevent any outcry. The one who had gone to the huts returned presently with a flask of liquor. A long draught from this finished the work of restoration, and suddenly Stokes sat up and remarked : "I'm all right now, an' I'm much obliged to you." An old man who was kneeling before him shook his head gravely. "No all right yet," he said, "blankets — sleep all night — then safe — perhaps. ' ' "We'll see about thet, " returned Stokes as he rose to his feet. The effort was too much for him, and he would have fallen had not two of the Esquimaux caught him. "Well," he exclaitped, with a weak laugh, "I do seem to be pretty well done npJMuno Realizing that in order to accomplish his mission it would be necessary to regain his entire strength, and that he would risk everything by going ahead too fast, he permitted the kindly Esquimaux to lead him to a hut, where they laid him upon a bunk and covered him with thwli blankets. This was after they had provided him with a dry suit of Cl< A NIGHT IN AN ESQUIMAU HUT. 109 Strug- short these best they be clothes, which were ill fitting and outlandish in appearance, but which were very necessary for his recovery. Stokes felt exceedingly drowsy, but he was not going to sleep before he had learned something about Amorak. He had little doubt that his oarsman would tell the purpose of his trip to Vilnak, and he suspected that these Esquimaux might be loyal enough to Amotak to try to injuie the pursuer during the night. It was a serious situation. Here he was almost helpless, too weak from his severe exposure to move without help, and sur- rounded by a strange race who, in all probability, would be extremely hostile to him. He had so much confidence in his own shrewdness that this latter thought really gave him less trouble than the fear that, whatever else the Esquimaux did, they would help Amora'k to escape. "Of course he'll get the tip," thought Stokes, "from that rascally oarsman, an' starting from yere, he's got all of North America to hide in. " What can I do about it ? " The hut in which he lay had been deserted by its inmates after they had laid the stranger on the bed and wrapped him up; they supposed, of course, that he would go at once to sleep. ' a Stokes could hear the dull murmur of their voices outside. If they had been speaking in English he would not have been able to understand a word they said, but more than that, they were conversing in their own language. " If they would only come in here and do their jabbering, I might be able to make something of it, but they might as well be in Asia and talking Siamese for all the good I can get out of it now. ' ' During his few weeks in Alaska he had given a good deal of study to the Esquimau tongue, fol'owing the habit that he had adopted early in his travels of learning the language of every country that he visited. He was by no means perfect in Esquimau, and seldom made any attempt to speak it, but he had learned enough of the lan- guage to get the sense of a general conversation. 'The probability is, " so his thoughts ran, "that the entire population of this place is holding a caucus just outside the door. "This is, of course, the place wheie they would gather, for I'm the most int||resting topic for discussion that they have just now. "I must manage somehow to find out what they are saying." He half sat up, ^yropping himself upon his elbow. Just as he fl no A NIGHT IN AN ESQUIMAU HUT. did so the outside door was opened on a crack, and the old man who had taken charge of him peered in, Stokes promptly lay down again and pretended to be asleep. The old man gazed at him steadily for a moment, then with- drew and closed the door. This action gave Stokes new energy. He got up from the bunk, and wrapping the blankets closely about him, crept softly across the floor to the door, where he lay for a moment listening. The sound of voices was much more distinct here, and after listening a moment he heard the words in Esquimau: "There's Nak coming now; he can tell us." "Nak!" thought Stokes. "Oh, yes, that's the name of the fellow that rowed me across from Taska. I should like to dic- tate what Nak will tell them, but I guess it will be better not to make a row until I'm able to take care of myself. I must hear what he says, though. ' ' Confident that the Esquimau believed him to be asleep, Stokes cautiously opened the door about an inch, and held it so that the wind could not possibly close it. Then he could hear the conversation of the Esquimaux clearly. They were evidently huddled close to the hut, in order to avoid as much of the snow as they could. "Well, Nak," said one of them after a moment, "what is it all about?" "Is he alive?" was Nak 's response. * A voice that Stokes recognized as the old man's answered, with a grunt : "Alive — yes. And he'll be lively by morning." "What's he here for?" asked another voice. It was evident that Nak was hesitating. Instead of replying directly, he asked another question : "Where's Amorak?;' This question was followed by a moment of silence, and then the old man responded : « ' ' We don't know. What's the matter with Amorak ?' • "Hasn't he been here?" demanded Nak, still persisting in asking questions rather than in giving information. "Yes," said the old man. "Then where is he?" "We don't know." ' ' What became of him ?" "How aiiould I say we don't know to one question if we could answer that?" ' ^ "Well, then," said Nak, "what did he do?'» "He drank a good deal of brandy." A NIGHT IN AN ESQUIMAU HUT. tit This answer was followed by a chorus of low grunts, which Stokes understood to be the Esquimau's manner of laughing. "It would be well," remarked Nak, seriously, "if Amorak didn't drink too much while this white man is in Vilnak. "Amorak will do well not to fall asleep just now." f?" What has Amorak done?" demanded the old man. "Nevermind." Again there was a brief interval of silence, then a voice said: "I think Amorak has done something wrong. He was boasting this afternoon about how rich he would be, and he promised to make us all rich with him." "Oh, did he?" said Nak. "Isn't it so?" asked the old man. "Is it a crime," returned Nak, "to obey one's employer's orders?" "No." "liien Amorak has done no wrong. I must find him." "You'll have a hard hunt for him in this storm," remarked the old man. " I should think the snow would drive him back to the village before long, but if he doesn't come back he alone can tell where he is. ' ' "He won't come back," responded Nak. "Perhaps not. All we know is that he was the first among us to see your boat coming across the straits. While we were look- ing at it he disappeared. "We didn't notice for some time that he had gone; just when he went away and where he went none of us know. " "Then," said Nak, "Amorak guessed what trouble there was for him in my boat, and he's taken the best way to avoid it." "About that boat, now," said another voice. "How should there be a hole in a boat which you were rowing, Nak?" "How can I answer such a question?" * ' But you must know. ' ' "Look, Teeka," interrupted another; "you left the door open." Hearing this, Stokes hastily went back to' his bunk and threw himself upon it just as the old man began to look in, muttering hat he th ought he had closed the door tightly. It was evident that the Esquimau did not suspect that Stoke had been listening. The old man closed the door firmly, remarking that he would keep his hand upon the handle to prevent it from blowing open again. "That ends my listening, " thought Stokes, "for what with na A NIGHT IN AN ESQUIMAU HUT. their thick tongues and their queer language, it's all I can do to make out what they say when I can hear plainly. "Well, I guess I heard enough. I know more surelvthan ever that Amorak has those papers, and that he took them away by Murdock's order. " It is pretty clear^ too, that these Equimaux are friendly people and that that rascal Nak doesn't dare let them wholly into the secret of the buiness on Taska Island. That being the case, it strikes me that I'm safe enough for this night, at least, unless Amorak should be driven back to the village by the storm, in which case he might look me up and fix things so that I shouldn't wake up in this world. ' ' After thinking the matter over in every possible way Stokes decided that it would not be safe to drop to sleep, and he, there- fore, kept himself awake in spite of the fatigue he felt. After a time the door was opened again and the old man came in. He moved carefully across the room and sat down on the edge of Stokes' bunk. Stokes opened his eyes and looked at him. "Ah!" said the old man in a kindly voice, "you no sleep?" "Not now," answered Stokes. "You no fear, " continued the old man. "I think you after Amorak. ' * Stokes nodded. "Amorak bad man." Again Stokes responded with a nod. "Amorak done something — no know what — something bad— you want him — so ?' ' "So," answered Stokes. "Good! You no get him to-night. " Stokes shook his head. "Great storm," continued the old man, gravely. "Little wind — deep snow — Amorak hide somewhere — you weak — you sick— you no go out to-night — you get lost — you die in snow. ' ' ' ' Reckon that' s right. ' ' "To-morrow or next day when snow stop you take sled and dogs if you want hunt for Amorak — we give you guide — we give you food — anything you want. " "Thank^!" answered Stokes, heartily. "But suppose Amorak should come back to-night?" The old man shook his head. "I think he no dare," he said, "and if he do I stay here — you no harm." "All right," said Stokes, "then I'll go to sleep." And this he did, confident that the old Esquimau was honest and would remafn to warn him of any possible danger. **>. A CHASK ON THE SNOW CRUST. 113 to bver by )ple the !, it [less f in at I CHAPTER XVir. A CHASB ON tun SNOW CRUST. Next morning the snow had ceased. There was a dead level of about eighteen inches depth over all the ground around Vilnak, but it was by no means of that light, flaky character that is usual in a midwinter snow storm. Even when it fell the snow was moist and heavy. Toward morning a change in the wind had brought about a very brief fall of rain, and after this another change of the wind drove the clouds away and crusted the snow so that a man could easily walk upon its suiface. The atmosphere was now bright and dry. Stokes got up from his bunk feeling as well as ever he did in his life. He not only had the advantage of youth in recovering from his exposure, but it was a fact that the treatment given him by the Esquimaux was the very best possible under the circum- stances. No city physician could have cared for him better. Most of the population of Vilnak came in to see him while he was break- fasting on dry herring and a coarse kind of cake that passes for the Esquimau bread. The old man had been faithful to his word in keeping watch in the hut all through the night, and he was now ready to keep his promise of providing Stokes with the means of pursuing Amorak. Stokes was anxious to set out as early as possible, and he found the Esquimaux willing to either guide or direct him in the course that would most likely lead him to the fugitive's hiding place. The old man told him of a hut, miles away to the north, which was used by hunters when they went out for moose. It was a place that nobody lived in the year round, and no white man had ever been there. It seemed probable that Amorak would make for. that spot rather than any other place in thevicinily, because he could find shelter there at least as long as the storm should last. »3 "He took no dogs with him," the old man explained, "and probably, therefore, means to bide there until he can learn that 114 A CHASB ON THE SNOW CRUST. you have gone away. Now, if you go with a sled and dogs he will be able to see you coming while you are two miles away, and he will undoubtedly run for it, but with the swift dogs that we'll give you I should think that you'll be able to overtake him before nightfall." "And if he isn't in that hut," asked Stokes, "where should you think he would be?" The old man shrugged his shoulders and answered : "There's no telling. At the bottom of some ravine, perhaps, for if he tried to make his way through the storm of last night, it is more than likely he would fall over the edge of a cliff." As the hunters' hut was about the only place, therefore, in the entire country around about Vilnak where Aniorak might be found, Stokes, of course, decided to make for it without delay. He declined the offer of the Esquimaux to accompany him as guides or helpers. "I'd rather do this thing alone," he said, "and if you'll sim- ply tell me the way I'll be satisfied." "The dogs know the way, " said the old man. "We'll s t you in the right direction and tell you about the landmarks, .t once the dogs get turned toward that place they will go there without fail, for that's their habit." Accordingly, as soon as he had finished his breakfast Stokes took his position upon the sled, to which a team of eight dogs had been harnessed. They were eager, lively animals, who stood pawing the snow restlessly as if anxious for the word to go. Upon the sled was packed a small quantity of provisions and an extra blanket or two in case he would be compelled to go into camp some whet e for the night. With good luck it would be possible for film to go as far as the hunters' cabin in a single day. He had a long whip to guide the dogs. There were reins, of course, but the Esquimaux train their dogs to obey by the mere touch of the whip upon the leaders' sides. These remarkable little animals have great intelligence. Every dog is trained to follow his leader, and the Esquimaux have a way of promoting good dogs from the rear of the team to the front, and it sometimes seems as if thedogs themselves were ambitious to behave so well that they could be placed at the head of the team. Certain it is that when a dog acts badly and is harnessed to the sled he drops his tail and shows in other ways that he feels dis- graced. Stokes had learned sach things as this about the Esquimau 1 A CHASE ON THE SNOW CRUST. 115 dogs (luring his stay in Alaska, where he had more than o'ce driven a team for the fun of it. It was, therefore, with a feeling of con6dence and keen pleas- ure that he cracked the whip and shouted : "Aua! aua! Ja choiachoi!" These are Esquimau words which in English translation might be put, "Get up '.here! Turn to the left!" The dogs sprang forward, yelping with pleasure, and the Esquimaux gri-aned delightedly as they saw how readily the detective did his share in the work. Stokes had no difficulty whatever in directing the dogs, and for the next two hours he enjoyed himself as much as he ever had done in his life. The way led over fairly level land, and in places where the crust of snow was not broken it was like an unending slide down hill. The dogs ran so fast the-^e was a continuous breeze upon his face, and sometimes the tears came to his eyes from the fierce- ness of the wind. When this happened the water froze upon his cheeks, causing him to realize that the weather was intensely cold. >*> He was on the alert at all times, not only to get any possible sign of Amorak, but to see the lay of the land and to discover spots that the f igitive might use as a hiding place if he should be driven from his hut. "I think this is the queerest detective case on record, " he reflected. "I've never seen the man I'm after, I haven't had a photograph of him, and I haven't even taken the trouble to get his description, ana yet I shall be perfectly confident that he's the man I'm after the minute I see him, for the only man besides myself in this vast wilderness of snow and ice will be Amorak." After a time Stokes recognized a steep cliff that the Esquimaux had told him about, at which point he knew that he must turn to the right. He accordingly gave his dogs the direction but they were taking H already without the word, as the Esquimaux had fore- told. They knew the way perfectly, and no guide was needed. For the next half hour or so the progress was somewhat slower, the way lying up and over a portion of tb . cliff. Beyond the cliff the ground was more uneven, though for the most part it was down hill, and the distance was covered with tremendous speed. Sometimes Stokes had to hold a stick against the snow to prevent the sled from tripping up the dogs, who were unable to run as fast as it would have gone if left to itself. ii6 A CHASE ON THK SNOW CRUST. For the most part, however, it was not necessary to use this queer brake. It was just as Stokes left che uneven ground behind and came upon a broad stretch of level land that he saw far ahead a little black speck upon the surface of the snow, from which a thin column of smoke arose. His heart bounded at once. He knew that that must be the hut, and the curling smoke proved that some human being had occupied it during the night. " That must be Amorak, " he thought. "Now if only luck will prevent him from seeing me." Luck was not in the pursuer's favor in this respect. Stokes urged his dogs to still greater speed, but within half a minute after his discovery of the hunters' hut he distinguished an object moving away from it. It was too far to make out its form, but he rightly guessed it to be a man on the dead run. "That's the business," he said to himself, excitedly. "He's been on the watch for pursuit, he sees this dog team coming across the snow and he knows that somebody is after him. "He's got the advantage of pretty nearly two miles* start and a perfect knowledge of the country. "Gee whiz! but what fine dogs these are. This is better than yacht racing or horseback riding. I'd like to bet somebody that the dogs will win. "Aua! aua!" he cried again. Whether the dogs went any faster at this command it was impossible to say. As it was, they seemed to be straining every nerve to get over the snow as though their lives depended on it. Stokes kept his eyes upon that moving spot in the distance. Suddenly he shouted : ' ' Hurrah ! ' ' It was evident that the dogs were gaining upon the man. Much to his chagrin, the moment he shouted the dogs stopped running and the leaders looked around at him as if to ask what he wanted them to do next. "Aua! aua! Goon, you brutes!" roared Stokes. "What are you standing Still for?" The dogs started on, but not so fast as before, and it was not until after repeated commands that Stokes got them up to their former height of speed. Then it flashed upon him why they stopped ; it was because they had supposed he had commanded them to. His hurrah sounded almost like the Esquimau word "Ohaha," which means stop. "I lost a few seconds by 'hut foolishness,'" he thought, "but the dogs are good for it yet. ' ' A CHASE ON THE SNOW CRUST. H7 this came little a thin luck 'but He could now distinguish the man quite clearly, and saw that he was making toward the west on a line directly across the line of his approach. "I wonder what he means by that?" said Stokes to himself. "Instead of running directly away from me he's going off to one side. ' ' Perhaps this place is near the sea and he hopes to get into a boat and so beat the dogs. I must try to head him off. "Choia! choi! Jochoiachoi! Go to the left !' ' he cried. And again the dogs obeyed promptly. A little later Stokes could see that the running Esquimau turned occasionally to look at him. "He must be pretty scared," Stokes thou^^iit. "Let me see if I can't bring him to a halt in the old-fashjjned way. I'll fire a shot across his bows, so to speak. " Accordingly Stokes fired his reovlver into the air. His hope was that the Esquimau would be frightened by the sound of the weapon and so come to a standstill. It took a few seconds for the report to reach Amorak's ears. Instead of stopping, the Esquimau suddenly changed his course and sped directly north vard. That fact caused Stokes to gain more slowly upon him, but he nevertheless gained little by little, and at last there was not more than two hundred yards between the fugitive and the pur- suer. Stokes did not venture *o call out, for fear the dogs would misunderstr -id hii\ cvy and stop again. He thought of using his revolver, but he had no desire to kill Amorak, and he beiJeve'^ that it would be entirely possible to capture him within a few minutes. They had now left t;he broad plain and had come upon another stretch of level that was different from the plain in that it was dotted with great bowlders and hummocks of ice. On the plain, too, there had been scattered trees, here there were none. Stokes die' not know it then, but he learned afterward that he was crossing one of the greatest glaciers in the world. It is an immense river of ice that flows very, very slowly from the lakes and mountains inland to the sea, carrying with it rocks and everything else that comes in its path. Generally the movement of such a glacier cannot be seen by the naked eye, though sometimes it is possible to discover its motion, and frequently it can b? detected by the noise that the ice makes in the grinding against tiie bottom. Even now Stokes could hear a strange rumbling and once in a while a booming report that he could not understand. ii8 A CHASE ON THE SNOW CRUST. In a moment he decided from what he had learned in reading that these noises must come from the movement of the glacier, but he did not then realize that he himself was on one. It setmed as if the dogs knew better. Their speed decreased, and the leaders showed a desire to turn about and go elsewhere, and it was only by the frequent use of the whip that Stokes kept them to their speed. Another minute, a half minute, even, and they would be along- side of Amorak. He was running, and slipped in such a way that it was clear that his strength was nearly exhausted. The forward dogs were almost on him, when he made a sharp turn to the right and disappeared behind a huge bowlder. "To the right!" shouted Stokes, touching the leaders with the whip. The dogs wheeled around the bowlder as obediently as the best trained horses would have done, and the sled slewed in follow- ing. They were going at inich speed that it would have been impos- silbe for the sled to make the turn without slewing more or less, and so, smooth was the surface that the sled swung around in a half circle. Just too late, Stokes saw that there was an immense fissure, or crack, in the ice a few feet beyond the bowlder. It was impossible to prevent the sled from going as far as the edge of that fissure, and Stokes made a wild effort to leap. It was too late even for that. Amorak had conducted his flight with splendid shrewdness. He had led the team of dogs to just that point in the hope of accomplishing th s very thing, know- ing as he did that the sled would slew and tarry his pursuer o^'er the edge of the fissure. It was all over in a second. Stokes, half rising, felt the sled suddenly give way, and down he went, his weight and that of the sled dragging the entire team of dogs after him. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GIvACIER. "9 CHAPTER XVIII. AT THR BOTTOM OV THE) GI^ACIER. As they went, mati and dogs making frantic efforts to clutch at the edge of the ice, he had a glimpse of an evil face looking down at him. Amorak had run from the bowlder to the edge of the fissure, and was completing the catastrophe by pushing over the two dogs that led the team, and who would have been dragged over in any case. Usually, to fall into the fissure of a glacier means certain death, for these cracks are exceedingly deep, and the chances are that he who falls in will be ground to pulp by the movement of the vast river of ice upon the stony bed below. It was Amorak himself who saved Stokes' life. By pushing the leading dogs over the edge he sent them down faster than the others in the team, so that they landed on the bottom first of all, and Stokes, in his fall, landed on the dogs. Their bodies made a cushion which saved him from anything more serious than a severe jolt. Fbrtunately the sled bounded on and came to a top a few feet away, so that he was not injured by falling against it. Having pushed the dogs over, Amorak hurried away from the fissure and failed to see what had happened. Stokes found himself between high walls of ice in a crooked, narrow alley. Around him lay the injured dogs. Four of them were so badly bruised that they were certain to die of their injuries, and without hesitation he put an end to their suffering with pistol shots. The other four dogs falling as Stokes did, upon the bodies of their companions, were not injured. The sled was smashed beyoiul repair. It may be said that Amorak, upon the surface of the glacier, heard the pistol shot-' but supposed that they were merely the cracking of the glaci*". as it ground his enemy to death. He went on to his hut, feeling perfectly satisfied that his trou- bles were at an end. Stokes lost no time in seeking a way out of his very dangerous situation. > .,3 I20 AT THE BOTTOM OF TlIIv GLACIER. Commanding the dogs to stay still, be went in both directions along the fissure until, to bis great satisfaction, he came to a spot where the ice wall was not so steep as it was at the place •where be fell. He saw but one way for escape for him, and that he proceeded to take without delay. He first mended the broken harness and attached the remaining dogs to it in such a way that they were at the end of a long rope of hide, the other end of which he had around his waist. Then with his knife he began to chip out holes in the side of the ice wall, into which he placed his feet, one after another, and so worked his way gradually toward the surface. It was a long and difficult task, and more than once he slipped and went tumbling again to the bottom. After three or lorn such slips he used more caution, for it would not do to fall from a great height. So at length he worked his way to the top. Then he dug a little furrow in the ice near the edge, in which be braoed his feet and began to pull upon his rope. It was a severe tug, and the dogs did not enjoy the process any more than Stokes did, but it resulted in his bringing every one of the four dogs unharmed from the bottom of the fissure. This done, he arranged the harness again so that the dogs could drag him. He bad no sled, but the surface was so smooth that he could slide sufficiently well upon his feet ; so he gave the command to the dogs to start, and off they went, dragging him after them. In this way he made much faster progress than he could have made by running, • He shrewdly guessed that Amorak would return to the hut, where, in all probability, he had concealed the stolen papers. It proved to be but a few minutes' run to arrive there, and Amorak was not aware of his enemy's approach until Stokes threw himself against the door of the hut and burst it open. Inside he found the startled Esquimau just in the act of has- tily tucking a large envelope inside his jacket. The fellow was too startled to make much of a resistance, and there is no need, therefore, of describing the very brief struggle that followed. Stokes bound his prisoner, and then fashioned a rude sled out of boards found in the hut, and on this both were dragged back to Vilnak by the four dogs. There Stokes paid the Esquimaux handsomely for the dogs that had been lost in the adventure and for the other services the in- habitants had rendered him. A boatman took him directly from Vilnak to Circle City with his prisoner, where, in short order the mystery of the papers was solved. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GlyACIER. 121 It seemed that Murdock was dissatisfied with the conduct of his partners and had a scheme by which he could force them to make better terms with him in the sale of the mine by conceal- ing the papers so that no sale could be made until his own terms had been agreed to. Then he had intended to produce the papers and accuse Araorak of having stolen them. He had also arranged to let Amorak escape, so that the Esqui- mau should suffer no trouble for the risks he ran. The robbery, of course, was committed by Murdock himself, and the blowing of the lock to pieces was accomplished after- ward, as Stokes had discovered by the investigation of the hole drilled in the safe door. It was also proved, of course, that when Murdock learned so clever a fellow as Stokes was to be engaged upon the case, he persuaded Cadloo to make an attempt to kill the detective. This rascally effort having failed, Murdock' s next plan was to prevent Stokes from reaching the island of Taska. To effect this he managed to bribe the Esquimau engaged as Stokes' skipper to set him ashore on a small island occupied by a band of smugglers and other outlaws. • Luckily there were but two of the band at the island when Stokes arrived there, and though they would have overpowered him for the sake of the money he carried if he had gone ashore, the detective escaped their clutches, as we have seen. Later Stokes took a trip to this island to investigate farther, but it proved that the smugglers had taken fright at his brief call there and had abandoned the place. It appears, too, that they must have left that part of the coun- try, for they were not heard of again. When all these matters had been made clear, and Bellows, the New York capitalist, was satisfied with the mine and the terms for its purchase, he said to Stokes : "I told you I'd make it worth your while if you recovered those papers. My point was that if you proved that your theory was correct and that you had the ability to work it out you would be just the fellow I want to employ in another case. "Now if you want to undertake it I will tell you about it." m lif m i "I am simply. at your service, Mr. Bellows," the detective replied, m 122 A QUIET CONVERSATION. CHAPTER XIX. A em«T CONVERSATION. **Mr. Stokes, there is more money in this region than has been taken out of California since the days of '49. • ' More than was found in the big bonanzas of Nevada — more, in short, than was ever mined in any one section of country in all the world. ' ' These words were spoken in a most impressive manner by Mat- thew Bellows, the New York capitalist, and his listener was lue shrewd American detective, who had promised his services to the investor. They were seated in Bellows' room at the hotel in Circle City. Stokes did not seem to be very much impressed with the capi- talist's remarks. "I shouldn't wonder," he responded, quifetly. **Oue of the surest ways to fortune," continued Bellows, with equal solemnity, "is to be on the ground early and 'ook after things yourself, and be ready at anj' moment to snap up bar- gains. " Stokes nodded. '•There are bargains in mines, just as there are in ordinary articles. ' ' You have been around here long enough, probably, to know that prospectors are coming down from Klondike all the time with the news of great discoveries, and with not a dollar to make those discoveries of any value to themselves. ' ' __ "The town is full of 'em," said Stokes. "Here is the place where men who want to get rich quickly are bound to come. "There are thousands of men here now scattered all Qver the gold district, and there would be tens of thousands more if it were not for the fact that Alaska is so far from everywhere else that it costs a good deal of money to get here. ' ' "Right you are." "Now, everybody knows what I'm here for. I am looking for mining property, and if I could corner a whole region I'd do it, but, of course, that's out of the question; but the very fact that I am in the market to buy makes everybody who has a worthless A QUIET CONVERSATION. J23 ledge on his hands come to me and try to induce me to pur- chase. ' ' "I suppose, " said Stokes, "every prospector in Ciicl;; City has asked you to put up for him. ' ' "Yes, I should think that every miner in all the region had been at me, and I have turned down all but one or two. "The fact is, Mr. Stokes, that 1 can't tell a good mine when I see it. ' * No capitalist can unless he is one like Mackay, or Fair, or Flood, who were miners themselves and made their money in that way. "The man who sits in his oflSce in Wall street has to depend upon the reports of experts, and even at that he is likely to get buncoed once in a while, for sometimes experts can be bribed to salt a mine, and thus palm off on the unsuspecting capitalist a mass of rock that has not gold enough in it to buy a toothpick." "You must have to have a lot of confidence in your experts," remarked Stokes, sympathetically. "Exactly, and that's why I'm talking to you." "But I'm no expert." "Perhaps not, but " "I have never done any practical mining. I know the indica- tions of gold-bearing quartz, but I wouldn't stake my judgment against one of these prospectors that are loafing around here now. ' ' "That's all right," said Bellows. "I understand that, and I wasn't thinking of asking you to inspect mines for me as if you were a practical miner or geologist, or a chemist, but for that matter I don't doubt but you know as much about those topics as most of the fellows who are regularly engaged in the business. "What I want you to do is to stand guard over my transactions and prevent me from being buncoed." Harvey Stokes smil« d. It seemed rather ridiculous that a middle-aged ca|)italist, whose shrewdness had. enabled him to make an immense fortune, should be turning to him, just out of college, for protection against swindlers. ^ "I know what you're thinking," said Bellows. "You're think- ing that I must be an old simpleton to be unable to trust my own judgment in these matters. "Well, I'm willing to have the laugh on me on that account, provided I can get out of the business without being cheated. "Now, I'm perfectly convinced that you are the chap to help me." , "Thanks," said Stokes. ' il 124 A QUIET CONVERSATION. "The way you handled that matter of the Taska Island mine proved to me that you are just the fellow I need. " "Of course I am much obliged to you for your good opinion, " said Stokes, "but it's only fair to say that the Taska Island mat- ter was a very unusual affair; nothing just like that is likely to happen again." "I know that," Bellows assented. "But in that case you saw what none of the others saw, and you worked out the solution of the case without help and in a way that surprised us all. ' ' My belief is that it was not a mere matter of luck that you succeeded then, but that your success was due to special ability. "I suppose you're something of a detective by birth." "I suppose you're a born capitalist," returned Stokes. ' ' Perhaps. -But I want to retain you, ns the lawyers say, to be my special detective as long as I am operating in Klondike. Do you see ?' * Stokes thought a moment. He had come to Alaska in the course of his travels about the world, without -the slightest idea of engaging in business or of doing anything except amuse himself and pick up general infor- mation which might be useful to him in later years. • He had planned to leave Alaska soon and go elsewhere. Nevei- theless there was a strong temptation in the plan proposed by Mr. Bellows. Stokes did not need money — he had no desire to work simply for the sake of earning money ; but since his arrival in Circle City all his natural ability for detective work had been aroused, and he found that he enjoyed himself more in studying the prob- lems of difiScult cases than in traveling simply for his amuse- ment. He had come out of his affairs so far with glorious success, and this fact excited him to a keen desire for more work of the same kind. He was beginning to feel that he must succeed in everything that he undertook. It seemed to him as if he could not fail, and yet there was a certain caution in his nature without which he would have dropped into many disastrous blunders and which now led him to go slowly in his negotiations with Bellows. "You've got no case on hand that needs attention at once, have you?" asked Stokes. "No, but any hour may bring one. " "Do you mean, then, that I shai^ hatig around and do nothing until something turns up?" "Not exactly that. I know you would dislike being idle, and what I want you to do would really keep you busy. "Now, for example, I shall be negotiating this aftemooii with A QUIRT CONVKRSATION. J 25 some men who have made an appointment with me to tell me about some property a long distance from here. "I'd like to have you present. You might be represented as my private secretary, for example. Just listen to what they have to say, size the men up, and tell me what you think of them and their propositions. Then if there seems to be any crooked- ness you can make it your business to unearth it." "Well," said Stokes, with a smile. "I don't know but I might undertake it, though I can imagine that there would be days at a time when nothing would turn up that would give me any real work to do. " Mr. Bellows laughed aloud. " No fear of that, " he cried. "I tell you I am the mark for every swindler there is in Klondike, and you might live a hun- dred years and aot have more to do than you'll have while I'm here. Will you agree?" "I'll try it for a few days. ' * "That will satisfy me. Now about terms." "Let the terms wait," said Stokes, "for a week. If what you say is correct, a week will show how much work there is to be done and what it is worth, • "Perhaps I shan't care to stay in the business. At any rate, I don't want to tie myself down to it by making teims now." "All right," said Bellows. "If you work for me you can be certain of one thing — you will get your pay. "So far as I'm concerned, although I'm afraid of being bun- coed by these miners, I am perfectly confident that I shall know the value of your services and shan't be induced to pay you too high for them." "I don't think that we shall quarrel on that matter," remarked Stokes. At this moment there was a knock at the door, and a hall boy entered to say that Mr. Rowland was looking for Mr. Harvey Stokes and would wait for him in the office if Mr. Stokes \ is to be at liberty soon. "Rowland!" said Bellows. "He's the United States district attorney stationed here!" "Yes, " said Stokes. "I wonder what he wants of me?" "Probably some question about your evidence about the Taska Island fellows." "I thought that was settled," Stokes responded. "However, if you have nothing more to say, suppose I go down and see what he wants?" "Have him come up here," said Bellows. "And if his busi- ness is private I will withdraw." "All right Ask Mr. Rowland to come up here." m i 126 A QUieX CONVERSATION. The hall boy withdrew, and presently the district attorney entered the room. He shook hands warmly with Stokes, who introduced him to Mr. Bellows and asked if the nature of his business was confidential. "Why, no, not exactly," responded Mr. Howland. "I shouldn't hesitate to speak about it before Mr. Bellows, of whom I have heard during the last few days. "I have no doubt that Mr. Bellows will be as interested as I am in what I want to say. ' ' The three sat down, and the district attorney at once proceeded to explain hmiself. "Circle City," he said, "is infested just now with a gang of thieves. Several persons have suffered slight losses, and thus far there is not a particle of evidence to cause suspicion against any one man. " It is an annoyance that reflects severely upon the officers of the government, and we are at a good deal of loss to know what to do about it. " "What is the matter with the police?" asked Stokes. "The police here," replied the district attorney, "are not quite like the police in the States. "This is a military post, you understand, and the soldiers do most of the police work. "Of course we could handle a riot in Circle City easily enough, but when it comes to the finer grades of crime hunting we are almost helpless." Mr. Howland paused and looked at his listenerst for a moment in silence. "Perhaps you see what I'm driving at," he resumed. "For the credit of officials like myself we must manage to stop this thieving. "The civilian police are in despair, and the soldiers do not pretend to be detectives. Now, then, it seemed to me remarkably fortunate that among the residents of Circle City just at this time there should be a young man — yourself, Mr. Stokes — who appears to be a born detective, and who has recently shown remarkable ability in that line. "The long and short of it is that we should like to engage you " "Can't be done," interrupted Bellows. "It can't be done, Mr.-' District Attorney." "No?" responded Howland, with a disappointed look. "Why not?" /': "Well " He checked himself and looked inquiringly at Stokes. "Mr. Bellows," said Stokes, "has just made me an offer to b«|' A QUI^T CONVERSATION. 127 his private secretary, and I told him that I would take the job on trial." The district attorney drew a long breath. "I must say that I am sorry," he said. "It seems that I am about half an hour too late. ' ' "I am afraid you are," remarked Bellows in a satisfied tone. "Mr. Stokes is engaged for my work now, and I don't feel like letting him go. " '- Stokes listened to this with some discontent. He did not quite enjoy being claimed by this capitalist as if he were so much property to be bought and sold like everything else. Besides, the fact that the district attorney suggested an actual case to work upon was a temptation to drop Bellows and take up the other mat- ter. But he had given his word to Bellows for a week's'^^rial, and that settled it. "My services for Mr. Bellows," he long. I only go with him on trial- said, <( may not last very 'I expect to make it so pleasant for Mr. Stokes," interrupted Bellows, ' ' that he will stay with me as long as I want him. ' ' The district attorney nodded. "My hopes are dashed," he said, "and I don't suppose there is any use in talking longer about it." "I'm not sure about that, " suggested Stokes. "I might be able to give you some help without interfering at all with Mr. Bellows' work. What is the nature of these thefts?" "I think it would be what is called sneak thieving in the States," was the answer, "although legally it will come down to burglary." "In other words, the entering and robbing of houses," said Stokes. "That's it" ♦ • What kind of stuff is stolen ?' * ' Gold and silverware. ' ' ,1'When is the job done?" "We don't know." "Are there any signs of breaking and entering?" "None that we have been able to find." "Well," said Stokes, "I'd like to look into the matter, and if Mr. Bellows here hasn't anything for me to do at once ' ' "Oh! as for that," interrupted Bellows, who had been doing some thinking on his own account, ' ' I shall be very glad to accommodate the district attorney if it is understood that Mr. Stokes is to take care of my work first " 'Of course," said Rowland. "It would relieve me a good deal to know that this gentleman can even do a little thinking about the affairs that trouble us. lad A QUIET CONVERSATION. "I was going to suggest that you both attend the reception at Judge Taylor's house this evening. "I have not only his authority to invite you, but his urgent request to attend. "The best people of Circle City will be present, and if things go as they have been going for two or three weeks some of the judge's plate will be stolen." The'detective's eyes sparkled. This was just the kind of worV that he wanted to do. It presented him a problem at once a^ u3 a way to begin the solution of it. Bellows, too, was pleased. He had all the rich man's liking for society, and this seemed to be a favorable opportunity for get- ting acquainted with the best people of this place. "We will both be there," he said, "and you may regard Mr. Stokes' presence as that of a detective. ' ' "No, you don't, " said Stokes, "for there mustn't be a word said about my being there as a detective to anybody." "Certainly not " assented the district attorney. "I can see at once that it would be highly improper to make any such announcement." " 'Twould queer the game," remarked Stokes. Mr. Rowland smiled at this direct way of putting the matter. "I can see that you understand your business," he said, "though perhaps Judge Talyor, who is a very dignified old party, might not know what you meant. ' ' "Oh!" responded Stokes, indifferently, "I'll give the judge language that will make him hustle for his dictionary when I talk with him." "You'll find," said Bellows, approvingly— "you'll find that Stokes can talk as well with dignified men as he can with the toughest citizens of Klondike. ' ' Mr. Bellows then proposed adjoiirnin»jt , to the bar of the hotel that they might drink to the success of ^he first evening Stokes was to spend at Judge Taylor's. }j<-':ou- stairs they almost col- lided with this venerable gentleman, who knowing the detective by sight and reputation, and seeing him in company of his friends, advanced to address him. An introduction was immediately effected, and before long Stokes found himself alone with the judge, Bellows and the dis- trict attorney having :ied manners, he became easily a great favorite. As the general attempt at pronouncing his name resulted about as badly as Muldoon's translation of it, that form will be employed in referring to him. The Swede himself when addressed as De Bilkyou showed not the least annoyance, but accepted the name as the best his Amer- ican friends could do. It may be supposed that Stokes kept his eyes and ears open for anything that could give him a hint of the robbers complained of by the district attorney. As soon as he could politely do so, he wiiudrewfrom the group in the dining-room and wandered abovit the other room^ ou the ground floor. To avoid the appearance of li-ivestigatiiig, he had the district attorney and Mr. B;.'llow3 go with bira. They strolled into the dinng-room, where a table was spread with refreshments, and from there into the library, and then to a body returned to the drawing-room and library; most of the men went into the latter room to smoke, De Bilkyou being among them. Stokes was led away by the judge to the drawing-room, and n U fi :•*: i ■i;! 132 DE BIIvK^.'OU APPEARS. while they were conversing a servant crossed the room hurriedly and whispered to the judge. "You don't say so!" exclaimed the judge aloud. "Where is Rowland?" He excused himself hurriedly and started toward the library. • ' I bet I know what that means, ' ' thought Stokes, and he arose at once and followed the judge. He came to the library door just as Judge Taylor said : "Rowland, it strikes me that this is the last straw that breaks the back of the camel. I would like to know what the law offi- cers of this Territory amount to anyway ?' ' "What is it now, judge?" asked Rowland, nervously. "What has it been for the past two or three weeks? Nothing but a succession of robberies, and at last I am made the victim of it. "Great Scott! to think that I even, a judge appointed by the Federal Government, can't be secuie in the possession of my household goods." There was considerable exci.ement in the room, for every- body there knew instantly what had happened; more than one had suffered from thefts during the past few days. "What has been taken?" asked Stokes in a low voice to the judge. "Gold and silver bowls and other articles made of those met- als," the judge returned, excitedly. "On my word, Mr. Stokes, if you could capture " He didn't complete the sentence, for Stokes had dashed out of the room. Re ran into the dining-room, where thrre were two or three servants standing in helpless confusion looking at the half-cleared table. Cue of the dining-room windows was open. His first impulse was to leap through it, but he abandoned that as soon as be thought of it and went back through the main hall to the front door. A servant who stood there said : "Shall I get your coat and hat, Mr. Stokes?" "No," said Stokes, fumbling with the handle and catch lock. "Let me out!" The servant opened the door, and Stokes dashed away into the darkness. As he ran down the steps the light from the hall lighted up a section of the grounds in front of the judge's house for just an instant. Then the door was closed and all was dark- ness. His eyes, accustomed to the glare of lights within, were then unable to perceive anything, but he turned his steps toward a t _jOt where in the momentary gleam he had thought he sav a nian« m DE BIIyKYOU APPEARS. X33 m The snow that had fallen recently had been cleared from the driveway and footpaths, but where it had not been cleared it was as hard as rock, and a man could run upon it without making a footprint. Stokes was not certain as he sped on across the grounds whether he was on a path or on the grass. He hart gone but a few paces when he ran full tilt into some- body who was coming in the opposite direction. •; The two laid hold of each other violently, Stokes in order to prevent the other from running away, and the other to catch hold of the detective to prevent himself from falling. They wrestled there for a few seconds, and the more Stokes tried to get control of the other the more the stranger resisted. The result of this was that Stokes was convinced that he had _.ught the robber. The stranger apparently could not understand what the fuss was about, for aftei a moment he exclaimed: "I t'ink you mad — hey ? What you try eat me up— hey?" Stokes perceived from the good-humored tone of the man's voice that he was not trying to get away. He, therefore, stopped bis struggling, but asked sternly : "What are you doing here?" > Imd "What I do— hey?" returned the other. "What I do? I fight, It'ink," "Yes, I guess you do," remarked Stokes, beginning to get accustomed to the dim light and to see that his antagonist was a man of unusually large frame. Stokes T^jognized the accents of the man's voice as that o;f a Swede, i^-hovigh he did not remember that he had ever heard the voice ' .'io t, The stranger's dialect told the story. "VV'iC""^ ->•.* you going?" asked Stokes. " t" "w; .'at my bee-sness, ain't it?" returned the Swede, with ptvl ' V good humor; "but I tell you I go find my master t'e Captaw P tijelkja " "Oh! yra'je De Bjelkja's servant, are you?" "Yah." "What are you doing out here?" "I coming from his hotel, fat's all. What you ask fot ?" Stokes did not respond, but he shrugged his shoulders and returned toward the house. As he did this he kept his eyes cau- tio»'.ly upon the Swede to see whether he would attempt vo run >'? ?^wede did not, but instead walked along quietly in the satii* jcctuni. The door was opened just before they arrived at the house, and Judge Taylor, the district attorney, Mr. Bellows and De Bjelkja came out upoa the steps with several others. lit m m m n 134 DE BILKYOU APPEARS. "Have you caught him?" inquired the judge. Before Stokes could respond De Bjelkja stepped forward and exclaimed sternly : "Ole, what are you doing here ?" "I t'ink," Ole answered with a smile — "I t' ink yon tell me come here half- past eleven. ' ' "Yes. I did." Dei Bjelkja looked at his watch. "Jt is exactly thai hour. I must bid you good-evening, Judge Taylor, as I have mc v letters to write to-night, and I told my servant to call for me .' " time in order that I might be sure to leave in time to do n> .k." "Sorry to have you jjjL, " the judge responded, and then turned to Stokes: "^^" "What did you find?" he asked. "Well," Stokes responded, feeling rather sheepish, "I sup- pose everybody now expects me to catch a criminal every time I stir, but I must confess that I haven't done anything of the kind." ai "I thought," said the district attorney, "when you broke from the house that you knew wuere to putj'our hands upon the guilty party." ^-t "The warning was given so quickly," Stokes answered, "that I was in hopes of catching the fellow before he got far away, but I ran against this servant, made a mistake, and lost time — that's the truth about it. So now I'll have to begin over." a He stepped into the house and went directly to the dining- room, feeling disgusted with himself for having made such a show of energy without a decent result. ^iw The district attorney followed him, leaving Judge Taylor to say good-night to De Bjelkja and to see him from the house. "See here, Stokes," said the district attorney in a low tone, "you're not obliged to tell the whole truth to everybody who asks you a question just now, but you might ^ive me a pointer. Do you suspect Cle Hansen ?" '" " /'' |''/V' " "" "Is that the name of De Bjelkja's servant?*'* '"-''V ^';""*" ' "Yes" ■ 'M'ff oh OS ■i'itioii "No, I don't suspect him." ,.. .,r.,.. ..^g tj bh ^o} "Do you suspect anybody?" , ,^^,,f, ,^^^ "Oh, nol Ole has given an account of hims .H that is straight enough. It was mere accident that I should have run out if^adi come up against him just at that time." r; , ,. "Well, I'm sorry," remarked the district at.:omey. "Sorry for what?" "Well, I thought tiiat you might have made another of yOur A PUZZI^ER FOR HARVEY STOKES. 135 brilliant dashes and caught the guilty party of! hand, don't you know?" "That's the worst of it. I've made a record and it will be impossible to keep it up. But never you mind — I'll find out who committed this robbery if. I have to stay in Circle City a year!" CHAPTER XXI. A PUZZI.ER POR HARVSY STOK^. or ;n.; The robbery created such an unpleasant excitement that the party at Judge Taylor's broke up soon after, and all the guests went home except Stokes, Mr. Bellows, and the district attor- ney. Stokes remained, of course, for the purpose of making an investigation of the dining-room and grounds generally. It was plain at a glance thet the thief had taken a quantity of gold and silver ware from the dining table and had made his way from the room by a window. How he got into the house was a mystery. Who he was was equally mysterious. Stokes questioned the servants. They were certain that nobody had entered the house through the back doors, and they had seen no strangers other than the guests of Judge Taylor. Without ^oing into the details of their explanations, it is suffi- cient to say that Stokes was satisfied that the servants were entirely honest, and that the robbery had been effected during a very brief moment while the dining-room "happened to be deserted by all of them. They v/ere engaged in removing the dishes, etc., from the difting-room to the kitchen, and according to the best informa- tion they could give, the dining-room had not been empty for more than a minute at a time. A minute would be long enough for anybody already inside the house to do what had been done. A mere handful of articles had been stolen. It looked, there- fore, as if somebody must have been on the watch at the dining- room door ready to seize an opportunity when the servants should be out of sight to rush in, grab what he could lay his hands on and bolt through a window. As all the windows had been down and fastened until after the robbery was discovered, it was clear beyond a doubt that the thief must have been in the house during all or most all of the evening. When be bad come to this cot^clusion, which be did not state 136 A PUZZLER FOR HARVEY STOKES. to anybody, Stokes questioned Judge Taylor about his guests He did not explain his reasons for asking the questions, but sim- ply asked the judge to tell him all he knew about every person who was iu the company, men and women alike. The result of the most searching cross examination that Stokes could give was that he could not fix his suspicion upon anybody as having been guilty of this theft. His mind suddenly turned to the fact of his having come across Ole Hansen immediately after the robbery was discovered, but the good-natured servant appeared to have made a perfectly clear explanation of his presence in the grounds, and a later inspection showed that the struggle between the two had taken place upon the driveway, and not, as Stokes thought at the time, upon the snow beside it. Before he was done with the matter for that night Stokes searched the grounds all around the house with a lantern. Although the snow beneath the dining-room window was scratched as if with a boot heel, there was no mark there suffi- ciently clear to serve as a clew. Four feet away from the window the snow was as smooth every- where as if it had never been trodden upon, so that there was absolutely nothing to indicate which direction the thief had taken. After he had made all *^he investigations he could think of, the detective returned to the library for the double purpose of getting warm before returning to his hotel and for thinking the thing over. "Well, Stokes," said the district attorney, who had waited to learn the result of his study of the problem, "what do you think?" "I don't like to say what I think," was the reply. "Don't be afraid to express your suspicions, Stokes, " said the judge, "no matter who is affected by it." "Oh, that's not it," responded Stokes. "The plain fact is that at this moment it is impossible to suspect anybody." The detective sat before a fire burning merrily in a grate and dropped his head on his hands. The others watched him in silence foi a time, and then the district attorney remarked : "The probability is that the fellow had some ally among the servants who raised the window for him and so let him in. " "Nonsense!" cried Stokes, sitting up. "If I know anything at all about human nature there is nobody among the servants who had a hand in this." "There is no doubt, Stokes, that you are a good judge of human nature, and I should be sorry to suspect any of the serv- ants, but how else could this br ciccounted for?" A PUZZLER FOR HARVEY STOKES. 137 "Without stopping to answer that question," was the detec- tive's reply, "I will show you how that theory doesn't account for it at all." "Well?" "Suppose the thief had a confederate among the servants." "Yes," "How is that confederate to know when he can open the win- dow? Don't you see that the one guilty servant couldn't know for certain just how long the others oould be out of the dining- room. "Don't you see that a servant in opening the window would be likely to bring suspicion upon himself?" "Yes, that's so; but still " "And to go further," interrupted Stokes, "suppose a servant was a confederate of a thief ; wouldn't it have been much easier to have passed the stolen articles to the thief from a back door or through some kitchen window?" "Yes, that's so," said the judge. "If a servant had been con- cerned in it he could easily enough have done up a quantity of the most valuable plate and dropped is out of the back door where the thief could get it. ' ' "And that was not done," said Stokes, Confidently. "Here is a fact that you have forgotten. " "What is it?" "The thief did not take the most valuable articles from your table." "That's so." "And that proves that he had no time to take his pick; he was in a hurry ; he had to get what first came to hand. "It all goes to prove that the thief was in this house, and I am sorry to say it, but he was among the guests. '.'Now, then, who was the. first person to go home?" "That's a shocking suspicion that you express," said the judge, gravely. "You told me not to mind who was hit by it, " retorted Stokes, "and besides that, it is not a suspicion, it is a fact." "I can't think that anyone of my guests " the judge began slowly, when Stokes interrupted. "Who went home fir.st, Judge Taylor?" "Well, let me see. The onlj' person who left the house after the refreshments were served and before the announcement of the robbery was Mr. White," "Who is he?" "White is one of the unimportant secretaries at the government office. He always goes home early from such affairs — iu fact he seldom goes out at all. 138 A PUZZLER FOR HARVEY STOKES. .-, VI don't think your suspicion will be worth anything if you fix it upon him." "Oh, I don't. The very fact that he had left the house proves that he could not have had a hand in the robbery. It was some- body else," There was a moment's pause, and then Stokes added : "Can't you think of anybody among your guests who disap- peared about the time the robbery was taking place?" J^;"f ;• The judge thought a moment and shook his head slowly. "All the men in the party," he said, "were in the library except you and me. " There was another silence after this and the Stokes, remarking that it was quite a mystery, got up to go. " What are you going to do about it?" inquired the district attorney, preparing to'go with him. "I shall keep on thinking," replied Stokes, "and before long i expect to have something to say. "By the way, were all these other robberiies of this same kind?" "Yes," replied the district attorney, "to the extent that gold and silver plate was stolen, and usually the robbery was effected during some social gathering, but this is the only time that the matter was discovered so quickly, and the only time when there seemed to b^ a chance for a clew, and yet the only time when there was so great a mystery about it. ' ' Stokes parted from the district attorney before he reached his home. Mr. Bellows had gone to his hotel ahead of him. The detective walked along the deserted street, head down, trying to solve the perplexing puzzle connected with the rob- bery, and wondering again and again whether after all Ole Han- sen might have had a hand in it. Just before he reached his house he found himself cbii[fii6nted by a tall man, who said pleasantly : "I look for you." ;^'' , . By the light of the street lamp Stokes recognized Ole.' /*' ■^' ' "Oh!" said Stokes, "aren't you out late?" ' "Yah!" to-night." was the good-humored ««i response. "I no sleep uliadid-irT/ 'Why not?" "You t'ink I t'ief," responded Ole, seriously, and yet with a smile. "Who told you so?" "Oh, t'e captain he say somet'iu^s. And I t'ink you t'ink met'ief-hey?'' -A^i"^,-,, you Stokes shook his head. •\H''ro''>f'th - - J- S 'The fact is, Ole," he answered, "that at the very first, A PUZZIyER FOR HARVUY STOKES. 139 f you when we were struggling there in front of the judge's house, I did think I had a thief in my Hands, but later I changed my mind." "Ah! you changed your mind ?" "Yes." ;!^ "And you no t'ink I t'ief some more — hey?" "No, but I think it was unlucky for you that you came along just then. " "Yah, very unlucky." The big Swede looked really troubled. "I no like," he said after a moment. "Why, what's on your mind?" asked Stokes, "You very honest," was the reply. "You nice man, you say nice t'ings, but I no can help it. You still t'ink " "Now, if that's worrying you, Ole," exclaimed Stokes, "you go to bed without any further anxiety. I have every reason to think that you are not the thief. ' ' ,^ "Yah, I understand." The Swede spoke doubtfully in spite of his assertion. "I'm not going to stop," continued Stokes, "to tell you just what I think or why I thifik so, but the fact is, as I say, that I have the best of reasons for believing that you could not have been .Jie thief if you wanted to be." :^r- Stokes had in mind the theory, which he believed to be posi- tive, that the thief must have been one of the guests. He was about to pass on, but Ole stopped him again. "You no say who you t'ink?" he asked. "Oh, no," he replied, "I'm not saying anything of that kind to anybody. Good-night." He turned aside and passed Ole, who stood stock still. After a pace or two Stokes turned around and saw that Ole was on the same spot, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. "You no say who?" asked Ole again. "Not I," Stokes returned, good-naturedly, but wondering a little at the fellow's persistence. ' ' Well, ' ' said the Swede with a sigh, ' ' not now, perhaps to-mor- row ?' ' "I won't promise," responded Stokes. With that he said good-night again and went on, leaving the Swede still standing in the street and thinking it over. "He's a good deal troubled about it, " thought Stokes. "I suppose his master. Captain De Bjelkja, has been hauling him over the coals for getting himself into a suspicious situation. "Perhaps Ole Hanson would be the best-pledsed man in Circle City if I should discover the thief. "Something may happen before long, before another day goes I40 OLE'S DISCOVERY. by, and at any rate I am afraid Mr. Bellows will have to post- pone liis work until I can clear this thing up. "It just galls me to think of a robbery taking place at that house where I was present, and that I can't make head or tail of it." CHAPTER XXII. DICE'S DISCOVERY. Several hours passed before Stokes went to sleep. He spent the time in going from one tough resort to another in the hope of see- ing something or hearing something that might give him a clue to the thfef's identity. The detective might have been in bed for all the information that he got out of his late vt^atch. Nothing whatever occurred to throw' any light upon the prob- lem, and when at last he lay down to sleep he almost felt discour- aged. He allowed himself a very short rest, and when he awoke, shortly after sunrise, it was with new determination to solve the mystery and with a sudden conviction that he knew how it was to be done. It often happens that after a man has puzzled a long time over a perplexing subject the light breaks on him suddenly and he sees the solution clearly; it was so with Stokes. He awoke with a full-planned theory in his head, and along the lines of that theory he determined to work until he should have tested it thoroughly. Feeling that he was bound in honor to give Mr. Bellows a call, he went to that gentleman's hotel, but found that he was not yet out of bed, so Stokes left word there that he was going to stroll for two or three hours, and went to the vicinity of Judge Taj'lor's house. There he began a patient, systematic search of the neigtSor- hooil to the north of the house, going back and forth over the ground much as if he were plowing the field. He walked rapidly, keeping his eyes almost all the time upon the snow, and when he had paced back and forth over what would amount to many acres he went to the east side of the house and pursued the same tactics. Apparently he had found nothing to justify his theory when a OLE'S DISCOVERY. 141 little before noon he dropped that line of work in order to hunt up Mr. Bellows. He found that gentleman waiting for him at the hotel. "Well, Stokes," said Bellows, "what have you been up to?" •'I've been raking the ground around the judge's house," Stokes replied, "hunting for the missing articles." "Find any trace of them?" "Not yet, but I've still got to cover the west and south sides of the house, and if you haven't anything for me to do I'd like to go back and complete the search. '^ "You don't really expect to find them, do you?" • ' Nothing would surprise me less. ' ' "Well, you're a shrewd card, and I don't suppose anybody in Circle City now would be surprised at your accomplishing any- thing." "That's the hard part of it." "What do you mean?" "I mean that people except me to do things that may be impos- sible. However, I'm going to try." "Go ahead, then, for as far as I'm concerned, there is not anything that you need to attend to just now. "I've got a deal on hand that I'm perfectly satisfied with, and it would be simply wasting your time to ask your advice about it." Stokes looked curiously at his patron. "Of course it's not any of my business if you make a deal with- out telling me. of it; but yet I thought you were anxious to hav« me in on all your transactions. " "Oh, well," responded Bellows, confidently, "I don't object to telling you at all. You mustn't think that. "It was with these mining prospectors that I feared trouble and frauds. When I'm dealing with experienced business men I am quite able to take care of myself. ' ' "Oh!" said Stokes. "And the man I am dickering with now," continued Bellows, "is that Swedish captain, De Bilkyou, or whatever he is called." " Has De Bjelkja offered to sell you a mine?" Stokes asked, quietly. "Yes. He's got a stunning property that he has picked up since he has been here, and as he doesn't care to stay to develop it he is willing to let it go at a very reasonable figure. " "I should think he might." "Why not? He is a soldier in the service of his king, and his leave of absence will be up in the course of a few months. "It will profit him more to sell it now than to hang on here H9 OhU'S DISCOVERY. investing more money in it in the hope of a better customer com- ing along." " That's so." There was something queer in Stokes' tone, and Bellows looked at him sharply. "You don't see anything objectionable in that deal, do you, Stokes ?' ' the eHer man asked. "Not the least bit," was the reply, **ii you are arguing for De Bjelkja." "Arguing for De Bilkyou?" returned Bellows in surprise. "Why, of course I'm not." "I thought you were" "What do you mean, Sttkes?" "Why, just this. You're showing how handy it is that this Swedish captain, knocking around he world for the fun of it, should pick up a stray mine at a bargain and then stumble upon a rich man from New York within a few days who is willing to take it off his heads at a profit. "I say that's a thundering good thing for De Bjelkja, that' S all." "Stokes, you'te holding something back from me." "You haven't asked me for anything yet — my opinion or any- thing else, ' ' ''But of course you know I want it." "The\? why do you tell me you are perfectly competent to han- dle a busi.\ess transaction with De Bjelkja?" "Well, think I am." "Then },o ahead, Mr. Bellowc, but when you do, simply con- sider that our arrangement is off. Is that clear?" Bellows looked at the detective in amazement and witk .ootDfS- thing like wrath. ^ri ;i»j\^ •♦"^i h'i~^'' ^''rfA*' "Come, now," he said, "there's no sense in your taking offence because I choose to make a^-arraagement. without con- sulting you." .'If:..-- -a f,;^ T r,-;.|t <,-, "I'm not sensitive," retorted Stokes. "The only point is that you have tried to engage me to protect you from being buncoed, and on the first occasion when there is a chance for me to do you a service you coolly throw me over. • rov Jfifl/ ' ' That shows that I'm not of any use to you. " "But you don't mean that you would advise against dealing with De Bilkyou?'' "I certainly do." "Why, but, man alive, De Bilkyou is an officer in the Swed- ish army, and he briags letters of introduction to the officials here that testify to his character in the highest terms I have OlvE'S DISCOVERY. 143 seen the letters myself, and I would feel as sure as if I were* bar- gaining with the King of Sweden himself." '*Then go ahead," exclaimed Stokes, impatiently. "Give the Swede all he asks for, but count me out of it hereafter." ' * But what do you know about the captain that makes you so suspicious?" "Perhaps I don't know anything, and anyhow I'm not telling what I know. " I am going now to resume my hunt for Judge Taylor's miss- ing property. "I give you fair warning, if you deal with De Bjelkjayou will regret it. ' ' With this Stokes marched away, leaving Bellows half angry and half puzzled. He really had a good deal of confidence in Stokes' judgment, or else he would not have engaged him. He felt that the detective was too sensitive and that he ought to have given his patron the advantage of all his secret thougb on •^he matter, but Mr. Bellows, nevertheless, was a good enough isiness man to be somewhat scared by the detective's emphatic y of advising against the Swede. "* "Stokes has probably gone off at half cock this time," thought Bellows. "It is not likely that he would be right always, and yet it may be just as well to wait a bit before coming to terms with De Bilkyou. "I must trj^ to get Stokes to tell me more about it." Stokes returned to the vicinity of Judge Taylor's house. It was his intention, as he told Bellows, to search around the south side of the building, but his plans were changed by meet- ing Ole Hansen almost in front of the gate to the Taylor grounds. "Ah!" said Ole, with his evrh ^ting smile. "What you t'ink t'is morning — hey ?' ' "I don't know that there's any reason for thinking any differ- ent than I did last night, Ole," Stokes answered. ji The Swede wore a long overcoat and had his hands plunged Into the pockets. He stood looking steadily at Stokes, and in spite of his smile his face became serious. "What you t'ink ?" he repeated. And without waiting for an answer continued: "I tell you what I t'ink — hey?" "Go ahead, Ole." "I t'ink first somebody steal. T' at right— hey ?" "Yes, that's right." ' "I t'ink next he go out t'e dining-rocmi window— hey ?*' "Shouldn't wonder," ai^rirK' srl hr.i> .Yitrt- "T'en, 8ee,»I go long way from t'at t'onght. I fink t'en sotne- 144 CLE'S DISCOVERY. body, not you, perh ips, but most everybody else t'ink Ole done t'e fief— hey?" "I'm not sure," said Stokes, "that everybody thinks you're the thief. In fact, I don't believe that you are under suspicion at all." "No? Veil, I t'ink all night long how people look cross-eyed at Ole Hansen. I no like t'at; would you?" "No, I shouldn't like to be under suspicion." ' ' What you do if you were ?' ' "What would I do if I were under suspicion? Why, I suppose that I would try to prove that I was innocent. " The Swede smiled joyously. "Ah!" he cried. "T' at' s good; t'at what I do. T'at why I come out here and look round here, everywhere, to find who t'e ti'ef." "Well, have you found him?" *'No, but I find somet'ing else." ^^♦Whatisit?" ^ "See!" Ole slowly drew hts hands from his pockets and displayed in one a gold cup and in another a silver dish. "Yudge Taylor's, " said Ole, triumphantly, as he turned the silver dish over and showed the Taylor monogram engraved upon it. "T'is too, I t'ink," he continued, indicating the gold cup. Stokes said nothiag, but looked on with great interest. Ole placed the articles upon the snow and then dove into his great pockets again. From them he produced half a dozen other articles, all of which had undoubtedly been taken from Judge Taylor's table. "T'at's all," he ; aid presently and looked up expectantly at Stokes. He "Vis at that moment kneeling upon the snow with the stolen articles before him. "Where did you find them?" asked Stokes, quietly. THe Swede turned half around and pointed to a vacant field a little way to the south of Judge Taylor's residence. ' ' See t'at gieat rock ?' ' he asked. "That bowlder in the middle of the fielc ?" . "Yah." "Well?" "Ill t'e snow behind t'e rock." "Show me the place, will you?" "Yah!" returned the Swede, doubtfully. "But I go first to take t'ese to my master, t'e captain." " No, " returned Stokes, emphatically. "Show me wliereyou found them. *' OLE'S DISCOVERY. tAS "All right, t'en; yust as you say." Ole gathered the articles up and replaced them in his pockets, and then, with a cheerful "TMs way," he marched up the road and turned into the field, leading Stokes directly to the bowlder. Behind it there was a hole in the cru'jt of snow, and inside were two or three hollows, evidently made by the gold and silver articles while lying there. "How did yoii findihis.''" Stokes asked. "Oh! I hunt, and hunt," answered the Swede, with a broad gesture. "I look everywhere, and t'ink how t'at t'ief have little time; how he mustn't be found with t'e t'ings in him packet, so I t'ink most like he buried t'em in t'e snow. "I look long time and find not'ing. T'en I come to t'is rock and see marks. I show you. ' ' Ole went two or three paces from the bowlder and knelt upon . the snow. Then he took out a pocket knife, opened it, and with the blade cut a square iii the surface of the crust. When he had drawn his knife through the crust upon all four sides he carefully brought the crust up and laid it as he would a plate apon the snow I aside him. Then he pressed the light snow in the hole down until there was a considerable cavity below. "You see," he said, with a pleasant smile, "t'e t'itf make t'is hole like t'is. T'en he put all t'et t'ings inside, put t'e cover back again, and t'en nobody suspect — hey?" Stokes was immediately interested. This was exactly the kind of disco'.ery he had hoped to make all the morning. He had reasoned it out that tht thief would make just such a disposition of his booty until all search for it had ceased, when he could go to the hiding place and take it away without fear of detection. "Well, Ole, you're right. Nobody would suspect such a hid- ing place, but you did. How did you happen to find it?" "Ah!" was the reply. "You remember t'e t'ief work in f'i night. In t'e dark he not cover t'e hole exactly, perhaps he t •/- ried, perhaps scared; anyhow, one little corner of t'e cover vn.i broke off. "It — what you call it? — give way t'e snap— hey?" "I see," said Stokes. "You noticed there was a little hole in the crust of the snow, and put your fingers in and lifted oflf the covet, and there were the articles. Is that it?" "Yah." Ole grinnf.'d in the most contented way at this and stood up. "All s'ght," said Stokes. "Now we'll go and find the ovp- tain." 146 DICE'S DISCOVERY. "I t'ink nobody t'ink Ole Hansen a t'ief now — ^hey?'» remarked the Swede as they tramped along. "I guess everybody will believe that you are a very honest man," was the detective's response. To himself Stokes added: *'I haven't had very much experience, but I must say that I wouldn't have supposed a fellow could play the honest man as well as Ole does. "He'll be a difficult f fellow to trip up. I can understand now what I have so often heard, that it's one thing to be morally cer- tain that a man is guilty and another thing to prove it. ff? J Sr:e a-Tl '.' 'i .*(>U la 1' '/h ..,t h.. t / ->HfiM .* i ? i ^ . -,- tfirl? r;»»>oi; man ant, ( Th A PITFALU 147 CHAPTER XXIII 1 ■" A PITFAI,!,. ill ^ ;*iuv,' ^ivr T'! ins .5: .(ft 7" cap- here "That was a very shrewd discovery of yours, Ole," Stokes remarked. "Yah! Yout'inkso?" "How long did it take to find that place ?'* "Oh! a long time." "I should think so. You must have been several hours about it?" ' ' Hah, since sunrise. ' ' "That's a lie, " thought Stokes. "I would have seen him hunt- ing if he had been at work that long. "It's a lie sure enough, but I can't prove it — not yet." When they arrived at De Bjelkja's hotel they found the tain and Bellows in conversation. "Ah! Mr, Stokes," said the captain, pleasantly. "Is any news about the affair at Judge Taylor's?" ' ' Yes. Ole has some news, ' ' The captain's face darkened. "Well, Ole, what have you been up to now?" he asked. "I hunt foi t'e stolen t'ings, " the servant answered, and again he produced the articles from his pocket. The captain's eyes opened wide ' with astonishment and he looked inquiringly ut Stokes. Ole, too, gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak. "I take no credit for finding the articles," said Stokes. "At least Ole had them in his pocket when I met him." "In his pocket!" exclaimed the captain. ' ' Yes. He can tell you about it. ' ' "Yah!" said Ole, without the slightest concern. "Ibringt'em to you, T'is detective man want me show him t'e place where t'ey were hidden, and I do so, t'at if. all," "Well," exclaimed the captain, energetically, "I'm not the man to show them to — Judge Taylor is the interested party." "I want you t'ink no more Ole Hansen a t'ief," said the serv- ant, earnestly. The captain scowled a moment and then said, indifferently: "Well, as a matter of fact, I never did suppose that you were 148 A PITFALL. a thief. If there was any suspicion against you there is no doubt but you have taken the light course to clear yourself. "Take the stuff to Judge Taylor at once and explain the mat- ter to him." Ole again pocketed the stolen articles and started away obedi- ently. Stokes let him go alone, his idea being that if Ole felt that he was under suspicion it would be better to convince him, if possible, that he was nov/ regarded as honest, "He'll deliver those goods all right, " Stokes reflected, "and it will be better to throw him off the track than appear to be shadowing him. " Accordingly, although he had no desire to do so, he remained and fell into conversation with the captain and Bellows. The latter immediately turned the talk to the discussion of the cap- tain's mining property. The Swede described it in glowing language, and even showed Stokes some papers which appeared to justify his claim to owner- ship of it. Stokes listened with apparent interest, but really indifference. He had never heard of the mine before. There were hundreds and hundeds of mines little known and the captain's property might be real or fictitious. It mattered little to Stokes which it was. He was certain in any case, it was worthless. Bellows himself remained silent for the most part. He was studying Stokes' face and trying to get some idea of the detec- tive's thoughts. At last the captain himself asked Stokes that he thought of the property. "I should simply say this, ckptain, " answered Stokes, quietly. "It is necessary for the purchaser to see the ground himself." "Well," responded the captain, shrugging his shoulders, "I presume that ordinarily such caution is necessary. "" "You see," put in Bellows in an embarrassed way, "Stokes is very faithful. He would rather make a mistake on the side of caution than to see me run the chance of " ' ' Speak it out, " said the captain. ' ' Stokes doesn't want to see you swindled. ' ' The captain smiled pleasantly, and Bellows remarked that that was using stronger language than Stokes himself would. "Of course it is," said Stokes. "I didn't suggest that there was any swindle connected with this. "I simply said it was the custom in such matters for the man to see the property. The purchaser ought to be satisfied about it." There was some further talk qi this nature before Stokes could A PiTFAtL. 149 break away. He went directly to the fort, where he hunted up the private soldier, his friend Muldoon. "«' ' - '"'■ ''"'" ' "See here, Muldoon," he said, "what have you got against Captain DeBjelkja^' "Me? Oh! nothing much, " was the answer. s otO ' ' Yes you have, now. Out with it. " "What do you want to know for?" "I am thinking of standing in with him on a little deal." ' " To be partners with him ?" on 3bv "Well, something like that." ' "Then, see here, me boy; if yous are goin' to be De Bilkyou's partner you'll win, but it's not certain that you'll get your share; understand?" "And if you.ain't goin' to be his partner you'll get left." "What makes you think so?" "Ever seen De Bilkyou play cards?" "No. I only met him yesterday." "Well, sit into a game with him some time, and you'll find he always wins." "You think he's crooked, don't you, Muldoon?" "I know he always wins. Ain't that enough? I was the major's orderly for a few days last week, and I seen a couple of all-night sessions at poker. "Mo«*t every officer in the barracks was cleaned out, and as there's not another pay day for a month yet, there's pqitiiing, ? lef t here for De Bilkyou to play against; see? J7"/' . 'V, "So he's gone in society. If he ever plays cards, watch fatm — that's all." "Did you see anything about his style of playing that looked crooked?" "Nothing, Stokes. He's too clever for that. But when you see a man lose only his ante in ordinary hands and win every jack pot hand running, I'm thinking you don't want to play against 'him, that's all. " This was the most that Stokes could get out of Muldoon, but it was suflScient to confirm his suspicions. ' He walked slowly back to his hotel, and as he thought the case over it seemed to him that the only way that he could possibly operate successfully against the Swedish captain would be by appearing to be fiiendly with him, and await some chance for exposure of his trickery. Stokes was perfectly convinced that Die was the thief that operated at Judge Taylor's. He presumed that he was the thief that had operated at other houses. { "^^i" -- ISO A PITFALL. He was a good deal more than half convinced that tl}e captfiin was in league with the sifervant. h^inirtu:- "They stand together, or I'm a sinner," he said to himself. " ' And they are so clever that there is no way of getting evidence against what they have done in the past The only thing to do will be to catch ihem in something they are at — something new. "I thought" — and he smiled a little bitterly — "I was going to be clever enough to catch the thief last night. I was outwitted then, and perhaps I shall be again, but I think not. "At all events, I've got to go into society and watch that pair. ' ' The district attorney was waiting for Stokes at the hotel. "Well, Stokes," he said , "what do you think of this discov- ery of Taylor's property?" "I think," Stokes answered, "that it's going to lead to the discovery of the thief. " ' ' You have not giveji it up, then ?' * i "Not much." %i V ../-il i.i:\«j^w i I- "You're going to keep your thoughts to yourself?" " For the present. But you caa help me. " "How?" ' : "Get me an invitation to whatever is going on for the next few evenings." " That will be easy enough. You will probably find yourself invited everywhere. " This was indeed the case. Stokes found several notes of invita- tion awaiting him from persons of prominent position. They wete all for different nights, so that he was able to accept them all. ' • The chances are, ' ' he thought, ' ' that De Bjelkja will be pres- ent at all these affairs, and I may have a chance to study his style at card playing. ' ' Accordingly Stokes took himself that evening to one of the leading houses of Circle City, where a smaller party than that of Judge Taylor's was assembled, but where the evening was passed in much the same way. The detective went there early. Time dragged heavily for a while, because his anxieties were considerably aroused by two facts. The first was that nearly everybody in the city of any means whatever seemed to be interested in De Bjekja's schemes. In most instances the Swede had picked up valuable mines, which he was willing to dispose of at a sacrifice because of his necessary return to his native country, bu* there were other enter- prises besides mines, and all of them were discussed with that quiet confidence that showed Stokes that the people were likely A PltPALt. 151 to be taken in by the swindler ad completely as if they had been captured by an invading army. That De Bjelkja was a swindler he had not the slightest doubt. The second fact that gave him cause for worry was the delay in De Bjelkja's appearance. It began to look as if the man would never arrive. But he came at last, accompanied, as he always was on such trips, by his servant, whom he dismissed at the door with orders to return at a later hour. After the Swedish captain's arrival the conversation was limited almost wholly to the schemes which De Bjelkja was trying tO interest people in. It was only too evident that people were interested, and the ( only question was whether the scoundrel could be exposed in time to prevent people from parting with their money. Stokes took part in the talk in a general way, but he said nothing definite about the various pla ' and evaded questions as well as he could when they were asked of him directly. He observed presently that De Bjelkja was anxious to have a private talk with him, and Stokes soon found a way to give him an opportunity for thia. It was while refreshments were being served. The young fellow stood near a cabinet filled with minerals and various curiosities. De Bjelkja strolled up and Stokes Called his attention to the articles. The others in the room were at that moment engaged elsewhere, and the Swede said : "Those are very interesting, Mr. Stokes, but if you would call at my looms, " should like to show you some samples of ore from a mine that I have not spoken of to these people, «nd in which I might interest you." Stokes reflected rapidly. "Would it be well to pretend to enter into this man's plans or would it be better to play an independent game ? "He's trying to spring a trap on me," the detective thought, "and though I might outwit him in it, I reckon it's better judg- ment to hold off." Aloud he said : ii "I'm much obliged for the opj>ortunity, captain, but the fact ■Jb that so many mining properties have been j>flferecii to me for investment since I have been in Circle City that ^ ^ave made it an iron rule not to touch any of them." "Ah! well," responded the captain, "I su{^S(> that's wise, and I certainly will not press you in the matter. "There's another thing, however, in which I Would like very much to interest you. " '- "What ia it?" ^" ^h' b>^!^ ^^r?'-? •'■»f' " Ys^u have shown remarkable ability of a certain sort here, Und I think you could be of great assistance to me by advising / 15* A PiTFAIvIv. L me in my negotiations for the sale of various pioperties that I have picked up." "Ah!" said Stokes to himself. "He wants to work along the same lines as Bellows did. " "That might be possible," he remarked aloud. "I could make it worth your while," continued the captain in a low voice. "There's nothing like a gold mine to make men greedy, and with good judgment we could bring some heavy prices for the property I control." "I don't doubt it," Stokes responded, "if we play a waiting game and not let them go too soon." The detective's purpose in saying this was, of course, to induce the Swede, if possible, not close any bargains immedi- ately, for the longer that could be prevented the more hope there was of so'iiijhow exposing his rascality. ' "Very wise, indeed!" said the captain. " You may be sure I shall not hurry too much, but of course money is money, and a man in my position can't do everything that he would like to on his salary. "I might have been pushed for it if it hadn't been that one of the mines I control already yields a handsome income and a reg- ular one. ' ' "Indeed!" "Yes. I should like to tell you about it, but of course this is not the place. ' ' Stokes admitted that it was not. "Come and see me at the hotel to-morrow morning, " suggested the captain, and just then others came up and interrupted them. Shortly after the party had left the dining-room and the master of the house had cautioned the servants not to leave the room empty for even a second theie was a ring at the bell, and a serv- ant who opened the door found an Esquimau standing there, who announced in very poor English that Mr. Bellows wanted to see Mr. Stokes at once. Stokes went to the door. "Where is Mr. Bellows?" he asked. "Hotel," replied the Esquimau, backing away. "Didn't he send a note to me?" "Hotel — right away — quick," was the Esquimau's only response, and immediate!; he turned his back and ran down toward the road. "You haven't got to leave us, I hope, Mr. Stokes?" said the master of the house, coming up at that moment. "No," Stokes answered, thoughtfully. "I don't think it is necessary to go. " "Were you sent for?' » * -^ A PITFALIy. 133 "So the Esquimau chap said." "He didn't give yot! a clear idea of what was wanted, did he?" "No idea at all." "Shan't I send a servant, then, to learn the particulars?" "It might be as well, " Stokes answered, "if you can spare one. ' ' "Oh, certainly!" Stokes did not believe that Bellows had sent for him. The first thing that flashed across his mind was that this was a plan to get him away from the house in order that anotbet robbery might be committed without so much danger of detection as if he were there. "I'm not going to leave," be .said to himself. "I'm going to stay where I can keep my eyes on De B jelkja. ' ' A moment later a servant wearing a heavy overcoat and fur hat stepped up and asked for instructions. Stokes told him to go to Mr. Bellows' hotel and ask if any- thing was wanted that could not be postponed until the next morning. De Bjelkja stood by while this command was given. Stokes eyed him narrowly and thought he saw the captain was troubled. De Bjelkja said nothing, however, and the servant went out immediately. He had been gone but a few seconds, when everybody in the house was startled by a piercing cry outside. There was a general rush for the door, and most of the men went out. Stokes, how- ever, remained behind, with his eyes on De Bjelkja and the din- ing-room. "Nothing like Circle City for excitement," remarked the. Swede, quievly. Stokes mac « no response. The master of the house came rush- ing back, saying : "My servant fell, somehow, and has injured himself badly! I'm afraid he is killed." The district attorney came in just then and Stokes whispered to him : "Go into the dining-room and stay there for two or three min- utes. ' ' The official nodded to show that he knew that he was to keep watch of the gold and silver plate, and Stokes hurried out. He found the servant who had been sent to find Bellows lying in the driveway unconscious and bleeding from a wound upon the h^d. A sharp stone lay close to his face. . "That stone was put there for a purpose, " said Stokes to biw- 9elff "Now, then, how did the man fall?" ^ 154 A PITFALI/. He went a little to one side of the drive ?tray, where a fir tree grew. He felt of the base of this tree with his hand and pres- ently found that a cord was tied around it. With his hand upon this cord he followed it where it led him, across the driveway to a clump of bushes fifty or sixty feet away. ' ' Well planned, ' ' he said to himself. ' ' I never saw better calcu- lation in my life. "The fellow stood with his hand on this end of the cord, and when he saw the man coming down the driveway he pulled it hard. The man tripped, of course, and brought his head down on that stone. ''There can't be any donbt bat that thia trap was meant for me.'* -/■:;,?,.:■:■';■/ .HiSHi i^ffi iii.' -. vV ii\s ,' ill'", i ,. ■; ,:<'f,i'. i'jfjjtai^CjiiU V-fV. ■>i~iiiqi>u ;i-;a i'f^ DE BJEIKJA'S GOLD MINE. 155 f'f b'iu\ CHAPTER XXIV. DE BJBI,KJA'S GOLD MIN8. Oil ■■T nadf' .1 The injured servant was carried immediately into the honse. Stokes, who had received a thorough training in the work required for emergencies of this nature, took charge of the poor fellow, and under his skilful treatment the servant was, after a time, brought to consciousness. As soon as he could talk Stokes asked him : "Do you remember what happened?" "I stumbled on something and fell," was the faint response. "Don't you remember anything else?" "I think I do." "Try to remember exactly what it was." "Somebody, I don't know who, ran up and flashed a light in my face. I couldn't see him clearly, for the light blinded me." "Did he do anything or say anything?" "Yes." "What was it?" "He said, 'Curse the luck; it's the wrong man.' " "Didn't he say anything else?" "The light disappeared, and I think he said something about my not being worth finishing. "Then I felt another blow. I think he kicked me. Anyhow,' the next I remember is being hare. ' ' Stokes was in a terrible rage. It angered him intensely to think that this villainous plot should be put up for him and that this innocent servant should suffer for it. "The man may die," he reflected, bitterly. "And as in the case of the robbery, the villain seems to have got away without leaving a clue. "De Bjelkja was here all the time, but where was Ole?" Just then Ole himself appeared, his face all smiles, as usual, and his voice as steady as if nothing ever happened to give him trouble. Ole had come to accompany his master back to the notel. After the usual farewells the two departed. The captain reminded Stokes as he said good-night that they were to meet for a business talk in the morning. Meantime a surgeon had 156 DQ BJGLKJA'S OOLD MINE. arrived from the barracks and the wounded servant was now under his care. Shortly after De Bjelkja and Ole had left the house Stokes hurriedly bade his host good-night and went away also. It was evident that the district attorney wanted to ask ques- tions of him, but Stokes shook his head and went out alone. "I'm afraid I've got some lessons to learn in the detective business," he reflected. "I ought not to let that fellow Ole out of my sight for a minute, and yet how could I do anything differ- ent from what I have done?" Having left the house wuere he had passed the evening, he ran lightly over the snow until he could see, a short distance ahead of him, the two tall forms of the Swedish captain and his servant. "Exactly the same size," he said to himself, "and back to back they look exactly alike. "Now,, then, one of them has got to give this thing away, and there'll be no sleep for Harvey Stokes until that's done." The Swedes went directly to the captain's hotel and entered. Stokes did not venture to get near enough to them to run any risk of disclosing his presence. After they had disappeared he took a run around the hotel and found that there were but two ways to get in or out. -By standing a little distance across the street he could see both doors. He planted himself on this spot, determined to wait there twenty-four hours, if necessary, for the reappearance of one of them. It would not have mattered to him which came out first, although he preferred that it should be Ole. "Ole," he reasoned, "is the tool, and De Bjelkja is the hand that moves it. " "I'll find first, if possible, what the tool does, and then we'll see about the master hand." It was midnight when Stokes first took up his position near the hotel. Hour after hour passed slowly, and nobody left the building. It was bitterly cold, and again and again he was tempted to run up and down a few paces to keep his blood circulating. He resisted the temptation for fear that at any instant one of his men might show himself. It was his worst experience in that hardest work of the detective — watching and waiting. At last, just about sunrise, when Stokes felt so stiff with the cold that he doubted if he could stir, the back door of the hotel opened and Ole stepped forth. The Swede looked around in every direction, not cautiously, but with a confident air, as if to make it appear that he was doing » very ordinary thing. DE BJEIvKJA'S GOLD MINE 157 Stokes was at that moment behind a tree. Satisfied that nobody was stirring in that neighborhood, Ole came out to the road and started southward at a rapid gait. Stokes followed him, keeping a long distance in tiit rear, and constantly dodging behind trees and other objects, lest he should be seen if Ole should turn his head. It was a long time before the Swede seemed to think it worth while to exercise any caution. At last, however, he came to the summit of a long slope. Then he turned and looked backward. Stokes dropped flat upon the snow behind a small bowlder. For sev j al seconds the Swede stood looking down the road, and once more, satisfied that nobody but himself was abroad at that hour, he started on, and almost immediately disappeared over the brow of the hill. Stokes was after him like a sho*, but his heart beat high for fear tiie Swede would come to some hiding place before the fol- lower could reach the summit of the slope. This did not prove to be the case. When he reached the top of the slope Stokes saw Ole far advanced i .nn'ig with long, easy strides. He hi ^ 1*^^' the road and was making for the forest, about two miles away. "If he gets into that wood," thought Stokes, "I am certain to lose him among the trees. If I follow him across the fields he may turn at any moment and see me, for there is nothing in all this stretch here between me and the forest behind which I can hide." A moment's thought convinced him that the safest plan would be to let the Swede go on and enter the forest, and then to cross the fields to that point and trace with patience and shrewdness to find where the man had gone. Accordingly Stokes watched him until he became a mere speck moving across the surface of the snow. When he had finally disappeared among the distant trees, Stokes fixed the spot where he went in by noting that it was just to the east of a deep ravine. Then he took a roundabout course, and running as fast as he was able, came at last to the same place. The forest was compar- atively open, and Stokes could see some distance within it. Underneath the trees, as outside, the snow crust was so hard and smooth that the feet made no impression upon it. "I ought to have a dog to put on the scent," he reflected, but as he had not a dog he had to do as well as he could without one, so he began the same system of search which he had practiced around Judge Taylor's house. He zigzagged back and forth, getting ever deeper into the for- ^ 158 DE BJEI^KJA'S GOLD MINE. ■a for some sign that would show him that Ole est, looking alwf had been there. For hours and hours he pursued these tactics, and tnore than once he felt that it would be just as well to turn back and go to the city, for it seemed as if Ole had completely defied discovery. Stokes, however, was not the kind to give up. He had the determination of a bull dog, and once his mind was made up to a certain action he held to it desperately. At last he halted abruptly in his wanderings. He thought he defactetl a faint odor of smoke in the air. In a moment he was sure of it. "This is a case of follow my nose, " he sa^d to himself, "but the trouble is I can't make out just in which direction that smell comes from." The air under the trees seemed to be deathly still. He held a handkerchief at arm's length and he could not discover that it fluttered in the least. Suddenly an idea occurred to him. He li;?;iited a match and noticed the tiny column of smoke that arose from it. The smoke was so much lighter than his handkerchief that i": was affected more by what little breeze was stirrrng than the fabric. Presently Stokes threw down the burned match with a feeling of triumph. He had observed that the smoke floated slowly toward the north. "What wind there is, " he said to himself, "comes from the south, a.Td therefore the fire that I smell must be in that direc- tion." He procef^ded cautiously, and after dodging among the trees for several hundred yards, and all the time noticing that the smell of smoke was more distinct, he came at last in sight of a hut That somebody was in It seemed to be proven by the fact of the fire. Fearing that his feet crunching upon the snow crust would cause the occupant to hear him, Stokes got upon his hands anr' knees and very slowly made his way up to the door of the hut. It was partly open, for, cold as it was outside, the great rire that was burning inside made the temperature positively yrKnn. Ole was there and he had the door open for comfort. A large copper pot was suspended over the flames — it was red hot. Ole was bending over it in the act of raising the cover with a poker when Stokes looked in. Having raised the cover, Ole reached lo a box from it, and dropped it into the pot. •)^«Aht" said Stokes to himself. "This is De Bjelkja's gold mine. "Between him ana Ole the valuable plate owned by Circle City people is stolen, and then Ole takes it away off here, miles in the DE BJELKJA'S GOLD MINE. H9 gold wilderness, and melts it down ^nto a fom^ in which it could never be recognized and cac easily be passed off as theprodactof amine." What he should do about it, was, of course, the question tliat presented itself to him. 11 was one thing to discover the secret of the Swedes and another to make the discovery useful to tlie law. He diew back from the door and debated whether he should spring upon Ole and attempt to capture him, or crawl away, return to Circle City, and bring the civil police to the spot. It does not matter what Stokes decision would have been, for Ole brought the silert argument to a sudden end by coming to the doorway for a breath of air. Tbete he saw Stokes kneeling upon the snow. There was no smile upon the Swede's ."ace this time. Instead, there was an expression of savage anger, and he leaped like a lion upon the crouching detective. Stokrs started to his feet at once, but only in time to put up his hands and partially ward off the terrific blows that the giaat Swede aimed at him. Then there followed a struggle such as few men are calle^l upU^ ■HP .&I>dV^ t i6a STOKES WINS THE POT. CHAPTER XXV. STOKBS WINS THE POT, Stokes made a thorough examination of the hut. He found two or three articles of gold and silver that had not been thrown into the melting pot. These he put into his pockets, but other- wise he left the place undisturbed. He found his way back to Circle City in much quicker timo than it had taken him to get to the hut, for new he took a straight course. WitK all ht'5 speed, however, it was evening when he arrived. He w.'iS certain, of course, that Ole had not returned ahead of him, and that, therefore, nothing could have hajipened to give De Bjelkja a warning of his approaching danger. Stokes consulted his invitations to find out where De Bjelkja would be likely to pass the evening. It proved that there wes to be a small party of men at the district attorney's house; and Stokes accordingly went there al. the time appointed. De Bjelkja was already on hand. So were a few other gentle- men, and they were discussing tiie Swede's everlasting mines at the time of the detective's arrival. **Ah !" cried the Swede when he saw Stokes. "I h^ve a score to settle with you, ' ' **I reckon you have," Stokes said to himself, but he asked aloud : "Well, what is it?" "You had an appointment to see me this morning." "That's a fact, ' ' cried Stokes. It was perfectly true that he had forgotten r'l about hisengagr- ment to meet the Swede, "Your memory is short," the captain said with a laugh, "I certainly owe you an apology, " responded Stokes, "And when we do have our talk I'll explain why it was your matter slipped my mind, " "Another appointment for to-morrow, then^" said De Bjelkja, "We'll have no business to-night. This is to be an evening fur .sport — is it not, gentleraeu?" "Yes," the district attorney replied. "We'regoingtotake our revenge from the captain." STOKES WINS THE POT. 163 "And matter ajelkja. Ing for "How's that?" asked Stokes. "Why," was the response, "the captain has had the most extraordinary luck at cards since he has been in Circle City, and all of us have dropped more or less to him. "And we have had no opportunity to get even; now we're going to try to do so. " "Really, gentlemen," said De E}.. ;ja, heartily, "I wish you good luck. "The cards have been so favorable to me that am honestly ashamed of my success. I can almost hope that I shall lose to-night. ' ' "Tut! tut!" said one of the others. " Poker is poker, and no man plays the game who doesn't play it for all it's worth." "That's right," admitted the Swede. "Do you play?" asked the district attorney, turning to Stokes. "Oh, I know the rules of the game," he answered, modestly. "I don't know quitu whether to invite you to play or not, " the district attorney went on. "Well, I can't stand that," retorted Stokes. "Fetch on your cards and let me show you how the game is played in Mon- tana. ' ' There was a general laugh at this, at d without more delay the men arranged themselves at a table. The cards were undisturbed until each person had bought as many chips as he desiied, the district attorney being the banker. "Well," said one of the players, "let's cut for deal." De Bjelkja reached out his hand and raised the pack. "Shall I tear off the wrapper?" he asked. "Yes, go ahead," replied the district attorney. De Bjelkja broke the seal, tore away the wrapping paper and tossed it to the floor; ; then he cut the cards, and the others did likewise. Stokes was watching De Bjelkja's movements intently. " If that wasn't a sleight-of-hand trick," he said to himself, "then I'm mistaken. "I'd like to bet a hundr^ to one that the pack of cards that was on the table a minute ago is now somewhere in De Bjelkja's clothing. His hand is big, and he could easily palm a whole pack. Well, we'll see." Stokes opened the deal, and the hand was played without any incident ; so for several bnnda the game progressed with light betting and no hands of consequence. "Rather dull game," remarked the Swede at last. "What do you say to putting in a buck and playinKf a jack pot every time it's taken?" Just then the district attorney, who had been sharpening a lead x64 STOKES WINS THE POT. pencil for the purpose of keeping some kind of account of Jbis chips, laid his penknife upon the table and remarked : "Let that be the buck." The others nodded and the game went on. At the first deal nobody had jacks, and the cards were passed to the next dealer; the same result followed, and then it was De Bjelkja's turn to deal. When he took up his cards Stokes found he had a pair of kings. He opened the pot and all the others came in. Stokes drew three cards and' observed that De Bjelkja drew four; the Swede laughed as he did so, saying that he was going to test his luck. "That kind of a draw sometimes brings four of a kind," remarked the district attorney. The players looked at their cards, and Stokes, quietly pushing a pile of chips into the middle of the table,, remarked : "My hand is worth a hundred dollars. " "Must be pretty strong," said one of the players, and he laid his hand in the pack. The district attorney, whose turn it was next, raised the detec- ttve'8 bet one hundred dollars, and then it war. De Bjelkja's turn. With a quiet smile, as if he were amused at his luck, the captain counted out chips to the value of two hundred dollars and remarked : "I'll see the two hundred and make it one hundred better." Stokes looked again at his cards. He was pretending to debate with himself whether he should bet again. In his draw he had received two other kings, thus giving him four of a kind. "I suppose," he reflected, "that the district attorney is got fou'S. I'd like to bet even that Bjelkja has got four aces; if he has and knows I've got kings, he'll smell a mouse if I don't bet them up; whatever happens I've got to make him show his cards. ' ' Accordingly Stokes again raised the bet. The district attorney saw the raise and De Bjelkja called for still higher stakes. The betting went on in this way for two or three rounds until the detective's chips were exhausted. Instead of buying new chips he counted out several hundred dollars in money and put the required amount upon the table. At last, thinking that the game had been played far enotigh, Stokes called, the district attorney did likewise, and cards were shown. Stokes laid his four kings face up on the table and looked at the Swede. From the corner of his eye the detective saw the dis- til 's 8T0KRS WINS THE POT. 165 id for until new id put tad at le dis trict attorney displaying four sixes. "Well, gentlemen," said the Swede, with a light laugh, "I'm sorry, honestly I am, but poker is poker, and luck is with me thus far. ' ' He had not yet laid down his cards, but just after this he did so and dis- played four aces. The others in the party except Stokes uttered exclamations of astonishment. "That's about as stiff a set of hands as I ever saw," said one of them. "What's that gentleman from Montana got to say about it?" "Just this," answered Stokes, quickly. De Bjelkja was reaching forward to take in his stakes. Stokes leaned over the table, caught up the penknife that served as the buck, and with one sweep of his arm ripped the Swede's closefitting coat open from collar to waist. There was then revealed a sight that caused the players more astonishment than the extraordinary combination of hands. Within the Swede's garment there appeared a number of cards which were connected with an ingenious arrangement of wires that enabled him to pull one or another from its hiding place down through his sleeve to his hand. The very sight of this con- trivance was enough to arouse the players to a great rage. They jumped up and would have beaten the .startled Swede ualf to death if Stokes had not interfered. "Hold on, gentlemen!" he cried. "This rascal's game is up, but before you damage him any I want to see how he did it." De Bjelkja; recovering a little from his consternation, attempted resistance, but Stokes stopped this quickly enough by pressing the muzzle of his revolver against De Bjelkja's face. "Now then," said Stokes, coolly, "I see here in one corner near the vest pocket is the unopened pack of cards with which we expected to play this game. These other cards are not por- tions of the pack we have been playing with, but they belong to another pack of exactly the same pattern. "I see it was not absolutely necessary for this fellow to stack the cards against ua. I suppose he did give me four kings, but to beat me all he had to do was to draw down enough aces from his breast to complete his hand. "It's all plain — he isn't as heavy a man as he looks. He had to wear large clothes because the mechanism for working these cards takes up a little room. "Well, gentlemen, all I have to .say is at present that if any of you invest in this fellow's schemes after what you have seen you are beyond any help from me. ' ' The exposure was so complete that De Bjelkja had not the face to attempt any defence. i66 STOKES WINS Tllli POT. Stokes rapidly narrated what had taken place during the day and concluded : *'It is perfectly plain that these two fellows feared me and wanted to get me out of the way. That accounts for their attempt at murder which so nearly did for that unlucky servant last night. "I can tell you now how they managed to rob Judge Taylor's house, and probably the way in which they worked the game at other places. "The captain and his servant are of the same build. It would not be a difficult matter for Ole to make up his face so that you could not distinguish him from his master. That's what he did on the night of Judge Taylor's reception. "At a certain hour, carefully planned in advance the captain withdrew from sight for a few moments; that could be easily done in a big house like Taylor's, "During that time .Ole showed himself, and everybody sup- posed that he was the captain. "Nobody would suspect if the captain should step into the dining-room. By care, especially as he was not under suspicion, it was an easy thing for Ole to go to the dining-room, stuff his pockets with what he could lay his hands on, bolt through the window and hide the stuff in the snow until the excitement was over. It is all so clear now that any further explanation is un- necessary. ' ' At this moment a servant of the district attorney's entered to say that there was a gentleman at the door who was anxious to see him and Captain De Bjelkja. "Perhaps he's somebody who wants to' invest in De Bjelkja's mines, ' ' said the district attorney, sarcastically. A moment later the seivant ushered in a foreign-looking man, who said : "There's the rascal who stole my letters of introduction and adopted my name ! "Gentlemen, I'm Captain De Bjelkja, in the service of his majesty the King of Sweden, and that man is an impostor." The newcomer easily proved his identity, so that the exposure of the Swedish swindler was complete. "Again Circle City owes you a great debt of gratitude, Mr. Stokes," said the district attorney, warmly. "Not yet, " was the detective's response. » "No? Why not?" "Because this fellow's confederate, Ole Hansen, got away from me; that hurts my feelings, and I propose to start in right now ■and run him down. After I've captured him you can talk about the debt of gratitude if you want to. " OUTWITTED BY A ^OMAN. 167 ■/it CHAPTER XXVI. OUTWITT8D BY A WOMAN Tick-tick-tick — tick. Silence. Tick-tick— tick. A \lirhispered consultation. Tick-tick-tick — tick. "It's all right." ' ' May be a trick. ' ' "No. Nobody knows the signal who isn't all right." " Go to the door and see. ' ' Tick The rapping began again, this time louder than before, as if the party outside were getting impatient. Before the signal had been repeated the door upon which the rapping occurred was opened a crack and a gruff voice said: "What's wanted?" "I want to come in, of course," was the frank reply. "What on the world has come over you fellers thet you don't open up the first time you hear the signal ?' ' "Hello, Stokes!" responded the voice behind the door, speak- ing now more freely. "Slip in quietly and don't talk so loud." "What's happened to scare you?" asked Stokes as he dodged through the half-open door into a perfectly dark room. "We got the tip, " said a voice in the darkness, "thet thare was thought of raidin' the joint, an' we kind of half suspected that somebody hed given away the signal." "Thar's not many thet knows the signal is thar?" "No. Turn up the lights, Jim." "I shouldn't hev thought thet- you could suspect anybody of being a traitor." "Oh, we don't. But, you know, thar's never any tellin*. You see, somebodj' might hev been listenin' for the signal an' hev learned it without our kuowin' it. "The fact is, Stokes, thet sifice you hev been in Circle City a good many of us hev learned thet it is possible for one maq tq 1 68 OUTWITTED BY A WOMAN. know a tbuuderin' lot about another, an ' to get on to his tricks in a way thet is surprisin'." Stokes laughed lightly. "If I do say it," be responded, "I don't think thar's any- ho auxious for a chance to get away when the coast was clear. "At the saiiie time, I don't like to risk leaving this place as long as he is inside, and I'm not going to. "I'll stick it ^ut here until business opens up in the morning, even if I freeze ia my boots." In this Stokes showed himself the true detective by his patience and determination no', to let a single chance escape him. He had, tlierefore, the con fort of feeling that, he was doing the riji^ht thing, but if be coald have seen what was going on in the dive after the last cuitoner had departed, probably he would not have felt so good abou^. it. The door closed upon the last one, and the proprietor stood for a moment in the middle of the main room looking doubtfully at the .sleeping figure in the back room and !he wOiUan who still sat beside him. Presently the proprietor said gnf^ly: "I can't keep open vcre all night unless that's somethin' in it." The young woman vaised her head and asked : "Have they all gone?" "Yies, " was the reply, "an' thar hain't Itkely to be any more coniin' in to-night." "Are you sure they are all gone " "Of course I am, an' I'd chuck your feller out ef it wasn't thet he would fall esleep in front of the door an' so give the thing away." "He won't fall a.slccp, " she responded, quickly. "He's ready to go now. " "You can't take care of him." said the proprietor, contempt- uously. "A greal big hulk of a feller like that will fall all over the .street in spite of anything that you can do." "He isi: '. ..auk." "Not drunk? Then what " "Listen," she said, rising. "You don't want to keep the place open unless there's something in it. I understand what that means. "We're not spending any money for drinks, and shouldn't do so if we re nained here. We don't want to retaain. On the other hand, we want to get away at once; but we don't want to go out by that private door. ' ' "It's the only way " •'Hear me!" she interrupted, and she took r purse from liw OUTWITTED BY A WOMAN. 173 bosom, which she opened and dinplayed a number of gold coins. "You shall not lose anything. Let us out by some other way. " The proprietor looked hard at her for a moment and then said, sternly : "Jennie, thar's somethin' crooked yere." She did not answer. "Thar's somethin* crooked yere," he repeated, or you wouldn't be afraid to go out the way the others went. "Now, it's the only way thet you can go out. I let you come in this evenin' to my family rooms upstairs because you begged so haid an' said thar wouldn't be no trouble. Thet's all right. I'm not begrudgin' you Ihet, but now you've got to take your own chances, an' I won't hev you takin' any thet's likely to bring trouble to me. You jest can't go out the front way, an' thet's the only other way besides the back way — see?" "Dan," she said, earnestly, "you take chances of trouble every time you sell liquor in this place after hours, don't you?" "I reckon I do." "You might be fined, imprisoned, and driven out of business simply for the selling of one twenty-five cent drink, mightn't you?" "I recko*^ thet's so." "ill other words,' she continued, "you take great risks for a quarter of a dollar. " "Well," he answered, "1 take poitis to make those risks as small es possible, so thet nobody c.sU /et in only those who are friendly." "And yet you let a detect '"e in here to-night." . "Oh, I see! It's h'.m you re afiaid of." "Yes, it is," she said, dchantiy. "And what I'm getting at is this: When you're willing to tike risks for a few cents you ought to be willing to take other risks for this," and she laid two gold coins on the table. The proprietor looked hard at them. They represented a good deal more money than he would take in in the couise of a good evening's business. "Thet's right scjuare of ye, Jennie," he said after a minute. "An' I give you my word for one thing, thet whatever happens I woii*t put your feller in Stokes' way. "Who is he?" "Don't ask," she answered, "and I shan't have to tell you any lies." The proprietor grunted and thought a moment, then he said : •'The front door is simply impossible, Jen ie. A man an' a woman goin' sneakin' out of thar at this hour of the night would be the strongest kind of a givf; away. 174 OUTWITTED BY A WOMAN. "I couldn't account fer it an' it would be dangerous fer your feller." "There is another way," she answered. "What other way?" ' When I was in your sitting-room upstairs I noticed that the ell of the building next to this is only about seven feet below the window of that room. We can get out that way." "You'd get shot fer burglars!" 'Not we." "You'd be sure to wake people up!" "Try it." She put another coin upon the table and then turned to her companion and said : "Come, we mustn't stay here longer." The man arose promptly. He was a very tall fellow, and his long, heavy coat made him look even larger than be was. The collar was turned up about his iace and his hat pulled down so that only his eyes were visible. "It's risky," said the proprietor, with an admiring^ glance at the man's tall figure, "but ef you're really sieady — ef you ain't got no jag, you might manage it." The man made a gesture to show chat he had diunk nothing and turned toward the door through which the wonian had entered the room. She stepped ahead of him, opened the door, and all three passed through. They were then in a dark hall through which they felt their way to the stairs. The woman led the way. At the top of the flight r.he opened the door of a room and stepped across ri to a window, which she raised. "Don't wait," she whispered. Her roinpanion let him.self out of the '.vindow, while the proprietor whi'-pc- •'»d excitedly: "Be careful not to come down hard on the roof of thet ell." Neither man nor woman made any reply to this. With no more than a faint rustling noise the man let himself down, and presently his :ipraised hands appeared above the window sill, showing that he stood on the roof of the adjoiuing ell seven feet below. "Good-by"' whispered Jennie as she began to make her own way from the window. Her companion received her in his arms, carried her noiselesssly across the ell, where he set her upon her feet. Then he let himself down to the ground as he had gone from the window, and again she let herself down into his arms. The proprietor of the dive stood at the open window until he heard the faint sounds of their feet crunching upon the snow as they hurried away. "tl his an hai ev« OUTWITTED BY A WOMAN. J75 "Well," he said to himself as he lowered the window again, "thet was takin' long chances, but ef Harvey Stokes really bed his eye on thet feller they hed good reason to take them chances, an' I reckon thet between Jennie an' the man, Stokes will hev a harder nut t*^ crack than he hes tackled yet. "It looks to me ^s ef the chances air thet in this case, what- ever it is, Stokes will get left." 176 CHECKMATKDi CHAPTER XXVII. CHECKMATED. Shortly before sunrise, which, of coivrse, came late at that sea- son, Stokes noticed signs within the. dive to vShow that, it was being made ready for the day's business. He stepped quickly around to the front door and tried the han- dle. The door was locked, but the key was promptly turned by a man within. "Hello, Stokes!" this man said whei he opened the door and saw the visitor. "Ain't you up early?" "Yes," said Stokes, "i wanted to get here before you rpened up, to see if I could find a letter. ' ' "A letter?" ' ' Yes. I was in here late last night, it's possible I might hev left it here." "I've not sepn anything yet, but I've not more than begun to clear up. You know wliere you was settin', don't you?" "Oh, yes; in the largest of the three rooms at the back." "Very well. Go in there an' poke around. Light a lamp ef you want to." Stokes went in and for two or three minutes pretended to hunt for a letter. His first glance within was sufficient, however. He saw that the man for whose coming he had waited all during the dreary hours was not there. "I'm done — done completely," he said, "and the worst is that I don't know whether the fellow that has escaped me is the fellow I want or not. ' ' He took an envelope from his pocket and returned with it to the barroom. "Found it, didn't you?" said the barkeeper. "Yes, I thought I .should." * ' Have an eye opener ?" ♦'Don't know but 1 will." Stokes leaned carelessly against the bar and remarked: "Dan don't hev many lodgers, does he?" "Many?" returned the barkeeper in surprise. "He don't hev none. ' ' "None at all?" CHECKMATED. 177 "No, of course. What made you think he did?" "Why, 1 don't know," Stokes answered, doubtfully. "I kind of got the idee thet he put people up yere over night some- times. " "Well,," responded the barkeeper with a laugh, "I don't say thet he don't once in a while, when some miner gets so allfired jagged thet he can't move." "Thet was what I was thinkin' of," said Stokes. "Hut in thet case," the bartender continued, "the lodger spends the night in one of those back rooms." "Don't he ever go to any of the rooms upstairs?" "Nothin' like thet lies ever happened since I worked yere." "Not last night, for instance?" "I should say not. Dan's family and myself are the only ones who slept in this building." "Funny I should be mistaken about it," §tokes remarked, carelessly ; and a moment later he left the place. He crossed the street and looked at the row of buildings in which the saloon was siluated. H** knew that it was altogether unlikely that the proprietor should we allowed his customer? to go out by the front door. "It is not altogether certain," he reflected, "that they were not permitted to spend the night in one of Dan's rooms; at the same time the chances are altogether against that. I^et's see what I can find." He made the entire circuit of the block in which the build- ings were situated, and also explored the two or three alleys that run between them. He presently found h)mself at the back of the buildings and looking across the low ell to a window that he knew must open upon one of Dan's rooms. "It cuuld have been done," he said to himself. "A short man like lue couldn't have dropped from Dan's window to that roof without making some noise about it, and a girl would have had more trouble still. "But Ole Hansen is a perfect giant, and if he was the fellow it would have been easy enough for him to get down there without noise and lift the girl down after him. "I guess that's what happened, and 1 have to begin again." He went thoughtfullv away from the place and returned to his own liott'l, whore he bieakfasted. Shortly after this he was told that soutfbody wished to see l'.im in the hidies' parlor. He went there and saw that a young woman wtis waiting for him, who, althou'^h she was dressed very differently from the one he had seen the night before and although her face was veiled, he at once decided was the o.'ie who hud sat by the sleeping stranger. X78 CHECKMATED. *'Is tbis Mr. Harvey Stokes?" she asked. "That's juy name," the detective answered. "I have some information for you, "she said, "that I am afraid, almort afraid, to give." "I hope you're not afraid of me, miss." "No. I hear so much that is good about you that I shouldn't fear you, but I thought that you might feel that I was inter- fering, ' ' " Nothing that you would say would ^v<: me anything but pleasure, ' ' Stokes gallantly responded. He motioned to a chair, but she she ok her head. "It is only a woi i, " she said, "and it may not interest you, but from what I have heard I think it v/ill." Stokes bowed to signify that he was listening. "You have recently exposed a swindler, " she continued In a low voice, "who is generally known as Captain De Bilkyou." "1 have had that pleasure." ' ' The captain had a servant who was concerned with him in his crimes. ' ' "Yes." "You did not succeed in capturing the servant." "I re^^ret to say that I did not." The woman hesitated a moment and then said : "1 understand that you are auibitious to capture the servant." Stokes looked hard at the veiled face for a moment before he answered : "I am not a government detective, and I am not certain that 1 can admit that my ambition " "But I am sure that you want to find him," the woman inter- rupted. "Very well, what then?" "I can tell you where he is." "I shall certainly not dechne to accept your information, but I hope you are j^erfectly certain that you are correct." "Oh, I am, ' she answered hastily. "Indeed, I know abso- lutelv what I am talking about." "Well, fheii.'" "You'll find him at <«e o'clock this afternoon in an aban- doned Esquimau's hut u«ai the edge of the forest two miles south of Circle City. You know the main road that leads in that direc- tion?" "Yes," Stokes re»pouded. "i have been over that road " "Perhaps you have noticed the hut that i iipeak of." " I have." "He's to be there at one o clock. I presume I need say no CHECKMATED. 179 more. A hint to such a clever detective as you are is enough." She started as if she would leave the room. •'Excuse me," Stokes saiu. "The hint is enough, but if you wish to help me in the capture of this crimiual you may be able to give me a little further information." ' ' No. It is really all I know, ' ' she answered. " But how should you suppose, " Stokes asked, "that I cared anything about this man Hansen ?"^ "Why," she answered, "the matter has been the subject of calk in certain circles, but really J. ' she hesitated and then answered : ^ "You can understand that a lady would not like to be known as taking part in a detective's investigations," "Of course," Stokes responded. "I can understand that," he added aloud, "but I do feel that it might help if you would let me know how you obtained your information as to Hansen's movements. ' ' She bowed her head a moment and said: ' • I think I can safely say this much : That during his stay here Ole — that is, Hansen became very much interested in a maid servant. I would rather not say it was my servant. I will leave you to guess that. His return here was to see her, and so I learn.cd from her — you understand. ' ' "Ah! yes. Then he has an appointment to meet her at this hut ihat you speak of ?' ' " Kxactly ; and he'll be sure to be there." "Very well, then; I'll be there also." The visitor bowed »»nd again started to leave the room. "I'm exceedingly obliged to you," Stokes said, wishing to find some excuse to prolong the conversation. "Don't mention it," she answered, "and please, if you guess who I am, don't let anybody know that I called upon you on this business." "I will remember," he said. • • She left the room and started downstairs. Stokes was excited. What he thought about the matter may be best judged by wiia't he did. He ran to a window that looked out upon the main street, concealed himself in the curtains, and stood there antil he saw the woman leave the hotel. He noticed the direction which she took and then hurried down the stairs after her. "I've got no business to do this work, " he said to himself, angrily, "without a complete set of disguises. If I ever under- take another case I'll look out for that. As it is, I haven't got so much as a falac mustache to put on. ' ' x8o CHECKMATED. A little way below the hotel Stokes saw a closed carriage wait- ing by the curb. He hurried dowu to it. *'I want you," he said to the driver. "I'm engaged," was the response. "It aon'l make any differeuce, I've got to have you." # * ' But my customer ' ' "And your customer can find somebody else. Here — do you see that ?' ' Stokes held up a hundred-dollar bill. The driver's eyes opened wide. " It is yours, " said Stokes, " if your carriage is mine for an hour." "Good Lord!" was the res|)onse. "You ran have it for a week on those terms ! Where to ?" ' The driver, who saw that Stokes was in a great hurry, jumped to his seat. Stokes looked up the street The woman who had called upon him was in sight, walking rapidly. "Drive in the same direction that you are pointing now until I tell you to stop." He got into the carriage, which started off at once. The woman was overtaken just as she turned into a street that led toward the northern part of the town. It was little more than a road, having few houses upon it, and almost none beyond a little distance from the main thoroughfare. Stokes signalled to his driver to sto'.) and got out. The woman was still walking rapidly, as if she had a long distance to go before coming to her stopping place. "Get inside," said Stokes to the driver. His tone and man- ner were so commanding that the driver obeyed without hesi- tation. Stokes followed him. ' ' Take off your coat and cap, ' ' he said. The driver complied wondwingly, while Stokes did the same. The detective had an expr nsive overcoat and derby hat. The driver's coat was an immense article of brown fur and his cap was of bearskin. "I don't know whether you can get inside my coat," said Stokes, "but you can throw it over your shoulders and prevent yourself from taking cold. I'm going to do the driving for r while." While saying this he was throwing on the driver't, coat, which, of course, was very much too large for him. This did not worry him at all, for he knew that while sitting upon the driver's seat the appearance of the misfit would not be noticeable. He drew the bearskin cap down over his forehead and climbed CHKCKMATED. i8i up to the box, leaving the real driver inside. Then, confident that he was disguised enough for ordinary purposes, he whipped up and turned the carriage into the road which the woman had taken. She was still in sight, and Stokes allowed the horse to walk for fear of attracting her attention by driving rapidly. For at least a mile he slowly followed her. At last, when they were beyond all houses, he .saw her turn from the road into a field and begin to cross it. She looked back as she did so, and when .she saw the carriage she hastened her .steps, at the same time taking out a handkerchief and waving it. "That's a signal," Stokes said to himself, "and it means that she suspects what this carriage is here for." He brought the lash hard down upon the honse's back and called to him to get up. In half a minute he had come to the point where the woman had entered the field. She was on the dead run now, and Stokes began to understand her movements. This field ended a short distance away at a clilT forty or fifty feet in height that sunk sheer down into the river. It was so sit- uated that a boat lying below it could not by any possibility bo seen from any part of Circle City. "This means," thought vStokes, "that Ole was the man in the dive last night and that he is planning to get away. The only possible way to escape is by water. "He wouldn't have dared to go out of the harbor openly, so he's had his boat in hiding up here; and this woman, in order to give him a chance to get away, tried to fool me into going miles away in the opposite direction. "Now she's probably giving him the signal that the game didn't work." As the carriage came up to the point where the woman had entered the field Stokes shouted, "Whoa," gave the reins a vio- lent jerk, then dropped them and leaped to the ground. He started on a dead run after the woman, leaving the driver to gue.ss when he would come back. He had gone but a few paces when he found that the driver's long >and heavy coat was an obstacle to his progress. It was not only heavy, but he tripped upon it constantly ; accordingly he took it off and threw it upon the ground. The woman had a pretty good start of him, but as Stokes was a very fleet runner he gained on her rapidly after disposing of the coat. She rea''hed the edge of the cliff ahead of him. As the land rose slightly to the edge Stokes cowld uot see the water. I82 CHECKMATED. Arriving at the cliflF edge, the woman shook her handkerchief two or three times violently, then faced about and cried: "Halt! Advance another step at your peril!" Stokes saw that she held a revolver in her hand. He reached instantly for his weapon without stopping in his run. The woman raised the weapon before Stokes had more than touched the butt of his revolver and fired. She was either no marksman or the excitement caused her hand to shake, for the ball plowed a furrow in the snow several feet at one side of the detective. "Two can play that game, my lady," shouted Stokes, with his weapon in the air. ■ "Drop that revolver, or I fire, and I shan'^ miss!" She gave him just one glance of terror, then turned about, fac- ing the river, and threw the revolver far from her. The next instant Stokes had his hands upon her, and standing there at the edge of the cliff, he was just in time to see the revol- ver fall into the hands of Ole Hansen, who stood in the stern of a sloop-rigged boat almost directly under him. "Good-by!" Ole shouted, triumphantly, as he seized the tiller. He gave the two Esquimaux, who were evidently the crew of the boat, some instructions, in obedience to which they cut tlu- anchor rope, pushed the mainsail so that it should the more quickly catch the wind, and almost instantly the sloop glided away. "No come back pretty soon," Ole shouted, turning once more to the cliff. "Wen you catch me, tell me! Good-by, Mr. Stokes!" "Yes," said the woman at the detective's side, defiantly, "when you catch him you might tell me, tool" in ; ...►-\> JJAaiNG IN A KAYAK. 183 / CHAPTER XXVIII. SAILING IN A KAYAK. Aa she said this she raised her veil, and Stokes saw that he was not mistaken iu identifying her as the woman who had been in Dan's dive the night before. He was filled with anger against her because she had out- witted him, and yet he could not repress a feeling of admiration at the same time for the cleverness and boldness with which she had worked. "You made just one mistake, mi.ss, " he exclaimed, "when you thought you could throw me off the track with a ghost story about a meeting in a hut." "I don't care," she retorted. "Ole has got away, anyhow." "He had to leave you behind," remarked Stokes. She shrugged her shoulders and looked down at the water, where Ole's sloop was sailing away to the sea. "Yes, that's true," she admitted, a little sadly. "An hour or two more, and we might have gone together; but that's nothing now that he has escaped your clutches." "It must make him feel nice," exclaimed vStokes, in exaspera- tion, "to know that he has escaped and left you here." The woman turned upon him with a scornful laugh. •'What nonsense are you thinking of?" she cried. "You have nothing against me. You can't touch me. " "I'm not so sure about that," responded Stokes. "In most countries it is a criminal offence to fire a revolver at a man." Her face grew slightly pale and she bil her lip. "I think I should get clear on a plea of self-defence," she said in a low voice. "Yes, I.think you would," Stokes thought. He had been so angry and so exasperated at the escape of Ole that he had stood at the edge of the cliff looking vainly after the retreating boat. Now his senses returned with a characteristic detennination not to be balked iu this way. "It looks as if I was playing a losing h-^ind, but the game is not finished yet," he said to himself, and without a word to the woman he stp- ted on a run back toward the carriage. ^1 *> .o^.\^ ^1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ // 1.0 I.I ■^ li£ 112.2 S lli — '-' 140 1^ 12.0 1.8 11-25 mil 1.4 11.6 VQ 7 ^#W'''^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTSi.N.Y. 14580 ; M6) 872-4503 A > / ^^ f/^ 'C^ S A 1 84 SAILING IN A KAYAK. K ' ' She's probably right, ' ' he reflected, ' ' in saying that I couldn't hold her on any charge; and although it's possible that she may have been an accomplice of Ole and Captain De Bilkyou in their swindling operations, she is not an important member of the conspiracy and can be let alone until I can manage to catch Ole. "That is still the main thing, and we'll see if there's not a boat in Circle City that can be hired or bought to chase him with." Near the edge of the field he met the driver, who had left the carriage to take up his overcoat. " I thought when you bolted," the driver vsaid, "that I was going to lose my hundred dollars and my clothing, too." "Your hundred is all right, but the hour is not up yet," Stokes answered. "Put on your coat and drive to the docks at a two-thirty gait; you shall have your hundred when you get there. ' ' The driver ran to his seat and whipped up before Stokes was half in the carriage. No horse was ever driven so fast in Circle City before, Arrived at the docks, Stokes handed over the hundred-dollar bill, which the driver took with the remark : " Obleeged to ye, boss. Now if I'm in good luck I can get back to that store in time to pick up my other customer." It is a r"rious fact, which Stokes learned long afteiward, that the driver succeeded in doing just that, and so made a clean profit out of the detective's transaction. On the way to the docks Stokes thought over the boats that he knew about in Circle City, and made up his mind that as there was no steam craft that could be obtained he would have to put up with any sailboat that might be offered. Most boats of this kind had been laid up for the winter. There were no schooners or sloops in active service, therefore, except a few fishermen. It so happened that all of these were absent at the time, having taken advantage of the fair day to go a long way off. Stokes took in this situation with a sweeping glance at the harbor. ' Two or three old tubs that could hardly have been made to sail more than font miles an hour in the best of weather were laying at anchor a little way from the landing place, but Stokes thought he would rather try to walk across the water than to make a race in any of them. His heart felt very heavy as he saw that Ole had possession of just about the only boat that could have been obtained that morn- ing. "The woman got it for him," he said to himself, "and bad SAILING IN A KAYAK. 185 the boat sent around to the other side of that cliff to wait for him. "Confound the luck! or rather my stupidity in not foreseeing some such thing as this and engage a boat to await my orders. ' ' The thought of possible discomforts in winter time did not qrcur to him. He was anxious simply to capture the flying crim- *nal ; and that he could not make a race for it was exasperating beyond expression. "Mornin', Mr. Stokes," said a thick voice behind him. Stokes turned and saw a stocky, good-humored Esquimau approaching, with whom he had been on fishing excursions earlier in his stay at Circle City. "Hello, Kotuk!" he responded, with some appearance of inter- est. ' ' Where are you bound ?' ' The Esquimau grinned, put one fat finger to his eye, and answered : "Kotuk know. Kotuk say nothing. Saw wood. " "You'll get caught some of these days," remarked Stokes, severely, who understood from the Esquimau's words that he was bound upon some nefarious expedition. "No, no," the Esquimau responded, gravely. "Kotuk sharp; too sharp for everybody 'cept Mr. Stokes, and Kotuk know Mr. Stokes no chase him. Besides, Kotuk's kayak very swift — see?" "See here, Kotuk!" cried Stokes, with a sudden ray of hope, "I reckon I do. Where is your kayak?" "Down here," Kotuk answeted, jerking his thumb toward the other side of the wharf. "Is she already to go?" "Yah." "Got provisions on board?" "Yah— heap." "Will you take me for a passenger on a long cruise?" ' * You no want sail, Mr. Stokes. Cold, very cold — no fun — much danger." "Nonsense, Kotuk. You know I don't care for cold or dan- ger." Stokes had seized the Esquimau by the arm and wa^ hurrying him along the wharf in the direction of the waiting kayak. "Me like you go," Kotuk remarked. ^ . "I'm going anyway, whether you want me to or not," Stokes responded. "Hustle in there. You haven't anything else to do, have you?" "No. You hurry?" "You bet, Kotuk. I never was in such a hurry in my life." "Where you want go?" "Straight out of the harbor and up to the north." 1 86 SAILING IN A KAYAK. Stokes was already in the kayak, and the Esquimau w£($ in the act of casting off. "Poor place — fish," he remarked. "Never mind, Kotuk, There's game up there that I want that's worth all the fish in the harbor. ' ' "All right." Kotuk was evidently perfectly satisfied to take any course that his passenger desired. He had had experience enough with Stokes to know that payment was sure and generous for anything that the detective wanted. The kayak was indeed a swift boat. It was fitted with a wal- rus-skin sail rigged like a catboat and supplied with oars and paddles to be used in case of failing wind. As ii set now the wind was favorable to great speed, and the little craft sped out of the harbor as gayly as if it were midsum- mer and the passenger were bound upon a pleasure trip. Stokes sat amidships with his back to Kotuk, who was at the tiller, in order that he might keep his eyes constantly forward for the first sign of Ole's sloop. He was by no means certain that the kayak could make the headland north of Circle City soon enough to get a glimpse of the sloop. If this failed, it was his intention to take Kotuk into his con- fidence and to depend upon the Esquimau's advice as to what course to pursue. "Kotuk will know," he thought, "better than I what land Ole is likely to make for. ' * When they were out of the harbor, Stokes pointed to the head- land and told Kotuk to make for a point two or three miles off the shore. This would enable the craft to get across Ole's course and so shorten the distance to some extent. Blue spots upon the water to the north indicated the presence of islands, and there were other islands nearer at hand that pre- vented a clear view in that direction. The wind held steady, and when at last they came north of the headland, Stokes had recourse to a small spyglass that he almost always carried with him. With this he searched the horizon without finding the slightest trace of Ole's sail. "There is one thing about it, " he reflected, "Ole won't ven- ture to turn to the south veiy soon, for that would bring him within sight of Circle City, and he'll probably imagine that I would put after him in a steamboat. "Quite likely he imagines I can make a steamboat off hand to pursue him in. The fact of his starting for the north would seem to indicate that he is bound to continue in that direction for a long time," SAILING IN A KAYAK. 187 Reasoning tbus, Stokes directed Kotuk to head the kayak for the furthest of the blue islands. The Esquimau promptly com- plied, and for an hour or so the journey continued without a word being spoken by either of them. Then Stokes, who was beginning to feel the lack of sleep, due to his being up all the night before, decided that it would be best for him to take a nap. "If we have to keep up this chase throught he night," he said to himself, "I'd rather be at the tiller than have Kotuk there. I can trust his eyes in the daytime. " So aloud he said: "Kotuk, I'm after some one who went a-Aray from Ciicle City this morning in a sloop." "I know," Kotuk answered, with a grin. "You know?" "Yah." "What?" "I know two Esquimaux — same me — go oflt this morning." "Where did they go?" Kotuk shook his head. "Tell me if you know, Kotuk," mged Stokes. "Don't know," was the response. * ' But you have an idea. ' ' "Yah." "Tell me about it." "Me know not much. Very early — sun not up — v'hite girl come to Kotuk's cabin. White girl want some boats — he hear of Kotuk's kayak— want to hire it — pay much money." ' ' I know who that girl was, ' ' said Stokes when the Esquimau paused. "Yah, very like." "Well?" , "Kotuk want to make money, same other men. Kotuk show girl kayak — girl shake head — no good. " "Who, the girl?" "No — girl all right. Much disappoint — she say kayak no good. ' ' "The kayak is all right," said Stokes. "What did she think was the matter with it?" ' * She say too small. ' ' "Oh, yes, I see!" "You see?" "Yes, Kotuk. She wanted a Doat big enough for two passen- gers and for provisions for a long voyage, I reckon." "Yah. She say something like that." "Well, she went away then, did she?" 1 88 SAILING IN A KAYAK. "She go find two friends — I tell her who they are — she give me dollai for telling — she take their boat. "I ask them where they go —they say don't know — I ask again — they say don't know. So Kotuk think. ' ' Kotuk keep right on making kayak ready for sail — bimeby Kotuk say to friends — you thirsty ? — friends say yah — Kotuk take them to saloon — Kotuk set 'em up— you see?" ' ' I think I do, " Stokes answered, with a laugh. "Yah, Kotuk set 'em twice. All same girl's dollar most gone — no matter. Kotuk ask bimeby where they going — they feel good — they say — North Cape." "Whew!" whistled Stokes, "that's a long way off. Two or three thousand miles, isn't it?" "They mean headland — all same back there," he answered, jerking his thumb in the direction of the cliff where Stokes had had his adventure. "Oh, did they say where they would go after that?" "They say they wait orders there — take man and girl — go north — where, they know not — to put man and girl on land some- where. ' ' ' ' Where do you think that will be, Kotuk ?" "Don't know." ' ' Of course not, but where do you think ?" "Me think Yedvik." "How far away is Yedivk?" * * No know ; say — wind same like this— six days. ' ' Stokes looked again toward the north; not a sign of Ole's sail anywhere. ' ' Kotuk, ' ' he said presently, "is there any other place but that one that they are likely to go to?" The Esquimau shook his head. "Harbor at Yedvik," he said. "Sometimes big boats stop there — nowhere else near here. " "That seems to^settle It, then," thought Stokes. "That's in line with my theory. They will make for Yedvik, where Ole will hope to get on to some passing whaler or poacher. It's a kind of blind chase, but I'm going to try it." "Kotuk, " he asked, "is your kayak as swift as your friend's sloop ?' ' The Esquimau was a long time in answering, but he finally grinned and said : "Think so." "What are you smiling at?" asked Stokes. "Me think you take long journey." 'Yes. but I'll pay my passage. ' Yah ! but very hard — very cold — storms perhaps. »» SAIWNO IN A KAYAK. X89 "I'll risk that." "Then I laugh for good reason." "Well, what is it?" "If Ole come Yedvik, he wait there for boat*— >perhaps kayak get there before other boat — then you catch Ole. ' ' "Yes," retotted Stokes, "and perhaps Ole will have the luck to find a boat at Yedvik just leady to start away." The Esquimau nodded. "Perhaps," he said, indifferently. "Well, there's nothing to do but sail on now," continued Stokes, "and I'm going to take a snooze. You keep your eyes open and let me know if vou see anything. ' ' The detective thereupon lay down in the bottom of the boat, covered himself with a blanket, and in half a minute was sound asleep. Some hours later, although it seemed but a minute, Kotuk reached over and shook him. "Mr. Stokes," he said, with a slight sign of eagerness. "Well, what is it?" asked Stokes, sitting up. Kotuk pointed to the far horizon. Stokes looked, but could see nothing. "Glass," saion a rock and broke in two. The men were washed on, and for the moment they lost sight of each other. Stokes laid hold of the half of the kayak in which he was sit- ting. The air tight end served him as a life preserver. Clinging to it, he was rushed along by the water until his feet touched bottom. Then, dragging the wreck after him, he plowed through the receding wave until he was beyond the danger line. Immediately after this he overtook Kotuk, who had saved him- self in precisely the same way. "Save ourselves and our food, too," remarked the Esquimau, with his mouth half full of salt water. Fearful that another wave might overtake and carry them back to sea, they waded on until they came to dry land. The sun had been down a long time, but it was still very light. Just before them were the huts of Deft. All the inhabitants of that little village turned out to welcome them, and made things as pleasant for Stokes as is the manner of the hospitable Esquimaux. Stokes was anxious to engage sled and dogs to continue the journey at once, but the Esquimaux advised strongly against it. They told him it would be folly to start while the wind was so high, and he was wise enough to follow their advicer THB BATTI.S WITH WOLVBS. Z93 feet th the him- imau, back light. CHAPTER XXIX. THB BATTLE WITH WOLVES. "Plenty of time," said Kotuk, quietly. "Oie no go tast in this wind — when weather good we cross arm of land very quick — dogs beat sloop." "I reckon you're right, Kotuk," Stokes responded, philof^oph- ically accepting the situation, although he was not easily content to pass any time in idleness. The Esquimaux entertained them with cheerful friendliness, but Stokes noticed that there was not as generous a supply of food set forth as was the case when he passed a night among the people of this race at Vilnak. T^e chief man of the settlement explained this to him during the evening. "Bad winter," he said, gravely; "animals, birds, everything except Esquimau, go awav. " He shook hig head solemnly, and it was plain that he was greatly troubled. "Do you mean," asked Stokes, "that the signs foretell worse weather than usual?" "Much." "That you have not been able to put in the usual winter pro- visions?" ♦Yah." "You can always catch fish, can't you?" The Esquimau shrugged his shoulders and waved his hands in the direction of the sea. "Biraeby ice — ice everywhere — perhaps find seal, walrus, or fish — perhaps not — Esquimau watch hole in ice many days some- times and catch nothing." During the evening there was further tP.lk of this sort to show that the Esquimaux were having hard times of every kind, and that they were alarmed lest they should die of starvation before the nent spring. Stokes felt very sorry for them. He reflected sadly that while he would like to be generous and to pay them a great sum of 194 THE BATTLE WITH WOLVES. money for the use of their dogs, and for every other aid given to him, money could be of no service to these people. There was no way in which they could spend it for their com- fort during the approaching season, when they would be cut off from communication with the civilized world. He took pains nevertheless to leave with them a large amount of money, so that if any accident should occur by which they could make use of it they would be able to do so. The detective found that a night on shore was really needful to him; such sleep as he had gotten while in the kayak had not been regular or very restful. He slept, therefoie, many hours, and found all the Esquimaux stirring. when he at last awoke. The storm had gone down, Kotuk, sure that Stokes would wish to make a start as soon as possible, had a big team of dogs and a large sled ready for the journey. The start was made at once. So far as the light was concerned it was still night, for the sun had not yet had time to rise upon this far northern land. During the first part of the journey prog'-ess was not rapid, for the way lay along a winding trail that brought them at last to a summit of the hills that marked off that part of the coast. The trail was not plain, but Kotuk had been over the ground once before and had no doubt of his ability to find the way. He had only a vague idea of how v iny miles lay between them and Yedvik, but he was certain that liis village was a little to the west of the north, and with good luck they could arrive there by night. "That's not saying much," remarked Stokes, "for it atilkes me that it's night most of the time up here-" "Yah," Kotuk answered, calmly. "But night means bedtime —hey?" "Reckon it does." The dogs were now speeding rapidly across comparatively level ground. The sky was clear, and the stars gave sufficient light to see the larger objects upon the landscape. Some distance to the west there was a dark line that appeared to be the edge of a forest. Nearer at hand were occasional stumps and trees, and all around were huge bowlders. To avoid these it was necessary to take a crooked course, and Kotuk willingly made use of the detective's compass in order to be certain that they did not get far from the proper line. After they had been proceeding thus for two or three hours the stars faded out of sight and the atmosphere became as ibright as day, but yet there was no sign of the sun. ^' ' * '^ ■ ■y-. In fact, it was not until nearly noon that the sun shotv^ itself THE BATTLE WITH WOLVES. 195 n to com- Lt off aount they serlful d not bours, e. would ■ dogs ■ide at for the id. lid, for St to a ground n them ittle to re there ; atvlkes jedtime ratively ufficient ppeared and all issary to of the not get lours the jright as reditseili for a short time, lying very close to the horizon far to the south. Not long arter noon the sun disappeared again, nnd then for several hours there was light enough to read by if eitner of the travelers had carerf to do so. It was like a long, long evening in summer, except that the air was fearfully cold. Both men of course were bundled heavily in fur*^, and when it was not necessary to look ahead sharply they had their faces cov- ered completely with a cloth tippet. "I wish I had a thermometer with me," Stokes remarket jn one occasion. "Why?" asked Kotuk. "I'd like to know how cold it is." ••Cold enough, isn't it?" •'Yes, thanks, ' I'd lik^ to tell my fri^'inds if 1 ever se*- them again just how cold it was di.ring this trip." •*I gUfc.-,," said Kotuk after a moment. "Guess what?" "Fifty degrees." "Do you mean that you think that it is fifty degrees below zero?" ••Yah— 'bout." Stokes noticed how the breath of the dogs rushed in thick white clouds fiom their mouths and seemed to freeze instantly. When they started the dogs were of a dark- brown color; now they were a glistening white from nose to tail. This was due to the moisture in their breath freezing as it fell upon their bodies. "I reckon Kotuk's about right," Stokes said to himself. Gradually the darkness of night came on again, although it was not yet late in the afternoon. Suddenly Kotuk gave a grunt of alatm and applied the lash viciously to the leading dogs. At the same time the dogs them- selves strained harder at their harness and leaped forward with, little yells that indicated unusual excitement. "What's the matter?" asked Stokes. •'You no hear?" returned Kotuk. •'I haven't heard anything but the tramping of the dogs and the slipping of the sled on the snow for hours.'' "Ugh ! Your ears no sharp. " , "Perhaps not. But what is it?" Kotuk again lashed the dogs and then turned his head and looked back. "You pray?" he inquired, significantly. ••Certainly," answered Stokes; "but if I was going to pray now I thjnk it would be for a hot potato and a cup of coSee." ♦196 THE BATTLE WITH WOLVES. "No joke," said the Esquimau, solemnly. "Wolvea!" "Wolves, hey?" "Yah! Listen!" • Ever since they had left the summit of the hills back of Deft they had seen no sign of life besides themselv^ and their dogs. It was as the old man said — animals and birds had deserted that part of the country. Stokes listened, and several anxious seconds passed before he could distinguish anything beyond the noise made by the sled and dogs. Then he heard a faint note, as if some one along way off was playing a horn. "I hear it!" he said. "Yah!" Kotuk responded. "Wolves." He bent forward as he spoke, as if to make his body as small IS possible, so that there would be less for the dogs to drag. Stokes pulled the tippet from his face and freed his arms from the mass of furs which had been packed upon them. "We'll make a fight for it, anyway," he remarked, coolly. "Yah — j-ou brave," answered Kotuk. "But no hurry — wolves no catch us for a long time yet. " , "Might as well be ready for them, though." '"Yah. They run very fast. " .f"How far away should you think Yedvik is now?" "No can tell — one hour, maybe — maybe three." "One hour is a long time, " thought Stokes. Again he heard the distant baying of the wolves, and this time the sound was louder. It was no longer a faint musical note, but a distinct, harsh howl. "They're out for business, and no mistake," Stokes said to himself. It was now as dark as midnight, and when he turned to look back over the long stretch of whitened plain that they were cross- ing he could not distinguish any moving object. Nevertheless, it was clea;- enough that the wolves were gaining upon them, for the sound of their howling came steadily nearer and nearer. There was no telling but that they might spring from the dark- ness at any moment. Stokes had his revolvers ready, and in order to make a better fight of it he turned his back to the dogs and knelt upon the sled so as to get a good shot at the first comers. The dogs needed no cracking of the whip tc make them exert all their strength and swiftness. They knew as well as Kotuk did what that dismal howling meant They felt that once the wol"e8 should overtake them there would be short work of turning the entire part;^ l^cn, PW4 ^9fP> into a heap of bonee. .. ~ ^.oa ?l7^v4 xiiill^^ THE BATTI^E WITH WOIyVES. 197 Im exert lotuk did Never in his life had Stokes found the minutes so long or so fearfully weighted with anxiety. If only it had been daylight, so that he could see the pursuers! He strained his eyes persistently, but caught no sight of the savage beasts, whose howls became louder and louder. It was evident that a big pack was in pursuit. "They'll be worse than human beings," he thought, "for the reason that every one of them will have to be killed off before Ave're safe. If it was a crowd of savage men, now, there would be some chance of scaring them by dropping one or two of their number. "The probability is that these beasts won't take any fear from pistol shots, and Yiill pursue as long as any one of them has life inhim.»'-:~^-^ ^^^ ^^^^ In this Stokc» was reckoning without complete knowledge of wolves. He was right In the sense that nothing will stay a hungry wolf from attempting to get food, but he did not know that the wolf ia not so particular as to what kind of food he eats. Presently, after they had been following this fearful race for probably a half hour, Stokes thought he could distinguish vaguely some wavering objects. He feared at first that this might be due to the motion of the sled, which would make him mistake rocks or hummocks for wolves. He had plenty of ammunition, but yet he was determined not to waste a single shot, for if it came to a close encounter all his chances might be lost in the time it would take him to load his weapon; so he raised his arm and waited a minute until in . the gleam he could be certain that those waving objects were ani- mals and not lifeless things — then he fired. A fierce snarl, almost like the shriek of a human being, told him that his shot had taken effect. This sound was followed instantly by a chorus of howls that added new teiror to the dogs and the Esquimau driver. Kotuk gave vent to a grunt. "There must be hundreds of them," hz muttered. Stokes kept his eyes upon the ground at the back. He could see absolutely nothing except a few rods of level snow. There were no longer any wa^'ing objects. "Is it possible," he thought, "that they have been scared and btought to a halt by otiM shot?" For just an instant it seemed as if this was the case. Then the long baying began again, and again the noise grew nearer. Later there was another sight of waving objects, toward which Stokes directeu a second shot. This was followed, as before, by wilder howls end a momentary disappearance of the enemy. 198 THE BATTLE WITK WOLVES. "If we can keep this sort of thing up," Stokes said to him- self, "we shall beat the demons, ptovided only that Yedvik is somewhere within reach." The detective emptied one of his revolvers in this way, .firing at intervals, and each time apparently checking the rush of the pursuing pack. As he paused to reload his weapon, an operation that took but a second, he saw the real meaning of the situation. The wolves were coming steadily nearer in spite of every skil- ful shot. Now he could see their leaping forms distinctly. He picked the two leaders in the pack and fired twice in rapid succession. Both wolves aimed at juruped into the air and rolled over upon their backs instantly. The others just behind them sprung upon the fallen wolves and tore the flesh from their bones savagely. That explained it. Every wolf that Stokes had killed had become food for those nearest it, and this had accounted for the slight pauses in the pursuit. The trouble was that the pack was so numerous that only a few could get any advantage from their fallen comrades, and those who stopped for a mouthful and failed to get one iiumediately rushed on after the flying sled and dogs. Seeing that this was the fiendish character of the wolves, Stokes fired right and left, with a view of killing as many as possible at one volley, so as to delay the whole pack. This had the desired effect, but it by no means stopped the pursuit. It simply gave him time to reload his weapons before there was a fresh assault. Each time the wolves dashed on they gained a little on the sled until at last they were distinctly visible, and Stokes had to keep up a rapid firing in order to stay their progress at all. Kotuk dropped the reins and whip and busied himself in* and loading the detective's weapons. Even at that the fierce beasts gained upon them, and one fel- low, whom Stokes in his rapid firing had overlooked, got so far that he actually tried to leap upon the sled. Stokes' revolver at that instant was empty, and there was not even time to reach for the weapon that Kotuk had loaded. He, therefore, let go the butt, caught the revolver by its hot muzzle and brought the handle down with all his force upon the wolf's fore- head. The beast dropped without a sound and landed upon the after part of the sled, where his dead body lay until Stokes reached ijack and pushed it off to serve as prey for his companions. It was beginning to look as if, in spite of successful shooting, the savage pack would overcome the travelers, when Kotuk gave a sudden exclamation, whether of alarm or relief Stokea could mn MTTlyE WITH WOtVES. m him- vik is .firing )£ the )k but y skil- a rapid I rolled I them r bones )r those in the ly a few d those ediately 1, Stokes ssible at desired ply gave issault. the sled to keep E in* and one fel- lot so far ■was not ed. He, uzzle and If '3 fore- the after reached ons. shooting, tuk gave es could not make out, dropped the revolver he was loading, and turned his attention again to the dogs. They were on a down grade now, and the sled was going at terrific speed. It was gaining, too, and was catching the heels of the dogs nearest to it and tripping them up. Kotuk made a vain eflFort to guide the dogs to one side in order that they might not be overcome by the rushing sled. Stokes saw what the situation meant. The sled would gain in speed as long as the down grade continued, would either upset the dogs or pass them and drag them after it, and at the end, wherever that might be, all would be in a heap and at the mercy of their savage pursuers. It occurred to him that it might be possible to cut the harness and let the sled go. In this way the dogs would be sacrificed to the wolves, who might be satisfied then and give the men a chance to escape on foot. It was necessary for himself to keep on firing at the pack. "Cut the harness, Kotuk!" he called. But Kotuk clung to the sled and made no effort to obey. A second later Stokes observed that the wolves were unable to keep pace with the sled, which had already slewed past half the team of dogs. It was going so fast and with such a jolting motion that he could not remain upon his knees. There was nothing for it, therefore, but that he should crouch upon the bottom of the sled and take his chances just as Kotuk was doing. Down they went, faster than any toboggan ever known, through the darkness, bounding over hummocks, dragging the yelping and whining dogs after them, both men nearly shaken ' from their places, until, with a jolt that seemed to make every bone in his body start from its fastenings, Stokes felt the speed suddenly decrease. They were shooting up a steep rise, and before the* sled had half lost its headway it came to a stop by colliding against some- thing. Stokes and Kotuk were hurled up against this object and the dogs came piling after them. It was indeed just the hopeless heap that Stokes had foreseen, and how he should fight the wolves now was a question that in the confusion he could not decide. As he struggled to get on his feet and free hirjself from the writhing dogs he became couvscious of two things — first, that the wolves were not behind, and, second, that there were loud cries from human beings followed instantly by the shots of rifles. Then as Stokes and Kotuk stood up, ready to make a last dee* aoo THE BATTLE WITH WOLVES. perate effort to save their lives, they saw bj' the dim starlight that they had arrived at Yedvik. The sled had run full tilt into the largest hut in the village, and the entire male popultion had turned out to fight off the oncoming pack of wolves. The Esquimaux living there had heard the baying of the pack, as well as Stokes' repeated shots, and were therefore ready with all the weapons they commanded not only to defend the travelers but themselves. Stokes' work with his reovlvers had been so effective that the Esqui'naux had little to do, especially as the wolves at last took fright in the presence of so many enemies. ,> It proved that Stokes' dogs were not seriously Injured, and though the sled was smashed, that was of small consequence ; another conid be procured when needed, and the main thing was that no lives had been lost. As soon as the excitement of the battle had died away Stokes made inquiries that satisfied him that Ole had not yet turned up at Yedvik, and that no vessel had stopped there for weeks. He cautioned Kotuk not to say much about the object of their journey. "Let them know," he said, ' that you expect a boat to arrive, so that they may be on the lookout for it. Until then I'm going to try to take things easy and find out what fun there is in living in the arctic zone. ' ' Accordingly Stokes slept that night as peacefully as if he were in a city hotel with nothing to do but enjoy himself. , Oa the following day the sun did not rise. StokM was now in the land of long midnight H,ga{35>=^ 'Hb a^ KOTUK'S PBRII,. aoz ■■/i?-. CHAPTER XXX. KOTUK'S PBRII,. » At Yedvik, as at Deft, the Esquimaux told serious tales of hard times. The eady winter weather had never been so severe, game never so scarce. "We're better off than some others," said one of the Esqui- maux, "because here big boat sometimes land and give up pro- visions for the skins ; but no boat's been here long time — perhaps no boat come all winter, and hunters go out for a week and tind nothing to kill." During the day after Stokes' arrival most of the men in Yedvik were taking advantage of the good weather to fish, for there was no telling when the water thereabout would be choked with ice. Stokes fished with tbem, and thus did his share in procuring their food supply. There was no sign of a boat on that day or on the next ; but on the third, just about noon, when, although no sun was in sight, there was light enough to see for miles away, a itail was observed in the northwest. Kotuk stood by Stokes when this was observed. "May not be Ole," h» remarked. "Let me take glass. I tell." Stokes handed the glass to Kotuk, who looked through it long and earnestly. "Yah!" he said at length, "that my friend sloop." Stokes 'ed as he thought of the surprise in store for Ole. "I don't suppose he'll enjoy it very much," the young fellow thought, ' ' but he ought to find some satisfaction in seeing a familiar face immediately after landing. "I'll keep out of sight until he's on shore." So Stokes went to one of the huts and sat within watching the approaching sloop from the doorway. It came nearer and nearer and at last the hull could be seen distinctly. About that time the little vessel came about as if the crew were preparing to cast anchor, and Stokes was rejoicing over the pros- pect of soon meeting the bi^ Swede again. M2 KOTUK'S PBRIL. He was even planning how he should make the capture com- plete without a struggle, for he had no doubt that Ole would resist and do his best to kill his determined pursuer. "He'll be so paralyzed with astonishment," thought Stokes, *'that I ought not to have any difficulty to bring him to terms. " The detective thought he knew exactly how to accomplish is, when the sloop, instead of coming to anchor, put about and sailed away to the north. "What's up now, Kotuk?" Stokes cried. • The Esquimau was standing a little way from the hut looking at the departing sloop. "Don't know," he answered in a disappointed tone. "Don't come here — that's all." "I should think that's enough, " Stokes retorted. "What's the matter with them, anyway?" "No can tell — Ole no come Yedvik — that's all." "It's not possible, is it, that he's going to clear out of here altogether? Is he trying to find a better anchorage?" "No, he could anchor there — water so deep he could come very close shore — no, go somewhere else — that's all." Stokes looked with bitter wrath at the disappearing sloop. There was no question that it was not going to stop at Yedvik — it was going as fast from the village as possible. All the Esquimaux in Yedvik were disappointed at the failure of the sloop to stop there. "No other boat perhaps all winter," they said. "You wouldn't have got any good out of that boat," Stokes told them. "Where do you think she's going?" Bearing in mind that Ole's one chance of successful flight was in getting aboard a south-bound vessel, Stokes asked if there was any port to the north where such a vessel might stop. Yes, they told him, there was a port — Zeglit by name. It was a long distance away and there was less chance that a vessel would put in there than at Yedvik. Still, it did happen some- times, and it looked as if Zeglit was the place to go if there was still any hope of catching the Swede. Stokes was more determined than ever to do this, but the ques- tion of how to continue the pursuit was more difficult than before. There was no boat at Yedvik which was suitable for making the long journey to Zeglit. The way by land would be round about and extremely dangerous. Kotuk had never been over tne ground, and although he was willing to go anywhere with Stokes, he could not speak hope- fully ot the chance of making the journey successfully. KOTUK'S PERIL. 303 Stokes asked his new friends if any of them would act as a guide. They shook their heads — it was too much risk for them. Stokes had not the heart to urge them very hard, for these people had a severe struggle with life at the best and he had no wish to make things worse for them. Finally the leading man of the settlement said: "I tell y( u — we think long time go off — great hunt — ten men go out — hunt for moose, bear, anything. "You go with hunters, you and Kotuk — and you safe with them. ' ' They show you most of the way to Zeglit, after that you go on to Zeglit alone or come back — just as you like." "Thanks. Just the scheme!" cried Stokes, highly delighted. "When will your party start out?" "Oh, next week, perhaps." "Whew! I can't wait all that time. Can't you start now?" The Esquimau did not know about it. They are not very quick thinkers and to them a few days more or less did not count. Stokes, however, now that he saw that they were willing to go out into the wilderness of snow, had no hesitation in urging them to hurry up about it ; consequently after a day spent in pre- paration the party started. There were a dozen of them, all told. Nearly all of the dogs in Yedvik, as well as those brought there by Stokes, were harnessed to sleds, of which there were enough to enable all the men to ride. There was to b« no attempt at hunting in the neighborhood of Yedvik, for the Esquimaux knew only too well that game had deserted that locality. For nearly twelve hours the party journeyed steadily, pausing only once about midday for rest and refreshments. At night or as they themselves more correctly put it, at bed- time, for it was always night, they went into camp near the shore of a little lake. There was no water in sight, of course, for ice and snow cov- ered everything. For the first time in his life Stokes watched the process of building a snow house. He had tried his own hand at that operation in earlier days, as every boy does who lives in a ree;ion where winter brings snow, but he realized speedily, as he said to himself, that "the boys aren't in it with the northern men." They proceeded as scientifically, if not as correctly, as house builders of the south. More than that, here the weather is so extremely cold that it is possible to find a kind of snow that pack! like solid stone. ao4 KOTUK'S PERIL. For fully fifteen minutes after the party halted the men went about prodding the snow here and there until they found exactly the kind they wanted. Then while some built a fire and prepared supper, the others cut the blocks of snow and stacked them up until a shelter had been made where the night could be passed in safety. A quantity of whale blubber had been brought on the sleds, and some of this was set burning within the hut itself. It made the air stifling and almost unbearable to Stokes, but without it every man in the party would have frozen before morning. Dogs and all slept in the hut, and the next morning the jour- ney was resumed. The detective from the south could not get ovex a continual feeling of surprise at the endless night. During about one hour in the day the stars paled, but there was never anything like the bright light of a southern day. At the end of the second day Stokes asked his friends how much longer it would take to get to Zeglit. One of them responded, with an amused smile, that at this rate they might get there in a week. "We shall leave you to-morrow," he added. "Well," th( aght Stokes, "I may get used to this everlasting night time, and I reckon if these Esquimaux can stand it I can ; at the same time I shall give three cheers the next time I see the sun. I wonder if I ever shall ?' ' When the party crawled out of the second snow hut to begin the third day's journey the Esquimaux looked at the sky with alarm. "Storm coming," they said. "Is that going to prevent your getting on ?" asked Stokes, anxiously. "No can tell, ' they answered. "We get better place than this if we have time." They hurried their departure and cheered the dogs on to their greatest speed in ordet to reach what they said would be a safe place to remain in if they had to while the storm lasted;* The wind rose steadily all through the forenoon, and the stars disappeared behind banks of heavy clouds. Early in the afternoon it began to snow. It came down so hard and fast that the dogs found difificulty in dragging the sleds. At last the Esquimaux halted, convinced that they could not reach the place they wished to, and set about making prepara- ations for some kind of a camp where they were. It would have been better if they had stayed at their second camp. It seemed as if after they decided to halt the wind blew in greater fury and the snow fell faster than tvtt. ^^^^^ i ^jiiX KOTUK'S PERIL. 205 It was impossible to see a man at a distance of a few feet. Stokes was working with the others 'carrying blocks of snow from the place where they were cut to the spot where the shelter was being built. The work was exceedingly difficult, for it was hard to see and good deal hardento retain one's footing. Still the gale increased in fury. Presently a fierce, heavy blast caught them, and one or two of the sleds were torn from their fastenings and sent out of sight* before the wind ; the dogs were dragged after them in spite of their efforts. With cries of alarm several of the Esquimaux started out to catch the sleds and drag them back. The leader of the party called out to them to beware, but they did not heed him. For fully two minutes that terrific blast of wind continued. When it began Stokes was carrying a block of snow to the unfinished hut and his back was to the wind. It threw him flat down upon his face. When he tried to get up he found it so diffi- cult to rise that he concluded it to be the better thing to remain as he was until the wind should go down a bit. Somebody fell beside him. "Hello, Kotuk! is that you?" Stokes asked. "Yah!" answered his companion "Heap big wind." "I should think so. How long do you suppose it's 'going to last?" "No can tell." When at length the furious blast gave way they struggled to their feet. The wind was still high, but they could move about without much difficulty. The unfinished hut was before them and their own team of dogs was huddled together, having somehow managed to escape the force that had sent the others sliding. They could see no sign of the hunters or their dogs or their sleds. At first this was not alarming, because the snow was falling so fast that the others might be within a rod or two and yet be invis- ible. Kotuk called aloud to his companions. There was no response. Stokes fired one of his revolvers in the air. A few seconds later they heard a faint report in the direction toward which the wind wao blowing. "Wemnst gotothem," said Ko'uk. * 'They'll come back here, won't they ?" asked Stokes. i, 3o6 KOTUK'S PERIL. ^ "No can tell. Maybe they can't, and anyhow we must be together. No safe for anybody if we all lost." Stokes could see himself that it was better for the party to keep together, and accordingly he helped Kotuk willingly in get- ting the sled and dogs ready to move on. They went cautiously before the wind, frequently shouting and occasionally firing in order to warn their companions of their whereabouts. After the first report that they had heard as an answer to Stokes' shot, no sound came to them of the missing Esquimaux, For an hour or two they toiled blindly on in the darkness, which was growing denser as the real night approached. At last Kotuk brought the dogs to a halt "Lost!" he said, disconsolately. "That's what we are," Stokes responded. "And it's worse now than if we had stayed at the camp. Not only have we got away from the others, but we have nothing to shelter us. ' ' Kotuk stood still a minute thinking the situation over. "Must keep moving," he remarked at length, and on they went. What with the falling snow and the growing darkness, it soon became impossible to see where they were stepping. They knew only that they were in the snow. The dogs toiled along beside them, but it required both Stokes and Kotuk haul- ing at the sled to keep that with them. "This does look as if it were all up with me," said Stokes to himself, "but I would just like to know how 01 e is getting along. ' ' This thought had hardly occurred to him before Kotuk fell down. Stokes reached ou to help him and went down too. But that wasn't the worst of it — they kept on going down. It was somewhat like the slide with which they landed in Yed- vik, but they were not on the sled now. It was with them and Stokes grabbed it by the side with one hand while with the other he caught Kotuk by the shoulder; the dogs came tumbling along with them. The snow was several inches deep, but the incline on which they started to slide was so steep that they plowed along down it as rapidly, apparently, as if it were uncovered ice. Faster and faster they shot down. The dogs were yelping furi- ously and making frantic efforts to break away ; the harness held them, however, so that they remained sliding in a confused heap. "There'll be trouble for anything that gets in our way," thought Stokes with grim humor. "And it's lucky for us there aie no hummocks here. " After what seemed to be miles of tljis kind of struggling tbcir KOTUK'S PERIL. 907 speed slackened, for they bad come upon a level and presently they halted. Sliding along thus they had piled up snow in front of them, and they came to rest gently at last without so much as a bruise to tell of their strange experience. Stokes and Kotuk got up and for the next few minvites devoted their efforts to helping the dogs out of the tangle they had got into with their harness. "What next, Kotuk?" asked Stokes. * ' Ugh ! " he answered. ' ' Make house. ' * This they did as well as they could. In the darkness it was impossible to find the best kind of snow, but some sort of shelter they did manage to erect, under which they drove the dogs and afterward crawled themselves. In spite of the perils which surrounded them and the unknown dangers which might come, Stokes slept like a top. When he awoke the storm had ceased. The sky was clear, and by the light of the stars he saw that they were encamped upon a perfectly level plain. The level was broken a short distance away by a steep hill down which they had slid the evening before. Kotuk had not the slightest idea where they were, though he judged from the looks of things that this level plain upon which they wete encamped was a frozen lake or arm of the shore. The poor fellow, accustomed though he was to the dangers of a northern winter, was bewildered by the situation and knew not what to advise. "It strikes me," said Stokes, "that the first thing we had bet- ter do is to hunt for fresh meat. "We're in luck that some of our provi ions managed to stick to the sled. We've got enough here to last three days, anyhow. Meantime " "No game here," interrupted Kotuk, gloomily. "I don't know about that," Stokes answered. "I'm going to see what can be found." Kotuk, utterly discouraged, refused to leave the camp. Stokes, therefore, gave him a revolver to use for signaling if there should be occasion for it and started on alone in the direction away from the hill. There seemed to be no end of the plain in that direction. Toward midday it grew lighter, as usual. S*;okes could distin- guish the heap of snow \yhich he and Kotuk had made for a shel- ter at a great distance. He occasionally looked in that direction while he was tramp- ing over the ice field. Hunger at last compelled Stokes to turn back; he had found no game nor any sign of any. I:: I: ■ll m\ 3o8 KOTUK'S PERII.. As he was approaching the shelter, although yet at a consider* able clistajice, he saw two moving figures there. One of them he supposed was Koiuk. He could not make out at first who or what the other was, for the figure was evidently larger than any of t!: : dogs. Then a shot from Kotuk's revolver caused him to hurry his steps, and a moment later he saw a sight that made his heart stand still with horror. A huge polar bear had come up to the hut and surprised the Esqu'uiau. The latter, f-'jhteued out of his senses, had fired wildly and missed the ' r. The great animal, as hungry doubtless as were the wolves that had pursued the travelers, leaped for Koluk, caught him in his forearms, and as Stokes drew near was bracing himself against the sncw shelter, while he was trying to crush the life out of the Esquimau's struggling body. Beai and man were in such a position that Stokes, good marks- man though he was, dared not f -2 for fear of killing Kotuk. The Esquimau was making a furious struggle for life, and the chances were that he wou'd wriggle himself 11. the bullet's wax if Stokes should fire. Thede ective. therefore, without a thought of p^ril to himself, riuhsd forward with a vain idea, that he would tear Ko uk from the bear's grip. The animal roared savagely an Stokes came up, and catching at the snow shelter with one forearm, while he held Kotuk with the other, he raised one of his hin feet and struck £tckes full in the chest with it and tumbled him heels over head and hurled him rods away. Stokes picked himself up with the agility of a cat and rushed again to the attack. The bear had slipped in the effort and had half fallen, still holding Ko'uk i;i his arm. In t ii.5 position he presented a target at which Stokes could fire with safe'y. The de' ective did £0, and with a terrifying howl the bear dropped the Esquimau, staggered back against the snow shelter and rolled over. He was by no means dead as a result of this shot, but Stokes easily finished him with ano'.her; then he turned to Kotuk. The Esquimau lay in the snow panting loudly. "How is it, Kotuk?" Stokes asked, leaning 0"er him. "Any bones broken ?" "No can tell," was the Esquimau's characteristic answer. Stokes helped him to his feet, and the Esquimau felt along bis ribs and>legs, and finally ihrugged his shoulders, saying: "Kotuk heap all right, but cose squeeze." "It was a close squeeze and no mistake," Stokes responded. A' VOYAGE ON AN ICEBERG. 209 Kotuk nodded and walked up to the dying bear. After looking at the animal for a moment he gave him a little kick, turning aside and said with a grin: "Plenty to eat now." CHAPTER XXXI. A VOYAGE ON AN ICBBBRG. It was well enough now to talk about having plenty of meat to eat, but it was another matter to cook it. Stokes was not yet prepared to eat raw bear's meat, and beyond a little blubber they had nothing with which to make a fire unless they should burn up their sled. There was not woodwo''^ enough on the sled to more than cook a single steak, so that it would have been folly to Sacrifice that, even if it were not probable that they would need the sled later. The problem, therefore, that Stokes had to solve now was how to get wood. He looked back at the hill down which he had slid the night before, and so far as he could see in the half darkness it was entirely bare of trees. "The probabiliiy is," he said to himself, "that that is not an ordinary hill, anyway, but a glacier, and this is a part of it we are camping on. "Quite likely this is the sea itself, and now if we should tiavel far enough we might come to the edge of some kind of shore where there would be a possibility of getting driftwood. Any- thing is better than staying here." Kotuk agreed to this. The Esquimau was greatly encouraged by having a supply of food at hand. Accordingly he prepared willingly to break camp and move elsewhere. They hitched the dogs to the bear's carcass and prepared them- selvej to drag the sled. The bear was so heavy that the dogs found •ome difficulty in dragging it, but they got along nevertheless as fast as the men could conveniently walk. Stokes took a course due south, on the principle that the sea won'd be more likely to lie in that direction than in any Cher. They tramped mile after mile without coming to anything whatever that broke the level of the ice field. They were getting so hungry that they would have had to 2IO A VOYAGE ON AN ICEBERG. stop soon, when they discovered a fallen tree lying directly across their path. Its roots were partly in the »ir and partly buried in the ice. •'That tells the story, " Stokes said. "This is a glacier. And this tree was caught by it somewhere far inland and so brought down toward the sea. ' ' Of course a fire was made in short order and a supper of bear's meat was prepared for both men and dogs. While Kotuk attended to this Stokes did his best in the making of a shelter. He had learned his lessons well, and so succeeded with occa- sional help from the Esquimau in making a hut that would hold them all. They slept there that night. The next morning they found that their heavy coats were uncomfortable when they were mov- ing about. While they were preparing breakfast they heard loud reports and strange grinding noises. The Esquimau paid little attention to them, although it was clear enough that he regarded them seriously. "Is the ice in motion?" asked Stokes. • ' Yah, • ' returned Kotuk. ' ' Heap move. ' ' ' He shook his head as if unwilling to guess what might happen. Aftet they had breakfasted Kotuk suggested that he would go on an exploration. "You do all work," he said; "you heap tired — you sleep. Kotuk take his turn — find sea somewhere — then maybe we make boat or something. ' ' It was not at all clear to the detective's mind what could be done if he should find the sea, but he did think it worth while to keep on exploring in the hope of coming some day to some kind of a settlement, and as indeed he was thoroughly tired out, he agreed to Kotuk'9 suggestion and crawled into the hut Kotuk announced that he would return by noon. "If we no find better place," he said, encouragingly, "we stay by this tree until we bum it all up." He started on with a couple of the dogs as companions, leav- ing the others fastened by a thong to the sled. This gave the dogs that remained plenty of room to exercise ; and if they chose they could crawl into the hut without being unfastened. Stokes lay down upon the blanket in the hut and was almost instantly asleep. It was not yet midday when a man came toiling across the ice field tc ^ard the hut. fH-.'irr There were no dogs yflih him, and any one could have seen that he was not an Esquimau. He was as large as two ordinary Ssquit&auz. A VOYAGE ON AN ICEBERG. 211 almost the ice He walked very slowly, as if his strength was almost gone. When he arrived near the hut he halted an instant and looked around as if fearful of something. At that moment the dogs were til within the entrance to the hut. The stranger stepped to the sled and took up an article that was lying there. It was a haversack partly filled with matches, cartridge boxes, and other small things that StoLes managed to carry with him. The stranger slowly raided the flap of the haversack and started violently as what he saw there. It was simply a name, Harvey Stokes, stamped upon the cover. The stranger laid the haversack down and approached the snow hut. All such huts as this are so constructed t.7it there is a small hole in the top to serve as a chimney wb'^n blubber is burned inside. The weather being warm, there wad none burning theie now. The stranger was so tall that he could lean over the hut and look down through this hole. He did so, and just then, the dogs, becoming aware of his approach, set up a terrific yelping. Stokes opened his eyes just in time to see the face of Ole Han- son disappear from the hole above his head. The detective jumped hom wheie he was lying and made for the low door. He had to go on his hands and knees and drive the dogs out ahead of hira in order to get through. When he emerged he uaw Ole, with a fierce smile on his face, approaching him with an open knife in his hand. "^ "You go everywhere, " cried the Swede, "but I finish you at last." Stokes did not waJ'. fcr the attack. He leaped forward, threw up one hand to catch tb" Swede's descending arm, and thys warded off the blow. With the other hand he struck the Swede squarely in the chest. Once before these two had struggled, and then the Swede was more than a raitch for Stokes. With his giant frame it would seem as if he could take ihe detective in his hands and break his back as he would a stick. Nevertheless Stokes' blow sent the tall fellow staggering back until he fell full length upon the snow. He did not try to get up, and when Stokes stood over him with his revolver ready to fire there was no occasion for any anxiety as to what Ole might do. His knife had dropped from his hand and he lay back per- fectly helpless. "Give up'" he said feebly. "I give up. Yust starved. Give 'me food and I no harm you. If you won't give me food shoot me." ■■■-■■ x::&saz,. . .' 3X2 A VOYAGE ON AN ICEBERG. It needed but a glance at the giant Swede's sunken cheeks and bloodshot eyes to show that he was indeed suffering from starva- ticn. There was no more fight in him. His 5erce enmity to Stokes had given him the nerve to make an effort at revenge, and when he found that the detective's blow was enough to tumble him over his courage left him. Stokes saw that he was harmless, and without stopping to ask questions or even to search him for weapons that might be con- cealed upon him, the detective hastened to the sled and brought the Swede a piece of bear's meat, which Ole devoured greedily. "Ah!" he said b'itween his mouthfuls, "f ere is no escaping you. I had rather be your prisoner fan starve to deaf." ' ' How did you get here ?' ' asked Stokes. Ole shook his head doubtfully. "How can I tell?" he answered. "My boat . wrecked— my Esquimau drowned — I frown on shore — I walk— don't know how many days, for I don't see f e sun." "How far away is the sea?" "Ten mile, perhaps." "Is your boat lying on the shore?" "What fere is left of it." "Do you suppose we could repair it?" "No." "Well," said Stokes, "we can at least move to the south, and that ought to bring us somewhere if we keep moving long enough." "Yah!" responded Ole. " We walk south if we no freeze here, and if we go far enough we melt." There was no humor in the Swede's tore. He spoke in a mel- ancholy way, as if he had no courap^ cr hope of any kind left, but he kept on devouring bear's meat greedily. "You didn't need to come so far north for this meeting/' eaid Stokes after a moment. " No, " Ole responded, * ' I know fat. ' ' 'f^ "You know it?" "Yah " "How so?" "Me know you wait for me at Yed\ik." "You knew that?" "Yah." *" "How did it happen ? I thought I had kept myself out of sight as your boat came into Yedvik harbor." "Oh, yah! You no give 'way any fing. It was f is way." The Swede laid down his food and spoke with considerable rapidity. "I fink you great man, " he said. "I fink you dc aayt'iflgi mai A VOYAGE ON AN IC3BBRG. ai3 said ' sight "Sometimes I say I beat you — but I no believe it — I feel all my inside t'at you get best of me some day. "My one hope was t'at Jennie, t'egirl in Circle City, my sweet- heart, you know, would outwit you. I t'ink she did a little. " "Yes," Stokes assented, "she got you away from Dan's dive right enough, but she didn't play her next trick quite so well." "No, fat's right — she slip up somehow — she tried to make you believe I go off to t'e hut sout' of Circle City — hey?" "That's what she did." "Yah I I told her I no much t'ink you would tumble to t'at. "Well, when I see Jennie coming up t'e cliff t'ere, nort' of Circle City, and t'e carriage running along t'e road fast, I knowed well 'noug t'at you must be in t'e carriage, so as you know I climb down t'e cliff fast — get in my boat yust in time to catch t'e revolver t'at Jennie t'rowed to me — t'en I sail away. "And when I tink how no good boats left in Circle City, I feel for a few minutes t'at I am safe. "I tink go to Yedvik — get on whaler t'ere. "So I tell my Esquimaux to sail for Yedvik. "T'ey no like it— but I talk money and I show my revolver— so t'ey sail away. "Well, two or free days pass. "I look all f e time to f e souf , wondering if steamer come chasing me. "Bimeby, in middle of day, I climb up f e rope ladder of f e mast and lok wif glass far, far souf. ' ' I see kayak. "No can tell who in it, but sight of kayak 'nough. "I know you follow me, so fen we go on until we come near Yedvik. "All t'e time we go into Yedvik harbor I fink how perhaps you land somewhere on souf side of peninsula, and cross wif dogs and watch shore wif glass. "No see you, but I do see Esquimau who I fink wif you. "I give glass to one of my men, who look and say 'T'at Kotuk,' your man — hey?" "Yes," said Stokes, "Kotuk was my companion." "T'at settled it — we know if Kotuk in Yedvik you in Yedvik — so we sail away — see ? "We make for Zeglit — - ■ good weather — and my Esquimaux make much trouble — but i show my revolver and fey have to sail. "T'e trouble is I have to sleep some time — sconce when I tieep fey steal my revolver and f row it overboard. "T'ea I know not what to do. 314 A VOYAGE ON AN ICEBERG. **T'e Esquimaux would turn sout', but t'ey have not much food left on boat and so must go to some port. "Zeglit nearest. "T'ey make up t'eir mijids to find Zeglit, and so we keep on to t'e nort'. ' ' I know not how long it last — always dark. "Laige snow — high waves — terrible cold." The Swede shook his head and shivered at the memory of the fearful perils he had undergone. "At last one night, or day, or what I say noontime, mebbe — always so daik— t'e boat smash against somet'ing. *We all frown out — a wave carry our boat and all high up on land or ice — don'-, know which — and it don't matter. "Bof t'e Esqui naux swept back into sea and drown. "I cling to boat wreck and so saved. " One little can of meat left — I take it, and for a long time wander along t'e shore — finally meat all gone. "I 'fraid of sea — rat'er go inland fan be near fat dark noisy sea any mere — so I walk and walk and come here — fat's all. Just as Ole finished his story Kotuk came back. His face was expressive of alarm, and he merely glanced at the Swede as he said : "I find sea and almost drown — no can tell what happen to us. "What is the matter, Kotuk?" Stokes asked. "We on iceberg, the Esquimau replied. "I go near edge — it goes smash — smash — break in big pieces, and I almost get carried away — dogs did." "You lost a couple of dogs, then?" "Yah. T'ty go sailing off on small iceberg. We go bimeby. " "Well, that will be better than staying here, " said Stokes, grimly. All this time the air was filled with the creaking, groaning and booming noises that showed that the immense ice field was on the move and breaking up into what would be icebergs if the pieces should float out into the open water. Even as they stood there wondering what they had better do there camie a noise like the roar of a hundred cannon, not far behind them. Turning about quickly, they saw that a tremendous crack had ocurred in the ice but a few rods from where they were. Stokes ran out toward the crack. "iiook out!" Kotuk called, warningly.. Stokes halted and presently ran back again to the camp. The ice was cracking in every direction and in some places the openings were too wide to jump acrost. A VOYAGE ON AN ICEBERG. 215 The dogs yelped and howled dismally. They seemed to feel as if the world were coming to an end. Kotuk tried to quiet the dogs in vain. They sat on their haunches and howled, and neither commands nor cuffs could make them cease. "Don't like t'is, " remarked the Swede, gloomily. ' 'Well, I don't know," returned Stokes. "It seems to me that it's rather interesting." His companions looked at him in astonishment. They could not understand how it was that he should take the matter so coolly. In fact, Stokes was mentally prepared for the worst, but he had been through so many perils upon this expedition that he now felt a quiet confidence that somehow he would get out of it all right. "I may die next minute," he said to himself, "though I don't quite see how I can, but if I should I must say it will be an interesting death." The roaring and booming of the moving ice field continued, and for a moment the men found it diflScultto stand. The whole mass was shaking and vibrating; then it suddenly became motionless, although the booming noises continued from a dis- tance. ! Looking back to the place where the first crack had appeared, Stokes saw that now it was very wide, and on examination later he could distinguish water between the great cake of ice upon which they stood and the ice beyond. "We're afloat," he remarked, quietly. The three men watched the ice field from which they were slowly drawing away in silence for a moment. Although it was midday, it was yet too dark to see it clearly, and presently they could not distinguish it at all. In the other direction the ice field upon which they stood stretched away so far that they could not see its edge. "Well," said Ole after a time, "I your prisoner— 3-ou take me back to Circle City — hey?" "I shall if this craft can be made to go there," Stokes answered. "You do anyt'ing," returned the Swede; "you say Circle City to ice, and to Circle City it will go." "I wish that was so," Stokes answered. "I t'ink so, and I go to sleep." With this Ole crawled into the hut and did not come our agait^ until the middle of the next day. Stokes did not rest at all that night. As the hours wore on the cracking and booming of the ice fields gradually diminished. . . . He supposed this was due to the fact that the iceberg upon A VOYAGE ON AN ICEBERG. ai6 which they floated was getting further and further from the land, and in the morning this was proved to be the case. When it was light enough for them to see objects at any distance, it was discovered that there was open water near them, stretching away further than the eye could reach. In the other direction the ice field seemed to be unbroken. "T'is is an immense iceberg," remarked Ole to Kotuk, who had sat by the fire most of the night without stirring. "Yah," Kotuk responded, "but not stay so long." "You mean t'at it will break up into smaller pieces?" "Yah, him break where you stand any minute." "Well, if it breaks it breaks," said Stokes. "We can't help that." Inspired by the detective's nerve, the EJiquimau prepared a meal of bear's meat, and from that time on did the work of cook- ing for the camp without waiting to be asked. ' He was silent most of the time, but even he seemed to in confidence from Stokes. Ole spent most of the time in the snow hut. He came out to eat, and at midday he would stand looking all around as long as the light lasted, as if hoping to see some promise of rescue. Several days passed thus. "^ As the Esquithau foretold, the iceberg broke into smaller frag- ments, but no crack occurred near enough to the camp to endan- ger the travelers. When there was a break it was accompanied by a chorus of terrific howls from the dogs. "" How far or how fast they were traveling, or even in what direc- tion, it was impossible to say; but one day, when Kotuk and Ole were at the moment in the hut, they heard Stokes uttering a wild hurrah. They crawled out hastily to see what was the matter. "Look!" shouted the detective, pointing to the south. On the very edge of the horizon they saw the rim of the sun. >" We're going south," cried Stokes, "and to-morrow we may have half an hour of real sunlight. " And so it proved. Each day after that grew little longer, and with every.day they saw land to the east. Neither Kotuk nor Ole was familiar enough with the coast to make out where they were. The weather was not always pleasant, but with their shelter they suffered no very great discomfort, and the bear's meat held out so well that they had plenty to eat. On the day when the sun rose at eleven, Kotuk pointed to • difi lying almost to the south of them and remarked: '^'^ A VOYAGE ON AN ICEBERG. ai7 "Know that place?" "Where is it?" "NearKanliv." "Ah! if we could only land there." It looked indeed as if they might do so. The icebergs floated steadily in that direction until it was nearly time for the sun to set again. The land was then very plain and Stokes thought that he could distinguish the Esquimau huts upon the shore. This was encouraging, but about the same time he noticed that the berg was changing its direction and veering off to the west. "Stir up the fire I" he called. "Burn up the whole tree if necessary!" Kotuk and Ole, perceiving that Stokes was anxious to make a signal, immediately built up a rousing fire, while Stokes shot his revolver into the air several times. Just as the sun sank out of view he saw three kayaks start out from shore and come toward them. A half hour later three of the Kanliv people climbed onto the iceberg. Their astonishment at finding Stokes there was too great for words. Little time, however, was spent in explanations. The three travelers with their dogs were loaded into the kayaks and taken to Kanliv. There they remained for a day or two, until the weather, which had grown stormy, permitted of the sending of a messenger to the island of Satka. There the messenger found white men who were friends of Stokes. They were men whom Stokes had served in one of bis previous investigations, and they promptly sent a schooner across to Kanliv. On this boat Stokes returned to Circle City with Kotuk and Ole. The Sw«de. made uo attempt to escape, and in due time he became the companion of his master in the barracks jail. vf.lt proved that he had more anxiety for escaping Stokes than the detective had supposed. He had killed his man somewhere in the course of his adven- tures, and was in mortal terror lest Stokes should discover this fact and hand him over to the Swedish authorities. As that crime had taken place not on American sdil, Ole was punished simply for his connection with the robbery which he and the imposter, De Bilkyou, had planned. stsDiJ Congratulations were again in order for the clever American ideuth, and the story, of his wonderful recovery of the Swede and their escape on the iceberg was table talk in Circle City for many a day. 2l8 A VOYAGE ON AN ICEBERG. The men put up a magnificent purse for Stokes, with which he purchased an enormous quantity of stores which in thoughtM Lnerosity he caused to be forwarded to the unfortunate but hos- pitable inhabitants of Deft, Yedvilc and Zeght \:/^-'" [TH* XNO.] "'K^gsi; le ul f 9 "THE RHINE. THE ALPS, And the BATTLEFIELD LINE." The Famons J1K\A ^^^^ nSTFUriNQVIRCiNUUi HAS MO EQUAI. BETWEEN CINCINNATI AND NEW YOEZ, Via Washingrton, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. VeBtibaled, Steam Heated, and £leotrlo Lighted Throaghont. VHBOUQH DININQ O AB and COKPLETE PULLUAN SEBV^OB. THROUGH SLEEPERS TO AND FROM ST. LOUIS. CHICAQO AND LOUISVILLE. The most tnterestlngr historic assodatlons and Ibo most Btrikinsr and beantlfhl scenery In the United States are linked together by the C. & O. 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THB ONLY DIRECT RQUTE TO THE GREAT ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS, IsSm Q^otft Zitke Ohamplttin, AvaaU* Ohaina, fhe Adlrondaok MonntJdw, Saratoga, Bonnd Lake, Sharon Springs, Ooop ew iown, Howe's Gave, and the Celebrated Gravity Railroad between Oarbondala and Homnedalet Pa., preaeat the n \ n.^. QiwtMt Combination of Bealth and Pleamra Saaoita in Awiiii4#^ The Direct Line to the superb Summer hotiiL OF THE North, ••THE HOTEL CHAMPLAIN,- CDme Miles South of Flattsbvgh, on Lake Ohamplain.) THE SHORTEST AND MOST COMFORTABLE ROUTE BETWEEN NEW YORK AND MONTREAL Xa Oemieotloii with the Erie Bailway, the moat Piotnrig^ •ad bterestinff Boute between Ohioaffo and Boston* Tha only thzouffh Pullman Una* Indole Six YOUNO, Cents U Stamps for IDiistnited Guide ti J. W. BURDICK. ,1 SdTiee-FkMidaBL 8alPlliiL4BHit» JUbtaiy, JSL % rm { m MOST POPULAR SERIES OF NOVELS PUBLISHED .SMITH'S STREETS. EAGLE LIBRARY Of 12mo. Copyrighted Books RETAIL PRICE, 10 CENTS. Paper and printing equal to any 25 cent series on the market. Handsome and Attractive Cover of different design for each issue* OA^T^^T '<30IJEJ 30— Baron Sam. By the author of Dr. Jack. 29— Theodora By Victorien Sardou. 28 —Miss Caprice. By the author of Dr. Jack, 27— Estelle's Millionaire Lover. By Julia Edwards. 26— Captain Toui. By the author ot Dr Jack. 25— Little Southern Beauty. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigli Miller. 24— A Wastetl Love. By Ciiarles Garvice. 2:i— Miss Pauline ot New York By ilie author of Dr. Jack. 22 — Klaiue iJy i harles Garvice 21— A Heart's Idol. By Bertha M Clav. 20— Tlie Senator's Bride. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller. 19— Mr. Lake of Chicago. By Harry Du Hois Milman. 18— Dr. Jack's Wife. By i-t. George Rathborne. By Chu:'les Garvice. Bv Haddon Chambers and B. C. 17 — Leslie's Lovalty 16— The Fatal Card, Stepi»anson. 1.5 -Dr. Jack. B\ St. George Ratiiborne. 14 -Violet Lisle. 'By Bertha M. Clay. 13— The Little WidoT. By Julia Edwards. 12— Edrie's Legacy. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon. 1 1— The Gypsy's Daughter. By liertha M. Clay 10— Little Surjs'nine By Francis S. Snjth. 9 — The Virginia Heiress By May Agnes Flemming. 8— Beautiftil but Poor. By Julia Edwards. 7— Two Kevs. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon. 6 — The Midnight xMarriage. By A. M Douglas. 6— The Seimtor's Favorite. Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller. 4 — For a Woman's Honor. By Bertlia M. Clay. ? — He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not By Julia Edwards 2— Ruby's Reward. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon. 1— Queen Hess. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon. THESE BOOKS CAN BE HAD IN NO OTHER SERIES (\ T ■) Ayer's Cure- book, A story of cures told by the rureii. Sent free. J. C. Ayer Co., Lowell, MasH. , i i Good health will not shake hautls \vit}i bad '>'Ood. ^ Bad blood brands the ^ .'.iy ^vith i blotches, blisters it witb b- ; . *, cats into it with eruptions. Beaut> ^':§iyis in the blood, because there ; no beauty without health, and no health without pure blood. You *h find a perfect blood purifier in Ayer's Sarsa- parilla. The medal marks its merit. m^^