Presently they came to a clearing overlooking a small pond and a stream
beyond. At first Tom imagined that this was the pond they had left but a
short while before, but a second look showed him that the locality was
an entirely new one to them.

"My gracious, Tom! Get out of sight!" came in an excited whisper from
Sam, and he pulled his brother down behind a clump of bushes, and then
dragged the sled after him.

"What do you see?" demanded Tom.

"Look across the pond. As sure as you are born, there are Dan Baxter and
Jasper Grinder. We've been following them instead of Dick and Mr.
Barrow!"




CHAPTER XVIII.

IN THE CAMP OF THE ENEMY.


What Sam said was true. There, gathered around a fire on the opposite
side of the pond, were Dan Baxter, Jasper Grinder, and a tall,
powerfully built fellow whom they easily guessed was Bill Harney, the
guide. They had two sleds with them, and one of these had been unloaded
and the camping outfit lay scattered around.

"Well, this is a surprise and no mistake!" was Tom's comment, in a low
voice. "If I know anything about it, they must have done some quick
traveling."

"I believe they followed the river, at least part of the way," returned
the youngest Rover. "I see a pair of skates lying by one of the sleds."

"Do you suppose Dick and Mr. Barrow met them?"

"I don't believe they did. See, they have some rabbits they are going to
cook. That accounts for the shots we heard."

Crouching down behind the bushes, the two Rovers watched the other party
with interest. A lively conversation was going oh between Dan Baxter
and the former teacher of Putnam Hall, but they were too far off to
catch anything of what was said.

"What do you propose doing next?" asked Sam, after a pause of several
minutes. "It's mighty cold here."

"We may as well retreat, Sam. We don't want to expose ourselves, do we?"

"I don't suppose it would do any good--although I'm not afraid of
Baxter, or Grinder either."

"It isn't that. If they know we have arrived here, they will do all they
can to locate that treasure first. We want to keep dark and get ahead of
them."

"But how shall we turn?"

"We'll have to go back to where we found the two trails crossed and then
try the other one. I don't know of anything else to do."

"Wouldn't Dan Baxter be surprised, if he knew we were so close?"

"Well, we won't let him know."

"Why not?" demanded an unexpected voice from the rear.

Both boys started and turned around, to find themselves confronted by
Lemuel Husty, the man Dick had seen in company with Baxter at
Cedarville.

"Hullo, who are you?" asked Tom, as quickly as he could recover from
his surprise.

"If you want to know real bad, youngster, my name is Lemuel Husty."

"I don't know you."

"But I know you--leas'wise I know of you," went on Husty, with a frown.
"You're down on my friend Baxter, aint you?"

"If we are, we have a good reason to be," came from Sam.

"Perhaps you have, and then again, perhaps you haven't. It aint no nice
thing to be cotched spying, though."

"We weren't spying. We came up quite by accident."

"You can tell that to the monkeys, but you can't tell it to me," growled
Lemuel Husty. Then he raised his voice: "I say, Baxter! I say, you
fellows! Come over here!"

The three around the camp-fire looked up in surprise, and were even more
surprised when Husty waved his hand for them to come to him.

"What's wanted?" demanded Dan Baxter.

"I've found two of your very intimate friends spying on you," answered
Husty.

"I guess we had better get out," whispered Sam to Tom, not liking the
turn affairs had taken.

"I'm with you," returned Tom.

"No, you don't!" cried Husty, and caught hold of the sled. "You just
stay here until we talk this thing over."

Tom's hands were on his gun, and for the moment he felt like pointing
the weapon at the man. But then he concluded that this would do small
good, and the weapon remained where it was.

In a minute Dan Baxter came running across the pond, with Jasper Grinder
and Bill Harney at his heels. Each of the advancing party carried some
sort of firearms.

"Tom and Sam Rover!" ejaculated Baxter, and it was easy to see that he
was completely surprised. "How did you get here?"

"Walked and skated," returned Tom, as coolly as he could.

"You've got a nerve to follow me and my party," went on Baxter, with an
ugly scowl.

"As I just said to this man, Baxter, we haven't been following you," put
in Sam. "We struck your trail by accident. We thought we were
following----"

"Never mind about that, Sam," interrupted Tom quickly.

"Who did you think you were following?" demanded Dan Baxter.

"It's none of your business, Baxter. We have as much right to be here as
you have."

"Humph! Don't you suppose I know why you came?"

"More than likely you do, and we know why you came."

"Have you got another map?" demanded Baxter, in curiosity.

"It's none of your affair what we have. We stumbled upon you by
accident, and if you haven't anything in particular to say to us we'll
be going."

"You needn't leave so quickly. Where is Dick?"

"He isn't so very far off."

"You hired John Barrow for a guide, I heard," put in Bill Harney.

"If we did, we had a right to do it," said Sam.

"He don't know these parts as well as he might. If you don't look out
he'll lose you in the mountains, and you'll never get home alive."

"Let him lose them," put in Baxter quickly. "It's what they deserve.
But, come, it's cold over here. Let's move back to the fire. And I want
you two to come along," he added, to the Rovers.

"We don't propose to come along," replied Tom.

"And I say you shall come, Tom Rover. We are four to two, and you had
better submit."

"Yes, make them come," put in Jasper Grinder. "I want to have a talk
with them." And he glared wickedly, first at Tom and then at Sam.

It must be confessed that Tom and Sam felt in anything but an enviable
position. They knew Dan Baxter thoroughly, and knew he would stop at
nothing to accomplish his purpose.

"The best thing you can do is to leave us alone," said Tom steadily.
"You have always got the worst of the bargain, Dan Baxter, and if you
try any game on now, you'll miss it again."

"I'll risk it, Tom Rover. Come now, and no more fooling. If you behave
yourself, there won't be any trouble."

There was, then, nothing to do but to follow, for neither of the Rovers
wished to lose this portion of the outfit. Soon the whole party were
gathered around the fire, which Husty heaped high with brushwood. Back
of the fire was a high cliff, topped with cedars, which kept off the
wind and made the situation a fairly comfortable one.

"Now we had better come to an understanding," said Dan Baxter, as he
warmed his hands. "We all know what we are out here for, so there is no
use in mincing matters."

"I understand all I want to know," answered Tom briefly.

"So do I," put in Sam.

"Baxter shall settle with you, and then I'll settle," growled Jasper
Grinder. "I have not forgotten how I was treated at Putnam Hall because
of you."

"It served you right that you were kicked out," said Sam, without
stopping to think twice.

"Ha! you dare to talk to me in this fashion!" roared the former teacher.
"I'll teach you a lesson! Just wait till I find a good switch!"

"Hold on Grinder! one at a time," put in Dan Baxter. "I'll settle with
them first, if you please."

"They deserve a thorough thrashing," grumbled the irate man.

"Now I want you to tell me the truth," went on Dan Baxter, addressing
Tom and Sam. "Where did you get a map of that treasure? In the cave on
that island?"

"We haven't said we had a map," returned Tom.

"But you must have a map--or something like it."

"Whatever we have, it's none of your business, Dan Baxter," broke in
Sam.

"Shut up, you little imp! Don't you know you are in my power!" stormed
Baxter, in a rage. "I can do as I please out here, and these three men
will help me."

As he finished he caught Sam by the collar and began to shake him.

"Let my brother alone!" ejaculated Tom. "Let up, I say!"

"I won't, Tom Rover. He's got to learn that I'm the master here," howled
Baxter.

"If you don't let go, I'll hit you," went on Tom, and raised his right
fist. But ere he could deliver the blow Bill Harney rushed behind him,
caught him by the waist and threw him flat.

"That's right!" shouted Dan Baxter. "Make them both prisoners! I've got
a big score to settle with them!"

And then all four fell upon Sam and Tom, and a fierce struggle ensued,
the outcome of which was for some time hard to predict.




CHAPTER XIX.

DICK AND THE WILDCAT.


"Well, it's mighty funny Tom and Sam don't come up."

It was Dick who spoke. He stood in the shelter of a number of walnut
trees, and close at hand was John Barrow.

The pair had missed the others ten minutes before, and were now waiting
impatiently for their reappearance.

"It can't be as how they missed the trail in this snow," said John
Barrow soberly. "Let us shout for 'em."

They set up a shout, and waited impatiently for an answer. But none
came, and they called again.

"We had better go back for them," said Dick, his face full of a
troubled look. "I wouldn't have them get lost in this snowstorm for the
world."

It was decided to leave the sled where it was, and soon they were
hurrying along the back trail. But the snow and wind were against them,
and they made slow progress.

"It will not be necessary to relate all the particulars of the next
three hours. In vain they looked for Tom and Sam. Not a trace of the
missing lads could be discovered.

"This the worst yet!" groaned Dick, as he came to a halt, all out of
breath. "I thought, all along, that they were keeping close behind us!"

"I told them to do so," returned the guide.

They had fired several shots, but the reports had failed, as we know, to
reach the ears of the missing Rovers. They were now at their wits' end
regarding what to do next.

"I'd give a hundred dollars rather than have this happen," went on Dick.
"Why, they'll starve to death if they really get lost!"

"Oh, aint you mistaken there, Dick? They have the other sled, remember;
and each o' 'em has a gun for to bring down any game as is wanted."

"That's true, and it's one comfort. But there is no telling when they
reach civilization again. Why, this forest is about as bad as some
places in the far West."

"I believe you there, lad. Well, they've got to make the best o' it. I
reckon they'll strike out for the river and come up that to Bear Pond,
over the rocks an' rapids an' all."

Supper time found the pair on the river again, four miles below Bear
Pond. It was decided that they should camp at that spot for the night.

"We'll build a big camp-fire and keep it a-going," said Dick. "Perhaps
they will see it."

"That's an idee," returned John Barrow, and before doing anything else
the camp-fire was started, in an open spot along the river bank. Dick
saw to it that it blazed up merrily, and kept piling on all the dry
brushwood he could find, until the flames shot up fully twenty feet into
the air, making the surroundings as bright as day.

For supper they cooked another of the wild turkeys, but it must be
confessed that Dick had little appetite for eating. John Barrow noticed
it, and he did his best to cheer up the youth.

"Don't worry too much, lad," he said. "Take my word on it, they'll turn
up by morning, sure. You've said yourself they've been through putty
tryin' times, in Africa and out West."

On the way to the river John Barrow had brought down several rabbits and
some birds, and these were hung up on the low branches of a nearby tree.
They proceeded to make themselves comfortable under this tree, cutting
down some cedar branches for a flooring, and banking up some other
branches and some snow to keep off the wind.

"I don't think I'll go to sleep," said Dick. "I'm going to keep the fire
piled high, so that it will light up as it's doing now."

"Then I'll turn in right away," answered the guide. "It's eight
o'clock. You call me at two, and that will be givin' you a fair nap
afore daybreak." And so it was agreed.

It did not take John Barrow long to settle himself, and soon he was
snoring as peacefully as though lying in his bed at home. Sitting down
close to the fire, Dick gave himself up to his thoughts.

And what numerous thoughts they were--of home and of school, of his
brothers, and of the Baxters and their other enemies, and of all that
had happened since they had first started to go to Putnam Hall. And then
he thought of the Lanings and of the Stanhopes, and lingered long over
the mental picture of sweet Dora and of what she had last said to him.

"She's just an all-right girl," he said to himself. "Heaven bless her
and keep her from any further trouble!"

When the fire showed signs of burning low he arose and piled on more
brushwood. There was hardly enough at hand to suit him, and, ax in hand,
he started back from the river, to cut more.

He was within fifteen feet of some dense bushes when of a sudden he came
to a halt, as he saw a pair of gleaming eyes glaring at him. As soon as
he noticed the eyes they disappeared.

"A wild animal," he thought. "Can it be a wolf?"

Retracing his steps to the fire, he caught up his gun and waited. But
the animal did not appear, nor did Dick hear any sound save the murmur
of the wind through the snow-clad trees.

The youth wondered if he ought to awaken the guide, but finally resolved
to let John Barrow sleep. "I ought to be able to take care of one wolf,"
he reasoned. "I've taken care of worse than that in my time."

Gun in hand, he advanced upon the bushes once more. He expected to see a
wolf slink away at any moment, but no beast came to view, and, after
walking completely around the growth, he laid down the gun and went to
work vigorously with the ax.

Bush after bush was brought down in rapid succession, until in ten
minutes Dick calculated he had cut sufficient to last the camp-fire for
the rest of the night. Then he lowered the ax and caught up a large
bush, to drag it close to the blaze.

As he turned around he met a sight that, for the instant, chilled him to
the backbone. There, between the blaze and the tree under which John
Barrow was sleeping, crouched a wildcat, a large, fierce-looking
creature, with fire-shot eyes and a stubby tail which was moving
noiselessly from side by side, as the creature prepared itself to make a
leap.

"Gracious! he's going to attack Mr. Barrow!" thought Dick, but even as
this flashed over his mind the wildcat made a leap into the tree, close
to where hung the game the guide had brought down some hours before.

"Thank goodness, he's only after the meat," thought Dick, and the chill
he had experienced passed away. Then, struck with a new idea, he leaped
for his gun.

Several twigs of the tree were in the way of getting a good aim, and he
had to circle around to the other side before he could get another good
view of the wildcat. In the meantime the beast had grabbed up the wild
turkey that was left, and clutching it tight in its mouth, started to
drop to the snow-covered ground.

Bang! went the gun and the charge of heavy shot took the wildcat in the
left flank, making a bad, but not a fatal, wound. The beast dropped the
wild turkey and let out a fearful snarl of rage. Then it saw Dick, gave
another snarl, and leaped toward the youth.

The gun was double-barreled, and once more Dick let drive. But he was
not overly cool, and the charge merely nipped the beast in its left
front leg. It continued to come on, and as it did so Dick commenced to
retreat.

"Hi! what's up?" came from John Barrow, and throwing aside his blanket,
he leaped to his feet.

"A wildcat!" ejaculated Dick. "Quick! Shoot him!"

"By gosh!" muttered the guide, and blinking in the bright light of the
fire, he reached for his rifle, which he had brought along in addition
to his shotgun.

By this time the wildcat was close to Dick, and now, watching its
opportunity, it leaped upon the youth, trying to bury its claws in
Dick's shoulder.

Hardly knowing what to do, Dick brought around the gun barrel and poked
it into the open mouth of the wildcat. With a gurgle of pain the beast
fell back, but quickly gathered itself for another leap.

"Back!" shouted John Barrow. "Back, and let me git a shot at the
critter!"

Dick was perfectly willing to retreat, and started to do so. But the
wildcat was too quick for him, and in a twinkle youth and beast were
down on the ground together, and the wildcat was trying to reach the
boy's throat with its cruel fangs!




CHAPTER XX.

BEAR POND AT LAST.


It was indeed a moment of supreme peril, and Dick felt very much as if
his last moment on earth had come. He put out his hands mechanically and
grabbed the wildcat by the throat, but his grip was poor and the beast
shook itself clear with ease.

It was now that John Barrow showed himself to be a master of quick
resources. To fire his rifle at the wildcat would have meant taking the
risk of hitting Dick, and this the guide thought too perilous. Leaping
to the fire, he caught up a long, burning brand and rushed at the beast
with this.

To have a part of the fire thrust directly into its eyes was more than
the beast had bargained for, and as soon as it felt the flame it gave a
cry of alarm and fell back. As it did this Dick leaped to his feet and
sprang several feet away.

[Illustration: DICK AND THE WILDCAT.
_Rover Boys and the Mountains_.]

John Barrow was now free to shoot, and hurling the firebrand at the
wildcat, he caught up his rifle and blazed away in short order. The
wildcat had turned to retreat, but the guide was too quick for it, and
down went the beast with a shot through its head. It gave a shudder or
two, and then stretched out, dead.

"Is he--he dead?" panted Dick, when he felt able to speak.

"Reckon so," responded John Barrow. "But I'll make sure." And catching
up a club, he aimed a blow which crushed the animal's skull.

"That was a narrow escape," went on Dick. "If you hadn't come to my aid,
I'm afraid he would have done me up." And he shivered from head to foot.

"You want to be careful how you attack wildcats around here, lad. It
aint likely they'll tech you, if you don't tech them. But if you do,
why, look out, that's all."

"Do you think he would have sneaked off with the turkey? I was thinking
first he would attack you."

"Reckon he was after the game, and nuthin' more, Dick. He must have been
powerful hungry, or he wouldn't have come so close to us. He's a putty
big fellow," went on the guide, as he dragged the carcass closer to the
firelight.

The fire was burning low, and Dick lost no time in heaping on some of
the newly cut brushwood, and then he reloaded and the guide did the
same.

"Might have a mate around," suggested John Barrow. "We had better keep
our eyes peeled, or we may be surprised. Wonder what time it is?"

By consulting a watch they found it was just midnight. After the
excitement Dick felt quite sleepy, and inside of half an hour he
followed the guide's advice and laid down to rest--not under the tree,
however, but as close to the camp-fire as safety permitted.

Dick had requested John Barrow to call him in three hours, so that the
guide might get a little more sleep, but the youth was allowed to
slumber until he aroused of his own accord, just as day was breaking.

"Hullo, I've slept all night!" he exclaimed, leaping up with something
of a hurt look. "Why didn't you call me?"

"I thought as how you needed the rest," was the answer from the guide.

"Aren't you sleepy?"

"Not very. A sleep early in the night generally does me more good nor
hours o' it later on."

"You haven't seen or heard anything of Tom or Sam?"

"Nary sight or sound, lad. It's too bad, but don't worry too much."

"They couldn't have seen the firelight," returned Dick, with a sorry
shake of his head. "It beats all where they went to, doesn't it?"

"I've been a-thinking that maybe they went on ahead, Dick."

"Ahead? That they somehow passed us?"

"Yes; while we were lookin' for 'em. They may be up at B'ar Pond now,
waitin' for us."

"Do you advise going up there?"

"We might as well. We can put up a post here, with a message for 'em--in
case they do come this way."

"That's an idea, and we can put up other posts, too. Then, if they
strike our trail, they'll be sure to go straight in following us." And
Dick's face brightened a bit.

John Barrow was already preparing breakfast, and he agreed with Dick to
leave some cooked meat in a cloth tied to the top of the pole the youth
erected not far from the fire. On the cloth they pinned a note, telling
of the direction to Bear Pond, and asking Tom and Sam to follow and fire
two shots, a minute apart, as a signal.

It was a clear day and the sun, shining over the mountain tops, made the
snow and ice glitter like pearls and diamonds. There was no wind, so the
journey toward Bear Pond was far from unpleasant. They moved slowly,
dragging the sled behind them, and searching to the right and the left
for some trace of the missing Rovers.

"I don't believe they came up here," said Dick after half the distance
to the pond had been covered, "I don't see the least trace of any human
being, although I've seen the footprints of several wild animals."

"The wind might have covered the tracks during the night," was John
Barrow's hopeful response.

"I'd rather lose the treasure, even if it is worth thousands, than have
anything happen to Sam and Tom."

Just before noon they came to a point in the river where it divided into
several branches.

"We'll stop here and put up another sign pole," said the guide.
"Remember what I said? All these streams run into the pond and into
Perch River. Now, which one you want, at tudder end, I don't know."

"Which is the largest branch?"

"Can't say, exactly. This one an' the one yonder are about the same
size, and that one aint much smaller."

"Well, which do you suppose was the largest years ago?"

"Can't say that neither, although that one yonder might have been, by
the looks o' the banks."

"Then let us start on that one. And if that fails us, we can then try
the others."

They skated to the stream in question and erected a pole in the middle
of the ice, upon which a second note was posted. Having gone to the
trouble of chopping a hole for the pole, John Barrow suggested they
might try their hand at fishing.

"Might as well stay here a while," he said. "If they are behind us, they
may catch up."

Dick was willing, and soon a line was baited and let down into the hole.
It was in the water only a few seconds when the guide felt a bite and
drew up a fine fish, weighing at least half a pound.

Dick was anxious to try it, and took the line from John Barrow's hands.
He was equally successful, and in a short while they had seven fish to
their credit, weighing from a quarter to three-quarters of a pound
apiece.

"I'm going to tie a fish to the top of the pole," said Dick. "They may
be hungry when they get here, especially if they miss the pole at our
last camping place."

"They won't want to eat raw fish, lad."

"No, and I'm going to put a few matches in a paper and tie it to the
fish, so they can cook it, if they wish."

Dick's idea was followed out, and once more they went on, up a narrow
stream which had many a turn among the cedar brakes and hemlocks which
lined either side. Rocks were likewise numerous, and the lad came to the
conclusion that locating the treasure was going to be no easy task.

"It's rather desolate," he remarked. "I wonder what ever possessed that
old Goupert to come here?"

"It's not so desolate in the summer time, Dick. But I reckon Goupert was
a mighty odd stick, as it was."

At last they rounded a turn in the stream and came in sight of Bear
Pond, a long and wide stretch of water located in the very midst of two
tall mountains. The pond was covered with thick ice, and the snow lay
upon it in long drifts and ridges. The ice was blackish and almost as
hard as flint.

"We may as well go into camp near the mouth of this stream," said Dick.
"For from this spot we'll make our first hunt for the treasure."

"I hope with all my heart that you find it, lad. But if you don't, don't
be too disappointed."

"I want to find Sam and Tom first. I shan't hunt for the treasure until
I know of them."

"That's right. We'll go on a hunt this afternoon, jest as soon as we've
had some of these fish broiled for dinner."

If there was one thing which John Barrow could do to perfection, it was
to broil fish, and the meal he set before Dick half an hour later was so
appetizing the lad could not help enjoy it, in spite of his anxiety over
his brothers' prolonged absence. The fish was as sweet as a nut, and
both lingered some time over the meal, until all that had been broiled
were gone.

"And now to find Tom and Sam," said Dick, at last, as he leaped up from
the log upon which he had been sitting. "What shall we do with our
things?"

"Here is a hole in the rocks," answered the guide. "We'll hide them
there and cover them with stones. I don't think anything will disturb
the things between now and nightfall."

The stores were placed in the cache and carefully covered, so that the
wild animals might not get at them, and then they saw to it that their
firearms were ready for use. A minute later they were off, on the hunt
for Tom and Sam.




CHAPTER XXI.

A PAIR OF PRISONERS.


It is high time that we return to Tom and Sam, and learn how the two
Rover boys were faring in their unequal contest with Dan Baxter and his
followers.

As we know, it was Baxter himself who attacked Sam, while big Bill
Harney threw Tom to the ground. Jasper Grinder went to Baxter's
assistance, while Lemuel Husty ran to aid Harney.

"Let go of him!" cried Sam, and managed to hit Baxter a glancing blow on
the cheek.

"I'll not let go yet," answered Baxter, and bore the youngest Rover to
the earth. Over and over they rolled in the snow, until Grinder caught
Sam by the legs and held him still.

"That's right, Grinder, hold him!" panted Dan Baxter. "Don't let him get
up!"

But Sam was not yet subdued, and getting one foot clear at last, he
kicked Jasper Grinder in the ear.

"Oh! oh! my ear!" screamed the former teacher. "He has kicked my ear
off. You scamp, take that!" And letting out with his foot, he gave Sam a
vigorous kick on the side. At the same time Baxter struck the boy in the
head with a stick he had been carrying, and then Sam suddenly lost
consciousness.

In the meantime Tom was having a similar struggle with Harney and Husty.
But the boy, though strong, was no match for the two men, and they soon
pinned him to the ground and held him there as in a vise, while he was
nearly choked by the big guide, who had clutched him by the throat.

"Let--let go--my--throat!" Tom managed to gasp.

"Will you keep quiet?" demanded Harney.

"Yes--yes."

"All right, mind you do." And then the guide released his hold, but
continued to sit as he was, astride of poor Tom's chest.

"Have you got him?" came from Dan Baxter.

"Yes," returned the big guide.

"All right; then hold him."

"I will."

Leaving Sam to be watched by Jasper Grinder, Baxter ran over to one of
the sleds and procured a long rope.

"Now then, Tom Rover, get up," he said sourly.

Tom was glad to arise.

"What are you going to do with me?" he questioned.

"You'll see fast enough."

"Going to try your old tricks of making me a prisoner, I suppose."

"You're a prisoner already."

"Thank you, for nothing," returned Tom, as coolly as he could.

"Don't you get impudent, Tom Rover. If you try it on, you'll get more
than you bargain for, let me tell you that."

"You always were a first-class bully, Baxter. You like to tackle little
boys, or else somebody who is helpless."

"Shut up! I won't listen to you, now!" roared Baxter, and grabbing Tom's
hands he forced them back and bound them together. Then the ropes was
passed around Tom's waist, so that he could not move his hands to the
front.

By the time this work was accomplished Sam was regaining consciousness.
He gave a moan of pain, and then sat up in bewilderment.

"Who--what's happened?" he stammered. Then he looked around. "Oh! I
remember now!"

He was very unsteady when he got on his feet, and it was Tom who made
the first move toward him.

"Too bad, Sam. They are a set of brutes."

"Don't call me a brute Rover," growled Jasper Grinder. "Neither you nor
your brother have all you deserve."

Sam was bound with a rope, and then both prisoners were told to walk
over to the fire. This they did, and were left in charge of Husty and
Jasper Grinder, while Baxter went off a distance, in company with big
Bill Harney.

"Well, what do you want to do with 'em?" demanded Harney, when he and
the bully were out of hearing of the others, "'Pears to me you've taken
the law in yer own hands."

"I'm glad I've caught them," returned Dan Baxter. "They may help us to
find what I am after."

"Think they've got a better map nor yours?"

"They may have."

"Supposing that brother comes up, with John Barrow? They may make it hot
for us."

"That's what I want to ask you about, Harney. Isn't there some place
around here where we might hide the prisoners? A cave, or something like
that?"

The big guide scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"There's a tolerable place about quarter of a mile from here--the old
B'ars' Hole, we use ter call it."

"Of course we don't want to run up against any bears," said Baxter,
with a show of nervousness.

At this the big guide let out a rough laugh.

"Aint got no use fer them critters, eh?"

"I have not."

"'Taint likely there are any b'ars around. Me an Jim Wister cleaned out
the hole last spring--got three on 'em. No new b'ars will take that hole
yet awhile."

"Then we had better make tracks for it at once--before Dick Rover and
the man who is with him get on our trail."

They walked back to the camp-fire and, calling Jasper Grinder and Lemuel
Husty aside, Baxter explained the situation. A talk, lasting several
minutes, followed.

"Now then, you come with us," said Dan Baxter to the Rovers. "And see to
it that you don't try to get away."

"Where do you want us to go?" asked Tom.

"We are going to try to find your brother," was the bully's smooth
reply.

"Humph! Do you expect us to believe that?"

"You can suit yourself, Tom Rover. But, just the same, you'll come
along."

"And if we refuse?" put in Sam.

"I'll hammer you into submission."

"By jinks! but you always were a cheerful brute, Baxter," cried Sam.

"Shut up and come along," growled the bully.

Feeling it would be folly to resist, the two Rovers moved off with the
party. The big guide led the way and the others followed.

"You may as well earn your salt," observed Baxter. "Here, take hold and
pull one of the sleds."

He placed the rope in their hands and compelled them to haul the load,
which they did unwillingly enough.

Curious as it may seem, none of the Baxter party had given a thought to
the sled which Sam and Tom had had with them, and this had been left
under the bushes at the spot where Husty had discovered the Rovers.

At first Tom and Sam had thought to speak about the matter, but they
finally decided it would be better to run the risk of losing that
portion of the outfit entirely than to place it in the hands of their
enemy.

The way was rough, and it was only with the greatest of difficulty that
they could drag the sleds along. But less than half an hour brought them
to the spot which Bill Harney had in mind--a grand and wild place, where
the mountain appeared to split in two for a distance of several hundred
feet. Here there was a gorge fifty or sixty feet deep, partly choked
with small scrub cedars.

"There's the hole," said Harney, advancing into the gorge and pointing
with his hand.

"Better go ahead and see if it is free of bears or other wild animals,"
suggested Dan Baxter, as he came to a halt.

Rifle in hand the guide went into the opening, and made a thorough
examination of the surroundings.

"Aint been no b'ars nor nothin' else here," he declared. "You can come
right in."

The opening on one side of the gully was an irregular one, and beyond
this was a large cave having several chambers. All was pitch dark in the
inner chambers, and they lit some brushwood to give them light. Then a
regular fire was started, which did much toward making the surroundings
warmer and more cheerful.

Dan Baxter and his friends were hungry, and lost no time in preparing a
meal. Tom and Sam were led to one side of an inner chamber, and the rope
fastened to their hands was bound tightly to the protruding roots of a
tree.

"Now, don't you attempt to escape," said Baxter. "If you do--well,
you'll wish you hadn't, that's all."

And then he rejoined his companions in the outer chamber, leaving poor
Tom and Sam to their misery.




CHAPTER XXII.

JASPER GRINDER TRIES TO MAKE TERMS.


"Well, Tom, this looks as if we had put our foot into it," was Sam's
comment, delivered in a whisper.

"Don't despair, Sam," said his brother cheerfully. "We have been in
worse holes, remember, and always managed to escape with a whole skin."

"That's true, but I don't see how we are going to get away now. I
suppose somebody will stand on guard all the time."

"Perhaps Dick and Mr. Barrow will come to the rescue."

"If they can find the way. The wind and snow will cover the trail pretty
well."

"There's no use of crying over the affair. If we can break away, I'll be
for doing so."

"So will I."

"Hi, you stop your talking in there!" shouted Dan Baxter. "Plotting to
run away, I reckon. It won't do you any good. If you try it, somebody
will get a dose of buckshot in the leg."

"You don't mean to say you're going to stop our talking," said Tom, in
indignation.

"That's just what I do mean to say. Now stop--or go hungry."

As the Rovers did not wish to starve, they relapsed into silence. A meal
was being prepared by the Baxter party, and the appetizing odors floated
into the inner chamber, where Tom and Sam sniffed them eagerly, for the
walk and the bracing air had given them an appetite.

"Smells good, don't it?" remarked Dan Baxter, as he came in, fire-brand
in hand, and confronted Tom.

"What, the cave?" asked Tom carelessly.

"No, the grub."

"Oh, you are cooking something, aren't you?"

"You know well enough that we are."

"Well, I can't stop you, Baxter, so cook away."

"Don't you want something to eat?"

"To be sure we do," put in Sam. "Nobody wants to go hungry."

"Perhaps you'll have to go hungry," said Dan Baxter significantly.

"It would be just like you to starve us, Baxter!" burst out Tom. "I know
you are as mean as they make them."

"No compliments, please. I know my business, Tom Rover; and let me say I
am in this game to win."

"I don't see what that has to do with our eating."

"You will see presently. I know all about what brought you here."

"And we know what brought you here," put in Sam.

"I suppose you fellows have a map, or something like it," went on
Baxter, after a pause, during which he gazed curiously first at Tom and
then at the youngest Rover.

"A map of what?" demanded Tom.

"A map whereby to find that treasure."

"If we have a map we'll take good care to keep it to ourselves," came
from Sam, before he had taken time to think twice.

"Ha! then you have a map!" And now Dan Baxter's eyes brightened. "Where
is it?"

"I didn't say so."

"I'll search you," said the bully, and at once proceeded to turn out one
pocket after another. Of course the map, being in Dick's possession, was
not found.

"You got it hidden," said Baxter sourly. "Tell we where it is, or you
shall have nothing to eat."

"Will you give us a good meal if we do tell you?" demanded Tom promptly.

"Yes."

"Honor bright?"

"Yes."

"Well, then, Dick has the only map we possess." And Tom grinned, while
Sam had all he could do to keep from laughing outright.

Instantly Dan Baxter's face grew dark, and he drew back his hand as if
to strike Tom.

"You're a fresh one!" he burst out. "Are you telling me the truth?"

"I am. He has the map, and I reckon he'll keep it. Now, if it's all the
same to you, we'll take that meal. Eh, Sam?"

"I'm hungry enough."

"I shan't give you a mouthful!" roared Baxter. "You can't play any game
on me."

"That shows what your promise is worth, Baxter," returned Tom. "I didn't
expect much else, though, for I know you thoroughly. Still, we told you
nothing but the truth."

With a face full of hatred Dan Baxter turned on his heel and left them.
Presently they heard him sit down with the others, and all began to eat
the food that had been cooking.

"I must say we didn't gain much," observed Tom gloomily. "I suppose I
ought to have humored him, in order to get something. But I despise him
so I can't help pitching into him."

"I wouldn't humor him--I'd starve first!" returned Sam earnestly. "I am
glad we weren't carrying the map."

"So am I glad. Rather than give it to him, I would have chewed it up
and swallowed it."

Half an hour went by, during which both boys said but little, each being
busy trying to concoct some scheme by which they might escape. They
heard the others talking in low voices, but were unable to catch what
was said.

Presently Jasper Grinder came in, bringing with him a small portion of
food and a kettle of water. Setting the things on a rock, he untied one
hand of each of the boys, that they might eat and drink.

"This is a fine meal," said Tom sarcastically.

"It is more than you deserve," replied the former teacher of Putnam
Hall.

"You always were a hard one, Grinder."

"Mr. Grinder, if you please," said the man pointedly.

"And if I don't please to call you Mister?"

"Then you will get nothing more from me."

"Do you know that you are playing a high game here, keeping us
prisoners?" asked Sam.

"What we are doing is our business." Jasper Grinder paused for a moment.
"I want you to tell me something of that treasure for which you are
seeking," he went on.

"What do you want to know?" asked Tom.

"What is the treasure worth?"

"We can't tell that until it is found."

"You are quite sure it has never been removed?"

"How can we be sure, when we don't know anything about it."

"Baxter says your brother Dick has a map."

"Hasn't Baxter a map, too?" questioned Sam.

"Something of a map, yes, but it is not very complete."

"I'm glad to hear that," said Tom quickly.

"But Baxter claims the treasure for himself."

"Really?" said Sam sarcastically. "Well, let him claim what he pleases.
If we find it, it will belong to us--don't forget that."

Again there was a pause. Jasper Grinder looked anxiously toward the
outer cave, to see if Baxter or the guide were watching him. But the two
were talking earnestly between themselves.

"I have a plan," began the former teacher of Putnam Hall, in a low
voice, "a plan to aid you."

"What plan?" demanded Tom.

"Hush! not so loud--or they may hear you. I presume you know what sort
of a fellow Baxter is?"

"Well, rather," said Sam dryly.

"He is planning to do you a great deal of harm. Now I think I can save
you."

"Then save us," said Tom. "Or untie us, and we will save ourselves."

"You can't save yourselves. Baxter is strong, and that guide is a giant
in strength."

"What do you propose?"

"I'm coming to that. But you must make me a promise first."

"What promise?"

"That half that treasure shall be mine when it is found."

"Half!" cried Tom and Sam together.

"Yes."

"We can't promise that," went on Tom.

"You don't want much," was Sam's comment.

"Isn't it worth something to be saved from Baxter's clutches? I
overheard him tell the guide what troubles he had had with you in the
past, and how you had been the means of sending his father to prison,
and all that. Why, he would put you out of the way forever, if he
could."

"And will you stand by, Jasper Grinder, and see that done?" asked Tom.

"No! no! But--but--he is his own master. Promise what I wish, and I will
help you."

"We can't promise you half the treasure," said Tom flatly. "But if you
will really help us, we'll promise that you shall lose nothing by the
transaction."

At this instant Dan Baxter leaped to his feet and ran for his gun,
while Bill Harney and Lemuel Husty did the same.

"Come out here, Grinder!" shouted the bully. "Somebody or some wild
animal is around!"




CHAPTER XXIII.

THE BLACK BEAR.


"Somebody is coming!" ejaculated Sam. "I hope it is Dick, with Mr.
Barrow!"

"So do I," returned Tom.

Without saying a word more, Jasper Grinder ran from the inner cave and
joined Baxter and the guide. His face was pale, and he was evidently
much disturbed.

Soon Baxter and his party were outside, and the Rover boys heard them
moving up and down the gully. Several minutes passed, and then came a
gunshot, followed by another.

"I hope they are not firing on Dick or Mr. Barrow," said Sam, with
something of a shudder.

"I guess not," returned his brother. "If they were, we'd probably hear
shots in return."

An hour went by, and then Dan Baxter and the others came back, the guide
carrying several rabbits and a large fox. The rabbits were skinned and
kept for eating, and the fox was skinned and the carcass thrown away.

Tom and Sam had expected Jasper Grinder to return to them, but if the
former teacher desired to do this, he was prevented by Dan Baxter, who
kept his companions close by him, around the fire.

Slowly the time went by until darkness was upon them. The fire was kept
up, but Baxter screened it as much as possible, so that the glare might
not penetrate to the forest beyond the gully and prove a beacon to guide
Dick and John Barrow to the spot.

The boys were tired out, and soon Sam sank to sleep, with his hands
still tied to the tree roots. Tom tried to keep awake, but half an hour
later he, too, was in dreamland.

When the Rovers awoke it was not yet morning. All was dark around them,
for the fire had burnt low. Sam roused up first, with a severe pain in
his wrists and ankles, where his bonds were cutting him.

"Oh, my wrists!" he groaned, and his voice caused Tom to start.

"Is that you, Sam?"

"Yes. My wrists are almost cut in two!"

"The same here. I've slept like a rock, too."

"Is it morning yet?"

"I'm sure I don't know."

"What's going on in there?" came from Dan Baxter, as he leaped to his
feet and caught up a gun.

"We are suffering from cuts of the ropes," said Tom. "It was an outrage
to compel us to sleep in this fashion, tied up like mummies!"

"Oh, shut up!" growled Baxter, and then began to poke the fire. Soon it
was blazing as readily as before, and then the light found its way into
the inner cave, so that Sam and Tom could see each other once more.

Breakfast for the two prisoners was a slim affair of crackers, rabbits'
bones, and water. Tom asked for coffee, but Baxter would not give it to
them.

"You'll get no luxuries from me," growled the bully. "Be thankful that
you aren't being starved."

While they were eating, Baxter and his companions held a low, but
animated, conversation. "We'll try it, anyway," Tom heard Baxter say,
and that was all the Rovers heard. As soon as the meal was finished the
party took up some of their traps and their firearms.

"Now, then, we are going out for a while," said Dan Baxter, coming up to
the prisoners. "Take my advice and don't try to escape in the meantime.
If you do, and we catch you, it will go hard with you; let me tell you
that!"

"Are you going to leave us tied up?" questioned Tom dubiously.

"Certainly."

"Some wild animal may come in here and chew us up."

"We'll leave the fire burning--that will keep 'em away," returned the
bully.

He would say no more, and in a few minutes he and his companions were
gone and the Rover boys were left to themselves.

"Now what?" asked Sam, after all had been silent for at least ten
minutes.

"Don't ask me," replied Tom disconsolately. "We're in a pickle, and no
mistake. Are your hands as tight as ever?"

"Yes, and my wrists hurt so I feel like screaming with pain."

"Baxter is a brute, if ever there was one. However, I think I can get my
left hand free," went on Tom suddenly.

"Good, Tom! Do so by all means."

Tom worked away with vigor. The pain was intense, but he bore it
manfully. At last his hand was free.

"Hurrah! so far so good!" he cried lowly. "Now for the other hand."

But this was not so easy, for the knots were hard ones and broke his
finger nails dread-fully.

"If only I could get at them with my teeth," he observed, "I'd soon chew
them apart."

But he could not bend around, and so had to content himself with
working away as before. Soon his fingers grew numb and he had to desist.

"Too bad, but I can't make it!" he groaned.

"Wait a while and give your fingers a rest," returned Sam.

He had begun work on his own fetters, but try his best could make no
material progress. The ropes had cut through the skin in two places and
from these spots the blood was flowing freely.

Two hours went by, and to the boys it seemed an age. Tom had tried his
best to free himself, and now the cords were gradually loosening up.

"I've got it at last!" he cried presently. "Just wait." And a little
later the bonds dropped to the ground. But the work had caused his
finger tips to bleed.

With his hands free, Tom set to work free his feet, and this was not so
difficult, although it also took time. Both boys were now hungry once
more, and reckoned that it was well past the noon hour.

"I'll set you free, and then we'll look around for something to eat,"
said Tom.

"Hadn't we better get out as soon as we can?" asked his brother.
"Remember, they may come back at any moment, and we are no match for
them."

"It will take but a minute to pick up something, if it's around, Sam.
Besides, we have got to have something in our stomachs before we set
off to hunt up Dick and Mr. Barrow."

As soon as Sam was freed they ran to the outer cave. Here, on some
tree-roots overhead, hung a number of traps, including a knapsack
containing crackers and cheese, and close by it was a portion of rabbit,
left over from the morning repast.

"Just what we want!" cried Tom. "Now, if we only had a gun----"

He broke off short, as a crashing outside greeted their ears. The noise
continued several seconds, then ceased abruptly.

"What do you suppose that was?" questioned Sam. "It can't be our enemies
returning."

"No, I think it was some wild animal--perhaps a wildcat."

Both looked around for some weapon with which to defend themselves, and
Sam caught sight of a double-barreled shotgun standing in a corner of the
cave. He ran for this, and as he did so the crashing outside was
continued.

"I see something under the brushwood!" whispered Tom, peeping out.
"Something big and black."

"It's a bear!" cried Sam, a minute later. "A black bear! And he is
coming this way!"

Both boys were astonished and bewildered, for they had not been looking
for such a big beast as this. Sam clutched the shotgun tightly, while
Tom ran to the fire and picked up the biggest brand he could hold.

The bear advanced to the center of the gully and looked up and down
suspiciously. Then he sniffed the air.

"He smells the carcass of the fox that lies outside," whispered Tom.

"Well, he must smell us, too, Tom. It's a wonder he doesn't run. Mr.
Barrow said bears up here were generally shy."

"I reckon he is pretty hungry. Here he comes for the fox meat now."

Tom was right. The bear was advancing with great care, sniffing the
snow-covered ground at every step. Once or twice he raised his head, as
if preparing to run at the first sign of alarm.

"I'd like to bring him down!" whispered Sam.

"You can't do it with the shotgun, Sam. Be quiet! We can be thankful if
he takes the fox meat and leaves us alone."

At last the bear reached the carcass. The two boys expected he would
snatch it up instantly and run away, but they were mistaken. The bear
sniffed it from end to end, and walked all around it.

"He's afraid of a trap, or something like that," whispered Tom. "They
are pretty cute."

At last the bear seemed satisfied, and he took the carcass up in his
mouth and started to walk off with it. But, instead of turning up or
down the gully, he came closer to the cave!

"My gracious, he's coming this way!" cried Sam. "Look out, Tom!"

His voice was so loud that the black bear heard it plainly. The beast
immediately dropped the fox meat and stood up on his hind legs. Then he
gave a roar of disappointment; thinking, probably, that the boys had set
a bait to catch him.

"He don't like the situation," began Tom, when he gave a yell and
clutched his brother by the arm. And small wonder, for with rapid
strides the black bear was making for them, as though to chew them both
up!




CHAPTER XXIV.

TOGETHER AGAIN.


It must be confessed that both Tom and Sam were much alarmed by the
forward move of the black bear. Up to this instant they had trusted the
beast would depart with the fox's carcass, without discovering them. Now
it looked as if they were in for a hot fight, and that without delay.

"Get behind the fire!" cried Tom, as soon as he could collect his
thoughts.

Sam had the shotgun pointed, and as the bear advanced he pulled the
trigger. The charge of shot entered the bear's left shoulder, making a
number of painful, but not dangerous, wounds. At once the beast let out
a snort of commingled pain and rage.

"You've done it now," came from Tom, and whirled his firebrand, to make
it blaze up. "Take a stick, quick!"

Instead of doing this, however, Sam fired a second time, this time
hitting the bear in the left hind leg. The beast dropped on all fours
and came to a halt while yet twenty yards from them.

By this time Tom had another firebrand, and this he compelled his
brother to take, the shotgun being now empty. There was no time to
reload the piece, and indeed, neither of the boys knew where to look for
ammunition.

More enraged than ever, the bear now advanced again, until only the fire
was between him and his intended victims. He had now forgotten about the
fox meat, and thought only of getting at the human being who had injured
him. He arose once more and let out a loud roar, while his small eyes
gleamed maliciously. Had the fire not been in the way he would have
rushed upon Sam without further hesitation.