The pulling out of the two large firebrands was causing the fire to burn
low, something which was in the bear's favor. The boys almost expected
to see the beast leap over the spot, but bruin knew better than to
attempt this. He began to circle around the flames, and as he did this,
the boys did likewise.

"Shall we run?" panted Sam. He was so agitated he could scarcely speak.

"No--stick to the fire," returned Tom. "Bears hate that. Look out!"

The bear had now started to come around the other way. At once the boys
shifted again, until they occupied the position where they had stood
when the beast was first discovered. Then the bear dropped down once
more, and eyed them in a meditative way.

"He is making up his mind about the next move," said Tom. "I'll try him
with something new." And at the risk of burning his hand, he picked up
some small brushwood which was blazing fiercely and threw it at their
enemy.

The effect was as surprising as it was gratifying. The burning brands
struck the beast fairly on the nose, causing him to leap back in terror.
Then he uttered a grunt of dissatisfaction, turned, and sped, with
clumsy swiftness, up the gully and into the forest beyond.

"He is retreating!" cried Sam joyfully.

"Wait--don't be too sure," returned Tom, and, firebrands still in hand,
they watched until the bear was out of sight and they could hear nothing
more of him.

"My, but aint I glad he's gone!" said the youngest Rover, with a sigh of
relief.

"So am I glad, Sam. I was almost afraid both of us were doomed to be
chewed up."

"What shall we do next?"

"I guess we had better get out--as soon as you've reloaded the gun.
Wonder where the ammunition is?"

Both instituted a search, and soon a box was brought to light,
containing not only ammunition, but also a big hunting knife.

"I'll appropriate the knife," said Tom. "It's not as good as a gun or
pistol, but it is better than nothing."

Thus armed they set forth without further delay, fearful that their
enemies might return at any moment to recapture them. As the bear had
gone up the gully they went down, and they did not come to a halt until
they had placed at least quarter of a mile between themselves and the
caves. For some distance they kept on a series of bare rocks, thus
leaving no trail behind.

"I reckon we are clear of them for the time being," observed Tom, as he
came to a halt. "And that being so, the next question is Where are Dick
and Mr. Barrow?"

"The best we can do is to try to find Perch River, to my way of
thinking," came from Sam. "If we can find that and we stick to it, we'll
be sure to land at Bear Pond, sooner or later."

"It seems to me Bear Pond ought to be close at hand," said Tom. "We've
seen the bear anyway, if not the pond." And at this both Sam and he gave
a short laugh.

An hour later found them tramping along the edge of a cliff overlooking
a broad valley, in the center of which was a winding stream almost
hidden by the woods on either side.

"Now, if we were only sure that was Perch River, we'd be all right,"
said Sam. "But unfortunately all rivers look pretty much alike up
here."

"We might as well go down to it, anyway," answered his brother. "It's
pretty cold up here."

Finding a break in the cliff they descended, and started through the
woods for the watercourse. It was indeed cold, and only their brisk
walking kept them warm. A stiff wind was rising, and overhead the
branches swayed mournfully.

When they reached the river they came to another halt, not knowing which
was up and which was down.

"Guess we had better chop a hole in the ice and see how the water is
flowing," suggested Sam.

"Let us walk in this direction," said Tom. "I think this is right, and,
anyway, we may soon come to an air-hole, which will save us the trouble
of cutting an opening."

As they advanced they had kept a sharp lookout for the Baxter crowd, but
so far none of their enemies had put in an appearance.

"Hurrah!" suddenly shouted Tom. "Here's a signal of some sort!"

He pointed ahead, to where Dick and John Barrow had planted their first
signal pole. Both made a rush forward, and soon had the cooked meat
which had been tied in a cloth and the note pinned on the outside.

"A letter from Dick," said Tom, and read it aloud. "We are on the right
track, Sam, and if we only continue to steer clear of Dan Baxter and his
gang we'll be safe."

"Dick asks us to fire two shots, a minute apart, as a signal," came from
Sam. "I'll do it at once." And without delay he discharged the shotgun,
waited sixty seconds, and then discharged it again.

Both listened intently, and from a great distance came back two other
shots, also a minute apart.

"They heard the signal!" ejaculated Sam joyfully. "It came from up the
river, didn't it?"

"Yes; come on!"

Without stopping to eat the food which had been left for them, the boys
hurried forward just as rapidly as their now tired legs would carry
them.

They had brought their skates along and these were put on, after which
progress was easier. It was now growing dark, and they began to wonder
if they would be able to rejoin Dick and Mr. Barrow before nightfall.

"I hope we meet them," said Sam. "I've no fancy for remaining in this
open, alone."

"Try another two shots," suggested Tom, after an hour had gone by, and
Sam did so. Immediately came answering reports, directly to their left.

"Hullo!" yelled Tom, at the top of his lungs, and Sam at once took up
the cry.

"Hullo!" came back faintly. "Tom! Sam! Is that you?"

"Yes. We are on the river!"

"All right!"

The yelling now stopped, and Tom and Sam came to a halt and sat down on
a flat rock to wait. Ten minutes passed, when they saw Dick rush into a
clearing, followed by John Barrow. As soon as the eldest Rover saw them
he waved his hand enthusiastically.

"Where in the world have you been?" came from Dick, as soon as he
reached them, and saw that neither was injured. "We've been looking high
and low for you."

"We've been prisoners of the enemy," answered Tom. "By the way, have you
seen anything of Dan Baxter and his party?"

"No. Do you mean to say Baxter made you prisoners?"

"He and his crowd did."

"How many are there with him?"

"Three men, Bill Harney the guide, Lemuel Husty, and Jasper Grinder."

"Jasper Grinder!" burst out Dick. "Impossible!"

"It is true, Dick. I was as much astonished as you."

"I suppose Baxter promised him a share of the treasure if it was
found."

"More than likely. But I don't believe they'll find the treasure."

Tom and Sam soon told their story, to which Dick and John Barrow
listened with keen interest. Hardly, however, was the tale finished than
the guide urged them to move on.

"It's quite a few miles to camp," he said. "And, unless I am mistaken,
it's getting ready for a big fall o' snow."

John Barrow was right about the snow. Less than quarter of an hour later
the thick flakes began to fall. Then came a finer snow, which the wind
blew around them like so much hard salt.

"We are in for a corker!" cried the guide. "The sooner we git back to
our supplies the better it will be for us!"




CHAPTER XXV.

SNOWED IN.


With the coming of night the downfall of snow increased until it was
impossible to see a dozen feet in any direction. The wind also increased
in fury until it blew a regular gale. At first this was in their favor,
being directly on their backs and sending them over the ice at a furious
pace, but soon it shifted, first to the left and then to in front of
them, and now further progress appeared out of the question.

"I'm afraid we can't make it!" gasped Dick, turning to catch his breath.
"I'm almost winded now."

"I've got to stop," came from Sam. "I'm ready to drop."

"I can't see a thing," said Tom. "And I'm in mortal terror of skating
into some big air-hole."

"You are right, lads, we'll have to give up the idea of reaching camp
to-night," came from John Barrow seriously. "But where to take you to
out of this awful storm I scarcely know."

"Any kind of shelter will do," said Sam. "We can rig up a hut under some
big cedar tree."

"In that case, let us stick as closely to the river as possible."

"Why?"

"We can get fish then, if we need 'em."

No more was said, and the guide at once led the way to a thick clump of
cedars growing but a rod away from the edge of the river. The cedars
formed something of a circle, about fifteen feet in diameter, and by
clearing out some brushwood in the center they made quite a cozy resting
place. On the outside the cedars were laced together, and the snow was
banked up on all sides, leaving but one opening, two feet wide and
several feet high, for the purpose of supplying them with fresh air.

By the time the shelter was ready for use all the boys were so fagged
out they could scarcely stand. Dick and the guide had brought blankets
with them, and one of these was placed over the opening temporarily, to
keep out a large part of the wind. Then a candle was lit and John Barrow
burnt up a little brushwood, "jest to take the chill outer the place,"
as he explained. They did not dare to let the flames grow too high for
fear of setting fire to the cedars themselves.

As the boys lay on the brushwood resting, they heard the wind outside
increasing in violence, and saw the cedars bend to and fro, and listened
to them creak dismally.

"Mr. Barrow, how long do you reckon this storm will last?" questioned
Tom.

"There is no tellin', lad. Perhaps through the night, an' perhaps for a
couple o' days."

"If it lasts two days, we'll be snowed in for keeps!" came from Sam.

The guide shrugged his shoulders. "True, Sam, but we've got to take what
comes."

"Let us take account of our provisions," said Dick. "If there is any
prospect of our being snowed in we'll have to eat sparingly, or run the
risk of being starved to death."

There was not much to count up: some meat and crackers Dick and the
guide had brought along, and the meat, crackers, and the rabbit in Tom
and Sam's store. In his pockets John Barrow also carried some coffee,
sugar, and some salt.

"Not such a very small lot," was Dick's comment. "But it might be more."

A scanty evening meal was quickly disposed of, and then the candle was
blown out, and all retired to rest. The boys were soon sound asleep, and
presently the guide followed, but with his hand on his gun, ready for
any attack by man or beast, should it come.

The night passed quietly enough, for presently the wind went down. The
snow grew thicker than ever, until it covered the river to a depth of
two feet and more. Around the cedars there was a huge drift, burying
the shelter completely.

It was Dick who roused up first, to find all pitch-dark around him.
Bringing out a match, he lit the candle and looked at his watch.

"Seven o'clock!" he murmured. "Guess I'll go out and see what the
weather is."

Stretching himself, he walked to the blanket which had been placed over
the opening, and tried to thrust it aside. At once a mass of snow came
tumbling down and sifted in all directions, a good share on Tom's face.

"Hi! who's washing my face with snow?" cried Tom, as he opened his eyes
and sat up. "That's a mean trick, Dick, on a fellow who is dead tired
out."

"I didn't mean to do it, Tom. I was going outside, to see how the
weather is. I reckon the snow is pretty deep."

The talking aroused the guide and Sam, and soon all were on their feet.
The snow in the opening was pushed back and they forced their way
outside, to find themselves in a drift up to their waists.

"Gosh, but we are right in it!" was Tom's comment. "See, the river is
completely covered. That settles skating."

"And the worst of it is, it is still snowing," came from Dick.

"With no signs of letting up," finished John Barrow. "Boys, I am afraid
we are snowed in, or snowed up, just as you feel like calling it."

"Do you mean we'll have to remain here?" questioned Sam quickly.

"For the present. We are a good four miles from the pond, and we can't
tramp that in this storm."

The wind was rising again, with a dull moaning through the timber, and
sending the flakes whirling in all directions, and they were glad enough
to get back to the shelter of the cedars.

"We'll clear a space in the snow and start a fire," said the guide. "A
hot cup o' coffee will do us all good."

"And we can cook that other rabbit Tom and I brought along," put in Sam.

Brushwood was handy, and Tom helped to cut some of this with the hunting
knife he had brought along. Soon a lively blaze was warming them up, and
water was boiling for the coffee, while the rabbit was cleaned, and
broiled on a long fork in the guide's outfit. Crackers were running low,
and they had but two apiece.

"I'll try fishing as soon as I'm done," said John Barrow, and was as
good as his word.

It was no easy task to cut a hole through the ice, but once this was
accomplished the fish were found to be lively enough, despite the storm
and the cold. Inside of an hour they had a mess of nine, sufficient to
last them for several meals. And while the others were fishing, Dick
caught sight of a flock of birds, and brought down three.

"There, we won't starve yet awhile," said Dick, as he began to clean his
game.

"That's true," answered Tom, "although we may get pretty tired of birds
and fish before we get out of here and strike something different."

"I wonder how the Baxter crowd is faring," said Sam. "Unless they got
back to the cave they can't be having a very good time of it."

"They don't deserve a good time of it," grumbled Tom. "They deserve to
suffer."

"Bill Harney is a good enough guide to know what to do," put in John
Barrow. "He will pull them through somehow--that is, if he knows enough
to remain sober."

They had hoped that the storm would let up by noon, but twelve o'clock
found the snow coming down as fast as ever, blotting out the landscape
on every hand. Outside of the moaning of the wind all was as silent as a
tomb.

There was but a little for the boys to do, and after the fishing was
over they were glad enough to take it easy in the shelter and listen to
several stories John Barrow had to tell. The guide also related what he
knew concerning Goupert and the various hunts made for the missing
treasure.

"He must have been a fierce sort of a man in his day," observed Dick.
"I don't wonder the most of the folks in this region were content to
leave him alone."

It was almost nightfall when the snow stopped coming down, and then it
was too dark to attempt the journey to Bear Pond.

"We'll have to make another night of it here," said John Barrow. "Then,
if it's clear, we can start for the pond early in the morning."

"Hark!" cried Tom, rousing up. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" came from the others.

"I thought I heard somebody calling."

All listened. For a few seconds silence reigned, then came an uncertain
sound from a considerable distance.

"There it is!"

"That's somebody calling, sure," said the guide. "Must be down along the
river. I'll go out an' look."

"Can I go along?" asked Dick. "You may want help--if somebody is in
trouble."

"All right. Bring your gun with you."

In another minute they had started out, each with his gun, and with his
trouser legs tied up with bits of cord, to keep the deep snow from
reaching up to their boot-tops. Their course was directly for the river.

It was so dark they could see little or nothing, saving the whiteness
which spread in all directions.

"Hullo! hullo!" yelled John Barrow, when the river was gained.

"Help!" came back faintly. "Help!"

"Somebody over thar!" said the guide, and pointed a short distance up
the stream. "Guess he's in a peck o' trouble, too."

He started in the direction, and Dick came close behind. The party in
distress was a man, whose cries for aid were gradually becoming weaker
and weaker. Before they reached the individual his voice ceased
entirely.

"He has fainted from exhaustion," said John Barrow, as he reached the
wayfarer.

"Why, it's Jasper Grinder, our old teacher," ejaculated Dick.

The eldest Rover was right. The unfortunate man was indeed the former
teacher of Putnam Hall, but so pinched and haggard as to be scarcely
recognized. He had fallen on a bare rock, and this had cut open his left
cheek, from which the blood was flowing.




CHAPTER XXVI.

AN UNWELCOME COMRADE.


"He's in a bad way, that's certain," was Dick's comment, as he surveyed
the prostrate form. Even though Jasper Grinder was an enemy, he could
not help but feel sorry for the man.

"We must get him up to our shelter as soon as possible," replied John
Barrow. "It is easy to see he is half frozen--and maybe starved."

"Shall we carry him?"

"We'll have to; there is no other way."

Slinging their guns across their backs, they raised up the form of the
unconscious man. He was a dead weight, and to carry him through that
deep snow was no light task. Less than half the distance to the shelter
was covered when Dick called a halt.

"I'll have to rest up!" he gasped. "He weighs a ton."

But in a few minutes he resumed the journey, and now they did not stop
with their load until the shelter was reached. Tom and Sam were watching
for them.

"Jasper Grinder, by all that's wonderful!" burst out Tom.

"Was he alone?" questioned Sam.

"He was, so far as we could see," answered Dick. "I can tell you, he's
almost a case for an undertaker."

This remark made everyone feel sober, and while the two younger Rovers
stirred up the fire, Dick and the guide did all in their power to bring
the unconscious man to his senses. Some hot coffee was poured down his
throat, and his hands and back were vigorously rubbed.

"Oh!" came faintly, at last, and Jasper Grinder slowly opened his eyes,
"Oh!"

"Take it easy, Mr. Grinder," said Dick kindly. "You are safe now."

"But the bear! Where is the bear?" murmured the dazed man.

"There is no bear here."

"He is after me! He wants to chew me up!"

With this Jasper Grinder relapsed into unconsciousness once more.

"I reckon a b'ar chased him and he lost his reckonin'," was John
Barrow's comment. "Bring him up to the fire. He wants warmin'."

Yet, with all the care they were able to bestow, it was a good hour
before Jasper Grinder was able to sit up and relate what had occurred to
him. He was very hungry, and eagerly disposed of every scrap of food
they had to offer him.

"I have been lost in the timber since yesterday," he said. "Oh, it was
awful, the wind and the snow, and the intense cold. Sometimes I could
not feel my feet, and I knew I was freezing to death. And I hadn't a
mouthful to eat!"

"But where are the others?" questioned Dick.

"I don't know--back to that cave, I suppose. We were out looking for
some trace of--ahem--of Tom and Sam, when I became separated from the
others. Then, in trying to find my way back to the cave, I fell in with
a big black bear. The ugly creature came after me, and I ran for my
life, through the brushwood and the snow, until I came to a cliff. I
fell over this, landed on an icy slope, and rolled and rolled until I
struck the river. Then I got up and tried to get back to the cave, but
it was out of the question. I found an opening in the cliff, on going
back, and remained there until morning, when that bear, or another like
him, roused me and caused me another roll down to the river."

"Didn't the bear follow you?" asked Tom.

"He followed as far as the river. But I ran with all my might through
the deep snow, and presently he gave up the pursuit. Then I went on and
on until I happened to catch a glimpse of your camp-fire, and set up a
cry for help. I slipped on a rock and hit my cheek, and the loss of
blood and the shock made me dizzy. The next I knew I was here."

"You may be thankful that we found you and brought you in," was the
remark made by John Barrow. "If you had remained out there this night,
you'd 'a' been a corpse by mornin', sure!"

"I suppose that's true," said Jasper Grinder, with a thoughtful look.
His experience had humbled him greatly. He was so exhausted that he soon
fell asleep, breathing heavily. The boys and John Barrow gazed at him
curiously.

"His being with us presents a problem," said Dick. "What are we to do
with him?"

"I'm sure I don't want him along," answered Sam promptly. He had hot
forgotten the treatment received at Putnam Hall.

"None of us want him, I take it, Sam. But we can't leave him behind to
starve. And I doubt if he can find his way back to the Baxter camp
alone."

"No, he can't do that," put in the guide. "It is easy to see he knows
nothing of the woods and mountains. He was a fool to come here."

"If we take him along, we ought to make him do his share of the work,"
said Tom. "But I don't like it. He'll be forever spying on us, and if we
find that treasure he'll try to get it away, mark my words."

"The only thing we can do is to watch him, and not let him have any gun
or pistol," said Dick. "He won't dare to leave us, unarmed, especially
if we tell him of all the wild animals that are around."

The subject was discussed for fully an hour, but no satisfactory
conclusion was reached, and presently one after another dropped off to
sleep; the guide being the last to lie down, after fixing the camp-fire
for the night, so that a share of the warmth might drift into the
shelter.

On the following day the sun came up bright and clear. It was still
bitterly cold, and they were loath to leave the vicinity of the
camp-fire. But John Barrow urged that they make good use of the clear
weather, and so they started up the river as soon as they had disposed
of their breakfast of fish and birds.

"To be sure I'll go along, if I can walk," was what Jasper Grinder said
on being questioned, "I wouldn't remain behind alone for a fortune, and
I am sure I can't find the Baxter party now. Please don't cast me off!
It wouldn't be human!"

"I believe you'd cast us off, if we were in a similar situation," was
Tom's comment. "The way you treated Sam at the Hall shows that you don't
care how some folks suffer. But you can go along, for we are not brutes.
But you've got to be careful how you behave, or otherwise out you go,
to shift for yourself, no matter how cold it is or how many wild animals
are around."

"I will do nothing that does not meet with the approval of all of you,"
answered the former teacher humbly. "And remember, Thomas, I was willing
to aid you when you were a prisoner in the cave in the gully."

"You were--for a big consideration," returned Tom dryly. "Let me tell
you flatly, I don't take much stock in your so-called generosity."

They were soon on the way, straight down to the river and then up that
stream. John Barrow was in the lead, with Sam following. Jasper came
next, and Tom and Dick brought up the rear. As far as possible the guide
sought out a trail along the timber, where the snow was not so deep.
Here and there were bare spots, but at other places were deep drifts,
where they frequently got in up to their armpits.

"This is no joke!" gasped Sam, after floundering through an extra deep
drift. "I thought I was going out of sight that time."

"I trust we haven't much further to go," was Jasper Grinder's comment.
"I would give a hundred dollars to be back at Timber Run."

"It's your own fault you are here," retorted Sam.

"I might say the same of you," returned the former teacher sharply.

By noon John Barrow calculated they had covered half the distance to
Bear Pond. A sheltered nook was found between some rocks and trees, and
here they set fire to a mass of brushwood, that they might get warm
while they rested, and ate the last of the food on hand. There was no
wind, and the sun, shining as brightly as ever, made the surface of the
snow glitter like diamonds.

"I hope we find our stores at the cache undisturbed," said Dick, while
resting. "I am hungry for a change of diet. As soon as we get there I'm
going to make some biscuits and boil some beans."

"Gosh, but a plateful of beans would be fine!" cried Tom. "I can tell
you what," he added reflectively; "you want to do without things to
learn their real value."

On they went once more, this time slower than before, because both Sam
and Jasper Grinder showed great signs of weariness. They had to move
around a long bend of the stream, and for fear of getting into a deep
drift the guide did not dare to make a short cut. They passed the pole
set up by John Barrow and Dick at the forks of the stream, and then
headed directly for where the cache was located.

"When we get settled we can put up a regular hut," said John Barrow.
"Then we can be as comfortable, almost, as at home."

"I'm anxious to locate the treasure," said Tom, "We can--Gracious me!
Look there!"

They had come in sight of the cache, and now beheld two great black
bears standing over the loose stones, doing their best to scratch them
away and get at the party's stores!




CHAPTER XXVII.

BRINGING DOWN TWO BEARS.


"Bears!" burst out Sam, and started back in alarm.

"Bears!" shrieked Jasper Grinder, and turned as pale as death. "Oh,
somebody save me!" He wanted to run, but he was in such a tremble he
could not, and sank on his knees in the snow in terror.

Crack! It was the report of John Barrow's rifle, and one of the bears
was hit full in the left eye. Crack! went the piece Dick carried, and
the other bear was hit in the neck. Then Tom fired the shotgun which had
been found on Jasper Grinder, and the bear Dick had hit was wounded in
the side.

Of course there followed a terrible uproar, and in a twinkle both bears
left the pile of rocks and came toward those who had wounded them. The
one that had been wounded in the eye was mortally hit, however, and
staggered in a heap before he had gone ten paces.

But the second bear was full of fight, and his course was directly for
Tom. Before the lad could run the beast was almost on top of him.

"Dodge him!" called out Dick. "Dodge him, Tom!"

"Shoot him, somebody!" yelled back Tom. "Shoot him, quick!"

And then he dodged behind some nearby brush. But the bear was almost as
quick, and ran directly into the brushwood, to face him on the opposite
side.

By this time John Barrow had the rifle reloaded, and now he skirted the
brushwood, followed by Dick. Crack! went the rifle again, just as bruin
was about to pounce upon Tom. But the bullet merely clipped the hair on
the bear's back, and in a twinkle the beast was on Tom and had the lad
down.

With his heart in his throat, Dick made a leap with the shotgun. Bang!
went the piece, when he was not over three yards from the bear. The
charge entered the beast's ear, and with a snort he rolled over and over
in the snow, sending it flying in every direction.

Freed of the bear, Tom lost no time in scrambling to his feet. Soon the
struggles of the beast ceased, and they knew he was either dying or
dead. To make sure, John Barrow stepped in, hunting knife in hand, and
plunged the blade into his throat. Then the other bear was served in the
same fashion.

The fight had been of short duration, yet the peril had been extreme,
and after it was over poor Tom found he could scarcely stand. Dick led
him to a rock and set him down, asking him if he was hurt.

"I got a scratch on the arm, but I reckon it's not much," was the faint
answer. "But it was a close call, wasn't it?"

"Those bears must have been awfully hungry, or they wouldn't have put up
such a fight," said the guide. "Their being at the cache proves they
wanted food."

"Well, we've got the food now," returned Dick grimly. "We'll have all
the bear steaks and roasts anybody wants."

"Yes, and I can tell you a juicy steak will just be boss!" put in Sam
enthusiastically.

It was seen that Tom was hurt more than he cared to admit, and the
others lost no time in building a big camp-fire, that they might warm
themselves, while Dick took off his brother's coat, rolled up his
shirt-sleeves, and bandaged an ugly scratch with a bit of linen.

"You can help here," said John Barrow to Jasper Grinder. "I'll fix it as
your duty to keep the fire a-goin'. There is a hatchet and there is the
brushwood. Don't let the fire go down, or I'm afraid there won't be
enough heat for cooking your supper." And the guide smiled grimly.

At this indirect threat Jasper Grinder scowled. But he did not dare to
complain, and was soon at work cutting brushwood and dragging it to the
spot.

"Gosh, but he's not used to hard work," was Sam's whispered comment.
"I'll wager he doesn't like that for a cent."

"It's time he was set to work doing something," answered Dick. "It will
keep him from getting into mischief."

As late as it was, and although all were tired out from their long walk
through the deep snow, they found it necessary to construct some shelter
for the night. The guide located a number of cedars growing close
together, and this spot was cleaned out and made as comfortable as
circumstances permitted. The fire was shoved over to the new location,
and then John Barrow cut up one of the bears and procured a big juicy
steak for supper. It is needless to say that all enjoyed the treat set
before them, even Jasper Grinder eating his full share.

"We'll hang the meat up on a tree," said John Barrow. "If we don't some
hungry foxes or other wild animals will surely be after it." And
procuring the necessary ropes, he flung them over some limbs and all
hauled the carcasses up, Tom, of course, being excused from the task,
because of his wounded arm.

The wind had gone down, and when all retired within the shelter not a
sound but the merry crackling of the fire broke the stillness around
them. In front of the camp was a long stretch of the pond, now thickly
covered with snow; in the rear a slope of a mountain, rock-ribbed and
covered with cedars and hemlock. To the left was located one of the
branches of the river and a hundred yards distant was a second branch.

At first John Barrow had thought to set a guard for the night, but as
the spot seemed free from danger for the time being, this was dispensed
with, and all went to bed, to sleep soundly until sunrise.

"And now for the treasure hunt!" cried Sam, who was among the first to
awaken. "It's just a perfect day, and we ought to accomplish a good
deal, if we set to work right after breakfast."

He talked freely, for Jasper Grinder was still asleep--snoring lustily
in a corner of the shelter. John Barrow was already outside, boiling
coffee, broiling another bear steak, and preparing a pot of beans for
cooking. He had likewise set some bread for raising.

"Goin' to give you a breakfast as is a breakfast," said the guide; with
a broad smile. "Reckon all of you are ready for it, eh?"

"I am," said Dick. "Phew! but this mountain air does give one a
tremendous appetite!"

While Jasper Grinder still slept Dick brought forth the precious map
and studied the description, and also the translation of the French text
into English, which Randolph Rover had made for them.

"'To find the box of silver and gold, go to where Bear Pond empties into
Perch River,'" he read. "Well, we are at this spot, or, at least, at one
of the spots. It may mean this branch, and it may mean one of several
others."

"We can try one branch after another," put in Sam. "Go on with the
description."

"'Ten paces to the west is a large pine tree which was once struck by
lightning,'" continued Dick. He looked around. "I don't see any tree
like that around here."

"You must remember, my lad, that that writin' was put down years ago,"
said John Barrow. "More'n likely if the tree was struck an' blasted,
it's fallen long ago, and the spring freshets carried it down the
river."

"That's true," said Sam, with a falling look. "But, anyway, we ought to
be able to locate the stump."

"Yes, we ought to be able to do that."

"I'm going to locate it now," cried Sam, and stalked off to where the
pond emptied into the stream. From this spot he stalked ten paces
westward, and of a sudden disappeared from view.

"Help!" he cried.

"Hullo, Sam's disappeared!" cried Dick, and ran toward the spot.

"Look out!" sang out John Barrow. "There may be a nasty hole there!"

Nevertheless, he too went forward, and they soon beheld Sam floundering
in snow up to his neck. He had stepped into a hollow between the rocks,
and it took him some time to extricate himself from the unpleasant
position.

"Oh, my, what a bath!" he exclaimed ruefully, as he tried to get the
snow from out of his collar and his coat-sleeves. "I--I didn't think of
a pitfall like that!"

"You want to be careful how you journey around here," cautioned John
Barrow. "If that hollow had been twice as deep the snow might have
smothered you to death."

"I will be careful," answered Sam. "I don't want any more snow down my
back and up my coat-sleeves," and he hurried back to the camp-fire to
warm himself.

By this time Tom was outside, and he was followed by Jasper Grinder, and
presently all sat down close to the blaze to enjoy the generous
breakfast the guide had provided. Tom said that his arm was a little
stiff, but that otherwise he felt as well as ever.




CHAPTER XXVIII.

TWO FAILURES.


What to do with Jasper Grinder was a problem which none of the boys knew
how to solve. They were exceedingly sorry that he was among them, but as
it would be impossible to send him off alone in that deep snow, they
felt that they would have to make the best of the situation.

"I move we make him stay around the camp," suggested Tom. "He can watch
our stores, keep the fire furnished with wood, and do some of the
cooking."

"He may kick at playing servant girl," said Sam.

"If he kicks, let him clear out."

"I think Tom is right," put in Dick. "We don't want him along while we
are trying to locate the treasure."

"He may slip away with our things--if he finds any trace of Baxter's
party," went on Sam. "And we can't afford to lose anything more. One
sled-load is enough. We'll be wanting some of those other things before
long."

"I don't believe that other party is around here," said John Barrow.
"We had better leave the man at the fire. We can keep our eyes open for
the enemy--as you call 'em."

So it was arranged, and Dick told the former teacher. Jasper Grinder
said but little in return, but asked about the possibility of any more
wild beasts turning up.

"I don't want to be left alone to face another couple of bears," he
said. "They would do their best to chew me up!"

"We will leave a gun in camp," said Dick. "If you see a bear coming, you
can climb a tree and keep him off with the gun. If we hear a shot, we'll
come back just as quickly as we can. But, Grinder, I want you to
understand that you aren't to play us false," went on the eldest Rover.
"If you do we'll have no mercy on you, remember that!"

Half an hour later the boys and their guide set off on their first hunt
for the treasure. With great care John Barrow led the way over the rocks
and other rough places. He carried a long pole, which he plunged in the
snow before him whenever he was afraid there was a hollow ahead. Soon
they gained the spot where Dick thought the blasted tree might be
located.

The snow was scraped away, first in one direction and then another,
until a spot several yards in diameter was cleared. No tree-stump was
brought to light, although they found a slight hollow in which were
several big roots.

"This might have been the tree once," said John Barrow meditatively.
"Years make great changes, you know. The trees fall, rocks and dirt
slide down hill, and that makes a big difference in the looks o'
things."

"All we can do is to follow the directions on the map," said Dick. "I
think we'll be bound to strike the right clew, sooner or later. Let us
follow this one and see where it leads to."

"What's the next directions?" questioned Tom.

"'Go due southwest from the pine tree sixty-two paces,'" answered Dick,
reading from the translation given him. "Which is southwest, Mr.
Barrow?"

"Soon tell ye that," answered the guide, and brought forth his pocket
compass. "That way." And he pointed with his arm.

With the compass to guide them they set off, the guide in the lead once
more, and Dick counting off the sixty-two paces with great care. The way
was up a hillside and over half a dozen rough rocks, and then into a
hollow where the snow was up to their waists.

"No use of talking, this is treasure-hunting under difficulties," was
Sam's comment. "Perhaps we would have done better had we left the hunt
till summer time."

"And let Baxter get ahead of us?" put in Tom. "Not much!" He turned to
Dick. "What's the next directions on the paper?"

"There ought to be a flat rock here, backed up by a sharp-pointed one,"
answered the eldest Rover. "I don't see anything of a sharp-pointed
rock, do you? The flat rock may be under us."

"No sharp-pointed rock within a hundred feet of here," answered Sam,
gazing around. He began scraping away the snow. "Dirt under us, too."

"That settles it, then. Trial No. 1 is a failure. Mr. Barrow, we'll have
to try the next stream."

"So it would seem, Dick. Well, you boys mustn't expect too easy work o'
it. A big treasure aint picked up every day."

"The trouble of it is, we don't know how much of a treasure it is," said
Tom. "For all we know, it may be but a few hundred dollars--not enough
to pay us, really, for our trouble."

"Well, even a few hundred dollars aint to be sneezed at."

"We did much better out West, when we located our mining claim," said
Dick. "But then we came up here for fun as much as for treasure."

The tramp to where the next stream leading from Bear Pond was located
was by no means easy. They had to crawl around a tangled mass of
brushwood and over more rough rocks, until they gained the bosom of the
pond itself. Then they skirted the shore for several hundred yards.

"Hold on!" cried Dick suddenly. "Rabbits!" And up came his gun, and he
blazed away. Sam also fired, and between them they brought down four
rabbits, which had just run out of a hollow log a short distance ahead.

"Good shots!" cried the guide enthusiastically. "Couldn't have been
better. I see you are used to hunting. Many a city chap would have
missed 'em entirely. I had one feller up here year before last wanted to
bring down big game, but when he saw a deer he got the shakes and didn't
think of shootin' till the game was out o' sight."

The four rabbits were plump and heavy, and the boys shouldered them with
much satisfaction. Then the onward course was resumed, until Dick again
called a halt.

"Here is where we'll make trial No. 2," he said. "Now see if any of you
can locate the blasted tree in this neighborhood."

All began to search around in various directions, and presently Sam let
out a call.

"Here's a fallen tree!"

"Struck by lightning?" queried Dick.

"I don't know about that. Perhaps Mr. Barrow can tell us."

The others walked over, and the guide cleared the snow from the upper
end of the fallen timber.

"Not much signs of being struck by anything but the wind," he announced.
"Still, I aint sure."

"We'll try from this point, anyway," said Tom. "No use of missing any
chance, however small." And on this the others agreed.

Once again they began to pace off the ground as before. Here the task
was as difficult as ever, as they had to pass through some timber
thickly intergrown with brush.

"I suppose in Goupert's time this timber was small," observed the guide.

The tramping around was beginning to tire them, and soon Sam had to stop
to rest and get back his wind.

"I feel like a regular snow-plow," he gasped. "Tell you what, it takes
the wind right out of a chap."

"You rest while we go ahead," suggested Tom, but Sam did not wish to do
this.

"Not much! If the treasure is going to be found, I want to be on deck!"
he cried.

Presently they we're at it again, Dick pacing off the steps as carefully
as ever. They had still fifteen paces to go when John Barrow came to a
stop with a sniff of disgust.

"Wrong ag'in!"

"How so?"

"This is leadin' us right out on the pond."

"I declare, so it is!" murmured Dick. "We started due southwest, didn't
we?"

"To a hair, lad. To tell the truth, I didn't take much to this trail
from the start. To my mind this stream is a new one. I think the next
outlet is one of the old-timers."

Once more they held a consultation, and Tom asked how far it was to the
next stream.

"Right over yonder rise o' ground," answered the guide. "But hadn't you
better wait till after dinner before ye tackle it?"

Dick consulted his watch.

"I declare! Quarter to twelve!" he exclaimed. "No wonder I'm feeling
hungry."

"I was getting hungry myself," said Tom "But I wasn't going to be the
first to stop. What shall we do--go back to camp?"

"Yes," said Dick. "I don't like the idea of leaving Jasper Grinder there
all day alone."

"Nor I," came from the other Rovers.

John Barrow was asked to lead them back by the shortest route, and they
started quarter of an hour later, after all had had a chance to rest and
get back their wind.

"I hope we get a chance at some deer while we are up here," remarked
Dick, as they turned back.

"I'll take you to where there are deer, after this hunt is over,"
replied John Barrow. "I know a famous spot, and it's not far, either."

"Hark!" suddenly cried Tom. "What sort of a yelping is that?"

All listened.

"Wolves!" answered John Barrow. "There must be quite a pack of 'em,
too."

"I suppose they get pretty hungry when there is such a deep snow," said
Tom.

"They do. More'n likely some of 'em have scented our b'ar meat and they
want some."

"If they are heading for camp, they'll give Jasper Grinder trouble," put
in Sam.

He had scarcely spoken when they heard the report of a gun, followed by
a louder yelping than ever.

"They've attacked him, true enough!" cried John Barrow.

"Come on," said Dick. "The sooner we get back the better. Grinder may be
having a pile of trouble, and the wolves may tear all our things to
pieces if they get the chance."




CHAPTER XXIX.

JASPER GRINDER AND THE WOLVES.


Left to himself, Jasper Grinder piled the wood on the camp-fire and then
sat down to meditate on the turn affairs had taken.

He was in a thoroughly sour frame of mind. To his way of thinking
everything had gone wrong, and he wondered how matters would terminate.

"I was a fool to come out here, in the first place," he told himself. "I
ought to have known that Baxter had no sure thing of it. If I hadn't
fallen in with the Rovers, I would have frozen and starved to death. And
they don't want me; that's plainly to be seen."

Had he felt able to do so, he would have packed a knapsack with
provisions and started oh his way down the river toward Timber Run. But
he did not know how far the settlement was away, and he was afraid to
trust himself alone in such a wilderness as confronted him on every
hand. He did not possess much money, but he would have given every
dollar to be safe back in the city again.

He wondered if the Rovers would gain possession of the treasure before
the Baxter party came up, and also wondered what would happen should the
two parties come together. He had not been treated very well by Dan
Baxter, and so he hardly cared who came out on top in the struggle for
the treasure.

"Whoever gets it will try to count me out," was the way he reasoned.
"I'm at the bottom of the heap, and likely to stay there for some time
to come."

The time dragged slowly, and to occupy himself he began to cut more wood
for the fire. The task made him grit his teeth.

"Got to work like a common woodchopper," he muttered. "It's a shame!"

He was just dragging the last of the wood up to the fire when a sudden
yelping broke upon his ears. Looking up, he saw a lone wolf standing at
the edge of the timber, gazing fixedly at him.

"A wolf!" he muttered, and his face grew pale. "Scat!" And he waved his
hand threateningly.

The wolf disappeared behind some brush, but did not go far. Sitting
down, it let out the most dismal howls imaginable, which soon brought a
dozen or more other wolves to the scene. Then all of the pack came into
view, much to Jasper Grinder's horror.

"They want to eat me up!" he groaned, and ran for the nearest tree,
which was close to the shelter. "Oh, I must get away, somehow!"

He clutched at the tree and began to climb with all possible-speed. His
gun lay close at hand, but in his haste he forgot to pick it up. Once in
the tree he sat down on a limb, a perfect picture of misery.

Seeing the man retreat the wolves at once became bolder, and keeping a
safe distance from the fire, they drew up in a circle around the tree
upon which Jasper Grinder rested, and from which hung the bear meat. At
one point under the tree there was a spot covered with bear's blood, and
this blood several of the wolves licked up in a manner to make the
former teacher's own blood run cold.

"If they get at me they'll chew me up, I know they will," he moaned.
"Oh, why did I ever come out in this savage waste!"

Sitting in a circle, the wolves lifted their heads and howled dismally.
Two came to the tree and scratched the bark, as if to attempt climbing.

"Go away! Go away!" shrieked Jasper Grinder. "Scat! Go away!"

The wolves left the tree-trunk, but did not go away. Instead one after
another began to leap up, trying to reach the meat which hung so
temptingly above them. One or two prowled among the stores, tearing
this and that, and picking up the scraps of the morning meal.

In this fashion half an hour went by, and it is safe to state that this
was the longest and most trying half hour that Jasper Grinder
experienced in his whole life. He shouted at the wolves and threw bits
of sticks at them, but to this they paid no attention. Then he cried for
help, but the Rovers and John Barrow were too far off to hear him.

"If I only had the gun, I could fire it as a signal," he said to
himself. "Why did I not bring it up with me?"

He wondered if he could pull the gun up by means of a string he found in
his pocket, and resolved to try. Making a loop in one end of the string
he lowered it with care, until it rested close to the gun, and then he
did his best to slide the string along under the barrel. This was
comparatively easy, for the barrel was tilted up against a rock.

The wolves watched the maneuvering with interest, and no sooner did the
gun begin to shift than three leaped forward, snarling angrily. One
snapped at the barrel of the piece, one at the butt, and a third at the
trigger. An instant later came the report heard by the Rovers and John
Barrow.

The shot was almost a deadly one, not alone for two of the wolves, but
also for Jasper Grinder, who was not expecting the gun to go off. The
piece was loaded with buckshot, which tore through the sides of two of
the beasts, and then passed upward into the tree-branches, taking the
former school-teacher in the left shoulder.

"I'm shot!" gasped Jasper Grinder, and almost fell from his perch. But
he managed to save himself, and hung in a crotch, weak and almost
helpless, the blood flowing freely and dripping to the ground, where the
wolves licked it up eagerly. A few had retreated at the report of the
gun, but now all came back, snarling and yelping more wildly than ever.

It must be confessed that Jasper Grinder's position was truly
unfortunate. The loss of blood was fast rendering him unconscious, and
he was in mortal terror of dropping down and being devoured.

"Help!" he called feebly. "Help! For the love of Heaven, help me!"

Just as his senses were leaving him he heard a distant cry, and looking
in that direction, saw John Barrow and Dick approaching, followed by Tom
and Sam.

"The wolves have Grinder treed," cried the guide. "I'll give 'em
something to remember us by!"

He had a double-barreled shotgun, and he let drive twice in quick
succession, firing into two groups of the beasts, and killing two and
wounding several others. Then Dick fired, bringing down another. Tom and
Sam also discharged their pieces, and added three others to the dead or
dying.

This slaughter was too much for the remaining wolves, hungry as they
were, and in a twinkle they ran off into the timber, howling dismally.

"They won't come back," was John Barrow's comment. "They have learned to
respect us." And he was right, the wolves bothered them no more.

While the guide was busy finishing the beast which had been too much
hurt to retreat, the boys turned their attention to Jasper Grinder. They
saw he had fainted, and noticed the blood dripping from his shoulder.
His body was slowly leaving the tree crotch where it had rested.

"He's coming! Catch him!" cried Sam, and as the unconscious man came
down they did what they could to break his fall. Fortunately he landed
in the deep snow, so the fall proved of small consequence.

"He's shot, that's what's the matter with him," said Dick, after an
examination. "Who fired at him? I'm certain none of us did."

The question could not be answered. Bringing out a blanket, they placed
Jasper Grinder upon it, close to the fire, and John Barrow made an
examination of the wound, picking out a couple of the loose buckshot.

"He was probably shot from his own gun," said the guide. "More than
likely he dropped the piece from the tree, and it went off when it
struck the ground."

They bound up the wound carefully, and did all they could for the
sufferer. Then, while Dick watched over Jasper Grinder, the others got
rid of the wolves' carcasses by dragging them into the timber, and then
set to work to prepare the midday meal.

It was fully an hour before Jasper Grinder was able to speak, and then
he could say but little. But he explained how it was that he had been
shot. He wanted to know if the wolves had been driven off, and begged
that they would not leave him alone again.

"We'll stay by you, now you are down," said Dick sympathetically. "We
are not brutes, even though we haven't any great love for you."

"Thank you; I'll not forget your kindness," returned Jasper Grinder, and
for once it must be admitted that he meant what he said.

The wounded man could eat no solid food, so they prepared for him some
broth made from bear's meat, which was very strengthening. After another
examination John Barrow was of the opinion that the wound was not a
dangerous one, but that the man would have to keep quiet for several
days or a week.