Part 14 (2/2)

Presently Earl thought he saw so up a half-decayed stick, he threw it at the spot At once there was a squawk, and half a dozen wild geese arose in the air

Bang! went the shot-gun, and crack! went Randy's pistol, and three of the geese were seen to throw back their heads and sink

”We hit 'em!” cried Randy, and ran down, followed by his brother Two of the foere dead, and the other was speedily put out of its un-stock They had been cautioned not to waste their ammunition, so had not ventured a second round at the balance of the flock

”These ought to ame ”That is, if they don't taste too fishy Here is h the neck You killed the other two”

With the dead geese over their shoulders, they continued their hunt for game, and presently stirred up a nu down five The birds were s, yet they took the

”Geese, eh?” exclaimed Captain Zoss, as they entered caoose pot-pie o' one, and stuff the other with bread an' beans, eh?” All hands agreed this would be an excellent plan, and the boys set about cleaning the ga theht they espied a band of Indians co down the trail with their packs and followed by half a dozencrowd The miners had left Dyea twenty-four hours later than theht with the and four feet wide The Indians had carried this material over the Pass, but how it had been acco me, if I don't reckon they have a secret way o' their oas Captain Zoss's comment ”They couldn't cart them boards up that steep cliff, nohow!” And Randy and Earl were half inclined to believe the captain's suspicions to be true

The miners, ent by the name of the Idaho crowd, because they came from that State, encamped next to the doctor's crowd, as they were speedily ter a medical ht The Idaho crowd had just heard of an extra large find being made on Gold Bottom Creek, which flowed into the Klondike River, and they were anxious to get up there without delay, and consequently spent half the night in putting their boat together for an early start on the following

”You're the fust boys I've heerd tell on bound for the gold diggin's,”

said one of the h luck, for as far ez I kin understand it is tough even on a man

Whar are ye from? Californy?”

”No, from the backwoods of Maine,” answered Earl ”And we are used to roughing it”

”Gee shoo! Didn't know the news had struck out so all-fired far ez thet

Wall, if you're from the backwoods, 'tain't likely you'll suffer ez much ez some of the tenderfoots wot's older Wish ye the best o' luck” And the ht o'clock of the followingfound the Idaho crowd on its way down Lake Linderman In the meantime the boys, Foster Portney, and Captain Zoss had started into the ti Dr

Barwaithe to watch camp and bake several days' supply of bread and biscuits, and also to parboil so up had been allowed to fall over a large flat rock, and now the first as to prop up the lower end This done, both ends were sawed off even and a good portion of the bark was scaled off Then Earl and Randy sharpened up several wedges and tried their hands at splitting up the trunk into a suitable size for whipsawing

This was no light work, and had they not had a knowledge of woodcraft it would have been next to impossible to do what the lads, aided by their uncle and the captain, accohtfall the tree was split and sawed up intothickness, and these were laid out for working up in the e of the lake they found that three other crowds had come in over the Pass, and there was quite a settleshore In one of the parties there was a young woman, the wife of a prospector, who had stood the arduous climb nearly as well as any one

”Hullo, Portney!” suddenly cried a voice to Earl, as he alking around aot this far”

Earl turned swiftly, and was nearly dumfounded to find himself confronted by Tom Roland, while Jasper Guardley stood but a few feet away

CHAPTER XV

ON TO LAKE BENNETT

The face of Tom Roland wore a smile, but in his eyes was an anxious look which Earl did not fail to notice as he surveyed the two acquaintances fro prospector was much taken aback by this sudden appearance, for he had not drea Roland and Guardley in this out-of-the-way spot

”Ain't you glad to see a feller from Maine?” went on Roland, as Earl did not speak; and he held out his hand, which the youth took rather coldly

Guardley had co the offer