The Gold Hunters / A Story of Life and Adventure in the Hudson Bay Wilds

, unseen life of the forests, awakening from its long slumber in its bed of snow. The moose-birds chirped their mating songs and flirted from morning till night in bough and air, and the jays and rave

heir joy, until they split like over-fat p

ops of the great ridges, which are called mountains in the North, and where for good reasons they had passed the winter, followed by the wolves, who fed upon their weak and sick. Everywhere there were the rushing torre

he old Hudson Bay Post during the ten days after their first happy reunion-of the love that sprang up between Rod's mother and Minnetaki, and the princess wife of George Newsome,

heir equipment and plans to see that nothing had been forgotten. That night Rod slept little. For the second time in his life the fever of adventure was running wild in his blood. After the others had gone he studied the precious o

ep up the good cheer of Mrs. Drew and the princess mother, and even Minnetaki forced herself to smile, and laugh, though her eyes were red, and all knew that she had been crying. Rod was glad when the meal was over and they went out into the chill air of the morning, and down to the edge of the lake, where their big birch-bark canoe was lo

innetaki,"

of the canoe, and with a last shout Wabi sho

e three paddles. Once Minnetaki's voice came to them faintly, and th

ood-by is the toughest pa

eeling of oppression that se

etaki," replied Wabigoon. "Some day I'

fellow!" cried R

canoe came a delight

dded, and both Rod and Wabi burst out laughing. The you

igon instead of following the shore. W

In surprise Wabi ceased paddl

u think i

over the side and he

e said. "Maybe no

ing how heavily laden the canoe was, "

he shore," urged Wabi, "while by cutting straight across the lak

Wabinosh House was only a hazy outline in the distance. The white youth's unspoken fears were dispelled when the sun rose, warm and glorious, over the shimmering lake, driving the chill from the air, and seeming to bring with it the sweet scents of the forests far away. Joyfully he labored at his paddle,

hisper of strange things that had happened countless years before, was just ahead of them. They were about to bury themselves in its secrets, to wrest from it the yellow treasure it guarded, and their blood tingled and leaped excitedly at the thought. What would be revealed to them? What might they not discover

now and then, when an unusually large flock was seen floating upon the water ahead of them, one of the three would ta

ing on ducks," he advise

r them at Wabinosh House. The farther side of the lake was now plainly visible, and when the journey was resumed all eyes eagerly sought for signs of the mouth of the Ombabika, where th

id, turning to Mukoki. "Is it

questi

swans!" h

. "Great Scott, do you mean to

nds," said Wabi. "I have seen them white

t in twent' t'ous'nd y

nts he added, "T

casioned both of his comrades considerable anxiety. The cause was not long in doubt. Another half hour of brisk paddling brought them to the edge of a frozen field of ice that extended for a

r?" asked Rod. "C

igoon. "Yes-perhaps to-m

say we can't get

redicament we are in. The

an pounding it with his paddle. For a distance of tw

ay in for a canoe length or so

ached f

l try

shook h

had never known him to be guilty of before. Foot by foot he broke the ice ahead of the canoe, until the frail craft ha

triumphantly. "You

for the fear that had come into his face, and calling his name, when with a thunderous, crash the whole mass gave way under them, and they plunged down into the black depths of the lake. The last that Rod saw was his

uld he strike out? He opened his eyes but all was a black chaos about him. The seconds seemed like ages. There came a splitting, rending sensation in his head, an almost overpowering desire

sciousness enough left to know that he tried to cry out, and he felt the first gurgling rush of water into his lungs. But he did not see the long arm that reached down where the bubbles were coming up, he did not feel the grip that dragged him

that they were still upon the ice. The canoe was drawn safely up a dozen feet away, and the old Indian

have!" he grinned, placing a sup

blanket was wrapped about him. Slowly they made their way shore

ick me good and hard, and then I'll take great pleasure in kicking you. And ever a

d us out?"

course. Will

ha

shook hands, while Mukoki chuckled and grunted and g