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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e96d512 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50320 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50320) diff --git a/old/50320-0.txt b/old/50320-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index aa87e07..0000000 --- a/old/50320-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4979 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Secret Mission to Alaska, by Roger Barlow - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Secret Mission to Alaska - Sandy Steele Adventures #5 - -Author: Roger Barlow - -Release Date: October 26, 2015 [EBook #50320] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SECRET MISSION TO ALASKA *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - SANDY STEELE ADVENTURES - - Black Treasure - Danger at Mormon Crossing - Stormy Voyage - Fire at Red Lake - Secret Mission to Alaska - Troubled Waters - - - - - Sandy Steele Adventures - _SECRET MISSION - TO - ALASKA_ - - - BY ROGER BARLOW - - - SIMON AND SCHUSTER - _New York, 1959_ - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - INCLUDING THE RIGHT OF REPRODUCTION - IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN ANY FORM - COPYRIGHT © 1959 BY SIMON AND SCHUSTER, INC. - PUBLISHED BY SIMON AND SCHUSTER, INC. - ROCKEFELLER CENTER, 630 FIFTH AVENUE - NEW YORK 20, N. Y. - - FIRST PRINTING - - LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 59-13882 - MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - BY H. WOLFF BOOK MFG. CO., INC., NEW YORK - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - 1 Off to Alaska 9 - 2 A Hint of Trouble 14 - 3 A Mysterious Intruder 26 - 4 Charley Works Out the Huskies 37 - 5 Christmas in the Wilderness 49 - 6 Attack from the Air 59 - 7 The Big Race 66 - 8 Lost in a Blizzard 80 - 9 Trapped in an Icy Tomb 98 - 10 Down the Chilkoot Chute to Victory 109 - 11 Off to Hunt Kodiak Bears 121 - 12 Treed by a Wounded Bear 135 - 13 The Ghost Mine 156 - 14 The Plot Revealed 167 - 15 Final Victory 185 - - - - - CHAPTER ONE - Off to Alaska - - -Sandy Steele twisted his lanky six-foot frame in the cramped airplane -seat, stretching his long legs out in the aisle. Yawning, he glanced out -of the small, round window beside him. Although it was daylight now, the -ground was completely hidden by a layer of dense clouds that stretched -away to the horizon on all sides like fluffy marshmallow topping. The -sound of the motors was a dull, monotonous throbbing in his ears. - -Sandy leaned forward and ruffled the black crew cut that was just -visible over the top of the seat ahead of him. “Hey, Jerry, you awake?” - -“Yeah,” a voice mumbled sleepily, “I’m awake. Are we going to land yet?” - -“I don’t know.” Sandy looked across the aisle at his father, who was -just lighting his pipe. “How about it, Dad?” - -Dr. John Steele studied his watch thoughtfully. “Oh, I’d say about -another half hour.” - -The steward, an army corporal, walked back from the forward compartment -with a tray of paper cups. “Coffee, anyone?” - -The steaming-hot black liquid cleared the cobwebs out of Sandy’s head, -and he began to look forward with excited anticipation to their arrival -in Canada. - -“Will Professor Crowell meet us at the airport?” he asked his father. - -Dr. Steele nodded. “Yes. Then we’ll drive back to his place and pick up -his dog team.” - -Jerry James’s granite-jawed face appeared over the back of the seat as -he knelt, facing Sandy. “What’s this about dogs?” - -“Berkley Crowell breeds sled dogs as a hobby,” Dr. Steele explained. -“Eskimo huskies. He’s taking his prize team up to Alaska to compete in -the annual race from Whitehorse to Skagway.” - -“Hey, that sounds like fun,” Jerry said. - -“As a matter of fact,” the doctor went on, “that will be one of your -major jobs on this expedition. You boys will drive the truck with the -dogs and help the professor with their care and feeding.” - -Dr. Steele turned his attention back to his book as Sandy and Jerry got -into a conversation with the young corporal who had served the coffee. - -“Both you fellows from California?” the corporal asked. “Whereabouts?” - -“Valley View,” Sandy told him. “That’s near San Diego, but more inland.” - -“I have a cousin in the Navy,” the corporal said. “He was stationed at -San Diego. Nice country.” He grinned. “You guys are going to find the -climate of Alaska a lot different than California.” - -Jerry shivered. “You’re telling us!” - -“You go to school in Valley View?” the corporal asked. - -“High school,” Sandy told him. “We’re both juniors.” - -“How long are you going to be in Alaska?” - -“About three weeks, I guess. It’s the Christmas vacation, and my dad got -our principal to let us take an extra week on account of the educational -value of this expedition we’re going on.” - -The corporal looked interested. “What kind of an expedition is it?” - -“My dad is a United States government geologist,” Sandy explained. “This -expedition is part of a long-range Canadian-American project to chart -glacial movements during the Ice Age. We’ll be collecting soil, rock and -ore samples on our way through western Canada and Alaska.” - -“Sounds like fun,” the corporal said. “You’ll get a kick out of Alaska. -It’s a great place. I’ve flown up there a couple of times.” - -“What’s our forty-ninth state like, anyway?” Jerry asked curiously. “We -bought it from the Indians for twenty-four dollars, didn’t we?” - -Sandy and the corporal laughed. “That was Manhattan Island, you dope!” -Sandy said. “We bought Alaska from the Russians for about $7,000,000.” - -“It’s twice as big as Texas,” the corporal told them, “but the -population is only a little over 200,000. And most of these people have -only been there since the end of World War Two.” - -“I guess we never would have realized just how valuable Alaska is if the -Japanese hadn’t tried to attack us across the Aleutian Islands,” Sandy -said. - -At that moment, a buzzer sounded and the green light at the front of the -cabin began to flash. “Oh-oh,” the corporal said. “Looks like we’re -getting ready to land. Fasten your seat belts, folks.” He turned and -hurried forward. - -Dr. Steele stood up and removed his mackinaw from the overhead rack. As -he did so, a big, black, ominous-looking .45 Colt automatic slipped out -of one of the pockets and crashed to the floor. - -The boys’ eyes widened and Sandy blurted out in shocked surprise, “Where -did you get that, Dad?” - -Dr. Steele retrieved the gun hastily and stuck it back into his pocket. -“Oh—er—something a friend advised me to bring with me. In case we get a -chance to do any hunting,” he added. - -Sandy frowned. “Hunting with an _automatic_! That’s crazy, Dad. Wouldn’t -a rifle have been more practical?” - -A thin smile spread the doctor’s lips. “I suppose you’re right. I should -have consulted you before I got it.” - -“Just where _did_ you get it, Dad?” Sandy asked suspiciously. “The Colt -.45 automatic is an official U.S. Army sidearm.” - -There was just the faintest trace of irritation in Dr. Steele’s voice -when he answered. “All these questions! You’re beginning to sound like -your Aunt Vivian.... Look, we had better fasten our safety belts. We’re -going to land.” - -“Sure, Dad, sure,” Sandy said. There was something uncommonly mysterious -about his father’s behavior, and it worried him. - - - - - CHAPTER TWO - A Hint of Trouble - - -The big U.S. army transport touched down at the R.C.A.F. military -airstrip at Fort St. John, British Columbia, shortly after dawn on -December 23. Dr. Steele and his party were groggy after spending a -restless night of fitful slumber on the hard, uncomfortable canvas seats -that were slung along the walls of the plane’s huge, drafty cabin. But -the first bite of the dry-ice bitter air of the Canadian winter snapped -them wide-awake and alert. - -“Wow!” Jerry exclaimed, bundled up like a bear in his hooded parka. “It -must be at least one thousand degrees below zero.” - -Dr. Steele smiled. “You think this is cold? Just wait until we get -farther up north.” - -Lou Mayer, Dr. Steele’s assistant, groaned. “When does the next plane -leave for California?” He broke into a fit of uncontrollable shudders. A -dark, mild-mannered young man in his late twenties, Lou had been born in -Texas and spent half of his life in Southern California. He consequently -had little tolerance for the cold. - -Sandy grinned superciliously. “You guys should have been smart like me. -I wore my long red flannels.” - -“That’s a good point,” Dr. Steele said. “In this country, proper -clothing is essential to survival. It’s as vital as sufficient food and -drink. You must start conditioning yourselves to think about it.” - -Abruptly, they all became aware that Jerry was staring with hypnotic -fixity toward the edge of the landing field. - -“Hey!” Sandy asked. “What gives with you? What are you looking at?” - -Jerry’s eyes were glazed. Dumbly he raised one arm and pointed at the -mountains of snow banked at the sides of the field. Finally he managed -to mumble, “Snow. That’s snow?” - -“Of course it is. You act as if you never saw it before.” - -Jerry nodded, wide-eyed. “I never did.” - -Sandy and the two men broke out laughing. “Well, this is an occasion,” -Dr. Steele said. “I promise you you will have your fill of it before -we’re through with this trip.” - -Jerry was flabbergasted. “I’ve seen pictures of it, but I just never -realized there could be so much of it in one place. Man! That one drift -must be twenty feet high. Can you imagine waking up some morning in -Valley View and finding that in your front yard, Sandy?” - -“Well, I haven’t seen too much of it,” Sandy admitted. “But I’ve been up -to the Northwest with Dad a few times.” - -At that moment a jeep screeched to a stop nearby, its exhaust spewing -out smoke like a chimney. The corporal at the wheel leaned out and -yelled to them. “Dr. Steele here?” After the geologist identified -himself, the corporal told them to pile into the jeep. “There’s a gent -waiting for you at headquarters. A detail will be right out to unload -your baggage.” - -“How do you keep these runways free of ice?” Dr. Steele shouted to the -driver above the loud, rowdy roar of the little jeep motor. - -“Sweep ’em with giant vacuum cleaners regularly,” the corporal replied. -“When it gets really rough we melt the ice with flame throwers.” - - -Professor Berkley Crowell was waiting for them close by the glowing -steel-drum coal stove that reinforced the electric heaters in the big -quonset-hut headquarters. “You can’t beat the old-fashioned way,” he -said with a smile, toasting his fingers in the shimmering heat waves -that radiated from the top of the steel drum. - -The professor was a slight, stooped, very British-looking man in his -middle fifties. He had a thin weatherbeaten face, a sharp nose and a -close-cropped mustache. His deep-set blue eyes were warm and full of -good humor. - -“Well,” he said, upon being introduced to Sandy and Jerry, “I understand -that you boys will be helping me with my dog team.” - -“We’ll do the best we can, sir,” Sandy told him. - -“They won’t give you too much trouble,” the professor said. -“Titan—that’s my lead dog—he practically runs the whole show himself. -Possesses human intelligence, that animal.” - -“When do we get to see them?” Jerry asked. - -“As soon as we get back to my ranch. I’m situated about ten miles down -the Alaska Highway, toward Dawson Creek. That’s the southern terminus of -the highway.” - -When they had finished the steaming mugs of hot coffee served up by the -flying officers’ mess, Professor Crowell and his party climbed aboard -the big station wagon parked in the drive and drove away from the air -base. - -The Alaska Highway was a broad, smooth, gravel-topped road hewed through -some of the thickest forests and most rugged terrain on the North -American continent. Now the gravel was topped by a thick crust of snow. - -“A miracle of our century,” Professor Crowell explained as they drove. -“Built in just eight months by your amazing U.S. Army engineers in 1943, -when the Japanese forces were threatening the Aleutian Island chain. It -was a lifesaving artery to Alaska and a vital chain to our western air -bases. Sixteen hundred and seventy-one miles. Just imagine!” - -An auto filled with shouting children whizzed past them, traveling in -the opposite direction. It was weighted down with valises and bundles -strapped to the roof and fenders. - -“Where are they going?” Jerry inquired. - -“Pioneer settlers for your glorious forty-ninth state,” Professor -Crowell answered. “There’s a steady stream of them. Did you know that -the population of Alaska has tripled since World War Two?” - -“It sort of gives you goose pimples,” Sandy said. “It’s almost as if you -turned back the clock a hundred years.” - -“The last frontier of the United States,” Dr. Steele remarked. “On this -planet, at least.” - -“When will we be leaving, Professor Crowell?” Lou Mayer asked. - -The professor glanced down at his wrist watch. “It’s eight o’clock now. -I estimate we’ll be on our way shortly after noon. I want you fellows to -get a hot meal into you first. Then we’ll load the truck and station -wagon.” He looked around at Dr. Steele. “We’ll pick up your equipment at -Fort St. John on the way back.” - -Jerry was fascinated by the high banks of snow on the shoulders of the -road. “Boy, I wonder how they keep this thing open. Back in the States -we’re always reading about whole towns being cut off by a measly two -feet of snow.” - -“Even big cities like New York,” Sandy chimed in. - -The professor smiled. “That’s because cities like New York aren’t -prepared for heavy snowfalls. Up here, we expect it. Why, I bet a little -village like Dawson Creek has more snow equipment than most big cities -on the eastern seaboard of the United States. Along the Alaska Highway, -for instance, there are one hundred and twenty-five weather stations -alone, and almost as many maintenance stations. No, you stand a better -chance of getting marooned on the Pennsylvania Turnpike than you do on -this road.” - -Professor Crowell’s ranch house was located on a cutoff about a quarter -of a mile from the main highway. It was a sprawling frame building with -a large barn at the back of the property and completely surrounded by a -thick spruce forest. - -The professor, a widower, had twin daughters, Judy and Jill, who kept -house for him. Their domestic efficiency made them seem older than their -seventeen years. The girls were blond and blue-eyed and very pretty, and -Jerry couldn’t look at them without stammering and blushing. It was -obvious he was smitten with the twins. - -The Crowell household also included a middle-aged French couple, the -Duprés; Henri took care of the livestock and his wife, Marie, did the -cooking. Then there was Tagish Charley, who took care of the kennels. - -Tagish Charley was a full-blooded Indian. He stood 6′ 4″ tall, weighed -230 pounds and was as lithe as a panther. His hair was the flat black -color of charcoal, and his skin was the texture of ancient parchment. -Charley could have been any age, from 40 to 400. He spoke English well -enough, when he spoke, which was very seldom; and he said what he had to -say in as few words as possible. - -“Charley is economical with his money and his speech,” Professor Crowell -said when he introduced him to his guests. “He’s as stoic as a -cigar-store Indian.” - -Sandy and Jerry hit it off with Charley from the start. While the -geologists went over the last-minute details of their trip in the -professor’s study, Charley took the boys out to the kennel at one side -of the barn. A dozen husky dogs were frolicking in the snow inside a -wire enclosure. As soon as they saw Charley they all rushed over to the -gate and piled up in a seething mass of yelping, snarling, twisting fur, -leaping up against the chain link fence and falling back on top of each -other. It was a wild melee. - -“Wow!” Jerry exclaimed. “They look as if they’d eat you alive.” - -The Indian grunted. “No hurt. They want to play.” - -Jerry looked dubious. “I bet they play rough.” - -The Eskimo dogs were handsome animals. In reality they weren’t -particularly large; probably they weighed about 75 to 80 pounds and -stood 18 inches high at the shoulder; but with their broad chests, thick -necks and massive heads they looked enormous. Their great thick coats -varied in color from black-and-white to slate-gray, solidly and in -combinations of all three. They had powerful wolflike muzzles, sharp -ears and slanting eyes. - -Tagish Charley opened the gate and motioned the boys to follow him into -the pen. The dogs barked and leaped around the Indian, nipping his -trousers and mittens playfully. They ignored the boys. There was one -exception. Standing off to one side was a big, solid-black husky with a -white mask across his eyes and upper muzzle. By far the largest dog of -the lot—Sandy estimated his weight to be at least 100 pounds—he seemed -to regard the antics of his fellows with regal aloofness. Finally his -eyes turned solemnly on the boys and he started toward them. - -“Charley!” Jerry yelled, grabbing Sandy’s arm nervously. “He’s charging -us.” - -Sandy laughed. “Go on, you sissy. His tail is wagging. That means he -wants to be friends.” - -“You know that, and I know that,” said Jerry, edging backward, “but does -_he_ know that?” - -“That Black Titan,” Charley said. “Lead dog. Best husky in all the -North.” - -As the big dog nuzzled against his leg, Sandy leaned down and stroked -his broad, glossy head. “Nice feller. Good boy.... Hey, where did you -get that lump on your skull, Titan?” - -“He save professor’s life,” Charley declared without emotion. “Bad man -hit him on head with club.” - -“Bad man! When?” the boys exclaimed in a chorus. - -“Five, six nights back. Titan hear prowler. Jump over fence. Man open -window, climb into professor’s room, choke professor. Titan jump through -window, save him.” - -“What happened to the burglar? Did they catch him?” Sandy asked -excitedly. - -“No. He club Titan, dive through window into snow. Get away with dog -team.” - -“Gee,” Jerry said. “Even up here they got characters like that. Only -instead of a getaway car, they use dog sleds.” - -“Did he get away with anything valuable?” Sandy asked. - -The Indian’s brown face seemed to grow even darker. “He no come to rob -money.” - -“What do you mean?” Sandy asked. - -Charley shrugged. “Many strange things happen here this year. Professor -sleep with gun under his pillow.” - -Sandy and Jerry exchanged wondering looks. “Now who’d be out to get a -nice old geezer like the professor?” Jerry wanted to know. - -Sandy was thoughtful. “I don’t know, Jerry. I don’t know. But I have a -feeling we’re going to find a lot more excitement on this trip than we -bargained for.” - -“I agree with you,” a terse female voice said from behind them. - -Surprised, Sandy whirled around to find Judy Crowell standing in the -open gateway. Bundled up in ski pants, mackinaw and high boots, she -might have been a boy, except for the mass of golden hair sticking out -in tufts from beneath her wool cap. - -“Charley’s right,” she said. “A lot of strange things have been -happening around here during the last few months. Ever since Dad spent a -week in Ottawa this fall, he’s been a different man. He’s lost weight. -He can’t sleep or eat. And—” she shivered—“he always carries a pistol -with him. He’s afraid of something—or someone. But when Jill and I ask -him, he just laughs and says we’ve been seeing too many American motion -pictures.” - -Sandy felt cold prickles creep up his back. “It’s funny. My dad brought -along a gun with him too.” - -Jerry whistled. “What’s it all mean, Sandy?” - -“I don’t know, pal. But I don’t like it.” - -Still surrounded by his ring of canine admirers, Tagish Charley -addressed Judy Crowell. “You no worry about your papa, Miss Judy. -Charley take good care of him. Bad fellers come around, me break ’em up -like firewood.” He made a twisting motion in the air with his two huge -fists. - -For some reason Sandy felt relieved. “I didn’t know you were coming with -us, Charley.” - -Charley’s serious, expressionless face altered for a fleeting instant in -a suggestion of a smile. “I just decide now.” - - - - - CHAPTER THREE - A Mysterious Intruder - - -The little caravan headed north on the Alaska Highway about 12:20 P.M. -Professor Crowell, Dr. Steele and Lou Mayer led the way in the big -station wagon, which was loaded down with scientific equipment and -supplies. Sandy, Jerry and Tagish Charley followed in a surplus U.S. -Army six-by-six truck. The boys and the Indian all rode in the roomy -cab, with Sandy at the wheel. The back of the truck, roofed with a heavy -canvas top, had been converted into a comfortable compartment for the -professor’s seven prize huskies. Here, also, were the big dog sled, a -pyramidal tent, sleeping bags, cooking utensils and a Coleman stove. - -As Professor Crowell pointed out, there were tourist camps and aid -stations all along the highway, but sometimes it was more convenient to -set up one’s own camp at the side of the road. Particularly in winter, -travelers had to be prepared for emergencies. - -Both vehicles were equipped with heavy-duty tire chains on all wheels, -plus oversized snow tires, and they rode smoothly and firmly across the -hard-packed snow surface of the highway. - -As the afternoon deepened into an early dusk, the temperature plummeted, -and the chill penetrated the cab of the truck, even though the heater -was going full blast. Sandy doubled up his hands into fists inside his -mittens and wriggled his feet inside his fur-lined boots to stimulate -his circulation. - -“I’m warm as toast except for my fingers and toes,” he said. - -Jerry fingered his nose gingerly. “My old schnozzola is getting numb.” - -Tagish Charley, who was taking his turn at the wheel, patted his -stomach. “Belly say soon time to stop and eat.” - -Jerry yawned and looked at the dashboard clock. “Three-thirty,” he -announced. “We’ve been on the road for about three hours. How far have -we come?” - -Sandy studied the speedometer. “A little over one hundred and ten -miles.” - -“That’s pretty good,” Jerry said. “We’re averaging almost forty per.” - -A little while later they passed a river, and now Charley turned the -headlights on. Out of nowhere, it seemed, thousands of tiny snowflakes -swirled suddenly into the yellow cones of light. - -“It’s snowing!” Jerry exclaimed. - -Sandy surveyed the wilderness on both sides anxiously. “I’d hate to -spend the night out here in a blizzard.” - -“We stop soon,” Charley assured him. - -The words were scarcely out of his mouth when they rounded a curve and -came upon a little settlement set back in a clearing in a pine grove. It -consisted of two large quonset huts and three small log cabins. The warm -glow of lights in the small windows of the buildings gave Sandy a -feeling of well-being. The station wagon slowed down, tooted twice with -its horn and swerved off the highway into the circular drive that had -been plowed up to the entrance of the main building. As the truck’s -headlights swept across the front of the other larger quonset hut, they -could see that it had big sliding doors that allowed one entire wall to -open up like an airplane hangar. And as the lights probed the interior -of the hut, they could make out a neat two-engine plane mounted on skis. -The brief glimpse also revealed a big bulldozer plow and other -snow-fighting machinery. - -“Road crew,” Charley told the boys. “They good fellers. We eat good, -drink good and sleep good.” - - -“You were so right, Charley,” Jerry said later, as he pushed himself -away from the big plank table after sharing a hearty meal of roast lamb, -fried potatoes, home-made rolls and apple pie with Superintendent -MacKensie and his maintenance gang. “I never ate so good.” He polished -off a pint mug of milk that was half cream and sighed. “Or drank so good -either.” - -Superintendent MacKensie, a big florid-faced man, tugged at one side of -his blond handlebar mustache. “Here now, you’re not finished, are you?” -he asked. - -Jerry patted the round swell of his stomach. “If I ate another mouthful, -I’d burst, sir.” - -“That’s a shame,” MacKensie said solemnly. “Now Cooky’s feelings will be -hurt and he’ll make you wash the dishes.” - -A swarthy giant of a man at the far end of the table pounded the planks -with hamlike fists. “By gar, I weel!” he roared in mock anger. “You no -like Frenchy’s cooking?” - -Everyone laughed as Jerry looked around uncertainly. - -Dr. Steele patted his mouth with a napkin. “As Jerry so aptly put it, -Frenchy, ‘We never ate so good.’” - -“We’re happy you enjoyed it, Doctor,” Superintendent MacKensie said. -“Now if you’d like to go into the other room and toast your feet by the -hearth, I’ll have one of the lads stir up that fire in your cabin.” - -“An excellent suggestion,” Professor Crowell agreed. - -With the exception of a half dozen men of the road crew who had some -tasks to attend to, they all retired to the large, comfortably furnished -recreation room where an enormous stone fireplace almost covered one -wall. Sandy, Jerry and Lou Mayer sat cross-legged directly in front of -the blazing logs, on a thick bearskin robe that was spread-eagled on the -floor. - -“Man!” Jerry whispered in an awed voice, lifting the huge head and -inspecting the gleaming fangs that were still frightening even in death. -“I think if I ever ran into one of these babies I’d just roll over and -die before he laid a paw on me.” - -Lou Mayer poked one of the clawed forepaws with his toe. “Well, it’s a -sure bet you’d die if he ever _did_ lay one of those paws on you. -They’re as big as dinner plates.” - -Superintendent MacKensie, slouched in an old-fashioned rocker, sucked -his pipe gravely. “I’ve seen them kill a horse with one swipe.” - -“You’ve _seen_ them?” Sandy asked. - -MacKensie smiled reminiscently. “As a matter of fact _that_ fellow did -kill my horse. I was hunting with a party up on Kodiak Island. I -blundered around a rock right into the beggar. He rose up on his hind -legs, caught my horse with one blow in the choppers and that was it. I -managed to jump free. Then I pumped five shots into him. They might as -well have been darts. He would have got me for sure if the guide hadn’t -dropped him with a brain shot.” - -“Powerful beasts,” Professor Crowell acknowledged. “The Roman Emperor -Nero used to pit bears against lions in the arena. And frequently they -killed the lions.” - -“It’s a lucky thing we did bring all those guns along—” Jerry began, -than caught himself as Sandy and Lou Mayer stiffened visibly. “Well, -it’s a good idea with mankillers like this running loose,” he finished -lamely. - -Superintendent MacKensie laughed. “So you expect to do some hunting -while you’re up north, do you?” he said to Professor Crowell. He turned -to Dr. Steele. “Of course, the customs officials plugged up the barrels -of your weapons, didn’t they?” - -“Yes, they did,” Dr. Steele said emphatically. Speaking directly to -Sandy and Jerry, he explained. “You see, the Canadians don’t want -visitors to shoot up their game preserves, and quite rightly so. When we -cross the border into Alaska, the officials will remove the seals from -the barrels. Do you _understand_?” - -“Yes, sir,” Sandy mumbled, looking quickly away into the embers. He was -stunned. _Those automatics weren’t plugged up._ He had never heard his -father deliberately tell a lie before. - -Unaware of the tension that had mushroomed up, MacKensie stretched. “I’d -better be getting back to the radio shack and see what’s come in from -the weather stations on this storm. If she looks bad, I’ll have to keep -a crew on alert. Any time you gentlemen feel like sacking in, go to it. -Your cabin should be warm now. It’s small, but cozy. There are six bunk -beds, so it won’t be too crowded.” - -“Where’s Charley?” Sandy asked, suddenly aware that the Indian was not -in the room. - -“Right after supper he went outside to get your dogs bedded down,” one -of the crewmen told him. - -Professor Crowell smiled. “He treats them like children, and they love -it. Actually, though, all those huskies need for a bed is a soft -snowdrift.” - -“They like to sleep in snow?” Jerry asked incredulously. “Don’t they -freeze?” - -“No, once they tuck in their paws and stick their noses under their -tails, they’re ready for anything. Have you noticed their coats? Double -thick. Underneath that heavy outside fur there’s a short woolly -undercoat. The fact is they’re probably more comfortable sleeping -outside than next to a roaring fire.” - -Lou Mayer held his hands up to the flames. “We have nothing in common.” - -After MacKensie left, the other maintenance men began to drift off to -bed. The snow was coming down very hard, and they faced the prospect of -a long, hard day battling the drifts. - -About nine o’clock, Sandy yawned and stretched. “What do you say we turn -in, pal?” he said to Jerry. - -“I’m with you,” Jerry replied promptly. - -The boys looked inquiringly at the older men. “You two run along,” Dr. -Steele told them. “We’ll finish our pipes first.” - -Sandy and Jerry dug their mackinaws and mittens out of a heap of -clothing on the long table in the vestibule and slipped on their boots. - -“It’s only a hundred-yard walk,” Sandy admitted, “but at thirty below -zero it’s worth the trouble.” - -“Amen,” Jerry agreed, wrapping his wool muffler around his lantern jaw. - -The boys stepped out the back door of the big hut and followed the path -leading back to the cabins. Ten feet away from the building, the -wind-whipped grains of ice and snow closed in on them like a white -curtain, blotting out their vision. If it had not been for the clearly -defined path, they would have been helpless. - -“You could get lost in your own back yard in this stuff,” Jerry gasped. -“Yipes!” he shouted as he blundered off the path into a snowdrift. -“Where’s the St. Bernards?” - -Sandy took his arm and guided him back on the path. Finally, a dark -outline with a faint square of light in the center of it loomed up -before them. - -“Here we are,” Sandy shouted above the wind. “Home at last.” - -“If only the boys back at Valley View High could see us now,” Jerry -yelled in his ear. “Wouldn’t it be something to drop that Pepper March -out here some night? Boy! Or better yet, let’s drop him into a den of -those Kodiak bears.” - -Sandy laughed. “I don’t know which of the two is more ornery. He might -scare them off.” - -They reached the cabin door, and Sandy leaned against it and pushed it -open. They staggered inside and slammed it shut behind them. The -interior of the one-room shack was dark, except for the logs burning low -and evenly on the open hearth. - -Sandy blinked to accustom his eyes to the dimness. “I could have sworn -there was a light in the window as we came along the path.” - -“Probably the reflection of the flames on the panes,” Jerry suggested. - -“Yeah. Well, let’s light a lamp.” Sandy took several steps toward a -table silhouetted against the firelight, then stopped suddenly. “Hey!” -he said in a startled voice, nudging an object on the floor with his -boot. “What’s this junk spread all over the floor? Looks like somebody -was breaking up house. I wonder—” He broke off as a dark shape -materialized from the shadows in the far corner of the cabin and seemed -to glide toward him. At the same time, he heard Jerry’s excited shout in -his ear. - -“Sandy! There’s somebody in here. Hey, look out!” - -Sandy Steele, without even a consciousness of what he was facing, -reacted with his athlete’s instinct and reflexes. Crouching low, he -braced himself solidly, and as the figure loomed up before him, he threw -a hard body block at the middle of it. His shoulder hit a solid form and -he heard a soft grunt of pain and anger. As his arms grappled with the -intruder, he realized for the first time that it was a man. His fingers -brushed rough wool, and then he felt the steel fingers at his throat. - -“Get help, Jerry!” he bellowed, just before the wind was pinched off in -his throat. Then he took a hard, numbing blow at the back of his neck -and felt himself falling ... falling ... falling ... into blackness. - - - - - CHAPTER FOUR - Charley Works Out the Huskies - - -When Sandy regained consciousness he was lying flat on his back on a -cot, surrounded by a ring of anxious faces. He recognized his father, -Jerry, Professor Crowell, Lou Mayer, Superintendent MacKensie and -several other men from the maintenance gang. - -“What—what happened?” Sandy asked weakly. - -“It’s all right, Son. You’re fine. Just a nasty bump on the head,” Dr. -Steele told him. - -“He really clobbered you, Sandy,” Jerry said. “Then he straight-armed me -and sent me flying back over a chair. Before I could get up he was gone -in the blizzard.” - -“There’s no sense trying to follow him in this heavy snow,” MacKensie -declared. “His tracks are probably covered already.” - -“Did he get away with anything?” Sandy wanted to know. - -Dr. Steele and Professor Crowell exchanged significant glances. Then the -Canadian geologist said hurriedly, “No, he didn’t steal a thing. -Probably some renegade trapper looking for guns and ammunition. They -prey on unwary travelers, these chaps. I’ll bet he’s wanted by the -Mounties as it is.” - -Superintendent MacKensie looked puzzled. “He certainly was a queer one, -all right. He really messed things up. But, now, what do you suppose he -was after in that stuff?” He pointed to an open valise in the middle of -the room. - -Sandy propped himself up on one elbow and saw that Professor Crowell’s -notebooks and papers were scattered all about the floor. - -“He must have thought you had money hidden between the pages,” Lou Mayer -said quickly. - -Superintendent MacKensie scratched his head. “I dunno. It beats me. -We’ve never had anything like this happen before. There have been -hijackings on the highway, but no one’s ever had the nerve to break in -here.” - -“Well, no harm done,” Dr. Steele said. “And Sandy will be as good as new -after a night’s sleep. I suggest we clean this mess up and turn in.” - -The others agreed, and while Sandy rested on the cot they began to -gather up their scattered belongings. - -“I wonder if he got at the rest of the stuff we left in the station -wagon,” Professor Crowell said. - -“I doubt it,” Superintendent MacKensie said. “Your wagon is in the shed -with our scout plane and the heavy machinery. We’ve had men working out -there all evening.” - -After the cabin was in order, MacKensie and his men said good night and -went back to the main barracks. As they were undressing before the fire, -Dr. Steele questioned Sandy casually but with painstaking thoroughness -about his encounter with the intruder. - -“Was he a big man?” the doctor asked. “Did you get a look at his face?” - -Sandy shook his head. “It was too dark to see much of anything. All I -know is that he was big, taller than me, and husky.” - -“That goes for me, too,” Jerry agreed. “For all I know it could have -been Tagish Charley.” - -Professor Crowell dropped the boot he was holding with a loud clatter. -“What did you say, boy?” he asked in a tense voice. - -Jerry laughed nervously at the professor’s obvious dismay. “I mean he -was big like Charley. Of course it wasn’t Charley. Heck, it could have -been that big French cook. All I know is that he was big and strong.” - -“By the way,” Dr. Steele said suddenly, “where _is_ Charley?” - -No one answered for a long moment. Then Sandy said, “I guess he’s still -out with the dogs. Or maybe he’s back swapping stories with the -old-timers in the barracks.” - -Just as Lou Mayer was about to turn down the lamp, after the others were -all in bed, the cabin door swung in and Tagish Charley tramped into the -room. His hood and parka were encrusted with snow and ice, as were his -boots and trousers. He looked as if he had been out in the storm for a -long time. In the crook of his left arm he held a rifle. - -“Good lord, Charley!” the professor exclaimed, sitting upright on his -cot. “Where have you been, man?” - -The Indian walked over to the fireplace and shook himself like a great -dog. Carefully he leaned the rifle against the wall and shrugged out of -his parka. “I drink coffee in kitchen with Frenchy when man run in and -say someone break into this cabin. I take rifle and follow him.” - -“In this storm!” Sandy said. “You could have gotten lost and frozen to -death.” - -Charley grunted and tapped a finger to his temple. “Indian have thing up -here like pigeon. Always find way home. Bad man have sled and dogs -waiting in trees. No use follow him. If snow stop in morning, maybe I -look around some more.” He kicked off his boots, stepped out of his wet -trousers and spread them out over the back of a chair near the fire. -Then, like a big animal, he padded across the floor to an empty bunk. -Seconds after his head hit the pillow, the rafters shook from his -mooselike snores. - -Jerry leaned over the side of his top-deck wall bunk and grinned at -Sandy in the bunk underneath. “Now I know those guys up in Tibet are all -wet. There isn’t any Abominable Snowman. They bumped into Tagish Charley -when he was out for one of his evening strolls.” - -Sandy grinned back, but it was a weak grin. He was bothered alternately -by twinges of suspicion and pangs of guilt. It _couldn’t_ be Charley; he -_knew_ it! Yet, anything was possible. - -The snow stopped during the night and a high-pressure area moved into -the vicinity. Morning brought clear blue skies and bright sun. But the -air was still dry and frosty. - -“Actually, only about seven inches fell,” Superintendent MacKensie told -them at breakfast. “By the time you folks are on your way, the highway -will be slick as a whistle. Our patrol plane’s scouting back in the -direction of Dawson Creek to see if any motorcars are in trouble. If -anyone was on the road when that snow started coming down real hard, -they would have had to sit it out overnight.” - -“I hope we’re still here when the plane gets back,” Jerry said. “I’d -like to see how they land those babies on skis.” - -“Actually, it’s smoother than landing on wheels,” Professor Crowell told -him. “I know I prefer them.” - -“Do you have your own plane, Professor?” Sandy asked. - -“Oh, yes. In wild, big country like this, planes are more common than -family cars, and far more practical. In the summertime almost every lake -you pass on your way north looks something like a supermarket parking -field. Private planes, all sizes and shapes and makes.” - -Jerry whistled. “Boy, that’s the life. Can you imagine how that would be -back in Valley View? I can just hear myself saying to my father, ‘Hey, -Pop, I got a heavy date tonight. Can I have the keys to the plane?’” - -The men laughed and Professor Crowell said, “That’s not as much of a -joke as you think. My daughters are always flying up to Edmonton to shop -for their new spring outfits and Easter bonnets.” - -Jerry looked wistful. “Gee, it must be more fun being a kid up here than -it is in the city.” - -Dr. Steele smiled. “It certainly must be more exciting in some ways. -Then again, I suspect that youngsters like you and Sandy would miss your -malt shops, drive-ins and television.” - -“They have television here,” Sandy said. - -“Yes,” Superintendent MacKensie admitted, “but it’s pretty limited -compared to what you Americans can see.” - -The boys were intrigued by the heavy, thick flapjacks that Frenchy the -cook served with thick slabs of bacon. - -“They taste different than what my maw makes,” Jerry commented. “Sort of -sour.” Then, with an apologetic glance at the big, bushy-headed cook, -“But I love ’em.” - -Superintendent MacKensie’s eyes twinkled. “You may not believe it,” he -said, “but the fermented yeast dough that went into these flapjacks is -over sixty years old.” - -Jerry choked in the middle of a bite and swallowed hard. “Sixty years -old! You’re kidding, sir?” - -“Not in the least. It was handed down to Frenchy by his father, who was -a gold prospector up in the Yukon in the eighteen-nineties.” - -“Wow!” Jerry laid down his fork. “Talk about hoarders.” - -Dr. Steele laughed. “Sourdough, of course. Those old prospectors got -their nickname from it. You boys have heard of sourdoughs, haven’t you?” - -“Sure,” Jerry admitted. “I just never knew where the name came from.” - -“Sourdough was the prospector’s staff of life on the trail,” -Superintendent MacKensie explained. “Once he got the mixture just right, -he’d keep it in a tightly closed container and add to it as he used it. -But the culture always remained the same.” - -“Yeast is like a fungus,” Professor Crowell elaborated for the boys’ -benefit. “It’s composed of living, growing cells.” - -“Yes,” the superintendent went on. “This particular strain in the -flapjacks we’re eating has been kept alive for sixty years by Frenchy’s -family.” - -“_Oui_,” the cook spoke from the end of the table. “My _papa_ give some -of this sourdough to all his sons and daughters when they leave home. I -give to my son some day.” - -“Amazing,” said Lou Mayer. - -Frenchy stood up and swung a big, empty platter up on one hand. “I go -make some more, no?” He looked down at Jerry. “You eat five or six more, -hey, boy? They very small.” - -Jerry attacked the last flapjack on his plate with renewed relish. “A -couple more anyway, Frenchy. And maybe another slab of that bacon.” He -winked as Sandy began to groan. “Who knows, we may get stranded for days -in a blizzard without food. I’m storing up energy.” - -After breakfast, Sandy and Jerry went outside and watched Tagish Charley -work out the huskies on the landing strip off to one side of the road -station. The dog sled was about ten feet long with a welded aluminum -frame and polished steel runners. Extending halfway down both sides, -were guard rails to which baggage could be strapped. There was a small -footrest at the rear, where the sled driver could ride standing erect, -and a rubber-coated handrail for him to grip. - -The dogs milled about excitedly as Charley harnessed them to the sled. -They were hitched up in staggered formation, one dog’s head abreast of -the haunches of the dog in front of him. Black Titan led the pack, and -the driving reins were attached only to his harness. - -“Lead dog, he have to be very smart,” Charley told them, ruffling up the -thick fur collar around Titan’s throat. “He boss of team. Not driver. -Other dogs do bad job, he scold them. Sometimes he have to fight a bad -dog who make trouble.” - -“Do you think Professor Crowell’s team has a chance to win the race from -Whitehorse to Skagway?” Sandy asked him. - -“We win,” Charley said matter-of-factly. “Best team, best lead dog.” He -patted Titan’s head. “Black Titan pull sled all alone if he have to.” - -“Is the professor going to drive himself, Charley?” Jerry inquired -curiously. - -The Indian shrugged his shoulders. “Better he not drive in race. -Professor fine dog driver, but safer if he not drive this race. On trail -easy for bad men to get him. Better for Charley to drive team.” - -“Charley,” Sandy asked worriedly, “do you have any idea why the bad men -are after Professor Crowell? Why would anyone want to harm a nice man -like him?” - -Anger tightened Charley’s features. “Professor got something they want -very bad. They kill him if they have to.” - -“But _what_ do they want? What is it the professor has that’s so -valuable to them? Money? Jewels?” - -Charley shook his head. “Professor no have money or jewels. Maybe -something he have in here.” He tapped his finger against his forehead -wisely. - -Sandy looked at Jerry. “You know, he could have something there. I think -I’m going to have a man-to-man talk with my dad first chance I get.” - -The two boys rode on the sled as ballast while Charley put the powerful -team through its paces, whizzing back and forth on the hard-packed -surface of the landing strip and churning through high drifts in the -virgin snow around the fringes. - -“Great!” Jerry yelled in Sandy’s ear, clutching the guard rail with one -hand and, with his other hand, protecting his face from the spray of -snow flung back by the dogs’ flying feet. “This is better than the -roller coaster at Disneyland.” - -Sandy nodded vigorously. “That Titan is fantastic, isn’t he? He acts -almost human.” - -Seemingly aware of his admiring audience, Black Titan put on an -impressive display. Setting a pace for his teammates that kept their -tongues lolling from their black-roofed mouths, he guided them smoothly -into sharp turns and sudden twists and broke trail through muzzle-high -snow with his broad chest as if it were light as dust—all the time -responsive to the slightest tug at the reins. - -“He’s a marvel, all right,” Sandy told Charley later when the dogs were -resting after their work-out. - -“Boy, would I ever like to get into that big race. You don’t need any -passengers, do you, Charley?” Jerry asked. - -“Okay for you boys to come along. Need five hundred pounds on sled -anyway.” - -Sandy was overjoyed. “You mean it, Charley? Really? Jerry and I can ride -ballast on the sled?” - -“Sure. You ask professor.” - -At that minute, Dr. Steele came walking across the landing strip toward -them. “You fellows about ready to leave? It’s nine-thirty. -Superintendent MacKensie has had our vehicles warming up for almost half -an hour now.” - -Sandy spoke to Jerry in a low voice. “You help Charley get the dogs in -the truck. I want to talk to my dad—in private.” - - - - - CHAPTER FIVE - Christmas in the Wilderness - - -“Dad,” Sandy began haltingly as they walked slowly back to the barracks, -“Professor Crowell is in some kind of trouble, isn’t he?” - -Dr. Steele was evasive. “You mean because of that man who broke into our -cabin? What makes you think that had anything to do with the professor?” - -Sandy looked earnestly into his father’s eyes. “That was no ordinary -thief, Dad. He was after something in Professor Crowell’s notes and -papers.” His face became even graver. “Maybe they’re after you, too.” - -Dr. Steele tried to laugh it off, but his mirth was hollow. “Aren’t you -becoming a little melodramatic, Son?” - -“You don’t fool me for a minute, Dad. I know that whatever’s going on is -probably top-secret government business and you can’t tell me what it’s -all about. But I do think it’s only fair to tell me whether or not you -or the professor or Lou Mayer are in any danger.” - -Dr. Steele appeared to think it over very carefully. Finally, he sighed. -“Yes, I guess you’re right. I brought you boys along, so I don’t suppose -I have any right to keep you completely in the dark. The fact is we -_are_ in danger—all of us. I had no right to expose you boys—especially -Jerry—to this kind of thing, but I thought at first we could deceive -_them_ into believing that this was just a routine geological survey. I -was wrong. They’re far too clever.” His mouth tightened. “Maybe the best -thing to do would be to send you and Jerry back home.” - -“Dad!” Sandy looked hurt. “Not on your life. If you’re in any kind of -trouble, I’m sticking with you until you’re out of it.” - -Dr. Steele frowned. “I wish I could tell you more about this, Sandy, but -I’m bound by an oath of secrecy. You’ll just have to trust me.” - -“I trust you, Dad.” - -“As for Jerry James, I think it’s only fair for you to tell him what -I’ve told you and let him decide whether he wants to continue on with -us.” - -“I’ll ask him,” Sandy agreed. “But I know what he’s going to say right -now.” - -They were almost at the front door of the barracks now. “One more thing, -Dad,” Sandy said. “Tagish Charley. I like him an awful lot. You don’t -think that he—” - -“That he’s the one who ransacked our cabin last night?” the doctor -finished for him. “The same thought flashed through my mind, too. I just -can’t believe it, though. Charley’s been with the professor for years; -he’s like one of the family. Still—” his face went grim—“we don’t really -know—and we can’t afford to take chances.” - -Superintendent MacKensie greeted them as they entered the building. -“Your wagons are all set to roll,” he announced. - -Sandy took his friend aside just before they left the station and -repeated what his father had said, offering Jerry the choice of going -back to Valley View. - -“I ought to slug you,” the husky, dark-haired boy roared, his black eyes -flashing, his square jaw jutting out defiantly, “for even thinking I’d -back out on you when you were in trouble! What kind of a guy do you -think I am?” - -“Take it easy, Buster.” Sandy threw his arm around his friend’s -shoulders. “I told Dad that’s exactly what you would say.” - - -They made good time all that morning, and a little after one o’clock -they reached Fort Nelson. Here they ate lunch with the Game -Commissioner, an old friend of Professor Crowell’s. Later, while the -station wagon and truck were being refueled, the boys accompanied Tagish -Charley down to the Indian village on the banks of the frozen Nelson -River. Charley went straight to the house of the headman in the village, -and they talked earnestly and excitedly in an Indian dialect for some -time. - -On the way back to the truck, he told the boys: “That man know -everything go on in province. He say many strangers pass this way. They -say they French trappers, but they speak strange tongue and never sell -any furs.” - -“Did he say how many?” Sandy asked. - -“Maybe six.” - -Jerry clapped his mittened hands together. “And there are five of us. -Those aren’t bad odds.” - -“In a fair fight,” Sandy corrected him. “But from what I’ve heard and -seen of these guys, they probably have no idea of fighting fair.” - -The sun went down early, but this night was clear and the sky was full -of stars, so they drove on for quite a while after dark. At five-thirty -they came to a weather station near Lake Muncho. It was a small place, -manned by three technicians, and although the five guests really crowded -their quarters, the weathermen were very hospitable. - -“You chaps are lucky,” the man in charge told them. “This high-pressure -area should be with us for the rest of the week. You’ll have fine -weather all the way to Alaska.” - -“Gosh,” said Jerry, when he saw the small pine tree trimmed with tinsel -and colored balls and lights that stood in one corner of the shack’s -main room. “I almost forgot—this is Christmas Eve.” - -“It doesn’t seem like it, somehow,” Sandy said, feeling a slight twinge -of homesickness. “Not without Mom’s turkey dinner and presents and -Christmas carols.” - -“Christmas isn’t turkey and presents and chimes,” Professor Crowell -observed. “It’s what you feel in the heart.” - -“You’re right, sir,” Sandy admitted. Then he grinned. “I guess Jerry and -I are still kids at heart.” - -“That’s as it should be,” the professor said. “It’s one of the things I -admire most about you Americans—your boyish exuberance. You’re always -looking for an excuse to give a party. I think it’s one of the reasons -why you have so many national holidays.” - -“Nothing shy about us Canadians when it comes to a party either,” one of -the weathermen put in. He turned to his two partners. “Let’s show these -Yanks a real Christmas party. What do you say?” - -There was a chorus of “ayes.” - -After a hearty meal of tinned ham, fried potatoes and frozen candied -yams, topped off by a flaming plum pudding, they gathered in a tight -circle about the little fireplace and sipped hot cider and nibbled -marshmallows toasted in the winking embers. About nine o’clock the -weathermen picked up a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation program of -Christmas carols on their shortwave radio and piped it through a big -hi-fi speaker over the fireplace. - -“This is more like it,” Jerry sighed contentedly, stuffing himself with -marshmallows and roasted nuts, staring at the lights twinkling on the -Christmas tree and listening to the strains of “Silent Night.” - -Dr. Steele grinned mysteriously. “And who knows, maybe Santa will find -you boys even up here. Better pin up your stockings before you go to -bed.” - -There were only two extra cots at the weather station, so the boys, Lou -Mayer and Tagish Charley bedded down in their sleeping bags around the -fireplace. Just before he turned in, Charley fed the dogs and let them -run for a while on the deserted highway. Then he penned them in on the -big front porch of the weather station. - -Sandy fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow, and the next -thing he knew, sunlight was streaming into his eyes. Yawning, he sat up -and looked around. Tagish Charley and Lou Mayer were already up and off -somewhere. Only Jerry was still asleep, curled up in his sleeping bag -like a hibernating bear. - -Sandy’s eyes widened as they came to rest on the little Christmas tree -in the corner. Beneath it were piled assorted boxes wrapped in gaily -colored tissue and tied with tinseled ribbon. He leaned over and shook -his friend. - -“Hey, Jerry, wake up!” - -Jerry snorted and opened his eyes, heavy-lidded with sleep. “Whazza -matter?” he mumbled. - -Sandy grinned. “Looks like Santa was here while we were asleep. C’mon, -get up.” - -Sandy rolled out of his sleeping bag, put on his trousers, shirt and -boots and went over to the tree. Kneeling down, he read the tags on the -packages: “‘_To Sandy from Dad_,’ ‘_To Jerry...._’ Hey! There’s -something here for everybody.” - -He looked up and saw his father, Professor Crowell and Lou Mayer -standing in the doorway that led into the tiny kitchen. They were all -smiling broadly. - -“Well, don’t just sit there,” Dr. Steele said. “Pass them around.” - -As Sandy had observed, there was something for everyone. An intricate -chronometer wrist watch that told the days of the month and even the -phases of the moon for Sandy; a candid camera for Jerry; a gold fountain -pen for Lou Mayer; and a fine steel hunting knife with a silver inlaid -handle for Tagish Charley. Professor Crowell, with genuine Yuletide -spirit, gave a set of ivory chessmen he had bought from an Indian at -Fort Nelson to the three weathermen. They, in turn, presented the -professor and Dr. Steele each with a pair of fine snowshoes. - -After they had burned the wrappings in the fire, Sandy remarked rather -sadly, “Gee, Dad, now I wish I hadn’t left your present back home. But -Mom said we’d save all the gifts till we got back.” - -Dr. Steele put his arm around his son’s shoulders. “Sandy, the best -present you could ever give me is just being here.” He reached for Jerry -with his other arm. “That goes for you too, Jerry.” - - -Right after breakfast, they said goodbye to their new friends and headed -north again. They drove into Watson Lake, just across the border in -Yukon territory, about two o’clock. Watson Lake was one of the largest -towns along the Alaska Highway. In addition to a Mountie station and an -R.C.A.F. base, there was an airstrip for commercial airlines and -accommodations for putting up passengers overnight. They drove straight -out to the air force base, where the sentry ushered them through the -gate with a snappy salute as soon as Professor Crowell identified -himself. - -“The old prof really rates in these parts, doesn’t he?” Jerry mused, as -they drove through the precisely laid-out checkerboard streets past neat -log-cabin barracks to the HQ building. - -They were even more impressed by the reception the professor received -from the Base Commander, an old friend he had worked with in World War -II. - -“You’re just in time for Christmas dinner,” the Commander told them -happily. “Roast turkey with all the trimmings.” - -Jerry rubbed his stomach gleefully. “This stands to be the best holiday -season of our lives, Sandy. Wherever we go people give us Christmas -dinners.” - -The geologists decided to stop over at Watson Lake and get an early -start the next morning for the long, grueling uphill drive over the -divide. - -“What is the divide?” Jerry asked. - -“A high shelf on the continent that determines the direction of water -drainage,” Dr. Steele explained. “In the case of North America, it’s the -Rocky Mountains. All the rivers and streams on one side of the Rockies -run in a generally easterly direction; on the other side they flow to -the west.” - -“Will we have any trouble driving up those mountains with all this snow -and ice?” Sandy inquired of the R.C.A.F. Commander. - -“Well, it’s a pretty tortuous route,” the officer admitted. “But the -ascent is fairly gradual. With chains you shouldn’t have too much -trouble. Of course, if it should snow again, that would be another -matter.” - -“We’ll get an early start,” Professor Crowell told them. “About six -A.M.” - - - - - CHAPTER SIX - Attack from the Air - - -It was gray and cold when they left Watson Lake on the last leg of their -journey on the Alaska Highway. - -“At Whitehorse, we’ll give the car and truck a rest and take to the -air,” Dr. Steele explained. “The Canadian government has put a plane at -the professor’s disposal for as long as we’re up here.” - -But the big attraction at Whitehorse as far as the boys and Tagish -Charley were concerned was the big dog-sled race to Skagway. - -“The professor says it’s okay with him if Jerry and I ride ballast,” -Sandy informed the Indian. “That’s if it’s all right with you?” - -“Okay by me,” Charley said. He glanced sideways at Jerry. “But this boy -keep eating so much he get too fat to sit on sled.” - -Sandy let out a guffaw and Jerry pretended to sulk. “You guys have a -nerve,” he said. “You both lick your plates cleaner than Black Titan -does.” - -“If Tubby, here, is too much of a load for the huskies,” Sandy -suggested, “we can always let him run behind the sled.” - -Suddenly, Charley hunched down and squinted through the windshield. -“Plane,” he announced curtly. - -The boys followed his gaze but could see nothing. “Where?” Sandy asked. - -Charley pointed toward a line of snow-capped mountain peaks in the -distance surrounded by blue haze. Sandy saw a speck that moved out of -sight behind one of the peaks. He couldn’t make out what it was. - -“Are you sure it wasn’t a bird?” he said uncertainly. - -“It plane,” Charley said firmly. - -“Maybe it’s from one of the road stations,” Jerry suggested. - -“I guess so,” Sandy said and pushed down a little harder on the -accelerator to close the gap between them and the station wagon, which -had drawn about a quarter of a mile ahead. - -Gradually the road climbed, winding and twisting through canyons and -hugging mountainsides in hazardous stretches. At one such spot Jerry -peered down into the chasm that dropped off steeply on one side and -clapped his hands over his eyes. - -“I think I’ll get out and walk the rest of the way,” he groaned. - -Sandy’s face was grim as he nursed the big truck around the curves, -never letting the speedometer needle climb above the 30 on the dial. - -Then, without warning, a great throbbing roar bore down on them from the -rear. Instinctively, they ducked their heads as it seemed to shatter the -roof of the cab. An instant later a plane appeared through the -windshield zooming down the road toward the station wagon. - -“Yipes!” Jerry exclaimed. “What does he think he’s doing?” - -“The crazy fool!” Sandy said angrily. “He could have scared us off the -highway. Look at him! He can’t be more than fifty feet off the ground.” - -The little ship skimmed over the station wagon and started to climb in a -wide arc. - -“You think it’s a scout plane from one of the road stations?” Jerry said -anxiously. - -“I don’t know,” Sandy replied, trying to keep one eye on the road and -the other on the circling plane. “It looks as if he’s coming back -again.” Gratefully, he noted that they were approaching a less -treacherous section of highway. - -Once more they heard the little plane gunning its motor at top speed as -it flew up behind them. As it passed over them, a small round hole -appeared, as if by magic, at the top of their windshield. - -For a moment they were too stunned to react, then Jerry yelled, “They’re -shooting at us!” - -With an unintelligible oath, Tagish Charley whirled in the seat and -reached back through the curtain partition into the rear of the truck. -“Stop!” he told Sandy as he pulled out his hunting rifle. - -As Sandy brought the lumbering vehicle to a skidding halt at the side of -the road, he saw that the station wagon had pulled up also, and the -three geologists were piling out frantically. - -Tagish Charley motioned to a patch of timber about a hundred yards away. -“Go—fast.” The three of them floundered through knee-deep drifts as the -engine roar of the plane built up in their ears. - -“Down!” Charley bellowed. “Flat!” As the boys flattened out, the Indian -turned, dropped to one knee and threw the rifle to his shoulder. He -squeezed off two shots, leading the plane as if it were a wild duck. In -return, a fusillade of shots from the plane kicked up the snow all -around them. - -“Those guys really mean business!” Jerry yelled as they scrambled to -their feet and ran for the woods again. - -“This is like one of those nightmares where you’re being chased by a -wild animal and your legs move in slow motion,” Sandy gasped, churning -through the snow. - -They reached the trees just before the plane swooped over them again. -Crouching behind a tree bole, Charley emptied his rifle at the -retreating ship. A slug splattered the bark just above his head. - -This time as the plane climbed, a thin spiral of smoke trailed back from -the engine, and the rhythm of the motor was uneven. - -Sandy let out a cheer. “You got him, Charley! Good shooting.” - -Immediately the plane broke off its attack and headed north. Sandy led -the way down the road to where the three geologists were standing by the -station wagon, watching the ship dwindle to a speck in the distance. - -“Are you okay, Dad?” he yelled anxiously. “Anybody hurt?” - -“No, just badly frightened,” Dr. Steele replied. “How about you -fellows?” - -“No casualties,” Sandy reported breathlessly. “Just a bullet hole in the -windshield.” - -“It seems as if Charley saved the day,” Professor Crowell said. He took -one of the Indian’s big hands in both of his. “I’m glad you decided to -come along, my friend.” - -Charley gave him one of his rare, quick smiles. “Bad men try hurt you—” -He paused and drew a finger across his throat. - -“Like I said before,” Jerry declared, “I’m glad he’s on our side.” - -The Indian cocked his head toward the truck, where the dogs were setting -up a raucous clamor. “I go see if huskies okay.” - -Lou Mayer shivered and hugged his arms tightly around his body. “And to -think I could have been a teacher in a nice cozy classroom in some -peaceful college in the balmy South instead of shooting it out with -enemy agents in the Yukon—” He stopped short and looked guiltily at Dr. -Steele. “I’m sorry, sir. That just slipped out.” - -“That’s all right, Lou,” Dr. Steele said. “I think by now the boys have -a pretty good idea of what we’re up against.” Sensing the question that -was forming in Sandy’s mind, he added hastily, “But for the present, at -least, that’s all we can tell you.” As Lou and the professor were -getting back into the station wagon, he whispered to his son, “At least -this little incident answers our question about Charley, once and for -all.” - -“It sure does,” Sandy agreed. “We’ll see you later, Dad.” He and Jerry -turned and trudged back to the truck. - -Jerry’s voice was small and numb. “Wow! Enemy agents! Wow! Wait till the -guys hear about this!” - - - - - CHAPTER SEVEN - The Big Race - - -They rolled into Whitehorse late that night. The boys were surprised to -find a fairly modern city with paved streets, rows of stores and shops -and street lamps. As they drove down the main street, festively -decorated with wreaths, colored lights and holly, Jerry shook his head. - -“Why, it looks pretty much like Valley View.” - -“They even have bowling alleys,” Sandy pointed out. “And neon signs.” - -Later, as they ate supper in the hotel dining room, Dr. Steele told them -about the origin of the city: “Whitehorse was born in the gold rush, -when thousands of sourdoughs trekked over the mountains from Alaska and -the Pacific ports to seek their fortunes. Whitehorse was sort of a -jumping-off place. They ran the rapids to Lake Laberge in anything that -would float—barges, rafts, scows—and on down the Yukon River to Dawson. -A few of them struck bonanzas, but most of them found only poverty and -disillusionment. There’s just no way to get rich quick.” - -“I know you’re right, Dr. Steele,” Jerry remarked. “Though I was kind of -hoping that Sandy and I could strike out north with Professor Crowell’s -dog team and stake ourselves a claim. That French cook back at the road -station even gave me a jar of that sourdough of his to get us started.” - -Professor Crowell laughed. “Before you boys do anything like that, you -had better see how you stand up to the rigors of the trail during the -big race to Skagway.” - -“When do we start?” Jerry asked. - -“The day after tomorrow.” - -Charley gulped down a small roll with one bite. “Tomorrow we give -huskies plenty exercise. Not much to eat.” - -Sandy frowned. “You’re going to starve them before the race? Won’t it -weaken them?” - -Charley grunted. “No starve. Huskies can go week without food. They -little hungry, they run faster and fight harder.” - -“What are you, Lou and Professor Crowell going to be doing the rest of -this week?” Sandy asked his father as they left the table. - -His father thought about it a minute before answering. “Well, tomorrow -we thought we’d fly up to Fairbanks and visit the University of Alaska. -The president’s an old friend of mine. We hope to inspect some of the -fossils they’ve dug up lately. I understand they have some fine -specimens on display.” - -“Gee, I wish we could come with you,” Sandy said. “That sounds like -interesting stuff.” - -“Yeah,” Jerry agreed. “We kids in the States never get to see things -like that.” - -“Why, that’s not so, Jerry,” Professor Crowell objected. “Your American -museums and universities contain some of the most fascinating specimens -of prehistoric beasts that I’ve ever seen. The last time I visited the -American Museum of Natural History in New York I saw the leg of a baby -mammoth that was completely intact. It had been preserved for centuries -in a glacier, and the museum kept it in a deep freeze.” - -“The professor’s right, Jerry,” Sandy admitted. “The trouble with so -many of the kids we know is that they’re too lazy to use their eyes and -their ears—and their legs.” - -Dr. Steele interrupted. “As a matter of fact, did either of you boys -know that Black Bart, the notorious stagecoach bandit, is reputed to -have buried a strongbox with $40,000 in gold in the hills back of -Stockton?” - -“Gosh, no!” Jerry exclaimed. “What do you say, Sandy? Let’s go on a -treasure hunt next summer. That’s practically in our back yard.” - -Professor Crowell smiled. “That beats digging for gold in the Yukon, I’d -say.” - -“How long will you be in Fairbanks?” Sandy wanted to know. - -“Oh, no more than a day,” Dr. Steele said. “We want to get back to -Skagway to see you fellows come across the finish line in the big race.” - -“In first place, of course,” Jerry added smugly. - -“That would be a treat,” Professor Crowell said. - -“Now I think we should all go up to our rooms and get a good night’s -sleep,” Dr. Steele suggested. “We’ve had a long, trying day.” - -“That sounds good to me,” Lou Mayer seconded. “It will be a real -pleasure to rest my weary bones on an honest-to-goodness bed with a soft -mattress.” - -“You chaps go ahead,” said Professor Crowell. “I’m going down the street -to the police barracks and report that incident with the plane today.” - -“Do you really think that’s wise?” Dr. Steele asked gravely. - -“The chief constable is a reliable man,” the professor told him. “He can -be depended upon to be discreet. He may have received a report from one -of these local airstrips about a small plane making an emergency -landing. I don’t think those fellows could have traveled too far with -their engine smoking like that. If they did land near here, we can put -our people on their track.” - -Dr. Steele nodded. “Good idea. Do you want me to come with you?” - -“That won’t be necessary,” the older man assured him. “I’ll take Charley -along.” - -Upstairs, when the boys had bathed and changed into their pajamas, they -lay in the dark in the small hotel room they shared and discussed the -events of the day. - -“What do you think it’s all about, anyway?” Jerry wondered. “We know -enemy agents are after the professor. But why? It’s not like he was an -atomic scientist or something. What could they want with a plain old -geology professor?” - -“I don’t know,” Sandy said worriedly. “But it must have something to do -with our reason for coming up to Alaska. You can bet my dad and the -professor didn’t make the trip _just_ to look at fossils and take soil -samples. Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.” - -“Br-r-r,” Jerry said, “it’s like walking through a haunted house on -Halloween Eve. You don’t know what to expect. But whatever it is, you -know it won’t be good.” He threw back the covers and got out of bed. - -“Hey, where are you going?” Sandy demanded. - -Jerry padded across the room barefoot. “I just want to make sure that -door is locked.” - - -The day of the big race was bitter cold and the sky was leaden with snow -clouds scudding across the mountain peaks around Whitehorse. A huge -crowd had gathered at the starting line on the outskirts of the city, -and the air rang with merry voices and the yelping of dogs. Sandy and -Jerry huddled close to a big bonfire outside the officials’ tent while -Tagish Charley made a last-minute check of the sled and the dogs’ -harnesses. - -One of the judges came up and spoke to Sandy. “I understand you boys are -from the States. What do you think of our big country?” - -“It’s very exciting, sir,” Sandy said. - -“And very cold,” Jerry added. - -The judge laughed. “Wait until you’re out on the trail a few hours. Then -you’ll know how cold it is. You’re riding with Professor Crowell’s team, -right?” - -“Yes, sir. And we’re really looking forward to it. This is some big -event, isn’t it?” - -The air was charged with a holiday atmosphere. Men and women were -laughing and singing as they sipped from steaming mugs of coffee and -tea; and a few were drinking from mugs that Sandy suspected contained -even stronger brew. - -“The race from Whitehorse is a time-honored ritual,” the judge told -them. “Back in the old days, the course was even longer. From Dawson to -Skagway, almost six hundred miles.” - -“Good night!” Jerry said. “Those poor dogs must have worn their legs -down to the shoulder.” - -“As a matter of fact,” the judge went on, “Klondike Mike Mahoney used to -operate a mail and freight route from Skagway to Dawson.” - -“Who was Klondike Mike Mahoney?” Sandy asked. - -“A rather fantastic young man who came to the Yukon during the gold rush -and became a living legend.” He smiled. “You might say he was our -counterpart of your Davy Crockett.” - -“Hey! What are they doing?” Jerry pointed to a group of Eskimos who were -laughing and whooping as they catapulted an Eskimo girl high into the -air from a large animal hide stretched taut like a fireman’s net. - -“That’s one of their favorite games,” the judge said. “You’ve probably -played something like it at the beach—tossing a boy up in a blanket.” - -“Yeah,” Jerry said. “But not like _that_. She’s better than some -acrobats I’ve seen on the stage.” - -Time after time, the slender Eskimo girl shot into the air, as high as -twenty-five feet, like an arrow, never losing her balance. While they -were watching her, Tagish Charley joined them by the fire. In his one -hand he held a sheet of oiled paper on which were spread a half-dozen -cubes that looked like the slabs of chocolate and vanilla ice cream -served in ice-cream parlors. - -“Eat,” Charley said, offering them to the boys. - -Sandy took one gingerly. “Looks good. But what is it?” - -“_Muk-tuk_,” the Indian grunted. - -“A Northern delicacy,” the judge said with a straight face. - -Jerry stuffed one of the cubes into his mouth with gusto. “Say, that’s -good. Tastes like coconut.” - -Sandy nibbled at his with more reserve. “It does a little. Maybe a -little oilier. What’s it made of?” - -“Whale skin and blubber,” the judge informed him. “The white part is -blubber, and the dark is hide.” - -Jerry gagged momentarily, swallowed his last mouthful, then smiled -manfully. “I wish you hadn’t said that, sir,” he declared. “But it still -tastes good.” - -“You ready now?” Charley asked the boys. “Time for race soon.” - -They shook hands with the official and followed Charley over to the -starting line, where the teams were lining up. - -There were eight entries altogether. The dogs were prancing about -restlessly in their harnesses like proud race horses, their curved tails -waving over their backs. They were charged with excitement and seemed -eager to get started. The huskies on opposing teams eyed each other -sullenly, baring their long fangs and growling deep in their throats. -Occasionally, one would dart out of line and snap at another dog, but -there were no fights. Black Titan, like the good lead dog he was, -watched his team closely, and whenever one of them became too frisky and -pugnacious, he would bark a sharp command. Immediately, the offender -would drop his ears and quiet down. - -“They act almost human,” Sandy said. - -“I’ll say,” Jerry agreed. “That Titan reminds me of Mr. Hall, my math -teacher. No horseplay when he’s around.” - -Charley helped the boys arrange themselves in the sled, Sandy in back, -with Jerry in front of him, sitting between his legs. “Just like on a -toboggan,” Sandy observed. They tucked the big robe that covered them -around their sides as Charley took his place behind the sled and gripped -the handles. - -The sharp crack of the starter’s pistol split the crisp air and -Charley’s bellowing “Mush! Yea, huskies, mush!” almost split Sandy’s -eardrums. The figures lined up on both sides of them blurred rapidly as -the sled picked up speed, and wind and snow whipped into their faces. -Gripping the handles tightly, Charley matched the pace of the team -effortlessly with his long strides. - -“He’s not going to run all the way, is he?” Jerry yelled to Sandy. - -“I guess he wants to give the team the best of it this early in the -race. He’ll hop on when he gets winded.” - -But a half hour went by and still the driver’s boots pounded behind them -in unbroken rhythm. At first the seven teams were bunched pretty close -together on the hard-packed trail, then gradually the distance between -them widened. Sandy kept glancing back as Charley urged their sled into -the lead and finally lost sight of the nearest team as they rounded a -hummock and entered a stretch of forest. - -“If we keep this pace up, we’ll be in Skagway in time for lunch,” Jerry -said. - -The big Indian reined in the dogs when they reached a spot where three -separate narrower paths forked off the main trail. - -“Which way do we go?” Sandy called to him. - -Still breathing as easily as if he had taken a short walk around the -block, Charley answered, “All go to Skagway. We take middle trail. More -snow, but less up and down.” Having made up his mind, Charley shouted to -the dogs: “Mush! Mush! Mush, huskies!” And they were off again. - -A short time later they left the trail and went skimming down a -windswept slope that stretched away into a barren icy plain. Now Charley -hopped onto the back of the sled and rode like a Roman charioteer, -shouting encouragement to the dogs in Indian. Although there was no -broken trail, the sled rode solidly on the surface of the old snow -crusted over thickly by the 50-below-zero cold. - -“This is really living!” Jerry exulted, his voice trailing off eerily in -the slipstream behind the sled. At noon they stopped to rest the dogs in -the lee of a rock overhang. Sandy broke out a thermos of steaming coffee -and sandwiches, and Charley threw the huskies some chunks of lean dry -meat. - -“How far do you think we’ve come so far?” Jerry asked. - -Charley shrugged. “Twenty, maybe twenty-five mile.” - -“Say, that’s pretty good.” He looked back in the direction they had come -from. “Where do you suppose those other guys are?” - -Charley finished his sandwich, rumpled up the wax-paper wrapping and set -a match to it, warming his hands over the brief torch it created. He -motioned to the west. “Some follow other trail. Maybe a few stay just in -back of us. Let us break new trail for them. Then when our dogs tired, -they fresh and catch us.” He cupped one hand to his ear. “Listen!” - -The boys held their breaths for a minute, straining to hear. They could -just make out the sound of barking dogs floating on the wind in the -distance. - -“He’s right,” Jerry said indignantly. “That’s a sneaky thing to do.” - -“No, it’s not,” Sandy disagreed. “No more than a track man letting -another runner set the pace.” - -“No worry,” Charley assured them. “We win anyway.” - -“What a man you are, Charley.” Jerry regarded the big Indian with -admiration. “We could use you in the fullback spot on the Valley View -football team.” He grinned at Sandy. “I bet he could walk down the field -with both teams on his back.” - -Charley squinted up at the sky abruptly. The ceiling seemed even lower -and grayer than before. “It snow soon. We better go.” - -Sandy looked up too. “How can you tell?” - -“I know,” Charley said somberly. “Bad storm on the way.” - -“Oh, great!” Jerry said. “What happens if we get caught out in this deep -freeze in a blizzard?” - -“There are check points every twenty-five miles,” Sandy recalled what -the professor had told him. “We must be pretty close to one now, -Charley. Think we should stop and get a weather report?” - -Charley nodded toward the east. “Two, three miles over that way. On main -trail. We go there, we lose race. We stop at next post, at halfway mark. -Three hours away maybe.” - -“I guess that’s the only thing to do,” Sandy agreed. “Well, let’s get -moving.” - -Ten minutes later, the snow began to come down, fine granular pellets -that stung like sand as the rising wind blasted it into their faces. -Visibility was reduced to no more than fifty feet. Even the dogs were -slowed down. The snow, mixed with the loose surface fluff of previous -falls, piled up quickly in drifts. As it dragged at his boots more and -more, Charley began to mutter angrily to himself in Indian. - -“I don’t like it, Sandy,” Jerry said uneasily. “We’re never going to -make that check point before dark.” - -“At this rate we’ll never make it at all,” Sandy retorted. “Listen, -Jerry, what do you say we get out and trot along with Charley? It’s bad -enough pulling the sled by itself without our weight too.” - -“Good idea,” Jerry admitted. “Let’s give the dogs a break.” - -Sandy signaled Charley to stop and told him of their plan. - -“All right,” Charley agreed. “I go up front and break trail.” - - - - - CHAPTER EIGHT - Lost in a Blizzard - - -For the next half hour the boys were able to keep up with the sled. But -in the ever-deepening snow, their legs grew heavier and heavier. At -last, they lost sight of the sled in the swirling flakes. When Jerry -slipped and fell, Sandy cupped his hands to his mouth like a megaphone -and yelled: “Charley! Char-r-ley! Wait for us.” - -Gasping for breath, Jerry struggled up to his hands and knees. “I’ve had -it, Sandy,” he gasped. “I can’t go any farther.” - -Sandy helped his friend to get up and supported him with one arm. -“C’mon, boy, we can make it. As soon as we catch up with the team you -can rest awhile in the sled.” - -Clutching each other tightly, they staggered forward, trying to follow -the tracks of the sled runners. But before they had covered twenty-five -feet, the blowing snow had obliterated the trail. Sandy continued on -doggedly in the direction he thought the team had taken, dragging Jerry -with him. Every few steps he would stop and call: “Char-ley! Char-ley!” -But there was no answer—only the moaning of the wind and the hiss of the -snow beating against the fabric of their parkas. - -Once more Jerry sagged to his knees. “We’re lost, pal,” he muttered. -“Look, I’m exhausted. I can’t go a step farther. You go ahead and look -for Charley. When you find him, you can come back for me.” - -“Don’t be crazy, Jerry. Our best chance is to stick together. If we keep -walking, we’re bound to catch up to the team. Once Charley finds we’re -gone, he’ll stop and wait for us.” - -Jerry’s voice cracked. “I can’t see my hand in front of my face. We -don’t even know if we’re going in the right direction.” - -While he was speaking, a low, mournful howl drifted to them on the wind -from somewhere on their left. Sandy clutched Jerry’s arm. “You hear -that?” he said tensely. - -Jerry’s voice brightened. “That must be the team. C’mon.” With renewed -vigor, he veered off in the direction of the howling. - -Sandy grabbed him with both hands. “No, wait! It could be a wolf.” - -Jerry stopped dead. “Oh my gosh!” he murmured. “What are we going to -do?” - -Sandy dusted the snow that had crusted on his eyebrows with the back of -one mitten. “I don’t know. I still think we’re heading in the right -direction. Let’s go a little farther. If we don’t find Charley and the -team soon, we can always head over that way.” - -The snow was coming down so hard now that every breath was an effort. -Sandy felt as if he were being smothered in a sea of white cotton. He -stopped as the howling broke out again, in a chorus this time. - -“Maybe you’re right,” he said to Jerry. “That sure sounds like a bunch -of dogs.” - -“Yeah, let’s give it a try, anyhow,” Jerry pressed. - -They were just about to veer off in the direction of the howling when -they heard a familiar harsh rumbling directly in front of them. It was -the unmistakable growl of a husky. - -“Charley!” Sandy called out. “Titan! Black Titan!” - -A succession of sharp yelps knifed through the storm. “That’s the team -all right!” Jerry cried. - -Miraculously, their legs seemed to find new strength, and they -practically ran the rest of the way through the knee-deep snow. Directly -ahead of them, the sled loomed out of the darkness. The dogs, in -harness, were seated on their haunches or huddled low in drifts to -escape the force of the wind. But Charley was nowhere to be seen. - -Jerry sagged against the back of the sled. “Oh my gosh! What happened to -him?” - -“He must have doubled back to look for us and we didn’t see him in the -storm.” Night had deepened the blinding downfall even more. - -There was a tremor in Jerry’s voice. “You don’t think the wolves got -him, Sandy?” - -“No, they rarely attack a man. Especially with the dogs here. Besides, -Charley had a rifle.” He rummaged through the packs on the front of the -sled. “It’s not here, so he must have taken it with him.” - -“What do we do now?” Jerry wanted to know. “Go back and try to find -Charley?” - -“That’s the worst thing we could do,” Sandy said emphatically. “We’d get -lost but good. No, the best thing to do is to wait here until Charley -gets back.” - -Jerry was skeptical. “I’m not sure even an old woodsman like Charley can -find his way back in this soup.” - -“Maybe if we shout to him he’ll hear us,” Sandy suggested. - -For the next ten minutes the boys pitted their voices against the -intensity of the raging storm. But even in their own ears their shouts -sounded pitifully weak. At last they gave it up. - -“It’s no use,” Sandy said hoarsely. “We’ll just have to wait.” He -crouched down in the lee of the sled. - -What seemed like hours passed and still there was no sign of Charley. -The boys could feel the cold seeping through their heavy clothing and -stiffening their limbs. They were both badly frightened now. - -“Sandy,” Jerry pleaded, “we just can’t sit here and do nothing. We’ll -freeze to death. My nose and cheeks are numb now.” - -Sandy fought back the panic that was rising in him too. “If we don’t -lose our heads, we’ll be okay, Jerry. The way it looks now, we’re going -to have to spend the night here. Tomorrow, they’ll have search parties -out looking for us. I bet the rest of the contestants are in the same -boat we are.” - -“We’ll be stiff as washboards by then,” Jerry prophesied. “Frozen wolf -food.” - -“Don’t be a nut,” Sandy snapped. “Now get up and help me rig up a -lean-to.” - -“A lean-to?” Jerry said wonderingly. “What kind of a lean-to?” - -“The kind Charley says the Eskimos build on the trail. They fasten a big -hide to the side of the sled that’s out of the wind and peg the other -side down to the ice, or weight it down. The snow piles up against the -far side of the sled, forming a solid windbreak, and you have yourself a -cozy little tent.” - -“We don’t have any hides,” Jerry said. - -“We have that big rug in the sled. C’mon, let’s get to work.” - -While Sandy fastened the robe to the top of the sled’s guard rail, Jerry -weighted the far side down with a pair of snowshoes he found in the sled -and heaped up snow on top of the shoes until they weighted down the robe -securely. When they were finished, Sandy scooped the excess snow out -from beneath the robe and they had a small lean-to with just enough room -in it to shelter two people. - -“Well, that’s that,” Sandy said with satisfaction, brushing off his -mittens. “Now I’ll unhitch the dogs while you get our supper ready.” - -The erection of the lean-to had renewed Jerry’s confidence. “What’ll you -have?” he inquired flippantly. “Roast turkey with chestnut stuffing or a -thick steak smothered with onions and a side of French fries?” - -Sandy played the game with him. “No, I’m getting sick of that goppy -stuff. How about a couple of frozen sandwiches and a thermos of cold -coffee?” - -“Just what I had in mind,” Jerry called to him as he rummaged through -the packs on the sled. “Are we going to feed the huskies?” - -“Sure, get out some of that meat Charley keeps in that big tin can up -front.” - -The dogs seemed overjoyed to see Sandy. They leaped about him, wagging -their tails furiously and barking and whining. - -“I bet you guys are hungry,” Sandy spoke to them. “Keep calm. Your -dinner’s coming right up.” - -When he knelt beside Black Titan to remove his harness, the big lead dog -jockeyed obediently into the proper position. As soon as he was free, he -nuzzled affectionately against the boy’s cheek. “Hey!” Sandy laughed. -“That is the coldest nose I ever felt in my life.” He ruffled up the -thick fur around the husky’s throat with his fingers, and was surprised -to feel the soothing warmth deep down in the animal’s undercoat. “Boy, I -wish I had your fur, Titan. No wonder you can sleep in a snow foxhole.” -He pressed both hands against Titan’s body gratefully. “That feels good, -old boy.” - -Jerry came up behind him with the can of dog meat. “And look what else I -found.” He held out a bulky .45 Colt automatic. “It’s fully loaded, -too.” - -The sight of the lethal-looking pistol was reassuring. “Dad must have -given it to Charley before we left,” Sandy reasoned. “He asked me if I -wanted to take a gun along, but I knew Charley had his rifle, so I -didn’t bother. It’s a good thing we have it. Now maybe we can signal to -Charley. Fire a few shots in the air to let him know where we are.” - -“Good idea,” Jerry agreed. “And I’ve got an even better one.” - -“What’s that?” - -“Let’s send old Titan out to find his buddy. Bet you he can do it.” - -Sandy was pessimistic. “I don’t know if he could pick up Charley’s trail -in a storm like this, but we can give it a try.” - -While the dogs were gulping down their food, the boys rummaged through -Charley’s gear until they found a heavy wool shirt that the Indian had -recently worn. When Black Titan had finished eating, Sandy held the -shirt under his nose. - -“Charley, Charley,” he kept repeating. “Go find Charley, Titan.” He -slapped the husky on the rump. “Go on, Titan!” - -Titan began to whine as he sniffed at the shirt. Then he trotted off -into the blizzard with his head down. When he had disappeared from -sight, Jerry turned to Sandy. “Well, what do we do now?” - -“Eat supper and climb into our sleeping bags, I guess. But first I want -to fire a couple of shots to see if we can signal Charley.” - -He took out the heavy automatic and levered a shell into the firing -chamber. Pointing it up in the air, he pulled the trigger. The muzzle -flash lit up the night briefly like lightning, but the shot was muffled -by the wind and thick curtain of snow. The dogs milled around nervously -and began to bark. Sandy fired one more shot, then shoved the gun back -in the pocket of his parka. - -“I bet those shots didn’t carry over five hundred feet. I feel as though -we’re inside a vacuum. I don’t want to waste any more shells until this -gale lets up a little. C’mon, let’s sack in for the night.” - -They gathered up the sandwiches, coffee thermos, Coleman stove and -sleeping bags and crawled into the lean-to. The blowing snow had sealed -up all the cracks and even the openings at either end of the makeshift -shelter. Sandy burrowed through a drift at the rear of the sled to form -an entranceway. - -“This back end gets less wind,” he explained to Jerry. - -The interior of the lean-to was cramped, but seated with their backs -resting against the sides of the sled and their legs crossed in front of -them, they were not too uncomfortable. Sandy pumped up the pressure in -the one-burner gasoline stove and lit it. He turned the wick up -abnormally high until the pale-blue flame became streaked with yellow -and began to smoke slightly. Although this was a waste of fuel and -reduced the cooking efficiency of the stove, it provided more light and -warmth. - -“Say, this is all right,” Jerry said, grinning. “It reminds me of the -time we went on a Boy Scout camping trip and slept in pup tents.” - -Sandy grinned. “The only difference was we were only a ten-minute walk -away from home and there was a hot-dog stand across the road from the -bivouac area.” He took a half-frozen sandwich out of the knapsack and -passed it to Jerry. “Be careful you don’t break your teeth when you bite -into it.” - -“Thanks, pal.” Jerry filled two aluminum canteen cups from the coffee -thermos and sipped from one. “It’s lukewarm, anyway,” he commented. - -“I’ve got an idea,” Sandy said. “We can heat the cups on the stove and -sit the sandwiches on top of the cup. That way the steam will thaw out -the bread.” - -“Brilliant. If it wasn’t so cold, I’d take my hat off to you.” - -Ten minutes later, they were munching hungrily on a relatively decent -meal. Jerry inhaled the steam that was rising from his canteen cup and -sighed contentedly. “I know it must be my imagination, but right now I’d -say this is the best-tasting chow I ever ate.” - -Sandy laughed and nodded. “We used to say the same thing about the -mickeys we roasted in the corner lot when we were kids. All black with -ashes and dirt, but boy, they sure did taste good.” He lowered the wick -a little on the stove. “It’s probably the hot coffee, but I’m beginning -to get warm in here.” - -“What’s wrong with being warm?” Jerry protested. “Turn it up as high as -it will go.” - -Sandy frowned. “When you live in frigid temperatures it’s safer to feel -a little cold than it is to be overheated, because when you cool off, -the perspiration will turn to ice on your skin.” - -“Perspiration!” Jerry gawked incredulously. “Are you kidding?” - -“Well, we’re not going to take any chances. As soon as we’re finished -eating, I’m going to turn off the stove altogether.” - -“Not until I’m snug in my bedroll,” Jerry begged. - -Sandy looked worried. “Poor Charley. He’s not going to be very snug -tonight. No bedroll, no food. Gee, I wish I knew what happened to him.” - -“What makes it worse,” Jerry said gloomily, “is that it’s our fault. If -we hadn’t dragged so far behind, he wouldn’t have had to go looking for -us.” - -The boys finished their sandwiches and coffee in subdued silence, -staring out into the stormy night through the diminishing black hole of -the entranceway. - -“You know,” Sandy said suddenly, “in another hour we’ll be snowed in -tight inside this lean-to.” - -Jerry surveyed the drifting snow anxiously. “You’re right. Like a tomb. -We’ll be able to get out, though, won’t we?” - -Sandy reached over and enlarged the opening with one hand. “Oh, yes. -It’s as light as powder.” - -After they had finished eating and wrapped up the garbage, they prepared -to bed down for the night. “We’d better do this one at a time,” Sandy -suggested. “We’d only be in each other’s way moving around in here -together. I’ll go outside until you’re all settled. You lie with your -head up at the front of the sled. I’ll lie the opposite way. That way -we’ll have more room.” - -Crawling on hands and knees, Sandy pushed through the drift that was -blocking up the opening. A furious blast of bitter cold wind took his -breath away as he got to his feet and sent him reeling back from the -sled. It was even warmer inside the lean-to than he had realized. He -recalled that Tagish Charley had a powerful flashlight in his gear and -walked through knee-high snow to the front of the sled to look for it. -It would be wise to keep it handy in the lean-to, he decided. He found -the light easily and turned it on to see how the dogs were making out. -They were all huddled together behind the windbreak of the sled, -growling and shifting around restlessly. As the flash beam swept over -them, a few cringed and bared their fangs. Their behavior distressed -Sandy, who had expected that by now they would all be cozily balled up -in holes and snoring peacefully. He skirted around them and walked back -to consult with Jerry. Beaming the light on the lean-to, he saw that the -snow was mounding it over like an igloo. Once more he had to dig the -snow away from the entrance before he could get in. - -When he crawled inside, he saw that Jerry was stretched out in his -sleeping bag, the hooded cover zipped up tightly around his head. Only -his eyes, nose and mouth were showing. - -“How’s the weather outside?” he asked Sandy. - -Sandy shook the snow off his hood. “Same as before. Terrible. The dogs -are acting up, too. I’m worried.” - -“Maybe they’re cold.” - -“I don’t think so. They act frightened.” - -“Me too. We’re snowbound in the Yukon. Charley’s missing, probably -frozen to death in a snowdrift. Our food is about gone. What a mess! I’m -scared plenty.” - -At that moment a long, mournful animal howl rose clearly above the -intensity of the wind. Before it trailed off, another howl and still -another joined it, forming an eerie chorus. - -Jerry snapped upright like a jack-in-the-box, his face drained of blood. -“Wolves!” - -“And close by,” Sandy said grimly. - -Outside, the dogs were really setting up an uproar now, snarling and -barking frantically. - -Despite the seriousness of the situation, Sandy had to smile as he -watched his friend struggling to get out of the sleeping bag. In his -excitement, Jerry couldn’t work the zipper. “Get me out of this strait -jacket!” he yelled. - -“Take it easy,” Sandy said. “In that bag you look like a big fat hot dog -with a face.” - -“Not so loud,” Jerry cautioned him. “The wolves might hear you. Just -hurry and get me out of here.” - -Between them they finally got the sleeping bag unzipped, and Jerry -rolled out. Sandy took the Army .45 out of his pocket and checked the -clip. There were still four shells in it. - -“Do we have any more ammunition for that cannon?” Jerry asked anxiously. - -“Probably up front in Charley’s gear. I’m going up to get it.” - -“I’m going with you,” Jerry said promptly. “One of those wolves might -poke his snout in here while you’re gone.” - -They scrambled out into the blizzard and stood up. Sandy switched on the -flashlight and swept it in a wide circle about them. The powerful beam -seemed to run into a solid wall of white no more than fifty feet away. -He turned it on the dogs, who were setting up such a loud racket that it -drowned out the howling of the wolves. The huskies were all on their -feet now, standing stiff-legged with their tails curled tightly beneath -their bellies. Their lips were drawn back over their teeth, and the -thick fur around their necks bristled like porcupine quills. Sandy swung -the light in the direction of their gaze, and felt his heart flip and -miss a beat. Glowing greenishly through the falling flakes was a circle -of eyes. They were there for just an instant and then faded back out of -range of the beam. - -Jerry gripped Sandy’s arm tightly. “There must be a whole pack of ’em. -They’re just waiting for us to fall asleep and then they’ll jump us.” - -One of the huskies began to slink forward toward the wolves, his belly -flattened close to the ground. - -“Come back here, boy!” Sandy shouted. “They’ll tear him to pieces,” he -muttered to Jerry. He cocked the automatic and aimed in the direction of -the glowing eyes. “I hate to waste ammo like this, but maybe we can -scare them off.” - -He fired three shots. The last shot was answered by a sharp yelp of -pain. - -“You got one!” Jerry yelled excitedly. - -“Shh! Listen!” Sandy said. Above the wailing of the storm they could -hear wild snarling and yelping. - -“Sounds like they’re fighting among themselves,” Jerry said. - -The commotion ended as abruptly as it had begun, and although Sandy kept -searching the darkness with the light for a long time, there was no -further sign of the wolves. At last, when the dogs quieted down and -curled up in burrows, the boys relaxed. - -“I guess the shots did scare them off at that,” Sandy decided. “Now -let’s find that box of ammo in Charley’s pack, and then we can go back -inside and see if we can get some rest.” - -“Sleep?” Jerry said. “Are you kidding? Suppose they come back again?” - -“The dogs will warn us if they do.” - -Jerry shivered. “Okay. But I’ll take the bed next to the wall, just in -case.” - -The snow had completely blocked the entrance, and they had to shovel -energetically to clear it. “Man, it’s really warm in here,” Jerry said -as he crawled into the lean-to. - -The snow wall that had built up at the other end of the lean-to and on -the sled side was smooth and glistening. “Just like an igloo,” Sandy -said. As soon as they were inside their sleeping bags, he turned off the -Coleman stove. - -Jerry sighed as the little hut was plunged into pitch-darkness. “If I -didn’t know better, I’d think I was back in my little trundle bed in -Valley View.” - -“Go to sleep,” Sandy grunted. He was facing the entrance and the -automatic was within easy reach in his side pocket. In an emergency, he -knew he could fire right through the sleeping bag. - -Gradually, his eyes became accustomed to the darkness and he could make -out the faint outline of the round doorway. His eyelids grew heavier and -the hole grew smaller and smaller. Then he dropped off to sleep. - - - - - CHAPTER NINE - Trapped in an Icy Tomb - - -When Sandy awoke, it was still pitch-dark inside the lean-to. He was -about to roll over and go back to sleep, but he decided to see what time -it was first. He pulled down the zipper of his sleeping bag, fumbled for -the flashlight and flicked the switch. - -The sudden burst of light woke up Jerry. “Whazza matter?” he mumbled. - -“Go back to sleep,” Sandy told him. “It’s still the middle of the -night.” He turned the spot on his wrist watch. “What the—” he exclaimed, -and sat up, startled. He squinted at the dial again, but there was no -mistake. It said 7:30. “That’s impossible! It must have stopped!” But he -held it up to his ear and heard the steady, rhythmic ticking. - -“What’s the matter with you?” Jerry, fully awake now, propped himself up -on one elbow. - -Suddenly, Sandy began to laugh. “Oh, I get it. We’re snowed in.” He -explained to Jerry. “My watch said it was half past seven, but I -couldn’t believe it because it was so dark in here. It’s the snow; it’s -blocking out the daylight.” - -“It’s really morning?” Jerry said doubtfully. “Well, let’s go out and -find out.” He unzippered his sleeping bag. - -Propping the torch up in the snow, Sandy tried to push his head and -shoulders through the drift that blocked the entrance. It was like -running into a stone wall. “Ouch!” he cried. He dug at the snow with his -fingers, but his mittens slid futilely off a surface that was as smooth -as a skating rink. - -“Well, come on,” Jerry said impatiently. “Let’s go.” - -“Door’s frozen up,” Sandy told him. He sat down and tried to kick -through the ice with his feet, but couldn’t dent it. He turned to Jerry. -“Try your end. This one is plugged up solid.” - -“So is this end,” Jerry reported, after pounding away with his hands and -feet for several minutes. “So, we’ll go out the side.” He grabbed one -corner of the robe and tugged it loose from where it was anchored under -the snow, while Sandy worked on the other corner. Then they pulled it -aside, exposing a smooth, glittering expanse of ice behind it. - -Sandy tested it with his fist and whistled. “Like iron.” - -There was a tremor in Jerry’s voice. “What goes on around here? Maybe I -wasn’t kidding last night when I called this thing a tomb.” - -“Take it easy,” Sandy soothed. “It’s only snow.” - -“Yeah, ice,” Jerry repeated. “You ever see them drive trucks across the -ice on frozen lakes? I’ve seen it in newsreels. That ice is pretty -rugged stuff.” - -“You got a knife?” Sandy asked. “I left mine in the sled.” - -“So did I. Say, let’s try to move the sled,” Jerry suggested. - -They both shoved and pulled at the sled for a long time, but it seemed -welded to the spot. At last, Jerry sank down exhausted. “I don’t get it. -What happened?” - -Sandy played the light over the walls of the lean-to. “I can guess. -Remember how cozy and warm it got in here last night? Between that stove -and the heat from our bodies, I bet the temperature in here was a good -fifty degrees higher than it was outside. The heat radiates through the -snow, causing it to melt partially. Then it freezes up. That’s how the -Eskimos harden the walls of their snow houses. They build big bonfires -in them.” - -“Only they don’t forget to make doors in ’em,” Jerry said grimly. -“Another thousand years from now, I can see a couple of geologists like -your dad and the professor digging us out. Preserved in a block of ice -like that baby mammoth.” - -“It’s no joking matter,” Sandy said. “We’ve got to think of a way to -break out of here. One thing, though: they’re bound to send out search -parties and sooner or later they’ll find the sled.” - -“What makes you think so?” Jerry demanded. “The sled is probably covered -with snow by now and this must look like any other part of the -landscape. And you don’t think those dogs are going to hang around here -forever, do you? They’ve probably run off looking for food already.” - -Sandy felt his heart begin to race madly. “I never thought of that,” he -admitted. “Well, it’s up to us then. What have we got that we can use as -a chipping tool?” - -“Only thing I can think of that’s metal is the Coleman stove.” - -“That’s no good. No sharp edges.” - -They were silent for a moment, then Sandy snapped his fingers. “I’ve got -it! The gun!” He took the bulky .45 out of his pocket and held it up in -the light. “We’ll blast our way out.” - -Jerry looked worried. “You know what they say about shooting fish in a -rain barrel? Well, if one of those slugs ever ricochets inside here, -we’ll be dead fish.” - -“It’s our only chance,” Sandy said. He loaded the gun, cocked the hammer -and nudged off the safety with his thumb. Holding the gun at arm’s -length away from him, he pointed the muzzle at the end where the -entrance had been. “Better make sure your hood is pulled tight over your -ears,” he advised Jerry. - -“I’m all set. Let ’er go.” - -Sandy shut his eyes and tightened his finger on the trigger. The -explosion reverberated like a bomb in the small lean-to. Sandy felt the -shock wave slam into his face, and the recoil almost tore the gun out of -his hand. He sat there stunned for a while. - -Jerry’s voice screaming in his ear brought him out of it. “Sandy, it -worked!” - -He opened his eyes to the most wonderful sight he had ever seen. A beam -of sunlight was pouring through an opening in the ice wall. The potent, -snub-nosed .45 slug had blasted a hole almost four inches in diameter. -In the light of the flashlight, he also observed that the ice around the -hole was shattered and veined from the shock wave. - -Dropping the gun back into his pocket, Sandy got on his knees and began -to work on the opening with his hands. Snow and ice crumbled easily, and -before long he had enlarged the hole so that he was able to squirm -through. Jerry was right behind him. Painfully, they stood up. - -“Oh,” Jerry groaned. “I feel like a dog on its hind legs.” Looking up at -the clear blue sky, he threw kisses into the air with both hands. “Mr. -Sun, I never figured we’d ever see you again.” - -It was a perfect, cloudless day without even a breeze. Looking around -him, Sandy realized that the high winds of the night before had -exaggerated the intensity of the blizzard. Except where it had drifted -around the sled and lean-to, no more than twelve inches of new snow had -fallen. He discovered, too, that they had been traveling along the ridge -of a low hill and had stopped on the most exposed spot in all the -surrounding terrain. On either side, the ground sloped away gently into -protected valleys thick with fir trees. - -After spending hours shut up in the gloom of the lean-to, the boys found -the sunlight on the snow blinding. They dug their smoked glasses out of -their packs and put them on. The dogs crowded around them, yelping and -wagging their tails. - -“I guess they’re hungry,” Sandy said. “Is there any meat left?” - -“A little,” Jerry said. He went to get the can of food from the front of -the sled. As he threw the last chunks of raw horse meat to the huskies, -he eyed it forlornly. “I’m so hungry I could eat it myself.” - -Sandy grinned. “Even some of that _muk-tuk_ would look good to me now.” - -“Are the sandwiches all gone?” - -“We finished them last night.” - -They had just finished feeding the dogs when a faint “Ha-lo-oo-oo...” -floated through the still air. On a distant ridge the figure of a man -and a dog were silhouetted against the sky. - -“It’s Charley and Titan!” the boys yelled in unison. They began to leap -up and down, waving their arms and screaming, “Charley! Over here!” - -Less than a quarter of an hour later, the Indian came plowing up the -hill with Black Titan floundering behind him. They hugged him joyfully -and pounded his back, and even Charley was grinning from ear to ear. He -listened solemnly while they related their harrowing experiences with -the wolves and how they had been trapped in the lean-to. - -Charley had had a pretty bad time of it himself. He admitted that, for -the first time in his life, he had lost his way when he went back to -look for the boys, and had somehow mistaken east for west. Confused and -blinded by the shifting gale winds and whipping snow, he had wandered -off to an adjacent ridge. After walking around for hours, he had become -exhausted—he had been tired out by running twenty-five miles behind the -sled to start with—and erected a lean-to in a clump of thick pine trees -in the sheltered valley. He had built a big fire and had fallen asleep -beside it almost immediately. The next thing he knew, Black Titan was -licking his face and the first streaks of dawn were filtering through -the pine branches overhead. He had been searching for the boys when he -heard the gunshot. - -Using the snowshoes as shovels, the three of them dug the sled out of -the snow bank. The intense heat of the sun softened the hard upper crust -and melted the ice that had formed around the runners. Then Charley -hitched up the dogs and headed for the nearest check point, which was -only a few miles away. - -Their arrival created quite a bit of excitement. “Only one other sled -has come through here,” a worried official told them. “The Mounties have -planes and search parties out looking for the others.” - -“We saw one of the planes,” Sandy said. “He dipped his wings and we -waved to him. So he knew we were all right.” - -“Actually, though,” the official went on, “the storm looked worse last -night than it was. Those winds were gale force. I don’t imagine anyone -was really in serious trouble. They’re all experienced woodsmen, -accustomed to roughing it on the trail.” - -Jerry hooked his thumbs inside his belt and puffed out his chest. “Sure, -it was a breeze.” - -Tagish Charley was more interested in the sled that had passed through -the check point that morning. The official said the other driver had -about one hour’s start on them. - -“We catch ’im,” Charley said. “Let’s go.” - -“Hey!” Jerry complained. “What about breakfast? I’m so ravenous, I’m -liable to take a bite out of one of the dogs.” - -“No time to eat,” the Indian said. “We have to win race.” - -“We’ll give you some sandwiches and hot coffee to take along,” the -official promised. “You can eat on the run.” - -Jerry stared wistfully at the platters of flapjacks, juicy Canadian -bacon and hot biscuits on the stove. “If we come out of this alive, I’ll -never look at a cold sandwich again,” he vowed. - -A short time later, they were racing down the trail. It was a good day, -and by nightfall they had covered another forty-five miles and overtaken -the sled ahead of them. Its driver turned out to be a young uranium -prospector. For five years he and his brother had been competing in the -big race. Two years before, they had come in first and they were hoping -to repeat this year. They were pleasant young men and spent the night -with Charley and the boys at the last check point on the route. - -That night, after a hearty supper, they sat around the fire talking to -Sandy and Jerry. Tagish Charley went to bed as soon as he had the team -fed and settled in the barn. About nine o’clock, another sled arrived at -the check point, and the driver reported that still another team was -camped at the side of the trail about an hour’s ride away. - -“This is really going to be a photo finish,” one of the brothers said. -He got to his feet and knocked the ash out of his pipe into the -fireplace. “We better sack in, men. There’s going to be a mad scramble -to get away first in the morning.” - -Sandy and Jerry followed them to the big dormitory bedroom, where a -dozen army cots were set up around a potbellied stove that glowed a dull -cherry-red in the darkness. Charley was already snoring loudly as they -slipped into their bedrolls. - -“Now how are we supposed to get to sleep with that big lug sawing wood?” -Jerry grumbled. “We may as well sit and ... and ... talk ... around ... -the ... fire....” His voice trailed off into a pretty good imitation of -a buzz saw of its own. - - - - - CHAPTER TEN - Down the Chilkoot Chute to Victory - - -It seemed to Sandy that he had just closed his eyes when he felt rough -hands on his shoulders, shaking him. “Time to go,” Charley’s voice -whispered. - -“What time is it?” he mumbled, raising himself on his elbows. - -“Four o’clock,” Charley said. “Other fellers hitching up already.” - -Sandy struggled out of his sleeping bag and sat on the edge of the cot, -stretching. It was still dark, but when Charley opened the stove door to -throw on another log, he could see that the cots that the two brothers -had slept on were empty. Yawning, he raised his left foot and kicked the -cot where Jerry was still sleeping soundly. - -“Rise and shine!” he called to his friend. - -They ate a hurried breakfast of hot cereal and scalding coffee, and by -four-thirty they were on the trail again. The cold wind in their faces -and the stinging spray kicked up by the dogs’ feet brought them fully -awake before they had gone far. - -When it began to get light, the boys got out of the sled and trotted -along with Charley. They kept it up for a mile or so before Jerry -developed a bad case of rubber legs and went down on his knees. - -“I feel like a dope,” he said, as Sandy helped him back into the sled. -“Here we are, a couple of kids, puffing like steam engines, and an old -guy like Charley isn’t breathing any harder than if he had run up a -flight of stairs.” - -“And we’re in pretty good condition from being in school athletics. Can -you imagine how some of the other guys in school would make out?” Sandy -asked. “The guys who hop in the family car to go down to the corner -newsstand and sneak smokes between every class?” - -“Yeah,” Jerry agreed ruefully. “The kids in the States are getting soft, -there’s no doubt about it.” - -“My Uncle Russ always says you should take at least as much pride in -your body as you do in your home. Most people wouldn’t live in sloppy, -rundown houses, but a lot of them don’t care if they spend their lives -in sloppy, rundown bodies.” - -Jerry slapped his middle irritably. “Let me tell you, I’m going to work -on this flab when I get home. Old Charley here has taught me a lesson. -You miss a lot of the fun of life if you’re out of shape.” - -Sandy kept up with Charley for another mile, then he got back into the -sled. He noticed that the Indian held to a pattern: he would run along -for a half hour or so and then hitch a ride on the sled for ten minutes. -It seemed as if he could go on like that endlessly and tirelessly. - -They stopped at mid-morning to give the dogs a rest and brew some strong -Indian tea. Charley wouldn’t drink the coffee in the thermos. “Coffee no -good. You ever see huskies drink coffee?” The boys had to admit that -they never had. “Indian tea like medicine. Make you strong and healthy. -Dogs know.” To demonstrate, he poured a little into a tin plate for -Titan, and the big lead dog lapped it up promptly. - -“It sure doesn’t look as if we’re ever going to catch those guys ahead -of us, Charley,” Sandy commented, dropping a handful of snow into his -cup to cool it. - -Charley looked down the trail behind them. “They behind us now. Last -hill we pass, we go around the long way, maybe mile longer. They go -through valley.” - -Jerry blinked. “If we came the long way, how come we’re ahead of them?” - -The Indian shrugged. “That valley like pocket after big snow. Drifts -three, four feet deep. They have plenty trouble getting through.” - -Sandy grinned. “What a sly old fox you are, Charley.” - -They were traveling high in the coastal mountains of British Columbia -now, moving through the Chilkoot Pass. Just before noon, they arrived at -a customs check point. - -“You’re the first team through,” the mounted policeman who waved them -past shouted. - -Abruptly, the trail appeared to end at the edge of a cliff. Charley -reined the team in and motioned for the boys to step to the rim of the -drop-off. Here they saw that, in reality, the trail continued on down a -steep incline that resembled the big drop on a roller coaster. For -almost 1,200 feet it fell away at a 45-degree angle into the coastal -valley below. It was a magnificent spectacle. - -Jerry gulped hard. “We’re not going down _that_ in a sled, are we?” - -Tagish Charley nodded curtly. “Chilkoot Chute. We take dogs off first. -They follow us down.” He walked back and began to remove Black Titan’s -harness. - -Sandy grinned at Jerry. “You ever been on a bobsled?” Jerry shook his -head mutely. “Well, after this it’ll be a cinch.” - -When the dogs were unhitched, the boys climbed aboard the sled, and -Charley pushed it to the edge of the chute. It teetered briefly, then -nosed down the incline. - -“Alaska next stop!” Sandy yelled as they picked up speed. A rush of air -choked the words off in his mouth, and his stomach rose up in his rib -cage with a sickening sensation that was ten times worse than he had -ever experienced in an elevator. - -Faster and faster the sled shot down the slope, swaying from side to -side, as Charley, riding the tail, shifted his weight skillfully to -steer it. Behind it the dogs skidded and scrambled down the chute, -barking and yelping excitedly. The sled reached the bottom and glided -down the trail almost half a mile before it came to a halt. - -“What a ride!” Jerry exclaimed. - -“We must have skidded halfway to Skagway,” Sandy said. He got out of the -sled and looked back at the Chilkoot Chute. “Gee, it doesn’t look so bad -from here, but when you’re on it, you’d swear it was a perpendicular -wall.” - -The dogs finally caught up and Charley hitched them to the sled again. -“We win now easy,” he said matter-of-factly. - -As they approached Skagway, they passed cabins, farms and other signs of -civilization. A group of children playing in one yard gave them a lusty -cheer and chased after the sled. Farther along, other children tagged on -to the caravan along with three dogs. - -Then, up ahead on the outskirts of the city, they saw a big crowd of -people. “Finish line,” Charley informed them. - -When the sled came into view, a tremendous roar went up and continued -unabated as they shot past a man waving a flag. The next thing Sandy -knew, they were engulfed by a sea of well-wishers, and men were pounding -him on the back so enthusiastically that it took his breath away. At -last he spied his father and Professor Crowell fighting their way -through the throng. - -“Dad!” he called out happily. “We made it.” - -Dr. Steele reached the boys and threw an arm around each of them. -“Congratulations! This was quite a race, I hear.” - -“Charley is the guy who rates the congratulations,” Sandy answered. - -Professor Crowell pounded Tagish Charley on the back ecstatically. “I’m -the proudest and happiest man in the world. I haven’t felt like this -since my twin girls were born. Thank you, Charley.” - -Charley knelt down and put his arms around Black Titan, who was -accepting praise and pats from all quarters with the dignified reserve -of a true champion. “Dogs win the race. Charley just come along for -ride.” - -Later, back at the hotel, after a warm bath and a good supper, the boys -recounted the adventures they had had during the race. - -“Bless my soul,” Professor Crowell said to Jerry, “now you really have -an idea of the rigorous life that the sourdoughs led. Does it still -sound appealing to you?” - -Jerry forked the last piece of homemade apple pie from his plate. “I’ve -come to the conclusion that I’m just a city boy at heart, sir,” he -declared emphatically. - -“How was your visit to Fairbanks?” Sandy asked his father. - -“We had a fine time,” Dr. Steele said. “I gathered some priceless -material for the pamphlet I’m preparing on the Pleistocene Era.” He -smiled. “But promise you won’t tell Quiz Taylor, Sandy.” - -Sandy laughed. “I know what you mean, Dad. My solemn word, I won’t -mention it.” - -“What’s on the agenda now, Dr. Steele?” Jerry inquired. “Are we going -home?” - -“Not for another few days, Jerry,” Dr. Steele said. “The professor and I -want to fly up to Valdez and look over some old mining sites.” - -“Where’s Valdez?” Jerry asked. - -“The most northerly ice-free port in Alaska. It used to be the shipping -point for copper ore until the Kennecott mines closed down in 1938. We -had planned an exciting outing for you fellows—” he hesitated and looked -wryly at Jerry—“but inasmuch as Jerry says he’s a city boy at heart, -well, maybe we’d better forget it.” - -“What kind of an outing, Dad?” Sandy asked. - -Dr. Steele lit his pipe and blew a cloud of smoke at the ceiling. “We -won’t be using the plane for several days, and we thought you might like -to visit Kodiak Island. One of the instructors from the university will -be spending a week there, hunting bear, and he said you boys would be -welcome to join him.” He winked at Sandy. “But I’m not sure your city -friend here would be up to it.” - -“That’s all right,” Sandy said. “Jerry can stay here at the hotel until -we come back.” - -“Not on your life!” Jerry snorted. “I want to take one of those -bearskins back to my mom.” - -Tagish Charley looked up from his plate solemnly. “Kodiak bear plenty -bad killer. Maybe he take your skin back to his mamma.” - -Everyone except Charley laughed. - - -The next morning they boarded the big Norseman plane and headed -northwest up the coast for Valdez. As they flew over the glacier-ribbed -mountains, the boys were awed by the wild beauty of the country beneath -them. - -“It’s so primitive,” Sandy remarked. “I don’t think man will ever tame -it.” - -“Yes, he will,” Dr. Steele said. “As surely as he tamed the American -West. We just didn’t pay much attention to it until after World War -Two.” - -“A land of untold riches,” Lou Mayer mused. “Gold, copper, silver, coal, -lead, tin, mercury, platinum—Lord knows what else.” He looked over -meaningfully at Dr. Steele. - -“Things are certainly moving fast,” Dr. Steele went on, a little too -quickly, Sandy thought. “Oh, yes, Son, in another fifty years Alaska -will be as civilized as California.” - -“But not nearly so warm,” Lou Mayer added. - -Professor Crowell smiled. “I don’t know, I like our northern winters. -They make for greater intimacy among families and friends. When the -temperature is fifty below zero and the snow is piled up to your window -sills, there is literally no place like home. You discover that being -together in front of a warm fireplace can be just as enjoyable as -running off to the theater, bridge clubs, night clubs, bowling alleys -and all your so-called civilized diversions. The trouble with so many -young people these days is that they try too hard to have fun.” - -Jerry scratched his head thoughtfully. “Professor, you know, you’re -right. I can’t think of any time in my life when I’ve had more fun than -I did the Christmas Eve we spent at that little weather station.” - -Dr. Steele took out a small wallet calendar and consulted it. “Which -reminds me that tonight is New Year’s Eve.” - -“Isn’t it funny how you keep forgetting about the holidays up here?” -Sandy said. “I guess they see the old year out pretty quietly. Not like -the States.” - -Professor Crowell’s eyes twinkled through his glasses. “Don’t bet on it, -son. Some of the New Year’s parties I’ve been to in the North make your -Stateside celebrations seem like pink teas. In the old days, I remember -some shindigs that went on continuously from Christmas right through New -Year’s.” He smiled nostalgically. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of -them were still going on.” - -“But we’ll be spending our New Year’s on Kodiak,” Jerry reminded them. -“I was looking at it on the map. It’s just a dinky little island.” - -“Not so dinky,” Dr. Steele said. “It’s about a hundred miles long, you -know. And I think you’ll find that its citizens have just as much -holiday spirit as the people in the States.” - -“Do many people live on Kodiak?” Sandy asked. - -“It’s not too heavily populated,” Dr. Steele admitted. “Once it was the -center of the Alaskan fur trade. The Russians settled in the town of -Kodiak in 1784, and it wasn’t until much later that they moved their -headquarters to the mainland. - -“Nowadays it’s hard to make a living on Kodiak. I think the only major -occupation is salmon fishing. There’s rich farming land at the south end -of the island, but the natives have always had difficulty raising sheep -and cattle. Too many hungry bears around.” - -Jerry squinted down the barrel of an imaginary rifle. “Well, there’ll be -a few less after we get there, eh, Sandy boy?” - -Tagish Charley, who had been staring moodily out of the window, turned -his quizzical black eyes on Jerry. “You shoot big as you talk, -everything be fine.” - -“I think you better go along and take care of these fellows, Charley,” -the professor suggested. - -“That would be great,” Sandy said. “How about it?” - -Charley appeared to consider the proposition for a moment, then looked -gravely at Sandy from beneath his black eyebrows. “Charley like to go to -Kodiak. But better not. I stay and look out for professor.” - - - - - CHAPTER ELEVEN - Off to Hunt Kodiak Bears - - -At quarter after twelve the Norseman put down on the outskirts of -Cordova, and the three geologists disembarked along with Tagish Charley. - -“You’ll be in Kodiak before dark,” Dr. Steele told the boys before he -left them. “The pilot will radio ahead so Professor Stern can be on hand -to meet you when you land. Be sure and bring us back a bearskin.” - -“We will,” Sandy promised. “And we’ll see you back here on the third of -January.” - -“Goodbye, Doctor,” Jerry said. “And Happy New Year.” - -“Thank you, Jerry, and the same to you.” Dr. Steele winked. “Don’t eat -too much _muk-tuk_.” - -As soon as the plane was refueled, they took off again. When Jerry began -to nod drowsily, Sandy went up front and sat down in the copilot’s seat. - -Russell Parker, the pilot, was a chunky, gray-haired man in his late -forties, a veteran of the World War II Air Corps. “I was stationed in -the Aleutians for four years,” he told Sandy. “The place sort of grew on -me. There was this girl in Anchorage, too. Well, as soon as the war was -over we were married, and I decided to settle here permanently. I had no -family ties back in the States, so the transition was easy.” He smiled. -“You might say I found a home here.” - -“And you’ve been a bush pilot ever since?” Sandy said. “Boy, that must -be an exciting life.” - -“Well, I wouldn’t call it exciting exactly. A little romantic -maybe—everything about _Alashka_ is romantic.” - -“_Alashka?_” Sandy looked puzzled. “I notice you always say it that -way.” - -“It’s an ancient Aleutian term. Means the ‘big land.’” - -“It’s big all right,” Sandy said, glancing out of the cockpit window. -Below the plane, twin mountain peaks reached up through the wispy -clouds. Cupped in the valley between them lay a gigantic glacier whose -front was a solid wall of ice ten miles across and as high as a -fifteen-story building. - -“That’s why there are plenty of jobs for bush pilots,” Parker explained. -“We’re like taxi drivers back in the States. To get around in the big -land you have to take giant steps. A quick trip to the city may mean a -hop of a hundred miles or more. You should see Lake Hood on a Saturday -morning in the summer—that’s in Anchorage, my home town. Hundreds of -little planes.” - -“It looks like a supermarket parking lot,” Sandy finished the thought -for him. “Professor Crowell told us.” - -“It’s worse. More like Times Square in New York.” - -“But since so many people up here have their own planes, doesn’t it cut -down on your jobs?” Sandy wanted to know. - -“Not really. Most of the amateurs are pretty cautious, as they should -be. They’ll only fly in perfect weather, and stick to the safe air -routes. When there’s a tough job to be done in a hurry, they call on a -bush pilot. I’ve carried everything from heavy machinery to medical -supplies. I’ve been a flying ambulance, too; I don’t know how many lives -I’ve helped to save in the back country.” - -“Do you often get assignments like this one?” Sandy asked. - -“I’ve flown my share of VIPs, but mostly it’s a job for military -pilots.” - -“You consider my dad and Professor Crowell VIPs?” - -“I got that impression,” Parker said guardedly. He was about to add -something else when a burst of static from the radio diverted his -attention. “Tower at Anchorage calling us,” he told Sandy, adjusting his -earphones. He listened, then flipped the switch over to transmit. “N-140 -to Anchorage ... Read you clear ... Climbing to 12,000 feet ... Over and -out.” He flipped the switch and reported to Sandy. “We’re climbing -another 4,000 feet. We’re heading into a snow squall off Kodiak, moving -northeast.” - -Jerry awoke from his nap and came up front to join them. “You guys -hungry? I’m going to break out the sandwiches.” - -Sandy laughed. “Is eating all you ever think about?” - -Jerry flicked Sandy’s cowlick with one finger. “Especially when I ride -in airplanes. I have to keep my stomach weighted down so it won’t do -flip-flops.” - -“Okay, I’ll join you,” Sandy agreed. “How about you, Mr. Parker?” - -“I’ll wait awhile,” the pilot declined. “Soon as we level off at 12,000, -I’ll set her on automatic pilot.” - -The boys walked back to their seats and opened the lunchbox the hotel -had prepared for them that morning. - -“I was just thinking,” Jerry said, chewing on a chicken leg, “we haven’t -seen anything of those characters who took pot shots at us for a few -days now. Think they’ve given up?” - -Sandy’s brow furrowed in anxiety. “I don’t know, Jerry. From what we -know of them, they don’t seem to be the kind who give up so easily. -They’ve been after the professor for months now. Maybe we should have -stayed with them back at Cordova.” - -“Aw, what could happen to them in Cordova? Those birds wouldn’t try -anything in the middle of a big town like that.” - -Sandy nibbled at his sandwich without relish. “I suppose not. But Dad -and the professor are going to be out poking around some old abandoned -mine sites.” - -The discussion ended when Parker called back, “I’m ready for that -sandwich now. And a cup of coffee if you don’t mind. Black, no sugar.” - -“I’ll take it up to him,” Jerry said. - -It was still bright daylight in the air when they sighted Kodiak, but -the island and the sea around it were shrouded in purple dusk. Lights -began to twinkle on below as they circled the city of Kodiak, losing -altitude. Towering prominently over the other low buildings were a pair -of onion-shaped domes. - -“What’s that?” Sandy asked Parker. “They look almost Turkish.” - -“The Russian Orthodox church,” the pilot said. “Remember, the Russians -founded Kodiak.” - -“How did those Russians ever get way over here?” Jerry wanted to know. - -“Boy, are you dumb!” Sandy said. “On the west side only a thin strip of -water separates Alaska from Russia. The Bering Strait is only about -forty miles wide.” - -Parker nodded. “In the winter you can cross it on a sled.” - -That thought seemed to sober Jerry. - -Parker touched the Norseman down gently on its skis and reversed the -propeller to brake their slide. As they climbed out of the plane, the -figure of a man emerged out of the glare of the landing lights. Clad in -fur trousers, fur hood and fur parka, he looked like an Eskimo. But as -he approached, Sandy could make out a small clipped mustache and rimless -eyeglasses. - -“Welcome to Kodiak,” he greeted them. “You must be Dr. Steele’s son.” He -held out his hand. - -“Yes, sir.” Sandy smiled. “I’m Sandy.” - -“I’m Kenneth Stern.” - -Sandy performed introductions all around. It turned out that Parker and -the young university teacher were friends. “My wife took some courses -with Professor Stern,” the pilot explained. - -Stern clapped his fur mittens together. “I have my jeep parked over at -the edge of the field. Let’s get back to the lodge. Dora—that’s my -wife—has a big bear roast in the oven. I imagine you fellows are pretty -hungry.” - -“You go ahead,” Parker said. “I want to make sure they put my baby -safely to bed. I’ll hitch a ride to your camp.” - -“All right, Russ,” Stern said. “We’ll hold supper for you.” - -“What’s he got to do?” Jerry inquired as they walked through the crunchy -snow to the jeep, which was almost hidden by the great cloud of smoke -that was pouring out of the exhaust. - -“He wants to make sure the crankcase gets drained,” Stern said. “You -really do have to treat machinery as if it were a baby in cold like -this. That’s why I left the jeep running. It could freeze up in a few -minutes.” - -As they drove through the town of Kodiak, the boys were fascinated by -the atmosphere. The cultures of three centuries and varied races were -blended startlingly but not offensively. - -“It’s like being on a Hollywood sound stage where the sets are all mixed -up,” Sandy said breathlessly. - -“Mostly, it reminds me of the Old West,” Jerry said. “Dodge City. I -almost expect to see Wyatt Earp come striding down the middle of the -street with his hands on his six-guns.” - -Professor Stern laughed. “That’s an apt description, Jerry. This is the -twentieth-century American frontier in a sense. It’s only fitting that -the characteristics of the frontier should predominate.” - -The hunting lodge was a sprawling two-story log building about a mile -outside of Kodiak, with a wide porch running around it on three sides. -Lights blazed warmly from its windows as they pulled in the drive and -bumped along to a big barn at the back of the house. - -“Four other teachers and myself own it jointly,” Stern explained. “We -bought it about ten years ago as a summer place. The fact is, we’ve been -using it just as much in the winter as a hunting lodge.” - -“Did I understand you to say we were having bear roast for supper, -Professor?” Jerry inquired politely. - -“Yes. You’re not squeamish about eating it, are you?” - -“Uh, no!” Jerry assured him. “After some of the things I’ve been eating -since I came to Alaska, bear sounds like steak to me.” - -“It’s better,” Stern told him. “You wait and see.” - -“Did you shoot the bear, sir?” Sandy asked. - -“No, we haven’t been out yet. This is a piece of meat we’ve had in the -freezer since last year.” - -Jerry laughed. “You’re kidding. What do you need a freezer for up here?” - -“That’s where you’re wrong, young fellow. It so happens that the old -joke about selling ice-boxes to Eskimos isn’t such a joke any more. -During the war, the Army discovered it was a lot more practical to keep -food in freezers than it was to stow it in a shed outside. You see, the -temperature drops to sixty and seventy below zero some nights in this -country. That’s about forty to fifty degrees lower than the coldest deep -freeze. At that temperature food takes hours to thaw out. In the -freezer, it keeps just right.” - -Jerry shook his head. “Can you beat that! Next thing you know, the Arabs -on the Sahara desert will be turning to steam heat.” - -They followed Stern along a path to the back door of the lodge. Mrs. -Stern, a young woman in ski pants and sweater, was in the kitchen -basting the roast when they came in. “Supper will be another hour yet,” -she apologized. “I hope you boys can hold out.” - -“That’s good,” Stern said. “Russ Parker will be along later.” He turned -to the boys. “Come on inside and meet Chris Hanson and his wife. They’ll -be spending a few days with us too.” - -“Chris Hanson?” Sandy repeated it thoughtfully. “There used to be an -All-American tackle by that name.” - -Stern grinned. “That’s our boy. He’s an athletic coach at the -university.” - -“Say, that’s great!” Jerry exclaimed. “Chris was the best.” -Self-importantly, he added, “As a matter of fact we have a lot in -common. I expect to make All-American tackle myself some day.” - -Sandy smirked and dug his fist playfully into Jerry’s midsection. “You -get any fatter, you won’t be able to bend down to flip the ball.” - -Chris Hanson was a brawny man who made even a six-footer like Sandy -Steele feel like a little boy. He reminded Sandy of the paintings of -fierce Vikings he had seen in grade-school history books, though his -blond hair was a bit thin on top. His wife was a small, thin woman who -sat as close to the fire as possible, despite the fact that she was -bundled up in sweaters. The Hansons were just finishing a game of -Scrabble when the boys arrived. - -“I’m a Georgia girl, you know,” Mrs. Hanson said in a marked Southern -accent. “And I don’t believe I’ll ever get used to this climate.” - -“We have a friend who would sympathize with you,” Sandy told her. “Lou -Mayer, my father’s assistant.” - -Chris grinned devilishly. “Oh sure, we met Lou when your dad came up to -Fairbanks. Took him skiing once. I don’t think he likes me very much.” - -While they waited for supper to be served, the boys coaxed Chris to -reminisce about some of his big gridiron games. Hungry as they were, it -was an unwelcome interruption when Mrs. Stern announced: “Chow’s on the -table.” - -There were seven people at the table—including Russ Parker, who arrived -just as they were sitting down—and among them they picked an eight-pound -sirloin bear steak clean. - -Jerry swabbed his plate clean with a crust of bread. “That was -delicious, Mrs. Stern.” - -“That’s an understatement,” Sandy said, “considering that you had three -portions.” - -“I know I made a hog of myself,” Jerry admitted. “But when I bag one of -those big Kodiaks tomorrow, you can fill up your freezer with steaks.” - -Mrs. Stern smiled. “That’s very thoughtful of you, Jerry.” - -Chris Hanson looked amused. “You ever done any hunting before, Jerry?” - -“No, but I’m on the high-school rifle team back home.” - -Sandy winked at Chris. “He’s the guy they’re talking about when they -say, ‘He couldn’t hit the side of a barn.’” - -Jerry reddened as everyone laughed, and glared at Sandy. “I suppose you -think you’re Davy Crockett?” - -“Seriously, though,” Professor Stern interjected, “a bear hunt can be -very dangerous. Some of these brutes on Kodiak are virtually -indestructible. And when they’re wounded—well, just watch out. There’s -an old saying among hunters that you’ve got to kill a Kodiak with your -first shot, or you never will kill him. I’ve heard men who have stalked -lions, tigers—all kinds of big game—concede that a Kodiak is the most -fearsome of all beasts.” - -“On second thought,” Jerry said gravely, “maybe I’ll just stay back here -and play Scrabble with the ladies.” - -After supper the boys cornered Chris Hanson again and discussed football -and other sports. At ten o’clock, Professor Stern drove Russ Parker into -town. - -“Some of the boys invited me to a party at the airport,” Russ explained. -“I hate to run away like this, but my brother-in-law is going to be -there. I haven’t seen him in a while. He’s in the service, stationed in -the Aleutians.” - -“That’s perfectly all right,” Mrs. Stern said. - -“You don’t fool us, Russ,” Chris Hanson kidded him. “You just want to -sneak out of that bear hunt tomorrow.” - -Parker snorted. “You aren’t going to drag me off after any bears. Not -unless I can hunt them from the air.” - -“When are we going back to Cordova, Mr. Parker?” Sandy asked him. - -“I figure you can have a couple of days of hunting. The professor -expects us back on the third of January.” - -Professor Stern asked the boys whether they wanted to ride into town -with him and see how the Kodiakans celebrated the New Year, but they -declined. - -“We heard they had some pretty wild times up here,” Jerry said. “But the -way I feel, the only thing that would look good to me is a soft, warm -bed.” - -And by twelve o’clock they were in bed. “I wonder what the gang is doing -back in Valley View,” Jerry sighed as they lay in the dark listening to -the sound of foghorns in St. Paul’s harbor blending with church bells -and firecrackers in distant Kodiak. - -“You can bet they’re not planning to go bear hunting at six in the -morning,” Sandy answered sleepily. - - - - - CHAPTER TWELVE - Treed by a Wounded Bear - - -Professor Stern roused the boys at eight o’clock on New Year’s morning. -“Put on two suits of long woolen underwear and two pairs of socks,” he -instructed them. “We’ll probably be out until dark.” - -They dressed quickly and went downstairs to the big kitchen, where Chris -Hanson was cooking breakfast. “How’ll you have your eggs, fellows?” he -asked. - -“Sunny side up,” Sandy answered. “Can we help?” - -“Sure. You can start the toast.” - -Sandy took a handful of sliced bread out of the bread box and began -searching through the cupboards. “Where’s the toaster?” he asked -finally. - -Chris smiled and pointed to the stove. “Right here. Just butter the -bread lightly and spread the slices out between the lids.” - -For the first time, Sandy became aware that the cooking stove was the -old-fashioned, cast iron, wood-burning type; the kind you saw only in -Western movies in the United States. A long tongue of flame and a shower -of sparks shot up into the air as Chris lifted one of the front lids and -set the teakettle over the opening. - -“When we first bought the place,” Chris said, “we planned to install one -of those newfangled electric stoves in a year or two. But we got -attached to this old girl. We’ve never regretted it either. I don’t know -how many times the electric power has conked out for days at a time. -Anyway, this cooks better than any gas or electric stove I’ve ever -seen.” - -After they had eaten, they stacked the dishes in the sink and went out -to the garage. Chris Hanson and Professor Stern were armed with .30-.30 -Winchester rifles. Stern said their neighbor down the road had promised -to provide weapons for the boys. They piled into the jeep, which had -been warming up for a half hour, and drove about two miles into the -foothills to the ranch of Vladimir Thorsen, the son of a Russian-Swedish -sourdough who had struck it rich in the gold rush. Thorsen was a short, -rugged-looking man of fifty, with jet-black hair and a Vandyke beard. -His English was precise, with just a trace of an accent. He welcomed the -boys heartily and insisted that the men join him in a last cup of strong -black coffee mixed with brandy. - -“I don’t think we will have to look far for our bear,” he announced -grimly. “Two nights ago, a big brute came right into the barnyard and -carried off one of my lambs.” - -Chris Hanson whistled shrilly between his teeth. “He had his nerve, -didn’t he?” - -“A cunning old monster,” Thorsen said. “From the size of his footprints, -I would estimate he weighs about 1,400 pounds. He has toes missing on -his two forefeet.” - -“He’s evidently been in some battles,” Stern said. “And won them.” - -When the men had finished their coffee, Thorsen escorted them into his -den. The walls were covered with pistols and rifles and the mounted -heads of every kind of big game imaginable. The rancher took down two -big, unwieldy, ancient-looking rifles and handed them to the boys. “Here -are your weapons.” - -Sandy and Jerry couldn’t help but show their disappointment. “They’re -very nice guns, sir.” Sandy made an effort to sound appreciative. -“But—what are they?” - -“They look as if they were left over from the Revolutionary War,” -Professor Stern said tartly. “What are you trying to pull on these kids, -Thorsen?” - -Thorsen stroked his pointed beard and cast a reproving eye on the -instructor. “You are an American teacher and you don’t recognize this -magnificent rifle! It is a Sharpe’s buffalo gun, the same kind that your -Buffalo Bill killed 1,800 buffalo with. I’m ashamed of you, Kenneth.” - -“It’s only single-shot, too,” Jerry observed critically. - -“With a gun like that you only need one shot,” Thorsen said. “You could -drop an elephant with one shot.” He opened a drawer of his desk and took -out a handful of enormous cartridges. “See?” - -Chris Hanson picked one up and hefted it in his palm. “It’s a small -artillery shell.” He grinned at the boys. “You want to trade? I’d feel -plenty safe facing Mr. Bear with this cannon.” - -“No,” Jerry answered quickly. “If it was good enough for Buffalo Bill, -it’s good enough for me.” He picked up one of the long rifles and -balanced it on his shoulder. “Hup-two-three-four....” He staggered -around the room. “Hey, doesn’t a weapons carrier come with this thing?” - -The rancher smiled, showing two rows of strong, white teeth. “You are a -very funny fellow,” he said. “Maybe the bear will die laughing.... Come, -the horses are already saddled and waiting.” - -Jerry’s face clouded over. “Horses?” he said. - -“Yes, we may have to go ten or fifteen miles into the hills.” He led -them out of the den, through the kitchen and out the back door. - -The boys fell behind as they approached the stables. “Have you ever -ridden a horse before?” Jerry whispered to Sandy. - -“Sure, I’m a fair rider.” Realization suddenly dawned in his eyes. -“You’ve ridden before—haven’t you?” - -“Only on the merry-go-round,” Jerry said miserably. “But don’t say -anything. I don’t want to spoil the party.” - -“Well ...” Sandy was uncertain. “I suppose we’ll be walking the horses -mostly, so you can’t get into too much trouble.” - -“Sure, we can hang back and you can instruct me in the fine points of -horsemanship.” - -An Indian groom brought the horses out of the stable. They were much -sturdier animals than the ones Sandy had rented at any riding -academy—more like cowboy ponies. They wore Western saddles, too. - -“They’re all mares,” Thorsen explained. “Not too high-spirited and very -manageable. Good mounts for tracking.” - -Jerry’s eyes were round as he and his horse confronted each other. “This -is the closest I’ve ever been to one,” he confided to Sandy. “I never -realized they were so big.” - -“You won’t have any trouble,” Sandy assured him. “She’s a gentle girl.” -He stroked the smooth flanks and the muscles rippled beneath the glossy -black coat. “Come on, I’ll give you a lift.” - -Jerry mounted without difficulty and settled himself comfortably in the -big saddle with his feet planted in the stirrups. “Nothing to it,” he -said. - -Sandy grinned. “Nothing to a jet plane either, while it’s sitting in the -hangar. Here.” He handed Jerry’s rifle up to him. - -“What do I do with it?” Jerry demanded. - -Sandy indicated a large leather sheath that was fastened to the right -side of the saddle. “Stick it in the saddle boot.” - -They rode out single file, with Thorsen’s horse breaking trail through -knee-deep snow across a broad meadow behind the ranch house. A long -split-rail fence ran along the back of the property. Thorsen pointed out -a break in the fence, where the heavy logs lay scattered around like -jackstraws and a six-inch post was snapped off at the base. - -“That’s where he came through.” - -From the break in the fence a wide path, which looked as if it had been -plowed by a small bulldozer, led up a slope into a grove of spruce -trees. - -“It won’t be much of a problem tracking him, will it?” Chris Hanson -said. - -Thorsen shrugged. “It depends. We’re protected from the wind in the -valley. Farther up in the mountains, the trail may be covered over by -now. It’s been two days.” - -Professor Stern swung down off his horse and knelt to examine the bear’s -footprints, which had been almost obliterated by blowing snow. He -brushed away some of the fine, white powder with his mitten. Abruptly, -he looked up at the rancher. “Did any one of your hands take a shot at -this fellow?” - -Thorsen frowned. “Certainly not. Why?” - -Stern pointed to faint, rust-colored streaks in the snow between the -imprints of the bear’s foot pads. “Looks like blood to me. Probably a -wound, high on the leg, and the blood trickled down between the toes.” - -“Maybe he hurt himself when he broke through the fence,” Sandy -suggested. - -“That’s possible,” Stern conceded. He walked back and inspected the -broken logs carefully. Finally, he shook his head. “No sign of blood -here. I’m afraid our bear has been the victim of a careless hunter.” - -Thorsen scowled fiercely and muttered something in a guttural foreign -tongue. Then he exploded in English. “I would like to get my hands on -that filthy pig!” - -“I don’t get it,” Jerry said to Sandy. “What’s he so excited about? -That’s the whole idea, isn’t it, to shoot the bear?” - -“Sure, but once you wound an animal, it’s your obligation to finish him -off. That’s the first commandment of hunting. First of all, it’s cruel -to let an animal suffer. And when you’re dealing with big game, it’s -downright dangerous. A pain-crazed bear, for instance, can be a menace -to anything that comes anywhere near him.” - -“That’s right,” Chris Hanson agreed. “We’re going to have to stay on our -toes from here on.” - -Professor Stern swung back into the saddle and they followed the bear’s -trail into the woods. There were great, towering ancient pines, -clustered together so that their heavy foliage meshed to form a solid -roof above the forest floor. Only a fine dusting of snow had filtered -through their heavy branches onto the thick carpet of pine needles that -cushioned the earth. The horses’ hoofbeats were barely audible as they -picked their way between the trees, which were bare for at least twenty -feet up. - -“It’s like being in a cathedral,” Sandy said reverently. The voices of -the men ahead sounded embarrassingly loud in the silence beneath the -pines. - -A pine cone skittered out from under the hoof of Jerry’s horse and -rattled across the dry needles. Jerry started and almost slipped out of -the saddle. - -“Watch it, boy,” Sandy cautioned him. “How is it going, anyway?” - -“I’ll be okay, once old Dobbin and I get ourselves co-ordinated. Every -time he goes up, I’m coming down and vice versa.” - -Sandy grinned. “You’re too tense. Relax and try to imagine you’re part -of the horse.” - -“I know what part I feel like,” Jerry said wryly. - -On the other side of the grove they picked up the bear’s trail again. It -headed up a steep, rocky hillside, dotted with patches of scrubby trees -and huge boulders. The horses had slippery footing and they went very -slowly now. - -Thorsen took his rifle out of the saddle boot, levered a shell into the -chamber and rested it across the saddle in front of him. The other men -followed suit. - -Professor Stern turned and smiled reassuringly at the boys. “Don’t be -alarmed. It just doesn’t pay to take any chances. I’ve heard of these -wily old bears doubling back on their trail and setting up an ambush for -unwary hunters.” - -Jerry swallowed hard and cast a nervous glance back over his shoulder. -“Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to bring up the rear.” His horse -skidded unexpectedly on a mound of loose stones and Jerry clutched it -frantically around the neck with both arms, burying his face in the -thick mane. When the horse had steadied itself again, he straightened up -and settled himself gingerly in the saddle. - -He touched one hand to the seat of his pants and moaned. “How can one -part of you feel so hot when the rest of you is so cold?” - -Sandy was sympathetic. “Yeah, I feel for you, pal. That old saddle gets -pretty hard after a while. And this is a rough way to get initiated to -horseback riding to begin with.” - -They rode on for another half hour until they came to a shallow ravine -with a dense growth of white birch trees and underbrush. Thorsen studied -the steep rocky slopes of the ravine carefully. Except for a light -dusting of snow they were wind-blown clean, as was the rocky shelf on -the other side. - -“I can’t see any sign of a trail. For all we know, he may be hiding down -there in those trees,” he said. - -Professor Stern nodded in agreement. “It’s possible. I’d hate to run -into a Kodiak in those close quarters. What do we do now?” - -“We play it completely safe,” Thorsen replied. “Some of us can ride -around the ravine—it’s no more than a quarter of a mile to the north—and -see if we can pick up his trail on the other side. If we do, we can -assume he’s not waiting to pounce on us in the ravine. Those who remain -here can safely ride across directly.” - -“Why don’t we all ride around together?” Chris wanted to know. “What’s -the point of leaving anyone here?” - -Thorsen stroked his silky beard. “Because if Mr. Bear _is_ hiding in the -ravine, we have him trapped. One group can flush him out into the guns -of the other group.” - -“That seems sound,” Stern acknowledged. “Which of us will stay here?” - -“Jerry and I will,” Sandy volunteered. “Both of us are pretty tired, and -it’ll give us a chance to rest.” - -“All right,” Stern said. “Better make sure your guns are ready for -action in case that bear surprises you.” - -As the three men rode off along the edge of the ravine, the boys -dismounted and tethered their horses to a bare, crooked sapling. Sandy -sat down on a boulder with his buffalo gun across his knees, but Jerry -remained standing. - -“I may never sit down again,” he told Sandy. - -Soon the three men passed out of sight where the ravine curved back -behind a ridge, and the boys turned their attention to the birch trees -below them. - -“Think our bear is down there?” Sandy asked. - -“Naw, I bet he’s miles away from here by now.” - -The words were scarcely out of Jerry’s mouth when the sound of a rock -clattering down the far side of the ravine jerked their eyes upward. -Standing beside a big boulder on the rocky shelf facing them was the -biggest bear they had ever seen in their lives. His long, shaggy fur was -tipped with silver, and on his underside it almost brushed the ground. -The monster seemed oblivious of their presence. - -“I don’t think he sees us,” Sandy whispered to Jerry. “They have very -poor eyesight. And we’re upwind of him so he can’t smell us.” - -But the horses caught the scent of the bear and began to whinny and -stamp their hoofs in terror. The big Kodiak’s ears went up and he lifted -his head, probing the air with his sensitive snout. Slowly he reared up -on his hind legs. - -Jerry couldn’t restrain a gasp of astonishment and wonder. “Wow! Will -you look at the size of him! He must be ten feet tall if he’s an inch.” - -When the bear stood erect, Sandy could see a red, matted spot on his -left shoulder. “Someone shot him all right,” he said. He pressed his -lips firmly together and lifted the big rifle to his shoulder. “Well, -here goes.” Then he added, “You take a bead on him too, Jerry, in case I -miss.” - -“I’m so jittery, I don’t think I _could_ hit the side of a barn,” Jerry -answered breathlessly. Nevertheless, he brought up his rifle. - -“It’s an easy shot,” Sandy told him. “Only about forty yards. I’ll try -for a head shot. You aim just below the left shoulder. And take off your -mittens, idiot.” - -Sandy squinted down the long barrel, fixing the sight on a spot directly -between the bear’s eyes. Very gently he squeezed the trigger. There was -a tremendous explosion and a numbing blow against his shoulder that sent -him somersaulting backward off the boulder. He lay there stunned for an -instant. Then Jerry grabbed the front of his parka and pulled him to his -feet. - -“What a recoil,” Sandy mumbled. - -“Forget the recoil!” Jerry was hopping up and down in excitement. “You -got him! Look! One-shot Steele, that’s you. Bet you could have made a -chump out of Buffalo Bill.” - -Sandy focused his bleary eyes across the ravine. The Kodiak was just a -big mound of motionless fur sprawled out on the ground. - -“Come on!” Jerry pulled at Sandy’s arm. “Let’s hurry over there so we -can make like big-game hunters when those other guys show up.” Using his -rifle as a staff, he started down the slope into the ravine. - -Sandy caught up to him at the bottom and grabbed the rifle away from -him. “Don’t ever do anything like that again!” he snapped. “You dope! -You might have blown your head off—or at least your hand. This is a -loaded gun. You’ve got to have respect for it. Never point it at -yourself or anyone else.” - -Jerry flushed and dropped his eyes. “Yeah, you’re right. It was a dopey -thing to do. I’m so crazy excited I forgot.” - -“Okay.” Sandy handed the rifle back to him and they crashed through the -brush and brambles that grew among the trunks of the birches. Scrambling -up the far slope, Sandy was aware of a heavy weight banging against his -right hip. He slipped his hand into his pocket on that side and touched -the cold metal grip of the Colt automatic. He had forgotten about it -when he packed the heavy parka away after the sled race. - -He had just withdrawn his hand from his pocket when Jerry, who was in -the lead, reached the top of the ravine. As his eyes cleared the rim, he -stopped short and let out a wild yell. Then the bear lumbered into full -view, looming over Jerry like a cat over a very small mouse. The -monster’s red-rimmed eyes blazed with hatred and Sandy could see pink -foam gleaming on the long, bared fangs. It came to him as an incredible -shock that here they were face to face with the most dangerous living -thing in all the world—a wounded, pain-crazed Kodiak bear. - -“Jerry! The gun! Shoot!” Sandy spat the words out jerkily. - -Obeying mechanically, Jerry swung the long barrel up and fired in the -same motion. The slug plowed harmlessly between the bear’s legs, kicking -up dirt and gravel. But it turned out to be a lifesaving shot. Caught -off balance, Jerry was kicked off his feet by the booming recoil and -went tumbling head over heels down the steep grade. At the same time -Sandy drew out the big .45 pistol and cocked it. Then, as the bear -dropped to all fours, with the obvious intention of attacking, Sandy -fired at its hairy throat. The Army Colt .45-caliber packs a tremendous -wallop. At such close range, it knocked the giant Kodiak back on its -haunches. - -Sandy pumped the last bullet into the bear’s midsection, then turned and -ran down the slope. Jerry was just getting to his feet when he reached -the bottom of the ravine. “Find a tall tree and climb it,” Sandy yelled. -“Come on!” - -Together they stumbled into the woods. Sandy remembered that on their -way over they had passed one gnarled birch with a trunk as big around as -a man’s waist. In the manner of so many trees of this species, it had -branched out into three thick, sturdy limbs at a height of about four -feet. Without breaking his stride, Sandy leaped up, planted one foot in -the crotch and clawed and shinnied his way up through the branches. He -kept climbing until the limb began to bend beneath his weight. Then, -with his heart fluttering like a frightened bird, he looked down, half -expecting to see his friend in the embrace of the great bear. There was -no trace of either Jerry or the Kodiak. - -“Here I am,” Jerry’s voice rang out, so startlingly close that Sandy -almost lost his hold on the branch. The sight of Jerry swaying back and -forth on an adjacent limb at least five feet above him, arms and legs -wrapped tightly around it like a monkey, made him weak with relief. In -spite of their precarious position, he had to smile. - -Jerry was appalled. “He’s hysterical. Stark, raving mad,” he cried. -“Sandy! Snap out of it.” - -“I’m fine,” Sandy said. “It’s just that I didn’t expect to see you up -there.” - -“Where did you think I’d be? Back there, Indian-wrestling with old -Smokey so you could escape?” - -“I don’t know how you got up there so fast. I didn’t even see you pass -me.” - -“Brother,” Jerry said huffily, “if you had been as close to that critter -as I was you’d be back in Valley View by now.” - -As yet there was still no sign of the bear on the ground below them. -Sandy searched the rocky shelf where they had encountered him, but it -was empty. The clatter of horses’ hoofs drew his attention back to the -side of the ravine they had come from. Professor Stern and the other two -men came galloping into view and reined in their horses. - -“Here, in the tree!” Sandy hailed them. “We’re up in the tree.” - -Stern’s face reflected his relief—and not a little amazement. “What on -earth are you doing in a tree? And what were those shots we heard?” - -“We shot the bear. Then he came to life again and chased us up here.” -Sensing the professor’s understandable confusion, he grinned. “I guess -that sounds pretty wild, doesn’t it?” - -“Indeed it does,” Stern admitted. “But never mind that. Where is the -bear now?” - -“I don’t know.” - -Thorsen and Chris Hanson were already starting down into the ravine, -rifles ported for action. Stem dismounted and followed them. Cautiously -the men made their way through the trees. Before they reached the far -side of the ravine the boys lost sight of them. - -After several minutes of complete silence, Sandy began to get anxious. - -“Maybe that old bear was hiding behind a tree,” Jerry suggested, “and -clobbered each one of them as they went by him, like the Indians used to -do.” - -Finally they heard Stern’s voice calling to them. “You guys can come -down now.” - -Sandy was puzzled. “That’s funny. I guess the bear got away after all.” -He slid hurriedly to the ground. - -When they emerged from the birch grove, both boys stopped dead. Sandy -shut his eyes tight, opened them, shut them, and opened them again. He -couldn’t believe what he saw. The three men were standing at the bottom -of the slope, all flashing broad grins. At their feet was the -mountainous carcass of the bear. - -“You—you sure he’s dead?” Sandy stammered. - -“Yeah,” Jerry said. “He’s a tricky one.” - -Thorsen jabbed his toe into the shaggy body. “Quite dead, I assure you, -my young friends.” - -“We had just reached the end of the ravine when we heard the shots,” -Professor Stern said. “Now tell us what happened.” - -Both talking at once, the boys recited the story of their escapade with -the big Kodiak. - -“You remember that old movie _King Kong_, where the girl first sees this -giant gorilla?” Jerry asked. “Well, that’s how I felt when this thing -came at me. Oh broth-er!” He shuddered. - -Sandy took out the black Colt pistol. “And this is what saved our -lives.” - -Thorsen took it from him and examined it admiringly. “A true gem. Do you -know how this gun was developed? During the Philippine Insurrection, -American troops were being demoralized by fierce Moro tribesmen, savage -warriors who carried wicked bolo knives. The Moros would pop up out of -the jungle without warning and attack the soldiers at such close -quarters that it was impossible for them to use their rifles. And the -Moros were so physically powerful that the average pistol couldn’t stop -them. Even with a half dozen bullets in them, they could decapitate an -enemy with their bolos before they died. The Army Colt .45 was designed -especially to stop them. And it did the job well—with one slug.” - -“It certainly stopped this monster,” said Chris Hanson. - -“But it was a very lucky shot,” Professor Stern tempered his praise. -“The first shot you fired with the rifle creased his skull and stunned -him. He was probably still whoozy when you ran into him, or you might -not have had a chance to get in a second shot. Your last shot severed -the jugular vein. It was a very lucky shot,” he emphasized. - -“You don’t have to convince me, Professor,” Sandy said soberly. “As of -now I am a retired bear hunter.” - - - - - CHAPTER THIRTEEN - The Ghost Mine - - -Two days later the Sterns and the Hansons came down to the airstrip to -see the boys off. Professor Stern promised to send the bearskin to -Valley View as soon as it was cured. “It will make a nice trophy to -spread out in front of your fireplace,” he told Sandy. - -“I think I’ll donate it to our local boys’ club,” Sandy said. - -“And every time a new fellow joins up, he’ll have an excuse to tell what -a big hero he is,” Jerry joked. - -Sandy laughed. “I bet I looked like a big hero up in that tree all -right.” - -Russ Parker appeared in the doorway of the plane. “All revved up and -ready to go. You fellows set?” - -The boys said their last goodbyes and climbed into the cabin. - -Mrs. Stern waved and yelled, “Thanks again for refilling my freezer.” - -“We’ll eat it up the next time we come,” Jerry said. - -Parker slammed the door and bolted it, then went forward to the cockpit. -“Fasten your safety belts,” he ordered. The little plane took off -smoothly and climbed over the bay. Through the window next to him, Sandy -caught a last glimpse of the twin domes of the Russian church and the -ancient sea wall with its great iron rings where the fur traders used to -tie up their ships. The sun sparkled on the blue water and glinted -briefly off the metal oil tanks of the U.S. naval base far across the -bay. Parker leveled off at 10,000 feet and set a northeast course. - -Sandy unbuckled his seat belt and went up front to the cockpit. “How -long will it take to fly to Cordova?” he inquired. - -“With this tail wind no more than two hours,” Parker said. “We should be -landing a little after ten. Your dad and the professor want to fly back -to Juneau this afternoon.” - -Sandy nodded. “From there we’re taking a commercial airline back to -Seattle.” - -Parker put the ship on automatic pilot and turned sideways in the seat. -“Not driving back down the highway?” - -“No. Professor Crowell decided the trip was too rugged in the winter. -He’s leaving his dogs up here until spring. Anyway, Jerry and I have to -get back to school, so we were planning to fly back in any case.” - -Listening to the conversation with one ear, Jerry looked up from the -book he was reading. “Hey, Sandy, back in Valley View the guys are just -steeling themselves for a session with Miss Remson in English Four. -Isn’t that great? And here we are three thousand miles away and two -miles in the air. Think we’re safe from her?” - -“Sure,” Sandy said. “And Miss Remson would probably be just as glad if -you stayed that far away from her.” - -Parker pointed out a range of mountains just visible on the northwest -horizon. “Too bad you don’t have time to visit the Valley of Ten -Thousand Smokes.” - -“That’s an interesting name. What is it?” - -“Before Mount Katmai erupted in 1912 it was a fertile farm region. Then -the whole top of the mountain blew off—two cubic miles of rock vaporized -into thin air. One hundred miles away in Kodiak they had to shovel the -dust and ashes off the roof tops.” - -Sandy whistled. “That’s as bad as having an H-bomb drop in your back -yard.” - -“Maybe worse,” Parker said grimly. “Then the entire floor of the valley -erupted into little fumaroles, or volcanic potholes, that spewed out -molten sand. Thousands of them. That’s where they got the name Ten -Thousand Smokes. Today there are only seven of them that are still -active, but the valley is a desert wasteland.” - -Sandy squinted through the windshield, imagining he could see a thin -ribbon of smoke rising from one of the peaks. “What happened to old -Mount Katmai? Is it still active?” - -“Well, the experts think it’s still boiling way down inside. There’s a -big lake in the crater now, but it never freezes. I’ve heard it’s warm -enough to swim in.” - -Jerry, who had come forward to listen to the story, was wonderstruck. -“Why, I bet you could land a plane on the lake and find out,” he said. - -“It’s a thought,” Parker agreed, not too enthusiastically. “Maybe some -day I’ll try it.” - -For the remainder of the trip, he captivated the boys with other tales -about the big land, and almost before they knew it they were approaching -Cordova. The traffic was light and the tower gave them immediate -clearance to land. - -A quarter of an hour after the plane touched down, they were on their -way to town in the auto of a radio technician who was going off duty. -Russ Parker remained at the field to give the Norseman a thorough -inspection before the afternoon flight to Juneau. “We’ll take off about -one, I guess,” he told them as they were leaving. - -The considerate radio man dropped them off in front of the old-fashioned -hotel where Dr. Steele had said they would be staying. The clerk at the -desk informed them that the geologists were still registered, but that -he had not seen them since the previous morning. - -“Are you certain they didn’t come back when you were off duty?” Sandy -asked him. - -“Positive,” the clerk declared. “The chambermaid said their beds haven’t -been slept in.” - -Sandy looked at Jerry helplessly. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to wait -for them.” - -The clerk gave them a passkey to one of the two adjoining rooms occupied -by Dr. Steele and his party. When they entered the room, the boys were -surprised to see that the geologists hadn’t even started to pack. -Clothing, books and toilet articles were scattered everywhere. - -Jerry looked at his wrist watch. “We’re never going to take off for -Juneau at one o’clock at this rate. It’s after eleven now. Are you sure -you didn’t get the days mixed up, Sandy? Maybe your father wasn’t -expecting us until tomorrow.” - -A little seed of fear began to grow inside of Sandy. “No, he said the -third. Professor Crowell told Russ he wanted to fly to Juneau today, -too. I can’t understand it, Jerry. If Dad didn’t expect to be here when -we got back from Kodiak, he would have left word for us. Anyway, they -couldn’t have been planning to make any overnight trips. They didn’t -take razors, toothbrushes or anything; my dad shaves every morning even -when he’s on a fishing trip miles from civilization. I don’t like it, -Jerry.” - -Jerry’s face turned pale under its perpetual tan. “Sandy, you don’t -think those enemy agents...?” He left the sentence unfinished. - -Before Sandy could reply, the telephone on the stand between the twin -beds jangled harshly. The boys looked at each other hopefully. - -“Maybe that’s Dad calling.” Sandy threw himself across one of the beds -and picked up the receiver eagerly. But it was Russ Parker phoning from -the airfield. - -“I don’t think it’s anything to worry about,” Parker said, “but I just -found out that your dad and his friends chartered a plane yesterday -morning to fly out to McCarthy. That’s an old ghost town near the -abandoned Kennecott copper mine. When they didn’t show back last night, -the authorities figured they had been forced down somewhere with engine -trouble. Search planes have been combing the area all morning, but -there’s no sign of the plane, crashed or otherwise.” - -“What do you think we should do, Russ?” Sandy asked in a tight voice. - -“I dunno. I sort of thought we might fly out that way ourselves and have -a look.” - -“That’s a good idea, Russ. Jerry and I will be out as soon as we can -hitch a ride. Thanks for calling.” He slammed down the receiver and -related the latest development to Jerry. Minutes later they were on -their way. - - -As they swooped low across the small ghost town of McCarthy, Parker -banked the plane sharply and indicated the unblemished expanses of white -around the town. “No one has set down here since before the last snow,” -he said. - -“Is there anywhere else they might have landed?” Sandy asked. - -“Maybe up at the mine proper. We’ll fly up that way and have a look.” - -“Imagine having a ghost town up here,” Jerry marveled. “I thought they -were exclusive to the old American West. It’s kind of spooky, everyone -packing up and leaving a place. Almost as if it was haunted.” - -“Ghost towns are haunted in a sense,” Sandy said. “By poverty and -hunger. They’re towns that build up around mines and have no other -livelihood. If the mines close down they’re doomed.” - -“Any community that puts all its eggs in one basket runs the risk of -becoming a ghost town,” Parker put in. - -“Why did the Kennecott mine shut down?” Sandy asked curiously. - -“The ore just ran out,” Parker said. “Here we are now.” - -Below them Sandy saw a sprawling shedlike structure that seemed to be -hanging on the side of a hill. “That’s the main building,” Parker said. -“See those long wires that look like trolley cables? They used to send -the ore down from the shafts by cable car. Then it was loaded on trains -and shipped to Cordova to be put on ships.” - -On a level plateau below the Kennecott mine, they spotted the long twin -ski marks of a plane. There were two sets, one set almost parallel to -the other. - -“No doubt about it,” Parker said. “A plane landed here recently. And it -took off again.” He brought the Norseman’s nose up and began climbing. - -“But if they took off again, where _did_ they go?” Sandy was sick with -fear. The idea of his father lying badly injured—or worse—in the -wreckage of a crashed plane terrified him. “If—if they had cracked up, -the search planes would have found them by now, wouldn’t they?” - -Parker chewed thoughtfully on his underlip. “I would think so. Unless -they wandered outlandishly far off course. But there isn’t any reason -why they should have. The last two days and nights have been perfect for -flying.” Ominously, he added, “But we can’t discount that possibility -altogether. There’s so much territory to cover even with an air search -that a small plane might be missed. In Canada they insist that private -planes follow well-traveled routes like the Alaska Highway instead of -flying the beam, for that very reason. If you have to make a forced -landing, there’s a better chance you’ll be found promptly.” - -“Listen,” Sandy implored the pilot, “let’s land here and look around. -Maybe we’ll find a clue or something to show where they went.” - -Parker shrugged. “Sure, if it’ll make you feel any better. But if they -were here, they definitely took off again.” - -Parker landed the Norseman smoothly, cutting across the ski tracks of -the other plane. He taxied to the far end of the clearing, turning her -about in position for a take-off, then cut the engines. The plane -settled heavily in the snow. - -“Looks pretty deep out there,” Parker estimated. “We better dig out -snowshoes from the baggage compartment.” - -They had landed about a quarter of a mile away from the main building of -the mine, and because of the boys’ inexperience on snowshoes it was a -slow walk. - -“I feel just like a duck,” Jerry grumbled as he brought up the rear, -flopping along in the clumsy, webbed footgear. “Overgrown tennis -rackets, that’s all they are.” - -“You’re not supposed to try and walk the way you do in shoes,” Sandy -instructed him. “You just shuffle along.” - -At last they stood beneath the big ramshackle structure. It _was_ -spooky, Sandy had to admit to himself, just as Jerry said. Once this -building had been the nerve center of a booming industry, buzzing with -activity and life. Now it stood on the hillside, gaunt, decaying and -silent. Before many more years it would become a rickety skeleton. - -He shuddered as Parker led them up on the moldy loading platform and -into the tomblike dampness of the shed. “We can go on up to the main -building through here. There are stairs right inside.” They passed -through a doorway into a room illuminated only by the slivers of -daylight that penetrated the cracked boards. - -Suddenly, Russ Parker did an about-face and began talking. “Well, here -we are.” Only he seemed to be talking to someone in back of them. - -Sandy whirled quickly and saw that the doorway was blocked by a huge man -wearing a stocking cap and a plaid mackinaw. His face was hidden in -shadow. But the big Lüger pistol in his right hand was very plain to -see. - - - - - CHAPTER FOURTEEN - The Plot Revealed - - -In his other hand the stranger carried a square electric lantern. He -turned the powerful beam on Sandy and Jerry. “Did you have any trouble -with them, Parker?” - -“Not a bit,” Parker said. “The Steele boy suggested himself that we land -here. And of course there was no trouble at all persuading him to fly -out here with me.” - -The boys looked from Parker to the other man in bewilderment. “Russ,” -Sandy pleaded, “tell us what’s going on. Who is this guy?” He turned on -the stranger belligerently. “Do you know where my father is?” - -“My name is Kruger,” the man snapped. “And, yes, I do know where your -father is. Now, turn around and march up those stairs.” He waved the -pistol at them threateningly. - -As the boys started up the stairs, the men fell behind and lowered their -voices. “How do you like that!” Jerry declared. “Russ Parker is in with -these characters.” - -“I can hardly believe it,” Sandy said miserably. “Anyhow, at least I -know Dad is okay—so far,” he amended. - -“No conversation, please,” Kruger ordered sharply. - -“Parker, you sneak,” Sandy said bitterly, “you won’t get away with this. -The authorities know my dad and his friends are missing. And when we -don’t show back at the airfield there’ll be even more search planes -combing this area.” - -The pilot began to laugh. “No one knows your father and the others are -missing. No one at all. By now the hotel has received a telegram from -Skagway saying that Professor Crowell and his party returned there on -urgent business and that someone will pick up their luggage and pay -their hotel bill.” - -Sandy was confused. “But—but what about the people at the airport? You -said there were search planes out looking for the missing plane.” - -“There is no missing plane. Yesterday morning four men rented a plane. -Last evening the plane returned—with four men. There was another crew on -duty at the airport. They couldn’t suspect that the passengers were four -_different_ men.” - -Kruger seemed to enjoy the boys’ discomfort. “By the time the American -authorities discover that any of you are missing you will be well out of -reach in Siberia.” - -“Across that narrow stretch of water we were talking about,” Parker -taunted them. “The Bering Strait.” - -The man with the gun took them through a series of tunnels that slanted -up steeply through the mountainside. The ascent was severe, and every -ten minutes or so they would stop to rest. When they emerged into the -open again, Sandy saw that they were at the site of the main diggings. -The terrain was pockmarked with shafts and tunnels. Rusty train tracks -disappeared into the gloomy mine tunnels, and abandoned dump cars tilted -up through the snow drifts about the entrances. Far below, the main -building of the Kennecott mine squatted at the foot of the mountain; -from this perspective it reminded Sandy of a miniature cardboard house -sitting on a floor of cotton beneath a Christmas tree. They followed a -path around a bend to the mouth of a huge tunnel. To one side of it a -flaking, rusted cable car rocked gently from a metal cable that was -equally rusted. It scraped and screeched monotonously at the slightest -gust of wind. - -“In here,” Kruger ordered. “This was one of the main shafts of the -mine.” - -They walked along the rail ties back about one hundred yards, where a -rectangle of yellow light splashed into the corridor from a doorway in -one wall of the tunnel. Kruger motioned them through the doorway into a -big chamber that evidently had served as a locker room for the miners. -Rotting wooden benches and tin lockers cluttered up the room, many of -them overturned, all of them sagging. A large gasoline lantern burned on -a long wooden table in the middle of the room. On either side of the -table sat a strange man with a rifle across his knees. Across the table, -seated all in a row on a bench, their hands and feet tied, were Dr. -Steele, Professor Crowell, Lou Mayer and Tagish Charley. - -“Dad!” Sandy burst out. “Am I glad to see you! Are you okay?” - -Dr. Steele managed a strained smile. “I’m all right, Son. We all are. -But I can’t say I’m glad to see you boys.” He turned to one of the men -with the rifles. “Did you have to drag them into it, Strak? They’re only -boys. They don’t even know what this is all about.” - -The man he addressed, a short, intense fellow who moved with the quick, -nervous motions of a squirrel, stood up and walked toward the new -arrivals. He stopped in front of Sandy and stroked his prominent -clean-shaven chin. - -“So this is your son, Dr. Steele? A fine-looking lad.” He spoke careful, -formal English. “I, too, regret that he and the other youth had to -become involved. But we couldn’t take any chances. They would have -notified the police that you were missing and....” - -“Don’t be a fool!” Professor Crowell snapped. “The police will discover -our absence soon enough.” - -Strak smiled patiently. “I disagree. Secrecy has been the keynote of -your project. Only a few people in both your governments—high -officials—know your real purpose in coming to Alaska. By the time they -discover you are missing, we will all be safely out of the country.” - -“Of course, Dr. Steele, you could spare your son and his friend a lot of -unnecessary hardship by co-operating with us,” Kruger said. “Just the -answer to one simple question....” - -“You’re wasting your time,” Dr. Steele said flatly. - -“Have it your own way.” Strak sighed wearily. “You will tell us, you -know. That is certain. Today, tomorrow, next week or six months from -now. We can wait.” - -Kruger pushed the boys toward the bench where the other hostages were -seated. “Parker, help me tie these two up.” - -When the boys were securely bound, Strak motioned Parker to follow him. -“Come, Parker. Let us go outside. We have a few things to discuss in -private.” - -“You want Malik and me to stay here and guard the prisoners?” Kruger -asked. - -Strak hesitated a moment, then shook his head. “No, come along. You -should all hear this.” He glanced at the prisoners. “I don’t think -they’ll get loose.” He smiled. “And even if they did, where would they -go? We’ll be up at the entrance—the only entrance.” - -The four men left the room and their footsteps echoed off down the -tunnel. In the dim light of the lantern Dr. Steele’s face was drawn and -pale. - -“I’ll never forgive myself, getting you boys mixed up in this,” he said. -“Once I knew they were on to us, that we hadn’t deceived them into -thinking this was an innocent geological expedition, I should have sent -you back to California on the first plane.” - -“Don’t blame yourself, Dad,” Sandy said quietly. “I wouldn’t have left -you, knowing that you were in some kind of serious trouble.” - -“That goes for me too, sir,” Jerry backed him up. - -“What I don’t understand,” Sandy said, “is how they caught you.” - -“We walked right into their hands,” Professor Crowell explained. “Parker -knew we were coming up to the Kennecott mine and tipped them off. They -flew up ahead of us, hid their plane in the trees and covered up the ski -tracks. When we arrived they were waiting for us.” - -“A whole gang of them,” Lou Mayer put in. “Seven of them, armed to the -teeth. Four of them took our plane back to Cordova so the people at the -airport wouldn’t report us missing.” - -“I know,” Sandy said grimly. “They took care of the hotel too. By the -time the authorities get suspicious it will be too late. The one called -Kruger says we’ll be in Russia by then.” - -Dr. Steele and Professor Crowell looked at each other hopelessly. -“Unless we tell them what they want to know,” Dr. Steele said. - -Sandy’s eyes were puzzled. “Just what are they after? I guess you can -tell us now.” - -Dr. Steele smiled wanly. “I guess we can.” He paused before he went on. -“Although he’s better known as a geologist, Professor Crowell is one of -Canada’s leading physicists. During World War Two he was assigned to -rocket research work for the Canadian Army and continued to specialize -in this field after the war. - -“About six months ago an old Yukon prospector submitted an ore sample to -a government assay office at Whitehorse. He said he had been prospecting -on the Alaskan border and struck what he believed was a vein of gold. An -analysis of the sample revealed traces of copper, but no gold. But much -more important, it revealed strains of a rare element that the Canadian -government was testing as a catalytic agent in top-secret experiments -with a new solid rocket fuel. - -“For years now rocket experts have acknowledged that solid fuels are -more practical than liquid propellants—even more so for the big manned -rocket ships of the future. The trouble is, up until now the solid fuels -haven’t been too dependable. Professor Crowell believes this new element -will solve the most serious drawbacks, but unhappily it’s about as rare -as uranium. During the past few months there have been teams out -searching for it all over the Dominion, without much success. - -“Then, unexpectedly, this old prospector shows up with an ore sample -laced liberally with it. The assay office at Whitehorse dispatched it to -Ottawa immediately and Professor Crowell was consulted. It was his -opinion that they were on to something big. A special agent flew up to -Whitehorse to interview the prospector, but tragically—any way you look -at it—the poor old man had passed away from pneumonia only a few days -before the agent arrived. - -“Now the big problem was to find out where the dead man had picked up -the ore. All kinds of soil and rock analyses were made on it without any -specific results. It was the professor’s guess that it came from -somewhere in the vicinity of the Kennecott copper mine. There was copper -in the sample, of course, and the old miner had mentioned vaguely at the -assay office that he had discovered it somewhere ‘on the border.’ A -layman couldn’t be expected to know exactly where the border lies; -actually, he may have wandered well into Alaska. - -“In any case, the Canadian government conferred with Washington, and it -was decided to send a joint team up to Alaska composed of Professor -Crowell, Lou Mayer and myself.” He glanced toward the doorway and added -sourly, “We didn’t count on it ending up a three-nation team.” - -“How did they find out?” Sandy wanted to know. - -Dr. Steele shrugged. “They have the most efficient espionage system in -the world. That we have to give them credit for.” - -Sandy pursed his lips solemnly. “But they still don’t know what the -element is?” - -“Or how it’s employed in the manufacture of the rocket fuel,” Professor -Crowell declared emphatically. “I’m the only one who can tell them that. -And I’ll die first.” - -“Watch it,” Jerry cautioned. “I think I hear them coming back.” - -The sound of approaching footsteps reverberated hollowly through the -mine. Strak appeared in the doorway alone. “Kruger and Malik have gone -down the mountain to help Parker clear a runway,” he told them. “We’ll -be taking off with a heavy load.” - -Sandy made a quick mental count. “That plane will never get off the -ground with ten of us.” - -Strak smiled. “I agree. But there are only seven of us who will be -making the trip.” - -“What do you mean?” Dr. Steele demanded. - -“Just that you and your son and Professor Crowell are the only ones who -have any real value to us. The rest will remain here.” - -Dr. Steele was shocked. “You can’t intend to leave them tied up in this -mine? They’ll starve to death or die of exposure.” - -Strak shrugged. “That’s a risk we will have to take. Perhaps in time -they may be able to get loose. Perhaps they will make it back to -civilization. Who can tell? The Indian seems to be a resourceful -woodsman.” He walked over and stood in front of Tagish Charley. “Tell -me, Doctor, he _is_ alive, isn’t he?” - -Tagish Charley’s face betrayed no trace of emotion. He had not spoken a -word since the boys’ arrival. All the while he had sat stiffly on the -bench, hands behind him, eyes staring fixedly at the rock wall in front -of him—as detached as any cigar-store Indian could be, or so it seemed -to Sandy. - -In sudden irritation Strak bent close to Charley, flashing his electric -torch into his face. “You insolent Indian dog! You can speak, can’t -you?” - -Then, for the first time, Charley showed some sign of life. Slowly he -lifted his eyes to Strak’s face and said solemnly, “Charley too busy to -talk—until _now_!” As he shouted the last word, his two powerful arms -whipped free from behind him and wrapped around his tormentor. - -Strak tried desperately to bring up his rifle, but he was helpless in -Charley’s grizzly-bear hug. The air whistled out of his lungs like a -wheezing bellows, and there was the distinct snap of a rib cracking. He -moaned softly and fainted. Charley let him drop to the floor. - -“Atta boy, Charley!” Jerry said exultantly. - -They all winced as the Indian held up his hands in the light. His wrists -were raw and bleeding from rubbing at the rope. “Big spike in bench -where I sit. Slow work, but at end I saw rope through.” He bent over -Strak and removed a hunting knife from the man’s belt. Quickly he cut -through the ropes that bound his own ankles. Then he went along the -bench freeing the others. - -“Come on!” Dr. Steele said, grabbing up Strak’s rifle from the ground. -“No time to lose. The others will be coming back soon.” He led the way -out of the room and down the tunnel to the entrance. - -At the foot of the mountain beyond the abandoned mine building, they -could see the plane sitting like a toy in the snow. The three enemy -agents were bustling around it, mere specks at this distance. - -“They’re still working on the runway,” Sandy observed. - -“What do we do when they come back?” Jerry asked. - -Lou Mayer indicated the rifle the doctor was holding. “We have one gun. -We can make a fight of it at least.” - -Dr. Steele was not enthusiastic. “All three of them are armed. I’m -afraid it wouldn’t be much of a fight.” His voice was grim. “Some of us -would be hurt—or killed.” - -“Why couldn’t we rush down the hill when we see them start up?” -Professor Crowell suggested. “They’d be inside, coming up through the -shafts. By the time they got up here, we’d have quite a head start on -them. If we get to that plane—” - -Dr. Steele shook his head. “We’d never stand a chance without snowshoes, -and they’re all down at the mine shed. They’d have a field day picking -us off with their rifles while we flounder through those hip-deep drifts -on the mountain.” - -“Then we’ve got no choice,” Lou Mayer said gloomily. “We’ve got to make -a stand here.” - -“Wait a minute!” Sandy cried out, the bud of a wild inspiration forming -in his mind. “Is there any chance _that_ thing still works?” The others -followed his gaze upward to the old cable car creaking and rocking to -the right of the entrance. - -The professor sighed. “I’m afraid not. These cable cars were operated by -power machinery down at the depot.” - -“I know,” Sandy said. “But we’d be coasting downhill.” - -There was a gleam of interest in Dr. Steele’s eyes. “That sounds -logical. What do you say we have a look at it, Son? But keep down. We -don’t want Kruger and the others to spot us against the snow.” - -They slunk out of the shadow of the mine entrance, darting quickly -behind the cover of the cable car. Dr. Steele climbed into the open cab -and squinted up at the rigging. “Looks to me as if the only thing that’s -restraining it is that safety lock,” he said. - -Sandy disagreed. “What about the pulley cable? That must be anchored in -the shed below. She won’t roll unless that’s free.” - -Dr. Steele studied the arrangement of rollers and cables more closely. -“You’re right,” he admitted. He pointed to the steel hook-eye at the -back of the car where the pulley cable was attached. “The wire is pretty -frayed back here. Possibly we could hack through it. I saw an old ax -back in the cave.” - -“It’s sure worth a try,” Sandy said. “How do you think that overhead -cable will hold up when we start rolling downhill?” - -“I’d say it’s in pretty good condition. They put a good coating of -grease on all the machinery before they shut the mine down. They must -have hoped to use it again, or possibly to sell it.” - -Professor Crowell’s voice rang out urgently from the tunnel entrance. -“Hurry up! Kruger and the others are starting back.” - -Dr. Steele pulled Sandy down out of sight in the car. “We’ll stay here -until they enter the shed.” He called over to Tagish Charley, “Charley, -duck back into the mine and get a couple of those picks that are lying -around.” - -Peering over the rim of the cable car, Sandy watched the three men make -their way on snowshoes back to the mine. As soon as they had disappeared -into the shed, Dr. Steele shouted for the others. “Come on, we’ve got to -work fast. Charley, over here with those picks, quickly!” - -Lou Mayer, Professor Crowell and Jerry scrambled aboard the car while -Dr. Steele gave instructions to Tagish Charley. “You work on the -hook-eye and pulley, Charley. I’ll knock out the safety lock. The rest -of you just pray.” - -One solid blow tripped the safety lock, and the car moved forward about -a foot until the taut cable stopped it. The cable itself was more of a -problem. Sandy had the uncomfortable sensation that his leaping heart -was trying to squirm out of his throat and escape from his body. - -The tension was unbearable as Charley pounded away at the pulley with -strong rhythmic strokes of the ax. At first it seemed impervious to the -dull blade. Then, with relief, Sandy saw one strand snap with a musical -twang. Charley swung harder, encouraged by this success, and another -strand broke. Each strand that let go put additional stress on the -remaining strands, making Charley’s task a little easier. The last two -snapped together with a loud report. - -The car shuddered and began to roll forward slowly. There was the -nerve-shattering screech of metal against metal as the overhead rollers -and the main cable protested violently at being used so rudely after -twenty-one years of inactivity. Snow, rust and metal shavings cascaded -down on the car’s occupants as it picked up momentum. - -The boys let go with a tremendous cheer and Professor Crowell and Dr. -Steele shook hands solemnly. Sandy glanced behind them at the rapidly -diminishing tunnel entrance, but as yet there was no sign of Kruger and -the other two enemy agents. - -Fortunately the pitting of the cable and the rust and stiffness of the -rollers reduced their acceleration sufficiently so that they crashed -into the bumpers at the foot of the incline with only a moderate jolt. -The cable car split the rotting wood on the bumper’s face, but the -springs behind it cushioned the jolt. - -Sandy extricated himself from the mass of scrambled limbs gingerly. -“Everybody okay? No broken bones?” - -There was a chorus of relieved okays. - -Dr. Steele climbed out into the snow. “All right. Into the shed and on -with those snowshoes.” Apprehensively, he looked up the mountain, but -the enemy agents still had not appeared. - -As Sandy strapped on the great clumsy snowshoes, he made a suggestion. -“Let’s take the other four pairs with us. That will slow them up even -more if they try to follow us.” - -“Good idea,” Tagish Charley grunted. “But I got better one.” He picked -up the ax he had carried with him from the cable car and began to attack -the surplus snowshoes furiously. When he had demolished them, he -straightened up and, to everyone’s amazement, grinned broadly. “They no -go very far now.” - -They were halfway to the plane when a distant gunshot came to them -faintly through the thin, dry air. Turning, Sandy could make out three -ant-like specks on the mountainside near the tunnel where they had been -held prisoner. - -“They’ve discovered we’re gone,” he said. - -“And they’re shooting at us,” Jerry commented nervously. - -“We’re not in much danger at this range,” Professor Crowell assured -them. “Without telescopic sights, it would take a mighty lucky shot to -hit anyone.” - -Nevertheless, they were all greatly relieved when they were seated -snugly in the cabin of the plane and Professor Crowell had the motors -gunning smoothly. “Those fellows did a mighty fine job on this runway,” -the professor said charitably. He advanced the throttle and the ship -glided ahead smoothly. They cleared the trees at the far end of the -clearing with plenty of room to spare and climbed in a sweeping curve -that took them over the mountain. Far below on the snowy slope they -could see the frustrated agents hopping about and shaking their fists in -the air. - - - - - CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Final Victory - - -“They’ve caught the entire gang!” Dr. Steele reported excitedly as he -burst into the boys’ hotel room at Cordova a little after eight the next -morning. - -Sandy sat up and massaged the sleep from his eyes. “No kidding, Dad. -When?” - -“Army Intelligence moved in on Strak, Parker and the other two at dawn. -They gave up without a fight. Seems they put in a pretty rough night. -Strak was in bad shape, thanks to Charley, but he’ll live to stand trial -for espionage.” - -“What about the rest of the gang?” - -“The local police arrested them as they were trying to board a freighter -at Valdez. It’s a clean sweep.” - -“Wow!” Jerry was awake now, his eyes as big and shiny as tin plates. -“That’s what I call action.” Grinning, he added, “We sure could have -used a little bit of that kind of action yesterday. Where were all the -cops and G-men then?” - -“In an operation like this one,” Dr. Steele explained, “they had to stay -way out on the fringes until the last moment. That was a risk we knew -we’d have to take from the start if we hoped to spring a trap on this -gang of ruthless saboteurs. If we had an army of bodyguards dogging our -footsteps, they never would have been lured in.” - -“Lured in?” Sandy was perplexed. “You mean we were sort of decoys for -the spies?” - -“In a way,” Dr. Steele admitted. “I couldn’t tell you that, even -yesterday. But now it’s officially okay to let you in on it.” - -“But what about the rocket fuel Professor Crowell was working on? I -thought we came up to look for some rare element.” - -“That of course was our primary reason for coming to Alaska. And of -course we’ll continue to search for Element X. But when the enemy agents -began to hound us so persistently, we saw an opportunity to make a -double killing.” - -Jerry stretched. “Only we came awful close to being the ones who were -killed.” - -“We had a narrow scrape,” Dr. Steele agreed. “It was ingenious of them -to take back the plane to Cordova after they ambushed us at the mine. -Our people were holding back, of course, and it really threw them off -the trail. As far as they knew, we had checked back into the city and -then disappeared into thin air. With a bit more luck the gang might have -smuggled us out of the country.” - -Jerry laughed. “Hey, Sandy, can you see us going to school in Siberia?” - -“Frankly, no,” Sandy told him. “You have enough trouble with English.” - -Dr. Steele broke in with “That reminds me. We have to think of getting -you boys back to Valley View. You don’t want to miss too much more -school.” - -“Speak for yourself, Doctor,” Jerry crowed. “How can you expect us to go -back and associate with little school kids after battling Yukon -blizzards, Kodiak bears and spies? It’s positively undignified.” - -Dr. Steele smiled tolerantly. “Don’t feel that way, Jerry. Remember, -adventure and excitement may be just around the corner, whether you’re -in Alaska or California.” - -“Yeah, that’s right,” Jerry said thoughtfully. Then he added, with a -gleam in his eye, “Besides, it’ll be great to come up with our story -when Pepper March starts spouting about that cruise he was supposed to -take. Boy, will _his_ eyes pop! And you know what? We might even be able -to stump Quiz Taylor. Wouldn’t that be something? Okay, Valley View, -here we come! How about it, Sandy?” - -Sandy stretched blissfully. “I’m ready. In fact, I’m way ahead of you. -How about next summer?” - - - SANDY STEELE ADVENTURES - - 1. BLACK TREASURE - -Sandy Steele and Quiz spend an action-filled summer in the oil fields of -the Southwest. In their search for oil and uranium, they unmask a -dangerous masquerader. - - 2. DANGER AT MORMON CROSSING - -On a hunting trip in the Lost River section of Idaho, Sandy and Mike -ride the rapids, bag a mountain lion, and stumble onto the answer to a -hundred-year-old mystery. - - 3. STORMY VOYAGE - -Sandy and Jerry James ship as deck hands on one of the “long boats” of -the Great Lakes. They are plunged into a series of adventures and find -themselves involved in a treacherous plot. - - 4. FIRE AT RED LAKE - -Sandy and his friends pitch in to fight a forest fire in Minnesota. Only -they and Sandy’s uncle know that there is an unexploded A-bomb in the -area to add to the danger. - - 5. SECRET MISSION TO ALASKA - -A pleasant Christmas trip turns into a startling adventure. Sandy and -Jerry participate in a perilous dog-sled race, encounter a wounded bear, -and are taken as hostages by a ruthless enemy. - - 6. TROUBLED WATERS - -When Sandy and Jerry mistakenly sail off in a stranger’s sloop instead -of their own, they land in a sea of trouble. Their attempts to -outmaneuver a desperate crew are intertwined with fascinating sailing -lore. - - PUBLISHED BY SIMON AND SCHUSTER - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Secret Mission to Alaska, by Roger Barlow - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SECRET MISSION TO ALASKA *** - -***** This file should be named 50320-0.txt or 50320-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/3/2/50320/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Secret Mission to Alaska - Sandy Steele Adventures #5 - -Author: Roger Barlow - -Release Date: October 26, 2015 [EBook #50320] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SECRET MISSION TO ALASKA *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - SANDY STEELE ADVENTURES - - Black Treasure - Danger at Mormon Crossing - Stormy Voyage - Fire at Red Lake - Secret Mission to Alaska - Troubled Waters - - - - - Sandy Steele Adventures - _SECRET MISSION - TO - ALASKA_ - - - BY ROGER BARLOW - - - SIMON AND SCHUSTER - _New York, 1959_ - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - INCLUDING THE RIGHT OF REPRODUCTION - IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN ANY FORM - COPYRIGHT 1959 BY SIMON AND SCHUSTER, INC. - PUBLISHED BY SIMON AND SCHUSTER, INC. - ROCKEFELLER CENTER, 630 FIFTH AVENUE - NEW YORK 20, N. Y. - - FIRST PRINTING - - LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 59-13882 - MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - BY H. WOLFF BOOK MFG. CO., INC., NEW YORK - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - 1 Off to Alaska 9 - 2 A Hint of Trouble 14 - 3 A Mysterious Intruder 26 - 4 Charley Works Out the Huskies 37 - 5 Christmas in the Wilderness 49 - 6 Attack from the Air 59 - 7 The Big Race 66 - 8 Lost in a Blizzard 80 - 9 Trapped in an Icy Tomb 98 - 10 Down the Chilkoot Chute to Victory 109 - 11 Off to Hunt Kodiak Bears 121 - 12 Treed by a Wounded Bear 135 - 13 The Ghost Mine 156 - 14 The Plot Revealed 167 - 15 Final Victory 185 - - - - - CHAPTER ONE - Off to Alaska - - -Sandy Steele twisted his lanky six-foot frame in the cramped airplane -seat, stretching his long legs out in the aisle. Yawning, he glanced out -of the small, round window beside him. Although it was daylight now, the -ground was completely hidden by a layer of dense clouds that stretched -away to the horizon on all sides like fluffy marshmallow topping. The -sound of the motors was a dull, monotonous throbbing in his ears. - -Sandy leaned forward and ruffled the black crew cut that was just -visible over the top of the seat ahead of him. "Hey, Jerry, you awake?" - -"Yeah," a voice mumbled sleepily, "I'm awake. Are we going to land yet?" - -"I don't know." Sandy looked across the aisle at his father, who was -just lighting his pipe. "How about it, Dad?" - -Dr. John Steele studied his watch thoughtfully. "Oh, I'd say about -another half hour." - -The steward, an army corporal, walked back from the forward compartment -with a tray of paper cups. "Coffee, anyone?" - -The steaming-hot black liquid cleared the cobwebs out of Sandy's head, -and he began to look forward with excited anticipation to their arrival -in Canada. - -"Will Professor Crowell meet us at the airport?" he asked his father. - -Dr. Steele nodded. "Yes. Then we'll drive back to his place and pick up -his dog team." - -Jerry James's granite-jawed face appeared over the back of the seat as -he knelt, facing Sandy. "What's this about dogs?" - -"Berkley Crowell breeds sled dogs as a hobby," Dr. Steele explained. -"Eskimo huskies. He's taking his prize team up to Alaska to compete in -the annual race from Whitehorse to Skagway." - -"Hey, that sounds like fun," Jerry said. - -"As a matter of fact," the doctor went on, "that will be one of your -major jobs on this expedition. You boys will drive the truck with the -dogs and help the professor with their care and feeding." - -Dr. Steele turned his attention back to his book as Sandy and Jerry got -into a conversation with the young corporal who had served the coffee. - -"Both you fellows from California?" the corporal asked. "Whereabouts?" - -"Valley View," Sandy told him. "That's near San Diego, but more inland." - -"I have a cousin in the Navy," the corporal said. "He was stationed at -San Diego. Nice country." He grinned. "You guys are going to find the -climate of Alaska a lot different than California." - -Jerry shivered. "You're telling us!" - -"You go to school in Valley View?" the corporal asked. - -"High school," Sandy told him. "We're both juniors." - -"How long are you going to be in Alaska?" - -"About three weeks, I guess. It's the Christmas vacation, and my dad got -our principal to let us take an extra week on account of the educational -value of this expedition we're going on." - -The corporal looked interested. "What kind of an expedition is it?" - -"My dad is a United States government geologist," Sandy explained. "This -expedition is part of a long-range Canadian-American project to chart -glacial movements during the Ice Age. We'll be collecting soil, rock and -ore samples on our way through western Canada and Alaska." - -"Sounds like fun," the corporal said. "You'll get a kick out of Alaska. -It's a great place. I've flown up there a couple of times." - -"What's our forty-ninth state like, anyway?" Jerry asked curiously. "We -bought it from the Indians for twenty-four dollars, didn't we?" - -Sandy and the corporal laughed. "That was Manhattan Island, you dope!" -Sandy said. "We bought Alaska from the Russians for about $7,000,000." - -"It's twice as big as Texas," the corporal told them, "but the -population is only a little over 200,000. And most of these people have -only been there since the end of World War Two." - -"I guess we never would have realized just how valuable Alaska is if the -Japanese hadn't tried to attack us across the Aleutian Islands," Sandy -said. - -At that moment, a buzzer sounded and the green light at the front of the -cabin began to flash. "Oh-oh," the corporal said. "Looks like we're -getting ready to land. Fasten your seat belts, folks." He turned and -hurried forward. - -Dr. Steele stood up and removed his mackinaw from the overhead rack. As -he did so, a big, black, ominous-looking .45 Colt automatic slipped out -of one of the pockets and crashed to the floor. - -The boys' eyes widened and Sandy blurted out in shocked surprise, "Where -did you get that, Dad?" - -Dr. Steele retrieved the gun hastily and stuck it back into his pocket. -"Oh--er--something a friend advised me to bring with me. In case we get -a chance to do any hunting," he added. - -Sandy frowned. "Hunting with an _automatic_! That's crazy, Dad. Wouldn't -a rifle have been more practical?" - -A thin smile spread the doctor's lips. "I suppose you're right. I should -have consulted you before I got it." - -"Just where _did_ you get it, Dad?" Sandy asked suspiciously. "The Colt -.45 automatic is an official U.S. Army sidearm." - -There was just the faintest trace of irritation in Dr. Steele's voice -when he answered. "All these questions! You're beginning to sound like -your Aunt Vivian.... Look, we had better fasten our safety belts. We're -going to land." - -"Sure, Dad, sure," Sandy said. There was something uncommonly mysterious -about his father's behavior, and it worried him. - - - - - CHAPTER TWO - A Hint of Trouble - - -The big U.S. army transport touched down at the R.C.A.F. military -airstrip at Fort St. John, British Columbia, shortly after dawn on -December 23. Dr. Steele and his party were groggy after spending a -restless night of fitful slumber on the hard, uncomfortable canvas seats -that were slung along the walls of the plane's huge, drafty cabin. But -the first bite of the dry-ice bitter air of the Canadian winter snapped -them wide-awake and alert. - -"Wow!" Jerry exclaimed, bundled up like a bear in his hooded parka. "It -must be at least one thousand degrees below zero." - -Dr. Steele smiled. "You think this is cold? Just wait until we get -farther up north." - -Lou Mayer, Dr. Steele's assistant, groaned. "When does the next plane -leave for California?" He broke into a fit of uncontrollable shudders. A -dark, mild-mannered young man in his late twenties, Lou had been born in -Texas and spent half of his life in Southern California. He consequently -had little tolerance for the cold. - -Sandy grinned superciliously. "You guys should have been smart like me. -I wore my long red flannels." - -"That's a good point," Dr. Steele said. "In this country, proper -clothing is essential to survival. It's as vital as sufficient food and -drink. You must start conditioning yourselves to think about it." - -Abruptly, they all became aware that Jerry was staring with hypnotic -fixity toward the edge of the landing field. - -"Hey!" Sandy asked. "What gives with you? What are you looking at?" - -Jerry's eyes were glazed. Dumbly he raised one arm and pointed at the -mountains of snow banked at the sides of the field. Finally he managed -to mumble, "Snow. That's snow?" - -"Of course it is. You act as if you never saw it before." - -Jerry nodded, wide-eyed. "I never did." - -Sandy and the two men broke out laughing. "Well, this is an occasion," -Dr. Steele said. "I promise you you will have your fill of it before -we're through with this trip." - -Jerry was flabbergasted. "I've seen pictures of it, but I just never -realized there could be so much of it in one place. Man! That one drift -must be twenty feet high. Can you imagine waking up some morning in -Valley View and finding that in your front yard, Sandy?" - -"Well, I haven't seen too much of it," Sandy admitted. "But I've been up -to the Northwest with Dad a few times." - -At that moment a jeep screeched to a stop nearby, its exhaust spewing -out smoke like a chimney. The corporal at the wheel leaned out and -yelled to them. "Dr. Steele here?" After the geologist identified -himself, the corporal told them to pile into the jeep. "There's a gent -waiting for you at headquarters. A detail will be right out to unload -your baggage." - -"How do you keep these runways free of ice?" Dr. Steele shouted to the -driver above the loud, rowdy roar of the little jeep motor. - -"Sweep 'em with giant vacuum cleaners regularly," the corporal replied. -"When it gets really rough we melt the ice with flame throwers." - - -Professor Berkley Crowell was waiting for them close by the glowing -steel-drum coal stove that reinforced the electric heaters in the big -quonset-hut headquarters. "You can't beat the old-fashioned way," he -said with a smile, toasting his fingers in the shimmering heat waves -that radiated from the top of the steel drum. - -The professor was a slight, stooped, very British-looking man in his -middle fifties. He had a thin weatherbeaten face, a sharp nose and a -close-cropped mustache. His deep-set blue eyes were warm and full of -good humor. - -"Well," he said, upon being introduced to Sandy and Jerry, "I understand -that you boys will be helping me with my dog team." - -"We'll do the best we can, sir," Sandy told him. - -"They won't give you too much trouble," the professor said. -"Titan--that's my lead dog--he practically runs the whole show himself. -Possesses human intelligence, that animal." - -"When do we get to see them?" Jerry asked. - -"As soon as we get back to my ranch. I'm situated about ten miles down -the Alaska Highway, toward Dawson Creek. That's the southern terminus of -the highway." - -When they had finished the steaming mugs of hot coffee served up by the -flying officers' mess, Professor Crowell and his party climbed aboard -the big station wagon parked in the drive and drove away from the air -base. - -The Alaska Highway was a broad, smooth, gravel-topped road hewed through -some of the thickest forests and most rugged terrain on the North -American continent. Now the gravel was topped by a thick crust of snow. - -"A miracle of our century," Professor Crowell explained as they drove. -"Built in just eight months by your amazing U.S. Army engineers in 1943, -when the Japanese forces were threatening the Aleutian Island chain. It -was a lifesaving artery to Alaska and a vital chain to our western air -bases. Sixteen hundred and seventy-one miles. Just imagine!" - -An auto filled with shouting children whizzed past them, traveling in -the opposite direction. It was weighted down with valises and bundles -strapped to the roof and fenders. - -"Where are they going?" Jerry inquired. - -"Pioneer settlers for your glorious forty-ninth state," Professor -Crowell answered. "There's a steady stream of them. Did you know that -the population of Alaska has tripled since World War Two?" - -"It sort of gives you goose pimples," Sandy said. "It's almost as if you -turned back the clock a hundred years." - -"The last frontier of the United States," Dr. Steele remarked. "On this -planet, at least." - -"When will we be leaving, Professor Crowell?" Lou Mayer asked. - -The professor glanced down at his wrist watch. "It's eight o'clock now. -I estimate we'll be on our way shortly after noon. I want you fellows to -get a hot meal into you first. Then we'll load the truck and station -wagon." He looked around at Dr. Steele. "We'll pick up your equipment at -Fort St. John on the way back." - -Jerry was fascinated by the high banks of snow on the shoulders of the -road. "Boy, I wonder how they keep this thing open. Back in the States -we're always reading about whole towns being cut off by a measly two -feet of snow." - -"Even big cities like New York," Sandy chimed in. - -The professor smiled. "That's because cities like New York aren't -prepared for heavy snowfalls. Up here, we expect it. Why, I bet a little -village like Dawson Creek has more snow equipment than most big cities -on the eastern seaboard of the United States. Along the Alaska Highway, -for instance, there are one hundred and twenty-five weather stations -alone, and almost as many maintenance stations. No, you stand a better -chance of getting marooned on the Pennsylvania Turnpike than you do on -this road." - -Professor Crowell's ranch house was located on a cutoff about a quarter -of a mile from the main highway. It was a sprawling frame building with -a large barn at the back of the property and completely surrounded by a -thick spruce forest. - -The professor, a widower, had twin daughters, Judy and Jill, who kept -house for him. Their domestic efficiency made them seem older than their -seventeen years. The girls were blond and blue-eyed and very pretty, and -Jerry couldn't look at them without stammering and blushing. It was -obvious he was smitten with the twins. - -The Crowell household also included a middle-aged French couple, the -Duprs; Henri took care of the livestock and his wife, Marie, did the -cooking. Then there was Tagish Charley, who took care of the kennels. - -Tagish Charley was a full-blooded Indian. He stood 6' 4" tall, weighed -230 pounds and was as lithe as a panther. His hair was the flat black -color of charcoal, and his skin was the texture of ancient parchment. -Charley could have been any age, from 40 to 400. He spoke English well -enough, when he spoke, which was very seldom; and he said what he had to -say in as few words as possible. - -"Charley is economical with his money and his speech," Professor Crowell -said when he introduced him to his guests. "He's as stoic as a -cigar-store Indian." - -Sandy and Jerry hit it off with Charley from the start. While the -geologists went over the last-minute details of their trip in the -professor's study, Charley took the boys out to the kennel at one side -of the barn. A dozen husky dogs were frolicking in the snow inside a -wire enclosure. As soon as they saw Charley they all rushed over to the -gate and piled up in a seething mass of yelping, snarling, twisting fur, -leaping up against the chain link fence and falling back on top of each -other. It was a wild melee. - -"Wow!" Jerry exclaimed. "They look as if they'd eat you alive." - -The Indian grunted. "No hurt. They want to play." - -Jerry looked dubious. "I bet they play rough." - -The Eskimo dogs were handsome animals. In reality they weren't -particularly large; probably they weighed about 75 to 80 pounds and -stood 18 inches high at the shoulder; but with their broad chests, thick -necks and massive heads they looked enormous. Their great thick coats -varied in color from black-and-white to slate-gray, solidly and in -combinations of all three. They had powerful wolflike muzzles, sharp -ears and slanting eyes. - -Tagish Charley opened the gate and motioned the boys to follow him into -the pen. The dogs barked and leaped around the Indian, nipping his -trousers and mittens playfully. They ignored the boys. There was one -exception. Standing off to one side was a big, solid-black husky with a -white mask across his eyes and upper muzzle. By far the largest dog of -the lot--Sandy estimated his weight to be at least 100 pounds--he seemed -to regard the antics of his fellows with regal aloofness. Finally his -eyes turned solemnly on the boys and he started toward them. - -"Charley!" Jerry yelled, grabbing Sandy's arm nervously. "He's charging -us." - -Sandy laughed. "Go on, you sissy. His tail is wagging. That means he -wants to be friends." - -"You know that, and I know that," said Jerry, edging backward, "but does -_he_ know that?" - -"That Black Titan," Charley said. "Lead dog. Best husky in all the -North." - -As the big dog nuzzled against his leg, Sandy leaned down and stroked -his broad, glossy head. "Nice feller. Good boy.... Hey, where did you -get that lump on your skull, Titan?" - -"He save professor's life," Charley declared without emotion. "Bad man -hit him on head with club." - -"Bad man! When?" the boys exclaimed in a chorus. - -"Five, six nights back. Titan hear prowler. Jump over fence. Man open -window, climb into professor's room, choke professor. Titan jump through -window, save him." - -"What happened to the burglar? Did they catch him?" Sandy asked -excitedly. - -"No. He club Titan, dive through window into snow. Get away with dog -team." - -"Gee," Jerry said. "Even up here they got characters like that. Only -instead of a getaway car, they use dog sleds." - -"Did he get away with anything valuable?" Sandy asked. - -The Indian's brown face seemed to grow even darker. "He no come to rob -money." - -"What do you mean?" Sandy asked. - -Charley shrugged. "Many strange things happen here this year. Professor -sleep with gun under his pillow." - -Sandy and Jerry exchanged wondering looks. "Now who'd be out to get a -nice old geezer like the professor?" Jerry wanted to know. - -Sandy was thoughtful. "I don't know, Jerry. I don't know. But I have a -feeling we're going to find a lot more excitement on this trip than we -bargained for." - -"I agree with you," a terse female voice said from behind them. - -Surprised, Sandy whirled around to find Judy Crowell standing in the -open gateway. Bundled up in ski pants, mackinaw and high boots, she -might have been a boy, except for the mass of golden hair sticking out -in tufts from beneath her wool cap. - -"Charley's right," she said. "A lot of strange things have been -happening around here during the last few months. Ever since Dad spent a -week in Ottawa this fall, he's been a different man. He's lost weight. -He can't sleep or eat. And--" she shivered--"he always carries a pistol -with him. He's afraid of something--or someone. But when Jill and I ask -him, he just laughs and says we've been seeing too many American motion -pictures." - -Sandy felt cold prickles creep up his back. "It's funny. My dad brought -along a gun with him too." - -Jerry whistled. "What's it all mean, Sandy?" - -"I don't know, pal. But I don't like it." - -Still surrounded by his ring of canine admirers, Tagish Charley -addressed Judy Crowell. "You no worry about your papa, Miss Judy. -Charley take good care of him. Bad fellers come around, me break 'em up -like firewood." He made a twisting motion in the air with his two huge -fists. - -For some reason Sandy felt relieved. "I didn't know you were coming with -us, Charley." - -Charley's serious, expressionless face altered for a fleeting instant in -a suggestion of a smile. "I just decide now." - - - - - CHAPTER THREE - A Mysterious Intruder - - -The little caravan headed north on the Alaska Highway about 12:20 P.M. -Professor Crowell, Dr. Steele and Lou Mayer led the way in the big -station wagon, which was loaded down with scientific equipment and -supplies. Sandy, Jerry and Tagish Charley followed in a surplus U.S. -Army six-by-six truck. The boys and the Indian all rode in the roomy -cab, with Sandy at the wheel. The back of the truck, roofed with a heavy -canvas top, had been converted into a comfortable compartment for the -professor's seven prize huskies. Here, also, were the big dog sled, a -pyramidal tent, sleeping bags, cooking utensils and a Coleman stove. - -As Professor Crowell pointed out, there were tourist camps and aid -stations all along the highway, but sometimes it was more convenient to -set up one's own camp at the side of the road. Particularly in winter, -travelers had to be prepared for emergencies. - -Both vehicles were equipped with heavy-duty tire chains on all wheels, -plus oversized snow tires, and they rode smoothly and firmly across the -hard-packed snow surface of the highway. - -As the afternoon deepened into an early dusk, the temperature plummeted, -and the chill penetrated the cab of the truck, even though the heater -was going full blast. Sandy doubled up his hands into fists inside his -mittens and wriggled his feet inside his fur-lined boots to stimulate -his circulation. - -"I'm warm as toast except for my fingers and toes," he said. - -Jerry fingered his nose gingerly. "My old schnozzola is getting numb." - -Tagish Charley, who was taking his turn at the wheel, patted his -stomach. "Belly say soon time to stop and eat." - -Jerry yawned and looked at the dashboard clock. "Three-thirty," he -announced. "We've been on the road for about three hours. How far have -we come?" - -Sandy studied the speedometer. "A little over one hundred and ten -miles." - -"That's pretty good," Jerry said. "We're averaging almost forty per." - -A little while later they passed a river, and now Charley turned the -headlights on. Out of nowhere, it seemed, thousands of tiny snowflakes -swirled suddenly into the yellow cones of light. - -"It's snowing!" Jerry exclaimed. - -Sandy surveyed the wilderness on both sides anxiously. "I'd hate to -spend the night out here in a blizzard." - -"We stop soon," Charley assured him. - -The words were scarcely out of his mouth when they rounded a curve and -came upon a little settlement set back in a clearing in a pine grove. It -consisted of two large quonset huts and three small log cabins. The warm -glow of lights in the small windows of the buildings gave Sandy a -feeling of well-being. The station wagon slowed down, tooted twice with -its horn and swerved off the highway into the circular drive that had -been plowed up to the entrance of the main building. As the truck's -headlights swept across the front of the other larger quonset hut, they -could see that it had big sliding doors that allowed one entire wall to -open up like an airplane hangar. And as the lights probed the interior -of the hut, they could make out a neat two-engine plane mounted on skis. -The brief glimpse also revealed a big bulldozer plow and other -snow-fighting machinery. - -"Road crew," Charley told the boys. "They good fellers. We eat good, -drink good and sleep good." - - -"You were so right, Charley," Jerry said later, as he pushed himself -away from the big plank table after sharing a hearty meal of roast lamb, -fried potatoes, home-made rolls and apple pie with Superintendent -MacKensie and his maintenance gang. "I never ate so good." He polished -off a pint mug of milk that was half cream and sighed. "Or drank so good -either." - -Superintendent MacKensie, a big florid-faced man, tugged at one side of -his blond handlebar mustache. "Here now, you're not finished, are you?" -he asked. - -Jerry patted the round swell of his stomach. "If I ate another mouthful, -I'd burst, sir." - -"That's a shame," MacKensie said solemnly. "Now Cooky's feelings will be -hurt and he'll make you wash the dishes." - -A swarthy giant of a man at the far end of the table pounded the planks -with hamlike fists. "By gar, I weel!" he roared in mock anger. "You no -like Frenchy's cooking?" - -Everyone laughed as Jerry looked around uncertainly. - -Dr. Steele patted his mouth with a napkin. "As Jerry so aptly put it, -Frenchy, 'We never ate so good.'" - -"We're happy you enjoyed it, Doctor," Superintendent MacKensie said. -"Now if you'd like to go into the other room and toast your feet by the -hearth, I'll have one of the lads stir up that fire in your cabin." - -"An excellent suggestion," Professor Crowell agreed. - -With the exception of a half dozen men of the road crew who had some -tasks to attend to, they all retired to the large, comfortably furnished -recreation room where an enormous stone fireplace almost covered one -wall. Sandy, Jerry and Lou Mayer sat cross-legged directly in front of -the blazing logs, on a thick bearskin robe that was spread-eagled on the -floor. - -"Man!" Jerry whispered in an awed voice, lifting the huge head and -inspecting the gleaming fangs that were still frightening even in death. -"I think if I ever ran into one of these babies I'd just roll over and -die before he laid a paw on me." - -Lou Mayer poked one of the clawed forepaws with his toe. "Well, it's a -sure bet you'd die if he ever _did_ lay one of those paws on you. -They're as big as dinner plates." - -Superintendent MacKensie, slouched in an old-fashioned rocker, sucked -his pipe gravely. "I've seen them kill a horse with one swipe." - -"You've _seen_ them?" Sandy asked. - -MacKensie smiled reminiscently. "As a matter of fact _that_ fellow did -kill my horse. I was hunting with a party up on Kodiak Island. I -blundered around a rock right into the beggar. He rose up on his hind -legs, caught my horse with one blow in the choppers and that was it. I -managed to jump free. Then I pumped five shots into him. They might as -well have been darts. He would have got me for sure if the guide hadn't -dropped him with a brain shot." - -"Powerful beasts," Professor Crowell acknowledged. "The Roman Emperor -Nero used to pit bears against lions in the arena. And frequently they -killed the lions." - -"It's a lucky thing we did bring all those guns along--" Jerry began, -than caught himself as Sandy and Lou Mayer stiffened visibly. "Well, -it's a good idea with mankillers like this running loose," he finished -lamely. - -Superintendent MacKensie laughed. "So you expect to do some hunting -while you're up north, do you?" he said to Professor Crowell. He turned -to Dr. Steele. "Of course, the customs officials plugged up the barrels -of your weapons, didn't they?" - -"Yes, they did," Dr. Steele said emphatically. Speaking directly to -Sandy and Jerry, he explained. "You see, the Canadians don't want -visitors to shoot up their game preserves, and quite rightly so. When we -cross the border into Alaska, the officials will remove the seals from -the barrels. Do you _understand_?" - -"Yes, sir," Sandy mumbled, looking quickly away into the embers. He was -stunned. _Those automatics weren't plugged up._ He had never heard his -father deliberately tell a lie before. - -Unaware of the tension that had mushroomed up, MacKensie stretched. "I'd -better be getting back to the radio shack and see what's come in from -the weather stations on this storm. If she looks bad, I'll have to keep -a crew on alert. Any time you gentlemen feel like sacking in, go to it. -Your cabin should be warm now. It's small, but cozy. There are six bunk -beds, so it won't be too crowded." - -"Where's Charley?" Sandy asked, suddenly aware that the Indian was not -in the room. - -"Right after supper he went outside to get your dogs bedded down," one -of the crewmen told him. - -Professor Crowell smiled. "He treats them like children, and they love -it. Actually, though, all those huskies need for a bed is a soft -snowdrift." - -"They like to sleep in snow?" Jerry asked incredulously. "Don't they -freeze?" - -"No, once they tuck in their paws and stick their noses under their -tails, they're ready for anything. Have you noticed their coats? Double -thick. Underneath that heavy outside fur there's a short woolly -undercoat. The fact is they're probably more comfortable sleeping -outside than next to a roaring fire." - -Lou Mayer held his hands up to the flames. "We have nothing in common." - -After MacKensie left, the other maintenance men began to drift off to -bed. The snow was coming down very hard, and they faced the prospect of -a long, hard day battling the drifts. - -About nine o'clock, Sandy yawned and stretched. "What do you say we turn -in, pal?" he said to Jerry. - -"I'm with you," Jerry replied promptly. - -The boys looked inquiringly at the older men. "You two run along," Dr. -Steele told them. "We'll finish our pipes first." - -Sandy and Jerry dug their mackinaws and mittens out of a heap of -clothing on the long table in the vestibule and slipped on their boots. - -"It's only a hundred-yard walk," Sandy admitted, "but at thirty below -zero it's worth the trouble." - -"Amen," Jerry agreed, wrapping his wool muffler around his lantern jaw. - -The boys stepped out the back door of the big hut and followed the path -leading back to the cabins. Ten feet away from the building, the -wind-whipped grains of ice and snow closed in on them like a white -curtain, blotting out their vision. If it had not been for the clearly -defined path, they would have been helpless. - -"You could get lost in your own back yard in this stuff," Jerry gasped. -"Yipes!" he shouted as he blundered off the path into a snowdrift. -"Where's the St. Bernards?" - -Sandy took his arm and guided him back on the path. Finally, a dark -outline with a faint square of light in the center of it loomed up -before them. - -"Here we are," Sandy shouted above the wind. "Home at last." - -"If only the boys back at Valley View High could see us now," Jerry -yelled in his ear. "Wouldn't it be something to drop that Pepper March -out here some night? Boy! Or better yet, let's drop him into a den of -those Kodiak bears." - -Sandy laughed. "I don't know which of the two is more ornery. He might -scare them off." - -They reached the cabin door, and Sandy leaned against it and pushed it -open. They staggered inside and slammed it shut behind them. The -interior of the one-room shack was dark, except for the logs burning low -and evenly on the open hearth. - -Sandy blinked to accustom his eyes to the dimness. "I could have sworn -there was a light in the window as we came along the path." - -"Probably the reflection of the flames on the panes," Jerry suggested. - -"Yeah. Well, let's light a lamp." Sandy took several steps toward a -table silhouetted against the firelight, then stopped suddenly. "Hey!" -he said in a startled voice, nudging an object on the floor with his -boot. "What's this junk spread all over the floor? Looks like somebody -was breaking up house. I wonder--" He broke off as a dark shape -materialized from the shadows in the far corner of the cabin and seemed -to glide toward him. At the same time, he heard Jerry's excited shout in -his ear. - -"Sandy! There's somebody in here. Hey, look out!" - -Sandy Steele, without even a consciousness of what he was facing, -reacted with his athlete's instinct and reflexes. Crouching low, he -braced himself solidly, and as the figure loomed up before him, he threw -a hard body block at the middle of it. His shoulder hit a solid form and -he heard a soft grunt of pain and anger. As his arms grappled with the -intruder, he realized for the first time that it was a man. His fingers -brushed rough wool, and then he felt the steel fingers at his throat. - -"Get help, Jerry!" he bellowed, just before the wind was pinched off in -his throat. Then he took a hard, numbing blow at the back of his neck -and felt himself falling ... falling ... falling ... into blackness. - - - - - CHAPTER FOUR - Charley Works Out the Huskies - - -When Sandy regained consciousness he was lying flat on his back on a -cot, surrounded by a ring of anxious faces. He recognized his father, -Jerry, Professor Crowell, Lou Mayer, Superintendent MacKensie and -several other men from the maintenance gang. - -"What--what happened?" Sandy asked weakly. - -"It's all right, Son. You're fine. Just a nasty bump on the head," Dr. -Steele told him. - -"He really clobbered you, Sandy," Jerry said. "Then he straight-armed me -and sent me flying back over a chair. Before I could get up he was gone -in the blizzard." - -"There's no sense trying to follow him in this heavy snow," MacKensie -declared. "His tracks are probably covered already." - -"Did he get away with anything?" Sandy wanted to know. - -Dr. Steele and Professor Crowell exchanged significant glances. Then the -Canadian geologist said hurriedly, "No, he didn't steal a thing. -Probably some renegade trapper looking for guns and ammunition. They -prey on unwary travelers, these chaps. I'll bet he's wanted by the -Mounties as it is." - -Superintendent MacKensie looked puzzled. "He certainly was a queer one, -all right. He really messed things up. But, now, what do you suppose he -was after in that stuff?" He pointed to an open valise in the middle of -the room. - -Sandy propped himself up on one elbow and saw that Professor Crowell's -notebooks and papers were scattered all about the floor. - -"He must have thought you had money hidden between the pages," Lou Mayer -said quickly. - -Superintendent MacKensie scratched his head. "I dunno. It beats me. -We've never had anything like this happen before. There have been -hijackings on the highway, but no one's ever had the nerve to break in -here." - -"Well, no harm done," Dr. Steele said. "And Sandy will be as good as new -after a night's sleep. I suggest we clean this mess up and turn in." - -The others agreed, and while Sandy rested on the cot they began to -gather up their scattered belongings. - -"I wonder if he got at the rest of the stuff we left in the station -wagon," Professor Crowell said. - -"I doubt it," Superintendent MacKensie said. "Your wagon is in the shed -with our scout plane and the heavy machinery. We've had men working out -there all evening." - -After the cabin was in order, MacKensie and his men said good night and -went back to the main barracks. As they were undressing before the fire, -Dr. Steele questioned Sandy casually but with painstaking thoroughness -about his encounter with the intruder. - -"Was he a big man?" the doctor asked. "Did you get a look at his face?" - -Sandy shook his head. "It was too dark to see much of anything. All I -know is that he was big, taller than me, and husky." - -"That goes for me, too," Jerry agreed. "For all I know it could have -been Tagish Charley." - -Professor Crowell dropped the boot he was holding with a loud clatter. -"What did you say, boy?" he asked in a tense voice. - -Jerry laughed nervously at the professor's obvious dismay. "I mean he -was big like Charley. Of course it wasn't Charley. Heck, it could have -been that big French cook. All I know is that he was big and strong." - -"By the way," Dr. Steele said suddenly, "where _is_ Charley?" - -No one answered for a long moment. Then Sandy said, "I guess he's still -out with the dogs. Or maybe he's back swapping stories with the -old-timers in the barracks." - -Just as Lou Mayer was about to turn down the lamp, after the others were -all in bed, the cabin door swung in and Tagish Charley tramped into the -room. His hood and parka were encrusted with snow and ice, as were his -boots and trousers. He looked as if he had been out in the storm for a -long time. In the crook of his left arm he held a rifle. - -"Good lord, Charley!" the professor exclaimed, sitting upright on his -cot. "Where have you been, man?" - -The Indian walked over to the fireplace and shook himself like a great -dog. Carefully he leaned the rifle against the wall and shrugged out of -his parka. "I drink coffee in kitchen with Frenchy when man run in and -say someone break into this cabin. I take rifle and follow him." - -"In this storm!" Sandy said. "You could have gotten lost and frozen to -death." - -Charley grunted and tapped a finger to his temple. "Indian have thing up -here like pigeon. Always find way home. Bad man have sled and dogs -waiting in trees. No use follow him. If snow stop in morning, maybe I -look around some more." He kicked off his boots, stepped out of his wet -trousers and spread them out over the back of a chair near the fire. -Then, like a big animal, he padded across the floor to an empty bunk. -Seconds after his head hit the pillow, the rafters shook from his -mooselike snores. - -Jerry leaned over the side of his top-deck wall bunk and grinned at -Sandy in the bunk underneath. "Now I know those guys up in Tibet are all -wet. There isn't any Abominable Snowman. They bumped into Tagish Charley -when he was out for one of his evening strolls." - -Sandy grinned back, but it was a weak grin. He was bothered alternately -by twinges of suspicion and pangs of guilt. It _couldn't_ be Charley; he -_knew_ it! Yet, anything was possible. - -The snow stopped during the night and a high-pressure area moved into -the vicinity. Morning brought clear blue skies and bright sun. But the -air was still dry and frosty. - -"Actually, only about seven inches fell," Superintendent MacKensie told -them at breakfast. "By the time you folks are on your way, the highway -will be slick as a whistle. Our patrol plane's scouting back in the -direction of Dawson Creek to see if any motorcars are in trouble. If -anyone was on the road when that snow started coming down real hard, -they would have had to sit it out overnight." - -"I hope we're still here when the plane gets back," Jerry said. "I'd -like to see how they land those babies on skis." - -"Actually, it's smoother than landing on wheels," Professor Crowell told -him. "I know I prefer them." - -"Do you have your own plane, Professor?" Sandy asked. - -"Oh, yes. In wild, big country like this, planes are more common than -family cars, and far more practical. In the summertime almost every lake -you pass on your way north looks something like a supermarket parking -field. Private planes, all sizes and shapes and makes." - -Jerry whistled. "Boy, that's the life. Can you imagine how that would be -back in Valley View? I can just hear myself saying to my father, 'Hey, -Pop, I got a heavy date tonight. Can I have the keys to the plane?'" - -The men laughed and Professor Crowell said, "That's not as much of a -joke as you think. My daughters are always flying up to Edmonton to shop -for their new spring outfits and Easter bonnets." - -Jerry looked wistful. "Gee, it must be more fun being a kid up here than -it is in the city." - -Dr. Steele smiled. "It certainly must be more exciting in some ways. -Then again, I suspect that youngsters like you and Sandy would miss your -malt shops, drive-ins and television." - -"They have television here," Sandy said. - -"Yes," Superintendent MacKensie admitted, "but it's pretty limited -compared to what you Americans can see." - -The boys were intrigued by the heavy, thick flapjacks that Frenchy the -cook served with thick slabs of bacon. - -"They taste different than what my maw makes," Jerry commented. "Sort of -sour." Then, with an apologetic glance at the big, bushy-headed cook, -"But I love 'em." - -Superintendent MacKensie's eyes twinkled. "You may not believe it," he -said, "but the fermented yeast dough that went into these flapjacks is -over sixty years old." - -Jerry choked in the middle of a bite and swallowed hard. "Sixty years -old! You're kidding, sir?" - -"Not in the least. It was handed down to Frenchy by his father, who was -a gold prospector up in the Yukon in the eighteen-nineties." - -"Wow!" Jerry laid down his fork. "Talk about hoarders." - -Dr. Steele laughed. "Sourdough, of course. Those old prospectors got -their nickname from it. You boys have heard of sourdoughs, haven't you?" - -"Sure," Jerry admitted. "I just never knew where the name came from." - -"Sourdough was the prospector's staff of life on the trail," -Superintendent MacKensie explained. "Once he got the mixture just right, -he'd keep it in a tightly closed container and add to it as he used it. -But the culture always remained the same." - -"Yeast is like a fungus," Professor Crowell elaborated for the boys' -benefit. "It's composed of living, growing cells." - -"Yes," the superintendent went on. "This particular strain in the -flapjacks we're eating has been kept alive for sixty years by Frenchy's -family." - -"_Oui_," the cook spoke from the end of the table. "My _papa_ give some -of this sourdough to all his sons and daughters when they leave home. I -give to my son some day." - -"Amazing," said Lou Mayer. - -Frenchy stood up and swung a big, empty platter up on one hand. "I go -make some more, no?" He looked down at Jerry. "You eat five or six more, -hey, boy? They very small." - -Jerry attacked the last flapjack on his plate with renewed relish. "A -couple more anyway, Frenchy. And maybe another slab of that bacon." He -winked as Sandy began to groan. "Who knows, we may get stranded for days -in a blizzard without food. I'm storing up energy." - -After breakfast, Sandy and Jerry went outside and watched Tagish Charley -work out the huskies on the landing strip off to one side of the road -station. The dog sled was about ten feet long with a welded aluminum -frame and polished steel runners. Extending halfway down both sides, -were guard rails to which baggage could be strapped. There was a small -footrest at the rear, where the sled driver could ride standing erect, -and a rubber-coated handrail for him to grip. - -The dogs milled about excitedly as Charley harnessed them to the sled. -They were hitched up in staggered formation, one dog's head abreast of -the haunches of the dog in front of him. Black Titan led the pack, and -the driving reins were attached only to his harness. - -"Lead dog, he have to be very smart," Charley told them, ruffling up the -thick fur collar around Titan's throat. "He boss of team. Not driver. -Other dogs do bad job, he scold them. Sometimes he have to fight a bad -dog who make trouble." - -"Do you think Professor Crowell's team has a chance to win the race from -Whitehorse to Skagway?" Sandy asked him. - -"We win," Charley said matter-of-factly. "Best team, best lead dog." He -patted Titan's head. "Black Titan pull sled all alone if he have to." - -"Is the professor going to drive himself, Charley?" Jerry inquired -curiously. - -The Indian shrugged his shoulders. "Better he not drive in race. -Professor fine dog driver, but safer if he not drive this race. On trail -easy for bad men to get him. Better for Charley to drive team." - -"Charley," Sandy asked worriedly, "do you have any idea why the bad men -are after Professor Crowell? Why would anyone want to harm a nice man -like him?" - -Anger tightened Charley's features. "Professor got something they want -very bad. They kill him if they have to." - -"But _what_ do they want? What is it the professor has that's so -valuable to them? Money? Jewels?" - -Charley shook his head. "Professor no have money or jewels. Maybe -something he have in here." He tapped his finger against his forehead -wisely. - -Sandy looked at Jerry. "You know, he could have something there. I think -I'm going to have a man-to-man talk with my dad first chance I get." - -The two boys rode on the sled as ballast while Charley put the powerful -team through its paces, whizzing back and forth on the hard-packed -surface of the landing strip and churning through high drifts in the -virgin snow around the fringes. - -"Great!" Jerry yelled in Sandy's ear, clutching the guard rail with one -hand and, with his other hand, protecting his face from the spray of -snow flung back by the dogs' flying feet. "This is better than the -roller coaster at Disneyland." - -Sandy nodded vigorously. "That Titan is fantastic, isn't he? He acts -almost human." - -Seemingly aware of his admiring audience, Black Titan put on an -impressive display. Setting a pace for his teammates that kept their -tongues lolling from their black-roofed mouths, he guided them smoothly -into sharp turns and sudden twists and broke trail through muzzle-high -snow with his broad chest as if it were light as dust--all the time -responsive to the slightest tug at the reins. - -"He's a marvel, all right," Sandy told Charley later when the dogs were -resting after their work-out. - -"Boy, would I ever like to get into that big race. You don't need any -passengers, do you, Charley?" Jerry asked. - -"Okay for you boys to come along. Need five hundred pounds on sled -anyway." - -Sandy was overjoyed. "You mean it, Charley? Really? Jerry and I can ride -ballast on the sled?" - -"Sure. You ask professor." - -At that minute, Dr. Steele came walking across the landing strip toward -them. "You fellows about ready to leave? It's nine-thirty. -Superintendent MacKensie has had our vehicles warming up for almost half -an hour now." - -Sandy spoke to Jerry in a low voice. "You help Charley get the dogs in -the truck. I want to talk to my dad--in private." - - - - - CHAPTER FIVE - Christmas in the Wilderness - - -"Dad," Sandy began haltingly as they walked slowly back to the barracks, -"Professor Crowell is in some kind of trouble, isn't he?" - -Dr. Steele was evasive. "You mean because of that man who broke into our -cabin? What makes you think that had anything to do with the professor?" - -Sandy looked earnestly into his father's eyes. "That was no ordinary -thief, Dad. He was after something in Professor Crowell's notes and -papers." His face became even graver. "Maybe they're after you, too." - -Dr. Steele tried to laugh it off, but his mirth was hollow. "Aren't you -becoming a little melodramatic, Son?" - -"You don't fool me for a minute, Dad. I know that whatever's going on is -probably top-secret government business and you can't tell me what it's -all about. But I do think it's only fair to tell me whether or not you -or the professor or Lou Mayer are in any danger." - -Dr. Steele appeared to think it over very carefully. Finally, he sighed. -"Yes, I guess you're right. I brought you boys along, so I don't suppose -I have any right to keep you completely in the dark. The fact is we -_are_ in danger--all of us. I had no right to expose you -boys--especially Jerry--to this kind of thing, but I thought at first we -could deceive _them_ into believing that this was just a routine -geological survey. I was wrong. They're far too clever." His mouth -tightened. "Maybe the best thing to do would be to send you and Jerry -back home." - -"Dad!" Sandy looked hurt. "Not on your life. If you're in any kind of -trouble, I'm sticking with you until you're out of it." - -Dr. Steele frowned. "I wish I could tell you more about this, Sandy, but -I'm bound by an oath of secrecy. You'll just have to trust me." - -"I trust you, Dad." - -"As for Jerry James, I think it's only fair for you to tell him what -I've told you and let him decide whether he wants to continue on with -us." - -"I'll ask him," Sandy agreed. "But I know what he's going to say right -now." - -They were almost at the front door of the barracks now. "One more thing, -Dad," Sandy said. "Tagish Charley. I like him an awful lot. You don't -think that he--" - -"That he's the one who ransacked our cabin last night?" the doctor -finished for him. "The same thought flashed through my mind, too. I just -can't believe it, though. Charley's been with the professor for years; -he's like one of the family. Still--" his face went grim--"we don't -really know--and we can't afford to take chances." - -Superintendent MacKensie greeted them as they entered the building. -"Your wagons are all set to roll," he announced. - -Sandy took his friend aside just before they left the station and -repeated what his father had said, offering Jerry the choice of going -back to Valley View. - -"I ought to slug you," the husky, dark-haired boy roared, his black eyes -flashing, his square jaw jutting out defiantly, "for even thinking I'd -back out on you when you were in trouble! What kind of a guy do you -think I am?" - -"Take it easy, Buster." Sandy threw his arm around his friend's -shoulders. "I told Dad that's exactly what you would say." - - -They made good time all that morning, and a little after one o'clock -they reached Fort Nelson. Here they ate lunch with the Game -Commissioner, an old friend of Professor Crowell's. Later, while the -station wagon and truck were being refueled, the boys accompanied Tagish -Charley down to the Indian village on the banks of the frozen Nelson -River. Charley went straight to the house of the headman in the village, -and they talked earnestly and excitedly in an Indian dialect for some -time. - -On the way back to the truck, he told the boys: "That man know -everything go on in province. He say many strangers pass this way. They -say they French trappers, but they speak strange tongue and never sell -any furs." - -"Did he say how many?" Sandy asked. - -"Maybe six." - -Jerry clapped his mittened hands together. "And there are five of us. -Those aren't bad odds." - -"In a fair fight," Sandy corrected him. "But from what I've heard and -seen of these guys, they probably have no idea of fighting fair." - -The sun went down early, but this night was clear and the sky was full -of stars, so they drove on for quite a while after dark. At five-thirty -they came to a weather station near Lake Muncho. It was a small place, -manned by three technicians, and although the five guests really crowded -their quarters, the weathermen were very hospitable. - -"You chaps are lucky," the man in charge told them. "This high-pressure -area should be with us for the rest of the week. You'll have fine -weather all the way to Alaska." - -"Gosh," said Jerry, when he saw the small pine tree trimmed with tinsel -and colored balls and lights that stood in one corner of the shack's -main room. "I almost forgot--this is Christmas Eve." - -"It doesn't seem like it, somehow," Sandy said, feeling a slight twinge -of homesickness. "Not without Mom's turkey dinner and presents and -Christmas carols." - -"Christmas isn't turkey and presents and chimes," Professor Crowell -observed. "It's what you feel in the heart." - -"You're right, sir," Sandy admitted. Then he grinned. "I guess Jerry and -I are still kids at heart." - -"That's as it should be," the professor said. "It's one of the things I -admire most about you Americans--your boyish exuberance. You're always -looking for an excuse to give a party. I think it's one of the reasons -why you have so many national holidays." - -"Nothing shy about us Canadians when it comes to a party either," one of -the weathermen put in. He turned to his two partners. "Let's show these -Yanks a real Christmas party. What do you say?" - -There was a chorus of "ayes." - -After a hearty meal of tinned ham, fried potatoes and frozen candied -yams, topped off by a flaming plum pudding, they gathered in a tight -circle about the little fireplace and sipped hot cider and nibbled -marshmallows toasted in the winking embers. About nine o'clock the -weathermen picked up a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation program of -Christmas carols on their shortwave radio and piped it through a big -hi-fi speaker over the fireplace. - -"This is more like it," Jerry sighed contentedly, stuffing himself with -marshmallows and roasted nuts, staring at the lights twinkling on the -Christmas tree and listening to the strains of "Silent Night." - -Dr. Steele grinned mysteriously. "And who knows, maybe Santa will find -you boys even up here. Better pin up your stockings before you go to -bed." - -There were only two extra cots at the weather station, so the boys, Lou -Mayer and Tagish Charley bedded down in their sleeping bags around the -fireplace. Just before he turned in, Charley fed the dogs and let them -run for a while on the deserted highway. Then he penned them in on the -big front porch of the weather station. - -Sandy fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow, and the next -thing he knew, sunlight was streaming into his eyes. Yawning, he sat up -and looked around. Tagish Charley and Lou Mayer were already up and off -somewhere. Only Jerry was still asleep, curled up in his sleeping bag -like a hibernating bear. - -Sandy's eyes widened as they came to rest on the little Christmas tree -in the corner. Beneath it were piled assorted boxes wrapped in gaily -colored tissue and tied with tinseled ribbon. He leaned over and shook -his friend. - -"Hey, Jerry, wake up!" - -Jerry snorted and opened his eyes, heavy-lidded with sleep. "Whazza -matter?" he mumbled. - -Sandy grinned. "Looks like Santa was here while we were asleep. C'mon, -get up." - -Sandy rolled out of his sleeping bag, put on his trousers, shirt and -boots and went over to the tree. Kneeling down, he read the tags on the -packages: "'_To Sandy from Dad_,' '_To Jerry...._' Hey! There's -something here for everybody." - -He looked up and saw his father, Professor Crowell and Lou Mayer -standing in the doorway that led into the tiny kitchen. They were all -smiling broadly. - -"Well, don't just sit there," Dr. Steele said. "Pass them around." - -As Sandy had observed, there was something for everyone. An intricate -chronometer wrist watch that told the days of the month and even the -phases of the moon for Sandy; a candid camera for Jerry; a gold fountain -pen for Lou Mayer; and a fine steel hunting knife with a silver inlaid -handle for Tagish Charley. Professor Crowell, with genuine Yuletide -spirit, gave a set of ivory chessmen he had bought from an Indian at -Fort Nelson to the three weathermen. They, in turn, presented the -professor and Dr. Steele each with a pair of fine snowshoes. - -After they had burned the wrappings in the fire, Sandy remarked rather -sadly, "Gee, Dad, now I wish I hadn't left your present back home. But -Mom said we'd save all the gifts till we got back." - -Dr. Steele put his arm around his son's shoulders. "Sandy, the best -present you could ever give me is just being here." He reached for Jerry -with his other arm. "That goes for you too, Jerry." - - -Right after breakfast, they said goodbye to their new friends and headed -north again. They drove into Watson Lake, just across the border in -Yukon territory, about two o'clock. Watson Lake was one of the largest -towns along the Alaska Highway. In addition to a Mountie station and an -R.C.A.F. base, there was an airstrip for commercial airlines and -accommodations for putting up passengers overnight. They drove straight -out to the air force base, where the sentry ushered them through the -gate with a snappy salute as soon as Professor Crowell identified -himself. - -"The old prof really rates in these parts, doesn't he?" Jerry mused, as -they drove through the precisely laid-out checkerboard streets past neat -log-cabin barracks to the HQ building. - -They were even more impressed by the reception the professor received -from the Base Commander, an old friend he had worked with in World War -II. - -"You're just in time for Christmas dinner," the Commander told them -happily. "Roast turkey with all the trimmings." - -Jerry rubbed his stomach gleefully. "This stands to be the best holiday -season of our lives, Sandy. Wherever we go people give us Christmas -dinners." - -The geologists decided to stop over at Watson Lake and get an early -start the next morning for the long, grueling uphill drive over the -divide. - -"What is the divide?" Jerry asked. - -"A high shelf on the continent that determines the direction of water -drainage," Dr. Steele explained. "In the case of North America, it's the -Rocky Mountains. All the rivers and streams on one side of the Rockies -run in a generally easterly direction; on the other side they flow to -the west." - -"Will we have any trouble driving up those mountains with all this snow -and ice?" Sandy inquired of the R.C.A.F. Commander. - -"Well, it's a pretty tortuous route," the officer admitted. "But the -ascent is fairly gradual. With chains you shouldn't have too much -trouble. Of course, if it should snow again, that would be another -matter." - -"We'll get an early start," Professor Crowell told them. "About six -A.M." - - - - - CHAPTER SIX - Attack from the Air - - -It was gray and cold when they left Watson Lake on the last leg of their -journey on the Alaska Highway. - -"At Whitehorse, we'll give the car and truck a rest and take to the -air," Dr. Steele explained. "The Canadian government has put a plane at -the professor's disposal for as long as we're up here." - -But the big attraction at Whitehorse as far as the boys and Tagish -Charley were concerned was the big dog-sled race to Skagway. - -"The professor says it's okay with him if Jerry and I ride ballast," -Sandy informed the Indian. "That's if it's all right with you?" - -"Okay by me," Charley said. He glanced sideways at Jerry. "But this boy -keep eating so much he get too fat to sit on sled." - -Sandy let out a guffaw and Jerry pretended to sulk. "You guys have a -nerve," he said. "You both lick your plates cleaner than Black Titan -does." - -"If Tubby, here, is too much of a load for the huskies," Sandy -suggested, "we can always let him run behind the sled." - -Suddenly, Charley hunched down and squinted through the windshield. -"Plane," he announced curtly. - -The boys followed his gaze but could see nothing. "Where?" Sandy asked. - -Charley pointed toward a line of snow-capped mountain peaks in the -distance surrounded by blue haze. Sandy saw a speck that moved out of -sight behind one of the peaks. He couldn't make out what it was. - -"Are you sure it wasn't a bird?" he said uncertainly. - -"It plane," Charley said firmly. - -"Maybe it's from one of the road stations," Jerry suggested. - -"I guess so," Sandy said and pushed down a little harder on the -accelerator to close the gap between them and the station wagon, which -had drawn about a quarter of a mile ahead. - -Gradually the road climbed, winding and twisting through canyons and -hugging mountainsides in hazardous stretches. At one such spot Jerry -peered down into the chasm that dropped off steeply on one side and -clapped his hands over his eyes. - -"I think I'll get out and walk the rest of the way," he groaned. - -Sandy's face was grim as he nursed the big truck around the curves, -never letting the speedometer needle climb above the 30 on the dial. - -Then, without warning, a great throbbing roar bore down on them from the -rear. Instinctively, they ducked their heads as it seemed to shatter the -roof of the cab. An instant later a plane appeared through the -windshield zooming down the road toward the station wagon. - -"Yipes!" Jerry exclaimed. "What does he think he's doing?" - -"The crazy fool!" Sandy said angrily. "He could have scared us off the -highway. Look at him! He can't be more than fifty feet off the ground." - -The little ship skimmed over the station wagon and started to climb in a -wide arc. - -"You think it's a scout plane from one of the road stations?" Jerry said -anxiously. - -"I don't know," Sandy replied, trying to keep one eye on the road and -the other on the circling plane. "It looks as if he's coming back -again." Gratefully, he noted that they were approaching a less -treacherous section of highway. - -Once more they heard the little plane gunning its motor at top speed as -it flew up behind them. As it passed over them, a small round hole -appeared, as if by magic, at the top of their windshield. - -For a moment they were too stunned to react, then Jerry yelled, "They're -shooting at us!" - -With an unintelligible oath, Tagish Charley whirled in the seat and -reached back through the curtain partition into the rear of the truck. -"Stop!" he told Sandy as he pulled out his hunting rifle. - -As Sandy brought the lumbering vehicle to a skidding halt at the side of -the road, he saw that the station wagon had pulled up also, and the -three geologists were piling out frantically. - -Tagish Charley motioned to a patch of timber about a hundred yards away. -"Go--fast." The three of them floundered through knee-deep drifts as the -engine roar of the plane built up in their ears. - -"Down!" Charley bellowed. "Flat!" As the boys flattened out, the Indian -turned, dropped to one knee and threw the rifle to his shoulder. He -squeezed off two shots, leading the plane as if it were a wild duck. In -return, a fusillade of shots from the plane kicked up the snow all -around them. - -"Those guys really mean business!" Jerry yelled as they scrambled to -their feet and ran for the woods again. - -"This is like one of those nightmares where you're being chased by a -wild animal and your legs move in slow motion," Sandy gasped, churning -through the snow. - -They reached the trees just before the plane swooped over them again. -Crouching behind a tree bole, Charley emptied his rifle at the -retreating ship. A slug splattered the bark just above his head. - -This time as the plane climbed, a thin spiral of smoke trailed back from -the engine, and the rhythm of the motor was uneven. - -Sandy let out a cheer. "You got him, Charley! Good shooting." - -Immediately the plane broke off its attack and headed north. Sandy led -the way down the road to where the three geologists were standing by the -station wagon, watching the ship dwindle to a speck in the distance. - -"Are you okay, Dad?" he yelled anxiously. "Anybody hurt?" - -"No, just badly frightened," Dr. Steele replied. "How about you -fellows?" - -"No casualties," Sandy reported breathlessly. "Just a bullet hole in the -windshield." - -"It seems as if Charley saved the day," Professor Crowell said. He took -one of the Indian's big hands in both of his. "I'm glad you decided to -come along, my friend." - -Charley gave him one of his rare, quick smiles. "Bad men try hurt you--" -He paused and drew a finger across his throat. - -"Like I said before," Jerry declared, "I'm glad he's on our side." - -The Indian cocked his head toward the truck, where the dogs were setting -up a raucous clamor. "I go see if huskies okay." - -Lou Mayer shivered and hugged his arms tightly around his body. "And to -think I could have been a teacher in a nice cozy classroom in some -peaceful college in the balmy South instead of shooting it out with -enemy agents in the Yukon--" He stopped short and looked guiltily at Dr. -Steele. "I'm sorry, sir. That just slipped out." - -"That's all right, Lou," Dr. Steele said. "I think by now the boys have -a pretty good idea of what we're up against." Sensing the question that -was forming in Sandy's mind, he added hastily, "But for the present, at -least, that's all we can tell you." As Lou and the professor were -getting back into the station wagon, he whispered to his son, "At least -this little incident answers our question about Charley, once and for -all." - -"It sure does," Sandy agreed. "We'll see you later, Dad." He and Jerry -turned and trudged back to the truck. - -Jerry's voice was small and numb. "Wow! Enemy agents! Wow! Wait till the -guys hear about this!" - - - - - CHAPTER SEVEN - The Big Race - - -They rolled into Whitehorse late that night. The boys were surprised to -find a fairly modern city with paved streets, rows of stores and shops -and street lamps. As they drove down the main street, festively -decorated with wreaths, colored lights and holly, Jerry shook his head. - -"Why, it looks pretty much like Valley View." - -"They even have bowling alleys," Sandy pointed out. "And neon signs." - -Later, as they ate supper in the hotel dining room, Dr. Steele told them -about the origin of the city: "Whitehorse was born in the gold rush, -when thousands of sourdoughs trekked over the mountains from Alaska and -the Pacific ports to seek their fortunes. Whitehorse was sort of a -jumping-off place. They ran the rapids to Lake Laberge in anything that -would float--barges, rafts, scows--and on down the Yukon River to -Dawson. A few of them struck bonanzas, but most of them found only -poverty and disillusionment. There's just no way to get rich quick." - -"I know you're right, Dr. Steele," Jerry remarked. "Though I was kind of -hoping that Sandy and I could strike out north with Professor Crowell's -dog team and stake ourselves a claim. That French cook back at the road -station even gave me a jar of that sourdough of his to get us started." - -Professor Crowell laughed. "Before you boys do anything like that, you -had better see how you stand up to the rigors of the trail during the -big race to Skagway." - -"When do we start?" Jerry asked. - -"The day after tomorrow." - -Charley gulped down a small roll with one bite. "Tomorrow we give -huskies plenty exercise. Not much to eat." - -Sandy frowned. "You're going to starve them before the race? Won't it -weaken them?" - -Charley grunted. "No starve. Huskies can go week without food. They -little hungry, they run faster and fight harder." - -"What are you, Lou and Professor Crowell going to be doing the rest of -this week?" Sandy asked his father as they left the table. - -His father thought about it a minute before answering. "Well, tomorrow -we thought we'd fly up to Fairbanks and visit the University of Alaska. -The president's an old friend of mine. We hope to inspect some of the -fossils they've dug up lately. I understand they have some fine -specimens on display." - -"Gee, I wish we could come with you," Sandy said. "That sounds like -interesting stuff." - -"Yeah," Jerry agreed. "We kids in the States never get to see things -like that." - -"Why, that's not so, Jerry," Professor Crowell objected. "Your American -museums and universities contain some of the most fascinating specimens -of prehistoric beasts that I've ever seen. The last time I visited the -American Museum of Natural History in New York I saw the leg of a baby -mammoth that was completely intact. It had been preserved for centuries -in a glacier, and the museum kept it in a deep freeze." - -"The professor's right, Jerry," Sandy admitted. "The trouble with so -many of the kids we know is that they're too lazy to use their eyes and -their ears--and their legs." - -Dr. Steele interrupted. "As a matter of fact, did either of you boys -know that Black Bart, the notorious stagecoach bandit, is reputed to -have buried a strongbox with $40,000 in gold in the hills back of -Stockton?" - -"Gosh, no!" Jerry exclaimed. "What do you say, Sandy? Let's go on a -treasure hunt next summer. That's practically in our back yard." - -Professor Crowell smiled. "That beats digging for gold in the Yukon, I'd -say." - -"How long will you be in Fairbanks?" Sandy wanted to know. - -"Oh, no more than a day," Dr. Steele said. "We want to get back to -Skagway to see you fellows come across the finish line in the big race." - -"In first place, of course," Jerry added smugly. - -"That would be a treat," Professor Crowell said. - -"Now I think we should all go up to our rooms and get a good night's -sleep," Dr. Steele suggested. "We've had a long, trying day." - -"That sounds good to me," Lou Mayer seconded. "It will be a real -pleasure to rest my weary bones on an honest-to-goodness bed with a soft -mattress." - -"You chaps go ahead," said Professor Crowell. "I'm going down the street -to the police barracks and report that incident with the plane today." - -"Do you really think that's wise?" Dr. Steele asked gravely. - -"The chief constable is a reliable man," the professor told him. "He can -be depended upon to be discreet. He may have received a report from one -of these local airstrips about a small plane making an emergency -landing. I don't think those fellows could have traveled too far with -their engine smoking like that. If they did land near here, we can put -our people on their track." - -Dr. Steele nodded. "Good idea. Do you want me to come with you?" - -"That won't be necessary," the older man assured him. "I'll take Charley -along." - -Upstairs, when the boys had bathed and changed into their pajamas, they -lay in the dark in the small hotel room they shared and discussed the -events of the day. - -"What do you think it's all about, anyway?" Jerry wondered. "We know -enemy agents are after the professor. But why? It's not like he was an -atomic scientist or something. What could they want with a plain old -geology professor?" - -"I don't know," Sandy said worriedly. "But it must have something to do -with our reason for coming up to Alaska. You can bet my dad and the -professor didn't make the trip _just_ to look at fossils and take soil -samples. Well, we'll just have to wait and see." - -"Br-r-r," Jerry said, "it's like walking through a haunted house on -Halloween Eve. You don't know what to expect. But whatever it is, you -know it won't be good." He threw back the covers and got out of bed. - -"Hey, where are you going?" Sandy demanded. - -Jerry padded across the room barefoot. "I just want to make sure that -door is locked." - - -The day of the big race was bitter cold and the sky was leaden with snow -clouds scudding across the mountain peaks around Whitehorse. A huge -crowd had gathered at the starting line on the outskirts of the city, -and the air rang with merry voices and the yelping of dogs. Sandy and -Jerry huddled close to a big bonfire outside the officials' tent while -Tagish Charley made a last-minute check of the sled and the dogs' -harnesses. - -One of the judges came up and spoke to Sandy. "I understand you boys are -from the States. What do you think of our big country?" - -"It's very exciting, sir," Sandy said. - -"And very cold," Jerry added. - -The judge laughed. "Wait until you're out on the trail a few hours. Then -you'll know how cold it is. You're riding with Professor Crowell's team, -right?" - -"Yes, sir. And we're really looking forward to it. This is some big -event, isn't it?" - -The air was charged with a holiday atmosphere. Men and women were -laughing and singing as they sipped from steaming mugs of coffee and -tea; and a few were drinking from mugs that Sandy suspected contained -even stronger brew. - -"The race from Whitehorse is a time-honored ritual," the judge told -them. "Back in the old days, the course was even longer. From Dawson to -Skagway, almost six hundred miles." - -"Good night!" Jerry said. "Those poor dogs must have worn their legs -down to the shoulder." - -"As a matter of fact," the judge went on, "Klondike Mike Mahoney used to -operate a mail and freight route from Skagway to Dawson." - -"Who was Klondike Mike Mahoney?" Sandy asked. - -"A rather fantastic young man who came to the Yukon during the gold rush -and became a living legend." He smiled. "You might say he was our -counterpart of your Davy Crockett." - -"Hey! What are they doing?" Jerry pointed to a group of Eskimos who were -laughing and whooping as they catapulted an Eskimo girl high into the -air from a large animal hide stretched taut like a fireman's net. - -"That's one of their favorite games," the judge said. "You've probably -played something like it at the beach--tossing a boy up in a blanket." - -"Yeah," Jerry said. "But not like _that_. She's better than some -acrobats I've seen on the stage." - -Time after time, the slender Eskimo girl shot into the air, as high as -twenty-five feet, like an arrow, never losing her balance. While they -were watching her, Tagish Charley joined them by the fire. In his one -hand he held a sheet of oiled paper on which were spread a half-dozen -cubes that looked like the slabs of chocolate and vanilla ice cream -served in ice-cream parlors. - -"Eat," Charley said, offering them to the boys. - -Sandy took one gingerly. "Looks good. But what is it?" - -"_Muk-tuk_," the Indian grunted. - -"A Northern delicacy," the judge said with a straight face. - -Jerry stuffed one of the cubes into his mouth with gusto. "Say, that's -good. Tastes like coconut." - -Sandy nibbled at his with more reserve. "It does a little. Maybe a -little oilier. What's it made of?" - -"Whale skin and blubber," the judge informed him. "The white part is -blubber, and the dark is hide." - -Jerry gagged momentarily, swallowed his last mouthful, then smiled -manfully. "I wish you hadn't said that, sir," he declared. "But it still -tastes good." - -"You ready now?" Charley asked the boys. "Time for race soon." - -They shook hands with the official and followed Charley over to the -starting line, where the teams were lining up. - -There were eight entries altogether. The dogs were prancing about -restlessly in their harnesses like proud race horses, their curved tails -waving over their backs. They were charged with excitement and seemed -eager to get started. The huskies on opposing teams eyed each other -sullenly, baring their long fangs and growling deep in their throats. -Occasionally, one would dart out of line and snap at another dog, but -there were no fights. Black Titan, like the good lead dog he was, -watched his team closely, and whenever one of them became too frisky and -pugnacious, he would bark a sharp command. Immediately, the offender -would drop his ears and quiet down. - -"They act almost human," Sandy said. - -"I'll say," Jerry agreed. "That Titan reminds me of Mr. Hall, my math -teacher. No horseplay when he's around." - -Charley helped the boys arrange themselves in the sled, Sandy in back, -with Jerry in front of him, sitting between his legs. "Just like on a -toboggan," Sandy observed. They tucked the big robe that covered them -around their sides as Charley took his place behind the sled and gripped -the handles. - -The sharp crack of the starter's pistol split the crisp air and -Charley's bellowing "Mush! Yea, huskies, mush!" almost split Sandy's -eardrums. The figures lined up on both sides of them blurred rapidly as -the sled picked up speed, and wind and snow whipped into their faces. -Gripping the handles tightly, Charley matched the pace of the team -effortlessly with his long strides. - -"He's not going to run all the way, is he?" Jerry yelled to Sandy. - -"I guess he wants to give the team the best of it this early in the -race. He'll hop on when he gets winded." - -But a half hour went by and still the driver's boots pounded behind them -in unbroken rhythm. At first the seven teams were bunched pretty close -together on the hard-packed trail, then gradually the distance between -them widened. Sandy kept glancing back as Charley urged their sled into -the lead and finally lost sight of the nearest team as they rounded a -hummock and entered a stretch of forest. - -"If we keep this pace up, we'll be in Skagway in time for lunch," Jerry -said. - -The big Indian reined in the dogs when they reached a spot where three -separate narrower paths forked off the main trail. - -"Which way do we go?" Sandy called to him. - -Still breathing as easily as if he had taken a short walk around the -block, Charley answered, "All go to Skagway. We take middle trail. More -snow, but less up and down." Having made up his mind, Charley shouted to -the dogs: "Mush! Mush! Mush, huskies!" And they were off again. - -A short time later they left the trail and went skimming down a -windswept slope that stretched away into a barren icy plain. Now Charley -hopped onto the back of the sled and rode like a Roman charioteer, -shouting encouragement to the dogs in Indian. Although there was no -broken trail, the sled rode solidly on the surface of the old snow -crusted over thickly by the 50-below-zero cold. - -"This is really living!" Jerry exulted, his voice trailing off eerily in -the slipstream behind the sled. At noon they stopped to rest the dogs in -the lee of a rock overhang. Sandy broke out a thermos of steaming coffee -and sandwiches, and Charley threw the huskies some chunks of lean dry -meat. - -"How far do you think we've come so far?" Jerry asked. - -Charley shrugged. "Twenty, maybe twenty-five mile." - -"Say, that's pretty good." He looked back in the direction they had come -from. "Where do you suppose those other guys are?" - -Charley finished his sandwich, rumpled up the wax-paper wrapping and set -a match to it, warming his hands over the brief torch it created. He -motioned to the west. "Some follow other trail. Maybe a few stay just in -back of us. Let us break new trail for them. Then when our dogs tired, -they fresh and catch us." He cupped one hand to his ear. "Listen!" - -The boys held their breaths for a minute, straining to hear. They could -just make out the sound of barking dogs floating on the wind in the -distance. - -"He's right," Jerry said indignantly. "That's a sneaky thing to do." - -"No, it's not," Sandy disagreed. "No more than a track man letting -another runner set the pace." - -"No worry," Charley assured them. "We win anyway." - -"What a man you are, Charley." Jerry regarded the big Indian with -admiration. "We could use you in the fullback spot on the Valley View -football team." He grinned at Sandy. "I bet he could walk down the field -with both teams on his back." - -Charley squinted up at the sky abruptly. The ceiling seemed even lower -and grayer than before. "It snow soon. We better go." - -Sandy looked up too. "How can you tell?" - -"I know," Charley said somberly. "Bad storm on the way." - -"Oh, great!" Jerry said. "What happens if we get caught out in this deep -freeze in a blizzard?" - -"There are check points every twenty-five miles," Sandy recalled what -the professor had told him. "We must be pretty close to one now, -Charley. Think we should stop and get a weather report?" - -Charley nodded toward the east. "Two, three miles over that way. On main -trail. We go there, we lose race. We stop at next post, at halfway mark. -Three hours away maybe." - -"I guess that's the only thing to do," Sandy agreed. "Well, let's get -moving." - -Ten minutes later, the snow began to come down, fine granular pellets -that stung like sand as the rising wind blasted it into their faces. -Visibility was reduced to no more than fifty feet. Even the dogs were -slowed down. The snow, mixed with the loose surface fluff of previous -falls, piled up quickly in drifts. As it dragged at his boots more and -more, Charley began to mutter angrily to himself in Indian. - -"I don't like it, Sandy," Jerry said uneasily. "We're never going to -make that check point before dark." - -"At this rate we'll never make it at all," Sandy retorted. "Listen, -Jerry, what do you say we get out and trot along with Charley? It's bad -enough pulling the sled by itself without our weight too." - -"Good idea," Jerry admitted. "Let's give the dogs a break." - -Sandy signaled Charley to stop and told him of their plan. - -"All right," Charley agreed. "I go up front and break trail." - - - - - CHAPTER EIGHT - Lost in a Blizzard - - -For the next half hour the boys were able to keep up with the sled. But -in the ever-deepening snow, their legs grew heavier and heavier. At -last, they lost sight of the sled in the swirling flakes. When Jerry -slipped and fell, Sandy cupped his hands to his mouth like a megaphone -and yelled: "Charley! Char-r-ley! Wait for us." - -Gasping for breath, Jerry struggled up to his hands and knees. "I've had -it, Sandy," he gasped. "I can't go any farther." - -Sandy helped his friend to get up and supported him with one arm. -"C'mon, boy, we can make it. As soon as we catch up with the team you -can rest awhile in the sled." - -Clutching each other tightly, they staggered forward, trying to follow -the tracks of the sled runners. But before they had covered twenty-five -feet, the blowing snow had obliterated the trail. Sandy continued on -doggedly in the direction he thought the team had taken, dragging Jerry -with him. Every few steps he would stop and call: "Char-ley! Char-ley!" -But there was no answer--only the moaning of the wind and the hiss of -the snow beating against the fabric of their parkas. - -Once more Jerry sagged to his knees. "We're lost, pal," he muttered. -"Look, I'm exhausted. I can't go a step farther. You go ahead and look -for Charley. When you find him, you can come back for me." - -"Don't be crazy, Jerry. Our best chance is to stick together. If we keep -walking, we're bound to catch up to the team. Once Charley finds we're -gone, he'll stop and wait for us." - -Jerry's voice cracked. "I can't see my hand in front of my face. We -don't even know if we're going in the right direction." - -While he was speaking, a low, mournful howl drifted to them on the wind -from somewhere on their left. Sandy clutched Jerry's arm. "You hear -that?" he said tensely. - -Jerry's voice brightened. "That must be the team. C'mon." With renewed -vigor, he veered off in the direction of the howling. - -Sandy grabbed him with both hands. "No, wait! It could be a wolf." - -Jerry stopped dead. "Oh my gosh!" he murmured. "What are we going to -do?" - -Sandy dusted the snow that had crusted on his eyebrows with the back of -one mitten. "I don't know. I still think we're heading in the right -direction. Let's go a little farther. If we don't find Charley and the -team soon, we can always head over that way." - -The snow was coming down so hard now that every breath was an effort. -Sandy felt as if he were being smothered in a sea of white cotton. He -stopped as the howling broke out again, in a chorus this time. - -"Maybe you're right," he said to Jerry. "That sure sounds like a bunch -of dogs." - -"Yeah, let's give it a try, anyhow," Jerry pressed. - -They were just about to veer off in the direction of the howling when -they heard a familiar harsh rumbling directly in front of them. It was -the unmistakable growl of a husky. - -"Charley!" Sandy called out. "Titan! Black Titan!" - -A succession of sharp yelps knifed through the storm. "That's the team -all right!" Jerry cried. - -Miraculously, their legs seemed to find new strength, and they -practically ran the rest of the way through the knee-deep snow. Directly -ahead of them, the sled loomed out of the darkness. The dogs, in -harness, were seated on their haunches or huddled low in drifts to -escape the force of the wind. But Charley was nowhere to be seen. - -Jerry sagged against the back of the sled. "Oh my gosh! What happened to -him?" - -"He must have doubled back to look for us and we didn't see him in the -storm." Night had deepened the blinding downfall even more. - -There was a tremor in Jerry's voice. "You don't think the wolves got -him, Sandy?" - -"No, they rarely attack a man. Especially with the dogs here. Besides, -Charley had a rifle." He rummaged through the packs on the front of the -sled. "It's not here, so he must have taken it with him." - -"What do we do now?" Jerry wanted to know. "Go back and try to find -Charley?" - -"That's the worst thing we could do," Sandy said emphatically. "We'd get -lost but good. No, the best thing to do is to wait here until Charley -gets back." - -Jerry was skeptical. "I'm not sure even an old woodsman like Charley can -find his way back in this soup." - -"Maybe if we shout to him he'll hear us," Sandy suggested. - -For the next ten minutes the boys pitted their voices against the -intensity of the raging storm. But even in their own ears their shouts -sounded pitifully weak. At last they gave it up. - -"It's no use," Sandy said hoarsely. "We'll just have to wait." He -crouched down in the lee of the sled. - -What seemed like hours passed and still there was no sign of Charley. -The boys could feel the cold seeping through their heavy clothing and -stiffening their limbs. They were both badly frightened now. - -"Sandy," Jerry pleaded, "we just can't sit here and do nothing. We'll -freeze to death. My nose and cheeks are numb now." - -Sandy fought back the panic that was rising in him too. "If we don't -lose our heads, we'll be okay, Jerry. The way it looks now, we're going -to have to spend the night here. Tomorrow, they'll have search parties -out looking for us. I bet the rest of the contestants are in the same -boat we are." - -"We'll be stiff as washboards by then," Jerry prophesied. "Frozen wolf -food." - -"Don't be a nut," Sandy snapped. "Now get up and help me rig up a -lean-to." - -"A lean-to?" Jerry said wonderingly. "What kind of a lean-to?" - -"The kind Charley says the Eskimos build on the trail. They fasten a big -hide to the side of the sled that's out of the wind and peg the other -side down to the ice, or weight it down. The snow piles up against the -far side of the sled, forming a solid windbreak, and you have yourself a -cozy little tent." - -"We don't have any hides," Jerry said. - -"We have that big rug in the sled. C'mon, let's get to work." - -While Sandy fastened the robe to the top of the sled's guard rail, Jerry -weighted the far side down with a pair of snowshoes he found in the sled -and heaped up snow on top of the shoes until they weighted down the robe -securely. When they were finished, Sandy scooped the excess snow out -from beneath the robe and they had a small lean-to with just enough room -in it to shelter two people. - -"Well, that's that," Sandy said with satisfaction, brushing off his -mittens. "Now I'll unhitch the dogs while you get our supper ready." - -The erection of the lean-to had renewed Jerry's confidence. "What'll you -have?" he inquired flippantly. "Roast turkey with chestnut stuffing or a -thick steak smothered with onions and a side of French fries?" - -Sandy played the game with him. "No, I'm getting sick of that goppy -stuff. How about a couple of frozen sandwiches and a thermos of cold -coffee?" - -"Just what I had in mind," Jerry called to him as he rummaged through -the packs on the sled. "Are we going to feed the huskies?" - -"Sure, get out some of that meat Charley keeps in that big tin can up -front." - -The dogs seemed overjoyed to see Sandy. They leaped about him, wagging -their tails furiously and barking and whining. - -"I bet you guys are hungry," Sandy spoke to them. "Keep calm. Your -dinner's coming right up." - -When he knelt beside Black Titan to remove his harness, the big lead dog -jockeyed obediently into the proper position. As soon as he was free, he -nuzzled affectionately against the boy's cheek. "Hey!" Sandy laughed. -"That is the coldest nose I ever felt in my life." He ruffled up the -thick fur around the husky's throat with his fingers, and was surprised -to feel the soothing warmth deep down in the animal's undercoat. "Boy, I -wish I had your fur, Titan. No wonder you can sleep in a snow foxhole." -He pressed both hands against Titan's body gratefully. "That feels good, -old boy." - -Jerry came up behind him with the can of dog meat. "And look what else I -found." He held out a bulky .45 Colt automatic. "It's fully loaded, -too." - -The sight of the lethal-looking pistol was reassuring. "Dad must have -given it to Charley before we left," Sandy reasoned. "He asked me if I -wanted to take a gun along, but I knew Charley had his rifle, so I -didn't bother. It's a good thing we have it. Now maybe we can signal to -Charley. Fire a few shots in the air to let him know where we are." - -"Good idea," Jerry agreed. "And I've got an even better one." - -"What's that?" - -"Let's send old Titan out to find his buddy. Bet you he can do it." - -Sandy was pessimistic. "I don't know if he could pick up Charley's trail -in a storm like this, but we can give it a try." - -While the dogs were gulping down their food, the boys rummaged through -Charley's gear until they found a heavy wool shirt that the Indian had -recently worn. When Black Titan had finished eating, Sandy held the -shirt under his nose. - -"Charley, Charley," he kept repeating. "Go find Charley, Titan." He -slapped the husky on the rump. "Go on, Titan!" - -Titan began to whine as he sniffed at the shirt. Then he trotted off -into the blizzard with his head down. When he had disappeared from -sight, Jerry turned to Sandy. "Well, what do we do now?" - -"Eat supper and climb into our sleeping bags, I guess. But first I want -to fire a couple of shots to see if we can signal Charley." - -He took out the heavy automatic and levered a shell into the firing -chamber. Pointing it up in the air, he pulled the trigger. The muzzle -flash lit up the night briefly like lightning, but the shot was muffled -by the wind and thick curtain of snow. The dogs milled around nervously -and began to bark. Sandy fired one more shot, then shoved the gun back -in the pocket of his parka. - -"I bet those shots didn't carry over five hundred feet. I feel as though -we're inside a vacuum. I don't want to waste any more shells until this -gale lets up a little. C'mon, let's sack in for the night." - -They gathered up the sandwiches, coffee thermos, Coleman stove and -sleeping bags and crawled into the lean-to. The blowing snow had sealed -up all the cracks and even the openings at either end of the makeshift -shelter. Sandy burrowed through a drift at the rear of the sled to form -an entranceway. - -"This back end gets less wind," he explained to Jerry. - -The interior of the lean-to was cramped, but seated with their backs -resting against the sides of the sled and their legs crossed in front of -them, they were not too uncomfortable. Sandy pumped up the pressure in -the one-burner gasoline stove and lit it. He turned the wick up -abnormally high until the pale-blue flame became streaked with yellow -and began to smoke slightly. Although this was a waste of fuel and -reduced the cooking efficiency of the stove, it provided more light and -warmth. - -"Say, this is all right," Jerry said, grinning. "It reminds me of the -time we went on a Boy Scout camping trip and slept in pup tents." - -Sandy grinned. "The only difference was we were only a ten-minute walk -away from home and there was a hot-dog stand across the road from the -bivouac area." He took a half-frozen sandwich out of the knapsack and -passed it to Jerry. "Be careful you don't break your teeth when you bite -into it." - -"Thanks, pal." Jerry filled two aluminum canteen cups from the coffee -thermos and sipped from one. "It's lukewarm, anyway," he commented. - -"I've got an idea," Sandy said. "We can heat the cups on the stove and -sit the sandwiches on top of the cup. That way the steam will thaw out -the bread." - -"Brilliant. If it wasn't so cold, I'd take my hat off to you." - -Ten minutes later, they were munching hungrily on a relatively decent -meal. Jerry inhaled the steam that was rising from his canteen cup and -sighed contentedly. "I know it must be my imagination, but right now I'd -say this is the best-tasting chow I ever ate." - -Sandy laughed and nodded. "We used to say the same thing about the -mickeys we roasted in the corner lot when we were kids. All black with -ashes and dirt, but boy, they sure did taste good." He lowered the wick -a little on the stove. "It's probably the hot coffee, but I'm beginning -to get warm in here." - -"What's wrong with being warm?" Jerry protested. "Turn it up as high as -it will go." - -Sandy frowned. "When you live in frigid temperatures it's safer to feel -a little cold than it is to be overheated, because when you cool off, -the perspiration will turn to ice on your skin." - -"Perspiration!" Jerry gawked incredulously. "Are you kidding?" - -"Well, we're not going to take any chances. As soon as we're finished -eating, I'm going to turn off the stove altogether." - -"Not until I'm snug in my bedroll," Jerry begged. - -Sandy looked worried. "Poor Charley. He's not going to be very snug -tonight. No bedroll, no food. Gee, I wish I knew what happened to him." - -"What makes it worse," Jerry said gloomily, "is that it's our fault. If -we hadn't dragged so far behind, he wouldn't have had to go looking for -us." - -The boys finished their sandwiches and coffee in subdued silence, -staring out into the stormy night through the diminishing black hole of -the entranceway. - -"You know," Sandy said suddenly, "in another hour we'll be snowed in -tight inside this lean-to." - -Jerry surveyed the drifting snow anxiously. "You're right. Like a tomb. -We'll be able to get out, though, won't we?" - -Sandy reached over and enlarged the opening with one hand. "Oh, yes. -It's as light as powder." - -After they had finished eating and wrapped up the garbage, they prepared -to bed down for the night. "We'd better do this one at a time," Sandy -suggested. "We'd only be in each other's way moving around in here -together. I'll go outside until you're all settled. You lie with your -head up at the front of the sled. I'll lie the opposite way. That way -we'll have more room." - -Crawling on hands and knees, Sandy pushed through the drift that was -blocking up the opening. A furious blast of bitter cold wind took his -breath away as he got to his feet and sent him reeling back from the -sled. It was even warmer inside the lean-to than he had realized. He -recalled that Tagish Charley had a powerful flashlight in his gear and -walked through knee-high snow to the front of the sled to look for it. -It would be wise to keep it handy in the lean-to, he decided. He found -the light easily and turned it on to see how the dogs were making out. -They were all huddled together behind the windbreak of the sled, -growling and shifting around restlessly. As the flash beam swept over -them, a few cringed and bared their fangs. Their behavior distressed -Sandy, who had expected that by now they would all be cozily balled up -in holes and snoring peacefully. He skirted around them and walked back -to consult with Jerry. Beaming the light on the lean-to, he saw that the -snow was mounding it over like an igloo. Once more he had to dig the -snow away from the entrance before he could get in. - -When he crawled inside, he saw that Jerry was stretched out in his -sleeping bag, the hooded cover zipped up tightly around his head. Only -his eyes, nose and mouth were showing. - -"How's the weather outside?" he asked Sandy. - -Sandy shook the snow off his hood. "Same as before. Terrible. The dogs -are acting up, too. I'm worried." - -"Maybe they're cold." - -"I don't think so. They act frightened." - -"Me too. We're snowbound in the Yukon. Charley's missing, probably -frozen to death in a snowdrift. Our food is about gone. What a mess! I'm -scared plenty." - -At that moment a long, mournful animal howl rose clearly above the -intensity of the wind. Before it trailed off, another howl and still -another joined it, forming an eerie chorus. - -Jerry snapped upright like a jack-in-the-box, his face drained of blood. -"Wolves!" - -"And close by," Sandy said grimly. - -Outside, the dogs were really setting up an uproar now, snarling and -barking frantically. - -Despite the seriousness of the situation, Sandy had to smile as he -watched his friend struggling to get out of the sleeping bag. In his -excitement, Jerry couldn't work the zipper. "Get me out of this strait -jacket!" he yelled. - -"Take it easy," Sandy said. "In that bag you look like a big fat hot dog -with a face." - -"Not so loud," Jerry cautioned him. "The wolves might hear you. Just -hurry and get me out of here." - -Between them they finally got the sleeping bag unzipped, and Jerry -rolled out. Sandy took the Army .45 out of his pocket and checked the -clip. There were still four shells in it. - -"Do we have any more ammunition for that cannon?" Jerry asked anxiously. - -"Probably up front in Charley's gear. I'm going up to get it." - -"I'm going with you," Jerry said promptly. "One of those wolves might -poke his snout in here while you're gone." - -They scrambled out into the blizzard and stood up. Sandy switched on the -flashlight and swept it in a wide circle about them. The powerful beam -seemed to run into a solid wall of white no more than fifty feet away. -He turned it on the dogs, who were setting up such a loud racket that it -drowned out the howling of the wolves. The huskies were all on their -feet now, standing stiff-legged with their tails curled tightly beneath -their bellies. Their lips were drawn back over their teeth, and the -thick fur around their necks bristled like porcupine quills. Sandy swung -the light in the direction of their gaze, and felt his heart flip and -miss a beat. Glowing greenishly through the falling flakes was a circle -of eyes. They were there for just an instant and then faded back out of -range of the beam. - -Jerry gripped Sandy's arm tightly. "There must be a whole pack of 'em. -They're just waiting for us to fall asleep and then they'll jump us." - -One of the huskies began to slink forward toward the wolves, his belly -flattened close to the ground. - -"Come back here, boy!" Sandy shouted. "They'll tear him to pieces," he -muttered to Jerry. He cocked the automatic and aimed in the direction of -the glowing eyes. "I hate to waste ammo like this, but maybe we can -scare them off." - -He fired three shots. The last shot was answered by a sharp yelp of -pain. - -"You got one!" Jerry yelled excitedly. - -"Shh! Listen!" Sandy said. Above the wailing of the storm they could -hear wild snarling and yelping. - -"Sounds like they're fighting among themselves," Jerry said. - -The commotion ended as abruptly as it had begun, and although Sandy kept -searching the darkness with the light for a long time, there was no -further sign of the wolves. At last, when the dogs quieted down and -curled up in burrows, the boys relaxed. - -"I guess the shots did scare them off at that," Sandy decided. "Now -let's find that box of ammo in Charley's pack, and then we can go back -inside and see if we can get some rest." - -"Sleep?" Jerry said. "Are you kidding? Suppose they come back again?" - -"The dogs will warn us if they do." - -Jerry shivered. "Okay. But I'll take the bed next to the wall, just in -case." - -The snow had completely blocked the entrance, and they had to shovel -energetically to clear it. "Man, it's really warm in here," Jerry said -as he crawled into the lean-to. - -The snow wall that had built up at the other end of the lean-to and on -the sled side was smooth and glistening. "Just like an igloo," Sandy -said. As soon as they were inside their sleeping bags, he turned off the -Coleman stove. - -Jerry sighed as the little hut was plunged into pitch-darkness. "If I -didn't know better, I'd think I was back in my little trundle bed in -Valley View." - -"Go to sleep," Sandy grunted. He was facing the entrance and the -automatic was within easy reach in his side pocket. In an emergency, he -knew he could fire right through the sleeping bag. - -Gradually, his eyes became accustomed to the darkness and he could make -out the faint outline of the round doorway. His eyelids grew heavier and -the hole grew smaller and smaller. Then he dropped off to sleep. - - - - - CHAPTER NINE - Trapped in an Icy Tomb - - -When Sandy awoke, it was still pitch-dark inside the lean-to. He was -about to roll over and go back to sleep, but he decided to see what time -it was first. He pulled down the zipper of his sleeping bag, fumbled for -the flashlight and flicked the switch. - -The sudden burst of light woke up Jerry. "Whazza matter?" he mumbled. - -"Go back to sleep," Sandy told him. "It's still the middle of the -night." He turned the spot on his wrist watch. "What the--" he -exclaimed, and sat up, startled. He squinted at the dial again, but -there was no mistake. It said 7:30. "That's impossible! It must have -stopped!" But he held it up to his ear and heard the steady, rhythmic -ticking. - -"What's the matter with you?" Jerry, fully awake now, propped himself up -on one elbow. - -Suddenly, Sandy began to laugh. "Oh, I get it. We're snowed in." He -explained to Jerry. "My watch said it was half past seven, but I -couldn't believe it because it was so dark in here. It's the snow; it's -blocking out the daylight." - -"It's really morning?" Jerry said doubtfully. "Well, let's go out and -find out." He unzippered his sleeping bag. - -Propping the torch up in the snow, Sandy tried to push his head and -shoulders through the drift that blocked the entrance. It was like -running into a stone wall. "Ouch!" he cried. He dug at the snow with his -fingers, but his mittens slid futilely off a surface that was as smooth -as a skating rink. - -"Well, come on," Jerry said impatiently. "Let's go." - -"Door's frozen up," Sandy told him. He sat down and tried to kick -through the ice with his feet, but couldn't dent it. He turned to Jerry. -"Try your end. This one is plugged up solid." - -"So is this end," Jerry reported, after pounding away with his hands and -feet for several minutes. "So, we'll go out the side." He grabbed one -corner of the robe and tugged it loose from where it was anchored under -the snow, while Sandy worked on the other corner. Then they pulled it -aside, exposing a smooth, glittering expanse of ice behind it. - -Sandy tested it with his fist and whistled. "Like iron." - -There was a tremor in Jerry's voice. "What goes on around here? Maybe I -wasn't kidding last night when I called this thing a tomb." - -"Take it easy," Sandy soothed. "It's only snow." - -"Yeah, ice," Jerry repeated. "You ever see them drive trucks across the -ice on frozen lakes? I've seen it in newsreels. That ice is pretty -rugged stuff." - -"You got a knife?" Sandy asked. "I left mine in the sled." - -"So did I. Say, let's try to move the sled," Jerry suggested. - -They both shoved and pulled at the sled for a long time, but it seemed -welded to the spot. At last, Jerry sank down exhausted. "I don't get it. -What happened?" - -Sandy played the light over the walls of the lean-to. "I can guess. -Remember how cozy and warm it got in here last night? Between that stove -and the heat from our bodies, I bet the temperature in here was a good -fifty degrees higher than it was outside. The heat radiates through the -snow, causing it to melt partially. Then it freezes up. That's how the -Eskimos harden the walls of their snow houses. They build big bonfires -in them." - -"Only they don't forget to make doors in 'em," Jerry said grimly. -"Another thousand years from now, I can see a couple of geologists like -your dad and the professor digging us out. Preserved in a block of ice -like that baby mammoth." - -"It's no joking matter," Sandy said. "We've got to think of a way to -break out of here. One thing, though: they're bound to send out search -parties and sooner or later they'll find the sled." - -"What makes you think so?" Jerry demanded. "The sled is probably covered -with snow by now and this must look like any other part of the -landscape. And you don't think those dogs are going to hang around here -forever, do you? They've probably run off looking for food already." - -Sandy felt his heart begin to race madly. "I never thought of that," he -admitted. "Well, it's up to us then. What have we got that we can use as -a chipping tool?" - -"Only thing I can think of that's metal is the Coleman stove." - -"That's no good. No sharp edges." - -They were silent for a moment, then Sandy snapped his fingers. "I've got -it! The gun!" He took the bulky .45 out of his pocket and held it up in -the light. "We'll blast our way out." - -Jerry looked worried. "You know what they say about shooting fish in a -rain barrel? Well, if one of those slugs ever ricochets inside here, -we'll be dead fish." - -"It's our only chance," Sandy said. He loaded the gun, cocked the hammer -and nudged off the safety with his thumb. Holding the gun at arm's -length away from him, he pointed the muzzle at the end where the -entrance had been. "Better make sure your hood is pulled tight over your -ears," he advised Jerry. - -"I'm all set. Let 'er go." - -Sandy shut his eyes and tightened his finger on the trigger. The -explosion reverberated like a bomb in the small lean-to. Sandy felt the -shock wave slam into his face, and the recoil almost tore the gun out of -his hand. He sat there stunned for a while. - -Jerry's voice screaming in his ear brought him out of it. "Sandy, it -worked!" - -He opened his eyes to the most wonderful sight he had ever seen. A beam -of sunlight was pouring through an opening in the ice wall. The potent, -snub-nosed .45 slug had blasted a hole almost four inches in diameter. -In the light of the flashlight, he also observed that the ice around the -hole was shattered and veined from the shock wave. - -Dropping the gun back into his pocket, Sandy got on his knees and began -to work on the opening with his hands. Snow and ice crumbled easily, and -before long he had enlarged the hole so that he was able to squirm -through. Jerry was right behind him. Painfully, they stood up. - -"Oh," Jerry groaned. "I feel like a dog on its hind legs." Looking up at -the clear blue sky, he threw kisses into the air with both hands. "Mr. -Sun, I never figured we'd ever see you again." - -It was a perfect, cloudless day without even a breeze. Looking around -him, Sandy realized that the high winds of the night before had -exaggerated the intensity of the blizzard. Except where it had drifted -around the sled and lean-to, no more than twelve inches of new snow had -fallen. He discovered, too, that they had been traveling along the ridge -of a low hill and had stopped on the most exposed spot in all the -surrounding terrain. On either side, the ground sloped away gently into -protected valleys thick with fir trees. - -After spending hours shut up in the gloom of the lean-to, the boys found -the sunlight on the snow blinding. They dug their smoked glasses out of -their packs and put them on. The dogs crowded around them, yelping and -wagging their tails. - -"I guess they're hungry," Sandy said. "Is there any meat left?" - -"A little," Jerry said. He went to get the can of food from the front of -the sled. As he threw the last chunks of raw horse meat to the huskies, -he eyed it forlornly. "I'm so hungry I could eat it myself." - -Sandy grinned. "Even some of that _muk-tuk_ would look good to me now." - -"Are the sandwiches all gone?" - -"We finished them last night." - -They had just finished feeding the dogs when a faint "Ha-lo-oo-oo..." -floated through the still air. On a distant ridge the figure of a man -and a dog were silhouetted against the sky. - -"It's Charley and Titan!" the boys yelled in unison. They began to leap -up and down, waving their arms and screaming, "Charley! Over here!" - -Less than a quarter of an hour later, the Indian came plowing up the -hill with Black Titan floundering behind him. They hugged him joyfully -and pounded his back, and even Charley was grinning from ear to ear. He -listened solemnly while they related their harrowing experiences with -the wolves and how they had been trapped in the lean-to. - -Charley had had a pretty bad time of it himself. He admitted that, for -the first time in his life, he had lost his way when he went back to -look for the boys, and had somehow mistaken east for west. Confused and -blinded by the shifting gale winds and whipping snow, he had wandered -off to an adjacent ridge. After walking around for hours, he had become -exhausted--he had been tired out by running twenty-five miles behind the -sled to start with--and erected a lean-to in a clump of thick pine trees -in the sheltered valley. He had built a big fire and had fallen asleep -beside it almost immediately. The next thing he knew, Black Titan was -licking his face and the first streaks of dawn were filtering through -the pine branches overhead. He had been searching for the boys when he -heard the gunshot. - -Using the snowshoes as shovels, the three of them dug the sled out of -the snow bank. The intense heat of the sun softened the hard upper crust -and melted the ice that had formed around the runners. Then Charley -hitched up the dogs and headed for the nearest check point, which was -only a few miles away. - -Their arrival created quite a bit of excitement. "Only one other sled -has come through here," a worried official told them. "The Mounties have -planes and search parties out looking for the others." - -"We saw one of the planes," Sandy said. "He dipped his wings and we -waved to him. So he knew we were all right." - -"Actually, though," the official went on, "the storm looked worse last -night than it was. Those winds were gale force. I don't imagine anyone -was really in serious trouble. They're all experienced woodsmen, -accustomed to roughing it on the trail." - -Jerry hooked his thumbs inside his belt and puffed out his chest. "Sure, -it was a breeze." - -Tagish Charley was more interested in the sled that had passed through -the check point that morning. The official said the other driver had -about one hour's start on them. - -"We catch 'im," Charley said. "Let's go." - -"Hey!" Jerry complained. "What about breakfast? I'm so ravenous, I'm -liable to take a bite out of one of the dogs." - -"No time to eat," the Indian said. "We have to win race." - -"We'll give you some sandwiches and hot coffee to take along," the -official promised. "You can eat on the run." - -Jerry stared wistfully at the platters of flapjacks, juicy Canadian -bacon and hot biscuits on the stove. "If we come out of this alive, I'll -never look at a cold sandwich again," he vowed. - -A short time later, they were racing down the trail. It was a good day, -and by nightfall they had covered another forty-five miles and overtaken -the sled ahead of them. Its driver turned out to be a young uranium -prospector. For five years he and his brother had been competing in the -big race. Two years before, they had come in first and they were hoping -to repeat this year. They were pleasant young men and spent the night -with Charley and the boys at the last check point on the route. - -That night, after a hearty supper, they sat around the fire talking to -Sandy and Jerry. Tagish Charley went to bed as soon as he had the team -fed and settled in the barn. About nine o'clock, another sled arrived at -the check point, and the driver reported that still another team was -camped at the side of the trail about an hour's ride away. - -"This is really going to be a photo finish," one of the brothers said. -He got to his feet and knocked the ash out of his pipe into the -fireplace. "We better sack in, men. There's going to be a mad scramble -to get away first in the morning." - -Sandy and Jerry followed them to the big dormitory bedroom, where a -dozen army cots were set up around a potbellied stove that glowed a dull -cherry-red in the darkness. Charley was already snoring loudly as they -slipped into their bedrolls. - -"Now how are we supposed to get to sleep with that big lug sawing wood?" -Jerry grumbled. "We may as well sit and ... and ... talk ... around ... -the ... fire...." His voice trailed off into a pretty good imitation of -a buzz saw of its own. - - - - - CHAPTER TEN - Down the Chilkoot Chute to Victory - - -It seemed to Sandy that he had just closed his eyes when he felt rough -hands on his shoulders, shaking him. "Time to go," Charley's voice -whispered. - -"What time is it?" he mumbled, raising himself on his elbows. - -"Four o'clock," Charley said. "Other fellers hitching up already." - -Sandy struggled out of his sleeping bag and sat on the edge of the cot, -stretching. It was still dark, but when Charley opened the stove door to -throw on another log, he could see that the cots that the two brothers -had slept on were empty. Yawning, he raised his left foot and kicked the -cot where Jerry was still sleeping soundly. - -"Rise and shine!" he called to his friend. - -They ate a hurried breakfast of hot cereal and scalding coffee, and by -four-thirty they were on the trail again. The cold wind in their faces -and the stinging spray kicked up by the dogs' feet brought them fully -awake before they had gone far. - -When it began to get light, the boys got out of the sled and trotted -along with Charley. They kept it up for a mile or so before Jerry -developed a bad case of rubber legs and went down on his knees. - -"I feel like a dope," he said, as Sandy helped him back into the sled. -"Here we are, a couple of kids, puffing like steam engines, and an old -guy like Charley isn't breathing any harder than if he had run up a -flight of stairs." - -"And we're in pretty good condition from being in school athletics. Can -you imagine how some of the other guys in school would make out?" Sandy -asked. "The guys who hop in the family car to go down to the corner -newsstand and sneak smokes between every class?" - -"Yeah," Jerry agreed ruefully. "The kids in the States are getting soft, -there's no doubt about it." - -"My Uncle Russ always says you should take at least as much pride in -your body as you do in your home. Most people wouldn't live in sloppy, -rundown houses, but a lot of them don't care if they spend their lives -in sloppy, rundown bodies." - -Jerry slapped his middle irritably. "Let me tell you, I'm going to work -on this flab when I get home. Old Charley here has taught me a lesson. -You miss a lot of the fun of life if you're out of shape." - -Sandy kept up with Charley for another mile, then he got back into the -sled. He noticed that the Indian held to a pattern: he would run along -for a half hour or so and then hitch a ride on the sled for ten minutes. -It seemed as if he could go on like that endlessly and tirelessly. - -They stopped at mid-morning to give the dogs a rest and brew some strong -Indian tea. Charley wouldn't drink the coffee in the thermos. "Coffee no -good. You ever see huskies drink coffee?" The boys had to admit that -they never had. "Indian tea like medicine. Make you strong and healthy. -Dogs know." To demonstrate, he poured a little into a tin plate for -Titan, and the big lead dog lapped it up promptly. - -"It sure doesn't look as if we're ever going to catch those guys ahead -of us, Charley," Sandy commented, dropping a handful of snow into his -cup to cool it. - -Charley looked down the trail behind them. "They behind us now. Last -hill we pass, we go around the long way, maybe mile longer. They go -through valley." - -Jerry blinked. "If we came the long way, how come we're ahead of them?" - -The Indian shrugged. "That valley like pocket after big snow. Drifts -three, four feet deep. They have plenty trouble getting through." - -Sandy grinned. "What a sly old fox you are, Charley." - -They were traveling high in the coastal mountains of British Columbia -now, moving through the Chilkoot Pass. Just before noon, they arrived at -a customs check point. - -"You're the first team through," the mounted policeman who waved them -past shouted. - -Abruptly, the trail appeared to end at the edge of a cliff. Charley -reined the team in and motioned for the boys to step to the rim of the -drop-off. Here they saw that, in reality, the trail continued on down a -steep incline that resembled the big drop on a roller coaster. For -almost 1,200 feet it fell away at a 45-degree angle into the coastal -valley below. It was a magnificent spectacle. - -Jerry gulped hard. "We're not going down _that_ in a sled, are we?" - -Tagish Charley nodded curtly. "Chilkoot Chute. We take dogs off first. -They follow us down." He walked back and began to remove Black Titan's -harness. - -Sandy grinned at Jerry. "You ever been on a bobsled?" Jerry shook his -head mutely. "Well, after this it'll be a cinch." - -When the dogs were unhitched, the boys climbed aboard the sled, and -Charley pushed it to the edge of the chute. It teetered briefly, then -nosed down the incline. - -"Alaska next stop!" Sandy yelled as they picked up speed. A rush of air -choked the words off in his mouth, and his stomach rose up in his rib -cage with a sickening sensation that was ten times worse than he had -ever experienced in an elevator. - -Faster and faster the sled shot down the slope, swaying from side to -side, as Charley, riding the tail, shifted his weight skillfully to -steer it. Behind it the dogs skidded and scrambled down the chute, -barking and yelping excitedly. The sled reached the bottom and glided -down the trail almost half a mile before it came to a halt. - -"What a ride!" Jerry exclaimed. - -"We must have skidded halfway to Skagway," Sandy said. He got out of the -sled and looked back at the Chilkoot Chute. "Gee, it doesn't look so bad -from here, but when you're on it, you'd swear it was a perpendicular -wall." - -The dogs finally caught up and Charley hitched them to the sled again. -"We win now easy," he said matter-of-factly. - -As they approached Skagway, they passed cabins, farms and other signs of -civilization. A group of children playing in one yard gave them a lusty -cheer and chased after the sled. Farther along, other children tagged on -to the caravan along with three dogs. - -Then, up ahead on the outskirts of the city, they saw a big crowd of -people. "Finish line," Charley informed them. - -When the sled came into view, a tremendous roar went up and continued -unabated as they shot past a man waving a flag. The next thing Sandy -knew, they were engulfed by a sea of well-wishers, and men were pounding -him on the back so enthusiastically that it took his breath away. At -last he spied his father and Professor Crowell fighting their way -through the throng. - -"Dad!" he called out happily. "We made it." - -Dr. Steele reached the boys and threw an arm around each of them. -"Congratulations! This was quite a race, I hear." - -"Charley is the guy who rates the congratulations," Sandy answered. - -Professor Crowell pounded Tagish Charley on the back ecstatically. "I'm -the proudest and happiest man in the world. I haven't felt like this -since my twin girls were born. Thank you, Charley." - -Charley knelt down and put his arms around Black Titan, who was -accepting praise and pats from all quarters with the dignified reserve -of a true champion. "Dogs win the race. Charley just come along for -ride." - -Later, back at the hotel, after a warm bath and a good supper, the boys -recounted the adventures they had had during the race. - -"Bless my soul," Professor Crowell said to Jerry, "now you really have -an idea of the rigorous life that the sourdoughs led. Does it still -sound appealing to you?" - -Jerry forked the last piece of homemade apple pie from his plate. "I've -come to the conclusion that I'm just a city boy at heart, sir," he -declared emphatically. - -"How was your visit to Fairbanks?" Sandy asked his father. - -"We had a fine time," Dr. Steele said. "I gathered some priceless -material for the pamphlet I'm preparing on the Pleistocene Era." He -smiled. "But promise you won't tell Quiz Taylor, Sandy." - -Sandy laughed. "I know what you mean, Dad. My solemn word, I won't -mention it." - -"What's on the agenda now, Dr. Steele?" Jerry inquired. "Are we going -home?" - -"Not for another few days, Jerry," Dr. Steele said. "The professor and I -want to fly up to Valdez and look over some old mining sites." - -"Where's Valdez?" Jerry asked. - -"The most northerly ice-free port in Alaska. It used to be the shipping -point for copper ore until the Kennecott mines closed down in 1938. We -had planned an exciting outing for you fellows--" he hesitated and -looked wryly at Jerry--"but inasmuch as Jerry says he's a city boy at -heart, well, maybe we'd better forget it." - -"What kind of an outing, Dad?" Sandy asked. - -Dr. Steele lit his pipe and blew a cloud of smoke at the ceiling. "We -won't be using the plane for several days, and we thought you might like -to visit Kodiak Island. One of the instructors from the university will -be spending a week there, hunting bear, and he said you boys would be -welcome to join him." He winked at Sandy. "But I'm not sure your city -friend here would be up to it." - -"That's all right," Sandy said. "Jerry can stay here at the hotel until -we come back." - -"Not on your life!" Jerry snorted. "I want to take one of those -bearskins back to my mom." - -Tagish Charley looked up from his plate solemnly. "Kodiak bear plenty -bad killer. Maybe he take your skin back to his mamma." - -Everyone except Charley laughed. - - -The next morning they boarded the big Norseman plane and headed -northwest up the coast for Valdez. As they flew over the glacier-ribbed -mountains, the boys were awed by the wild beauty of the country beneath -them. - -"It's so primitive," Sandy remarked. "I don't think man will ever tame -it." - -"Yes, he will," Dr. Steele said. "As surely as he tamed the American -West. We just didn't pay much attention to it until after World War -Two." - -"A land of untold riches," Lou Mayer mused. "Gold, copper, silver, coal, -lead, tin, mercury, platinum--Lord knows what else." He looked over -meaningfully at Dr. Steele. - -"Things are certainly moving fast," Dr. Steele went on, a little too -quickly, Sandy thought. "Oh, yes, Son, in another fifty years Alaska -will be as civilized as California." - -"But not nearly so warm," Lou Mayer added. - -Professor Crowell smiled. "I don't know, I like our northern winters. -They make for greater intimacy among families and friends. When the -temperature is fifty below zero and the snow is piled up to your window -sills, there is literally no place like home. You discover that being -together in front of a warm fireplace can be just as enjoyable as -running off to the theater, bridge clubs, night clubs, bowling alleys -and all your so-called civilized diversions. The trouble with so many -young people these days is that they try too hard to have fun." - -Jerry scratched his head thoughtfully. "Professor, you know, you're -right. I can't think of any time in my life when I've had more fun than -I did the Christmas Eve we spent at that little weather station." - -Dr. Steele took out a small wallet calendar and consulted it. "Which -reminds me that tonight is New Year's Eve." - -"Isn't it funny how you keep forgetting about the holidays up here?" -Sandy said. "I guess they see the old year out pretty quietly. Not like -the States." - -Professor Crowell's eyes twinkled through his glasses. "Don't bet on it, -son. Some of the New Year's parties I've been to in the North make your -Stateside celebrations seem like pink teas. In the old days, I remember -some shindigs that went on continuously from Christmas right through New -Year's." He smiled nostalgically. "I wouldn't be surprised if a few of -them were still going on." - -"But we'll be spending our New Year's on Kodiak," Jerry reminded them. -"I was looking at it on the map. It's just a dinky little island." - -"Not so dinky," Dr. Steele said. "It's about a hundred miles long, you -know. And I think you'll find that its citizens have just as much -holiday spirit as the people in the States." - -"Do many people live on Kodiak?" Sandy asked. - -"It's not too heavily populated," Dr. Steele admitted. "Once it was the -center of the Alaskan fur trade. The Russians settled in the town of -Kodiak in 1784, and it wasn't until much later that they moved their -headquarters to the mainland. - -"Nowadays it's hard to make a living on Kodiak. I think the only major -occupation is salmon fishing. There's rich farming land at the south end -of the island, but the natives have always had difficulty raising sheep -and cattle. Too many hungry bears around." - -Jerry squinted down the barrel of an imaginary rifle. "Well, there'll be -a few less after we get there, eh, Sandy boy?" - -Tagish Charley, who had been staring moodily out of the window, turned -his quizzical black eyes on Jerry. "You shoot big as you talk, -everything be fine." - -"I think you better go along and take care of these fellows, Charley," -the professor suggested. - -"That would be great," Sandy said. "How about it?" - -Charley appeared to consider the proposition for a moment, then looked -gravely at Sandy from beneath his black eyebrows. "Charley like to go to -Kodiak. But better not. I stay and look out for professor." - - - - - CHAPTER ELEVEN - Off to Hunt Kodiak Bears - - -At quarter after twelve the Norseman put down on the outskirts of -Cordova, and the three geologists disembarked along with Tagish Charley. - -"You'll be in Kodiak before dark," Dr. Steele told the boys before he -left them. "The pilot will radio ahead so Professor Stern can be on hand -to meet you when you land. Be sure and bring us back a bearskin." - -"We will," Sandy promised. "And we'll see you back here on the third of -January." - -"Goodbye, Doctor," Jerry said. "And Happy New Year." - -"Thank you, Jerry, and the same to you." Dr. Steele winked. "Don't eat -too much _muk-tuk_." - -As soon as the plane was refueled, they took off again. When Jerry began -to nod drowsily, Sandy went up front and sat down in the copilot's seat. - -Russell Parker, the pilot, was a chunky, gray-haired man in his late -forties, a veteran of the World War II Air Corps. "I was stationed in -the Aleutians for four years," he told Sandy. "The place sort of grew on -me. There was this girl in Anchorage, too. Well, as soon as the war was -over we were married, and I decided to settle here permanently. I had no -family ties back in the States, so the transition was easy." He smiled. -"You might say I found a home here." - -"And you've been a bush pilot ever since?" Sandy said. "Boy, that must -be an exciting life." - -"Well, I wouldn't call it exciting exactly. A little romantic -maybe--everything about _Alashka_ is romantic." - -"_Alashka?_" Sandy looked puzzled. "I notice you always say it that -way." - -"It's an ancient Aleutian term. Means the 'big land.'" - -"It's big all right," Sandy said, glancing out of the cockpit window. -Below the plane, twin mountain peaks reached up through the wispy -clouds. Cupped in the valley between them lay a gigantic glacier whose -front was a solid wall of ice ten miles across and as high as a -fifteen-story building. - -"That's why there are plenty of jobs for bush pilots," Parker explained. -"We're like taxi drivers back in the States. To get around in the big -land you have to take giant steps. A quick trip to the city may mean a -hop of a hundred miles or more. You should see Lake Hood on a Saturday -morning in the summer--that's in Anchorage, my home town. Hundreds of -little planes." - -"It looks like a supermarket parking lot," Sandy finished the thought -for him. "Professor Crowell told us." - -"It's worse. More like Times Square in New York." - -"But since so many people up here have their own planes, doesn't it cut -down on your jobs?" Sandy wanted to know. - -"Not really. Most of the amateurs are pretty cautious, as they should -be. They'll only fly in perfect weather, and stick to the safe air -routes. When there's a tough job to be done in a hurry, they call on a -bush pilot. I've carried everything from heavy machinery to medical -supplies. I've been a flying ambulance, too; I don't know how many lives -I've helped to save in the back country." - -"Do you often get assignments like this one?" Sandy asked. - -"I've flown my share of VIPs, but mostly it's a job for military -pilots." - -"You consider my dad and Professor Crowell VIPs?" - -"I got that impression," Parker said guardedly. He was about to add -something else when a burst of static from the radio diverted his -attention. "Tower at Anchorage calling us," he told Sandy, adjusting his -earphones. He listened, then flipped the switch over to transmit. "N-140 -to Anchorage ... Read you clear ... Climbing to 12,000 feet ... Over and -out." He flipped the switch and reported to Sandy. "We're climbing -another 4,000 feet. We're heading into a snow squall off Kodiak, moving -northeast." - -Jerry awoke from his nap and came up front to join them. "You guys -hungry? I'm going to break out the sandwiches." - -Sandy laughed. "Is eating all you ever think about?" - -Jerry flicked Sandy's cowlick with one finger. "Especially when I ride -in airplanes. I have to keep my stomach weighted down so it won't do -flip-flops." - -"Okay, I'll join you," Sandy agreed. "How about you, Mr. Parker?" - -"I'll wait awhile," the pilot declined. "Soon as we level off at 12,000, -I'll set her on automatic pilot." - -The boys walked back to their seats and opened the lunchbox the hotel -had prepared for them that morning. - -"I was just thinking," Jerry said, chewing on a chicken leg, "we haven't -seen anything of those characters who took pot shots at us for a few -days now. Think they've given up?" - -Sandy's brow furrowed in anxiety. "I don't know, Jerry. From what we -know of them, they don't seem to be the kind who give up so easily. -They've been after the professor for months now. Maybe we should have -stayed with them back at Cordova." - -"Aw, what could happen to them in Cordova? Those birds wouldn't try -anything in the middle of a big town like that." - -Sandy nibbled at his sandwich without relish. "I suppose not. But Dad -and the professor are going to be out poking around some old abandoned -mine sites." - -The discussion ended when Parker called back, "I'm ready for that -sandwich now. And a cup of coffee if you don't mind. Black, no sugar." - -"I'll take it up to him," Jerry said. - -It was still bright daylight in the air when they sighted Kodiak, but -the island and the sea around it were shrouded in purple dusk. Lights -began to twinkle on below as they circled the city of Kodiak, losing -altitude. Towering prominently over the other low buildings were a pair -of onion-shaped domes. - -"What's that?" Sandy asked Parker. "They look almost Turkish." - -"The Russian Orthodox church," the pilot said. "Remember, the Russians -founded Kodiak." - -"How did those Russians ever get way over here?" Jerry wanted to know. - -"Boy, are you dumb!" Sandy said. "On the west side only a thin strip of -water separates Alaska from Russia. The Bering Strait is only about -forty miles wide." - -Parker nodded. "In the winter you can cross it on a sled." - -That thought seemed to sober Jerry. - -Parker touched the Norseman down gently on its skis and reversed the -propeller to brake their slide. As they climbed out of the plane, the -figure of a man emerged out of the glare of the landing lights. Clad in -fur trousers, fur hood and fur parka, he looked like an Eskimo. But as -he approached, Sandy could make out a small clipped mustache and rimless -eyeglasses. - -"Welcome to Kodiak," he greeted them. "You must be Dr. Steele's son." He -held out his hand. - -"Yes, sir." Sandy smiled. "I'm Sandy." - -"I'm Kenneth Stern." - -Sandy performed introductions all around. It turned out that Parker and -the young university teacher were friends. "My wife took some courses -with Professor Stern," the pilot explained. - -Stern clapped his fur mittens together. "I have my jeep parked over at -the edge of the field. Let's get back to the lodge. Dora--that's my -wife--has a big bear roast in the oven. I imagine you fellows are pretty -hungry." - -"You go ahead," Parker said. "I want to make sure they put my baby -safely to bed. I'll hitch a ride to your camp." - -"All right, Russ," Stern said. "We'll hold supper for you." - -"What's he got to do?" Jerry inquired as they walked through the crunchy -snow to the jeep, which was almost hidden by the great cloud of smoke -that was pouring out of the exhaust. - -"He wants to make sure the crankcase gets drained," Stern said. "You -really do have to treat machinery as if it were a baby in cold like -this. That's why I left the jeep running. It could freeze up in a few -minutes." - -As they drove through the town of Kodiak, the boys were fascinated by -the atmosphere. The cultures of three centuries and varied races were -blended startlingly but not offensively. - -"It's like being on a Hollywood sound stage where the sets are all mixed -up," Sandy said breathlessly. - -"Mostly, it reminds me of the Old West," Jerry said. "Dodge City. I -almost expect to see Wyatt Earp come striding down the middle of the -street with his hands on his six-guns." - -Professor Stern laughed. "That's an apt description, Jerry. This is the -twentieth-century American frontier in a sense. It's only fitting that -the characteristics of the frontier should predominate." - -The hunting lodge was a sprawling two-story log building about a mile -outside of Kodiak, with a wide porch running around it on three sides. -Lights blazed warmly from its windows as they pulled in the drive and -bumped along to a big barn at the back of the house. - -"Four other teachers and myself own it jointly," Stern explained. "We -bought it about ten years ago as a summer place. The fact is, we've been -using it just as much in the winter as a hunting lodge." - -"Did I understand you to say we were having bear roast for supper, -Professor?" Jerry inquired politely. - -"Yes. You're not squeamish about eating it, are you?" - -"Uh, no!" Jerry assured him. "After some of the things I've been eating -since I came to Alaska, bear sounds like steak to me." - -"It's better," Stern told him. "You wait and see." - -"Did you shoot the bear, sir?" Sandy asked. - -"No, we haven't been out yet. This is a piece of meat we've had in the -freezer since last year." - -Jerry laughed. "You're kidding. What do you need a freezer for up here?" - -"That's where you're wrong, young fellow. It so happens that the old -joke about selling ice-boxes to Eskimos isn't such a joke any more. -During the war, the Army discovered it was a lot more practical to keep -food in freezers than it was to stow it in a shed outside. You see, the -temperature drops to sixty and seventy below zero some nights in this -country. That's about forty to fifty degrees lower than the coldest deep -freeze. At that temperature food takes hours to thaw out. In the -freezer, it keeps just right." - -Jerry shook his head. "Can you beat that! Next thing you know, the Arabs -on the Sahara desert will be turning to steam heat." - -They followed Stern along a path to the back door of the lodge. Mrs. -Stern, a young woman in ski pants and sweater, was in the kitchen -basting the roast when they came in. "Supper will be another hour yet," -she apologized. "I hope you boys can hold out." - -"That's good," Stern said. "Russ Parker will be along later." He turned -to the boys. "Come on inside and meet Chris Hanson and his wife. They'll -be spending a few days with us too." - -"Chris Hanson?" Sandy repeated it thoughtfully. "There used to be an -All-American tackle by that name." - -Stern grinned. "That's our boy. He's an athletic coach at the -university." - -"Say, that's great!" Jerry exclaimed. "Chris was the best." -Self-importantly, he added, "As a matter of fact we have a lot in -common. I expect to make All-American tackle myself some day." - -Sandy smirked and dug his fist playfully into Jerry's midsection. "You -get any fatter, you won't be able to bend down to flip the ball." - -Chris Hanson was a brawny man who made even a six-footer like Sandy -Steele feel like a little boy. He reminded Sandy of the paintings of -fierce Vikings he had seen in grade-school history books, though his -blond hair was a bit thin on top. His wife was a small, thin woman who -sat as close to the fire as possible, despite the fact that she was -bundled up in sweaters. The Hansons were just finishing a game of -Scrabble when the boys arrived. - -"I'm a Georgia girl, you know," Mrs. Hanson said in a marked Southern -accent. "And I don't believe I'll ever get used to this climate." - -"We have a friend who would sympathize with you," Sandy told her. "Lou -Mayer, my father's assistant." - -Chris grinned devilishly. "Oh sure, we met Lou when your dad came up to -Fairbanks. Took him skiing once. I don't think he likes me very much." - -While they waited for supper to be served, the boys coaxed Chris to -reminisce about some of his big gridiron games. Hungry as they were, it -was an unwelcome interruption when Mrs. Stern announced: "Chow's on the -table." - -There were seven people at the table--including Russ Parker, who arrived -just as they were sitting down--and among them they picked an -eight-pound sirloin bear steak clean. - -Jerry swabbed his plate clean with a crust of bread. "That was -delicious, Mrs. Stern." - -"That's an understatement," Sandy said, "considering that you had three -portions." - -"I know I made a hog of myself," Jerry admitted. "But when I bag one of -those big Kodiaks tomorrow, you can fill up your freezer with steaks." - -Mrs. Stern smiled. "That's very thoughtful of you, Jerry." - -Chris Hanson looked amused. "You ever done any hunting before, Jerry?" - -"No, but I'm on the high-school rifle team back home." - -Sandy winked at Chris. "He's the guy they're talking about when they -say, 'He couldn't hit the side of a barn.'" - -Jerry reddened as everyone laughed, and glared at Sandy. "I suppose you -think you're Davy Crockett?" - -"Seriously, though," Professor Stern interjected, "a bear hunt can be -very dangerous. Some of these brutes on Kodiak are virtually -indestructible. And when they're wounded--well, just watch out. There's -an old saying among hunters that you've got to kill a Kodiak with your -first shot, or you never will kill him. I've heard men who have stalked -lions, tigers--all kinds of big game--concede that a Kodiak is the most -fearsome of all beasts." - -"On second thought," Jerry said gravely, "maybe I'll just stay back here -and play Scrabble with the ladies." - -After supper the boys cornered Chris Hanson again and discussed football -and other sports. At ten o'clock, Professor Stern drove Russ Parker into -town. - -"Some of the boys invited me to a party at the airport," Russ explained. -"I hate to run away like this, but my brother-in-law is going to be -there. I haven't seen him in a while. He's in the service, stationed in -the Aleutians." - -"That's perfectly all right," Mrs. Stern said. - -"You don't fool us, Russ," Chris Hanson kidded him. "You just want to -sneak out of that bear hunt tomorrow." - -Parker snorted. "You aren't going to drag me off after any bears. Not -unless I can hunt them from the air." - -"When are we going back to Cordova, Mr. Parker?" Sandy asked him. - -"I figure you can have a couple of days of hunting. The professor -expects us back on the third of January." - -Professor Stern asked the boys whether they wanted to ride into town -with him and see how the Kodiakans celebrated the New Year, but they -declined. - -"We heard they had some pretty wild times up here," Jerry said. "But the -way I feel, the only thing that would look good to me is a soft, warm -bed." - -And by twelve o'clock they were in bed. "I wonder what the gang is doing -back in Valley View," Jerry sighed as they lay in the dark listening to -the sound of foghorns in St. Paul's harbor blending with church bells -and firecrackers in distant Kodiak. - -"You can bet they're not planning to go bear hunting at six in the -morning," Sandy answered sleepily. - - - - - CHAPTER TWELVE - Treed by a Wounded Bear - - -Professor Stern roused the boys at eight o'clock on New Year's morning. -"Put on two suits of long woolen underwear and two pairs of socks," he -instructed them. "We'll probably be out until dark." - -They dressed quickly and went downstairs to the big kitchen, where Chris -Hanson was cooking breakfast. "How'll you have your eggs, fellows?" he -asked. - -"Sunny side up," Sandy answered. "Can we help?" - -"Sure. You can start the toast." - -Sandy took a handful of sliced bread out of the bread box and began -searching through the cupboards. "Where's the toaster?" he asked -finally. - -Chris smiled and pointed to the stove. "Right here. Just butter the -bread lightly and spread the slices out between the lids." - -For the first time, Sandy became aware that the cooking stove was the -old-fashioned, cast iron, wood-burning type; the kind you saw only in -Western movies in the United States. A long tongue of flame and a shower -of sparks shot up into the air as Chris lifted one of the front lids and -set the teakettle over the opening. - -"When we first bought the place," Chris said, "we planned to install one -of those newfangled electric stoves in a year or two. But we got -attached to this old girl. We've never regretted it either. I don't know -how many times the electric power has conked out for days at a time. -Anyway, this cooks better than any gas or electric stove I've ever -seen." - -After they had eaten, they stacked the dishes in the sink and went out -to the garage. Chris Hanson and Professor Stern were armed with .30-.30 -Winchester rifles. Stern said their neighbor down the road had promised -to provide weapons for the boys. They piled into the jeep, which had -been warming up for a half hour, and drove about two miles into the -foothills to the ranch of Vladimir Thorsen, the son of a Russian-Swedish -sourdough who had struck it rich in the gold rush. Thorsen was a short, -rugged-looking man of fifty, with jet-black hair and a Vandyke beard. -His English was precise, with just a trace of an accent. He welcomed the -boys heartily and insisted that the men join him in a last cup of strong -black coffee mixed with brandy. - -"I don't think we will have to look far for our bear," he announced -grimly. "Two nights ago, a big brute came right into the barnyard and -carried off one of my lambs." - -Chris Hanson whistled shrilly between his teeth. "He had his nerve, -didn't he?" - -"A cunning old monster," Thorsen said. "From the size of his footprints, -I would estimate he weighs about 1,400 pounds. He has toes missing on -his two forefeet." - -"He's evidently been in some battles," Stern said. "And won them." - -When the men had finished their coffee, Thorsen escorted them into his -den. The walls were covered with pistols and rifles and the mounted -heads of every kind of big game imaginable. The rancher took down two -big, unwieldy, ancient-looking rifles and handed them to the boys. "Here -are your weapons." - -Sandy and Jerry couldn't help but show their disappointment. "They're -very nice guns, sir." Sandy made an effort to sound appreciative. -"But--what are they?" - -"They look as if they were left over from the Revolutionary War," -Professor Stern said tartly. "What are you trying to pull on these kids, -Thorsen?" - -Thorsen stroked his pointed beard and cast a reproving eye on the -instructor. "You are an American teacher and you don't recognize this -magnificent rifle! It is a Sharpe's buffalo gun, the same kind that your -Buffalo Bill killed 1,800 buffalo with. I'm ashamed of you, Kenneth." - -"It's only single-shot, too," Jerry observed critically. - -"With a gun like that you only need one shot," Thorsen said. "You could -drop an elephant with one shot." He opened a drawer of his desk and took -out a handful of enormous cartridges. "See?" - -Chris Hanson picked one up and hefted it in his palm. "It's a small -artillery shell." He grinned at the boys. "You want to trade? I'd feel -plenty safe facing Mr. Bear with this cannon." - -"No," Jerry answered quickly. "If it was good enough for Buffalo Bill, -it's good enough for me." He picked up one of the long rifles and -balanced it on his shoulder. "Hup-two-three-four...." He staggered -around the room. "Hey, doesn't a weapons carrier come with this thing?" - -The rancher smiled, showing two rows of strong, white teeth. "You are a -very funny fellow," he said. "Maybe the bear will die laughing.... Come, -the horses are already saddled and waiting." - -Jerry's face clouded over. "Horses?" he said. - -"Yes, we may have to go ten or fifteen miles into the hills." He led -them out of the den, through the kitchen and out the back door. - -The boys fell behind as they approached the stables. "Have you ever -ridden a horse before?" Jerry whispered to Sandy. - -"Sure, I'm a fair rider." Realization suddenly dawned in his eyes. -"You've ridden before--haven't you?" - -"Only on the merry-go-round," Jerry said miserably. "But don't say -anything. I don't want to spoil the party." - -"Well ..." Sandy was uncertain. "I suppose we'll be walking the horses -mostly, so you can't get into too much trouble." - -"Sure, we can hang back and you can instruct me in the fine points of -horsemanship." - -An Indian groom brought the horses out of the stable. They were much -sturdier animals than the ones Sandy had rented at any riding -academy--more like cowboy ponies. They wore Western saddles, too. - -"They're all mares," Thorsen explained. "Not too high-spirited and very -manageable. Good mounts for tracking." - -Jerry's eyes were round as he and his horse confronted each other. "This -is the closest I've ever been to one," he confided to Sandy. "I never -realized they were so big." - -"You won't have any trouble," Sandy assured him. "She's a gentle girl." -He stroked the smooth flanks and the muscles rippled beneath the glossy -black coat. "Come on, I'll give you a lift." - -Jerry mounted without difficulty and settled himself comfortably in the -big saddle with his feet planted in the stirrups. "Nothing to it," he -said. - -Sandy grinned. "Nothing to a jet plane either, while it's sitting in the -hangar. Here." He handed Jerry's rifle up to him. - -"What do I do with it?" Jerry demanded. - -Sandy indicated a large leather sheath that was fastened to the right -side of the saddle. "Stick it in the saddle boot." - -They rode out single file, with Thorsen's horse breaking trail through -knee-deep snow across a broad meadow behind the ranch house. A long -split-rail fence ran along the back of the property. Thorsen pointed out -a break in the fence, where the heavy logs lay scattered around like -jackstraws and a six-inch post was snapped off at the base. - -"That's where he came through." - -From the break in the fence a wide path, which looked as if it had been -plowed by a small bulldozer, led up a slope into a grove of spruce -trees. - -"It won't be much of a problem tracking him, will it?" Chris Hanson -said. - -Thorsen shrugged. "It depends. We're protected from the wind in the -valley. Farther up in the mountains, the trail may be covered over by -now. It's been two days." - -Professor Stern swung down off his horse and knelt to examine the bear's -footprints, which had been almost obliterated by blowing snow. He -brushed away some of the fine, white powder with his mitten. Abruptly, -he looked up at the rancher. "Did any one of your hands take a shot at -this fellow?" - -Thorsen frowned. "Certainly not. Why?" - -Stern pointed to faint, rust-colored streaks in the snow between the -imprints of the bear's foot pads. "Looks like blood to me. Probably a -wound, high on the leg, and the blood trickled down between the toes." - -"Maybe he hurt himself when he broke through the fence," Sandy -suggested. - -"That's possible," Stern conceded. He walked back and inspected the -broken logs carefully. Finally, he shook his head. "No sign of blood -here. I'm afraid our bear has been the victim of a careless hunter." - -Thorsen scowled fiercely and muttered something in a guttural foreign -tongue. Then he exploded in English. "I would like to get my hands on -that filthy pig!" - -"I don't get it," Jerry said to Sandy. "What's he so excited about? -That's the whole idea, isn't it, to shoot the bear?" - -"Sure, but once you wound an animal, it's your obligation to finish him -off. That's the first commandment of hunting. First of all, it's cruel -to let an animal suffer. And when you're dealing with big game, it's -downright dangerous. A pain-crazed bear, for instance, can be a menace -to anything that comes anywhere near him." - -"That's right," Chris Hanson agreed. "We're going to have to stay on our -toes from here on." - -Professor Stern swung back into the saddle and they followed the bear's -trail into the woods. There were great, towering ancient pines, -clustered together so that their heavy foliage meshed to form a solid -roof above the forest floor. Only a fine dusting of snow had filtered -through their heavy branches onto the thick carpet of pine needles that -cushioned the earth. The horses' hoofbeats were barely audible as they -picked their way between the trees, which were bare for at least twenty -feet up. - -"It's like being in a cathedral," Sandy said reverently. The voices of -the men ahead sounded embarrassingly loud in the silence beneath the -pines. - -A pine cone skittered out from under the hoof of Jerry's horse and -rattled across the dry needles. Jerry started and almost slipped out of -the saddle. - -"Watch it, boy," Sandy cautioned him. "How is it going, anyway?" - -"I'll be okay, once old Dobbin and I get ourselves co-ordinated. Every -time he goes up, I'm coming down and vice versa." - -Sandy grinned. "You're too tense. Relax and try to imagine you're part -of the horse." - -"I know what part I feel like," Jerry said wryly. - -On the other side of the grove they picked up the bear's trail again. It -headed up a steep, rocky hillside, dotted with patches of scrubby trees -and huge boulders. The horses had slippery footing and they went very -slowly now. - -Thorsen took his rifle out of the saddle boot, levered a shell into the -chamber and rested it across the saddle in front of him. The other men -followed suit. - -Professor Stern turned and smiled reassuringly at the boys. "Don't be -alarmed. It just doesn't pay to take any chances. I've heard of these -wily old bears doubling back on their trail and setting up an ambush for -unwary hunters." - -Jerry swallowed hard and cast a nervous glance back over his shoulder. -"Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to bring up the rear." His horse -skidded unexpectedly on a mound of loose stones and Jerry clutched it -frantically around the neck with both arms, burying his face in the -thick mane. When the horse had steadied itself again, he straightened up -and settled himself gingerly in the saddle. - -He touched one hand to the seat of his pants and moaned. "How can one -part of you feel so hot when the rest of you is so cold?" - -Sandy was sympathetic. "Yeah, I feel for you, pal. That old saddle gets -pretty hard after a while. And this is a rough way to get initiated to -horseback riding to begin with." - -They rode on for another half hour until they came to a shallow ravine -with a dense growth of white birch trees and underbrush. Thorsen studied -the steep rocky slopes of the ravine carefully. Except for a light -dusting of snow they were wind-blown clean, as was the rocky shelf on -the other side. - -"I can't see any sign of a trail. For all we know, he may be hiding down -there in those trees," he said. - -Professor Stern nodded in agreement. "It's possible. I'd hate to run -into a Kodiak in those close quarters. What do we do now?" - -"We play it completely safe," Thorsen replied. "Some of us can ride -around the ravine--it's no more than a quarter of a mile to the -north--and see if we can pick up his trail on the other side. If we do, -we can assume he's not waiting to pounce on us in the ravine. Those who -remain here can safely ride across directly." - -"Why don't we all ride around together?" Chris wanted to know. "What's -the point of leaving anyone here?" - -Thorsen stroked his silky beard. "Because if Mr. Bear _is_ hiding in the -ravine, we have him trapped. One group can flush him out into the guns -of the other group." - -"That seems sound," Stern acknowledged. "Which of us will stay here?" - -"Jerry and I will," Sandy volunteered. "Both of us are pretty tired, and -it'll give us a chance to rest." - -"All right," Stern said. "Better make sure your guns are ready for -action in case that bear surprises you." - -As the three men rode off along the edge of the ravine, the boys -dismounted and tethered their horses to a bare, crooked sapling. Sandy -sat down on a boulder with his buffalo gun across his knees, but Jerry -remained standing. - -"I may never sit down again," he told Sandy. - -Soon the three men passed out of sight where the ravine curved back -behind a ridge, and the boys turned their attention to the birch trees -below them. - -"Think our bear is down there?" Sandy asked. - -"Naw, I bet he's miles away from here by now." - -The words were scarcely out of Jerry's mouth when the sound of a rock -clattering down the far side of the ravine jerked their eyes upward. -Standing beside a big boulder on the rocky shelf facing them was the -biggest bear they had ever seen in their lives. His long, shaggy fur was -tipped with silver, and on his underside it almost brushed the ground. -The monster seemed oblivious of their presence. - -"I don't think he sees us," Sandy whispered to Jerry. "They have very -poor eyesight. And we're upwind of him so he can't smell us." - -But the horses caught the scent of the bear and began to whinny and -stamp their hoofs in terror. The big Kodiak's ears went up and he lifted -his head, probing the air with his sensitive snout. Slowly he reared up -on his hind legs. - -Jerry couldn't restrain a gasp of astonishment and wonder. "Wow! Will -you look at the size of him! He must be ten feet tall if he's an inch." - -When the bear stood erect, Sandy could see a red, matted spot on his -left shoulder. "Someone shot him all right," he said. He pressed his -lips firmly together and lifted the big rifle to his shoulder. "Well, -here goes." Then he added, "You take a bead on him too, Jerry, in case I -miss." - -"I'm so jittery, I don't think I _could_ hit the side of a barn," Jerry -answered breathlessly. Nevertheless, he brought up his rifle. - -"It's an easy shot," Sandy told him. "Only about forty yards. I'll try -for a head shot. You aim just below the left shoulder. And take off your -mittens, idiot." - -Sandy squinted down the long barrel, fixing the sight on a spot directly -between the bear's eyes. Very gently he squeezed the trigger. There was -a tremendous explosion and a numbing blow against his shoulder that sent -him somersaulting backward off the boulder. He lay there stunned for an -instant. Then Jerry grabbed the front of his parka and pulled him to his -feet. - -"What a recoil," Sandy mumbled. - -"Forget the recoil!" Jerry was hopping up and down in excitement. "You -got him! Look! One-shot Steele, that's you. Bet you could have made a -chump out of Buffalo Bill." - -Sandy focused his bleary eyes across the ravine. The Kodiak was just a -big mound of motionless fur sprawled out on the ground. - -"Come on!" Jerry pulled at Sandy's arm. "Let's hurry over there so we -can make like big-game hunters when those other guys show up." Using his -rifle as a staff, he started down the slope into the ravine. - -Sandy caught up to him at the bottom and grabbed the rifle away from -him. "Don't ever do anything like that again!" he snapped. "You dope! -You might have blown your head off--or at least your hand. This is a -loaded gun. You've got to have respect for it. Never point it at -yourself or anyone else." - -Jerry flushed and dropped his eyes. "Yeah, you're right. It was a dopey -thing to do. I'm so crazy excited I forgot." - -"Okay." Sandy handed the rifle back to him and they crashed through the -brush and brambles that grew among the trunks of the birches. Scrambling -up the far slope, Sandy was aware of a heavy weight banging against his -right hip. He slipped his hand into his pocket on that side and touched -the cold metal grip of the Colt automatic. He had forgotten about it -when he packed the heavy parka away after the sled race. - -He had just withdrawn his hand from his pocket when Jerry, who was in -the lead, reached the top of the ravine. As his eyes cleared the rim, he -stopped short and let out a wild yell. Then the bear lumbered into full -view, looming over Jerry like a cat over a very small mouse. The -monster's red-rimmed eyes blazed with hatred and Sandy could see pink -foam gleaming on the long, bared fangs. It came to him as an incredible -shock that here they were face to face with the most dangerous living -thing in all the world--a wounded, pain-crazed Kodiak bear. - -"Jerry! The gun! Shoot!" Sandy spat the words out jerkily. - -Obeying mechanically, Jerry swung the long barrel up and fired in the -same motion. The slug plowed harmlessly between the bear's legs, kicking -up dirt and gravel. But it turned out to be a lifesaving shot. Caught -off balance, Jerry was kicked off his feet by the booming recoil and -went tumbling head over heels down the steep grade. At the same time -Sandy drew out the big .45 pistol and cocked it. Then, as the bear -dropped to all fours, with the obvious intention of attacking, Sandy -fired at its hairy throat. The Army Colt .45-caliber packs a tremendous -wallop. At such close range, it knocked the giant Kodiak back on its -haunches. - -Sandy pumped the last bullet into the bear's midsection, then turned and -ran down the slope. Jerry was just getting to his feet when he reached -the bottom of the ravine. "Find a tall tree and climb it," Sandy yelled. -"Come on!" - -Together they stumbled into the woods. Sandy remembered that on their -way over they had passed one gnarled birch with a trunk as big around as -a man's waist. In the manner of so many trees of this species, it had -branched out into three thick, sturdy limbs at a height of about four -feet. Without breaking his stride, Sandy leaped up, planted one foot in -the crotch and clawed and shinnied his way up through the branches. He -kept climbing until the limb began to bend beneath his weight. Then, -with his heart fluttering like a frightened bird, he looked down, half -expecting to see his friend in the embrace of the great bear. There was -no trace of either Jerry or the Kodiak. - -"Here I am," Jerry's voice rang out, so startlingly close that Sandy -almost lost his hold on the branch. The sight of Jerry swaying back and -forth on an adjacent limb at least five feet above him, arms and legs -wrapped tightly around it like a monkey, made him weak with relief. In -spite of their precarious position, he had to smile. - -Jerry was appalled. "He's hysterical. Stark, raving mad," he cried. -"Sandy! Snap out of it." - -"I'm fine," Sandy said. "It's just that I didn't expect to see you up -there." - -"Where did you think I'd be? Back there, Indian-wrestling with old -Smokey so you could escape?" - -"I don't know how you got up there so fast. I didn't even see you pass -me." - -"Brother," Jerry said huffily, "if you had been as close to that critter -as I was you'd be back in Valley View by now." - -As yet there was still no sign of the bear on the ground below them. -Sandy searched the rocky shelf where they had encountered him, but it -was empty. The clatter of horses' hoofs drew his attention back to the -side of the ravine they had come from. Professor Stern and the other two -men came galloping into view and reined in their horses. - -"Here, in the tree!" Sandy hailed them. "We're up in the tree." - -Stern's face reflected his relief--and not a little amazement. "What on -earth are you doing in a tree? And what were those shots we heard?" - -"We shot the bear. Then he came to life again and chased us up here." -Sensing the professor's understandable confusion, he grinned. "I guess -that sounds pretty wild, doesn't it?" - -"Indeed it does," Stern admitted. "But never mind that. Where is the -bear now?" - -"I don't know." - -Thorsen and Chris Hanson were already starting down into the ravine, -rifles ported for action. Stem dismounted and followed them. Cautiously -the men made their way through the trees. Before they reached the far -side of the ravine the boys lost sight of them. - -After several minutes of complete silence, Sandy began to get anxious. - -"Maybe that old bear was hiding behind a tree," Jerry suggested, "and -clobbered each one of them as they went by him, like the Indians used to -do." - -Finally they heard Stern's voice calling to them. "You guys can come -down now." - -Sandy was puzzled. "That's funny. I guess the bear got away after all." -He slid hurriedly to the ground. - -When they emerged from the birch grove, both boys stopped dead. Sandy -shut his eyes tight, opened them, shut them, and opened them again. He -couldn't believe what he saw. The three men were standing at the bottom -of the slope, all flashing broad grins. At their feet was the -mountainous carcass of the bear. - -"You--you sure he's dead?" Sandy stammered. - -"Yeah," Jerry said. "He's a tricky one." - -Thorsen jabbed his toe into the shaggy body. "Quite dead, I assure you, -my young friends." - -"We had just reached the end of the ravine when we heard the shots," -Professor Stern said. "Now tell us what happened." - -Both talking at once, the boys recited the story of their escapade with -the big Kodiak. - -"You remember that old movie _King Kong_, where the girl first sees this -giant gorilla?" Jerry asked. "Well, that's how I felt when this thing -came at me. Oh broth-er!" He shuddered. - -Sandy took out the black Colt pistol. "And this is what saved our -lives." - -Thorsen took it from him and examined it admiringly. "A true gem. Do you -know how this gun was developed? During the Philippine Insurrection, -American troops were being demoralized by fierce Moro tribesmen, savage -warriors who carried wicked bolo knives. The Moros would pop up out of -the jungle without warning and attack the soldiers at such close -quarters that it was impossible for them to use their rifles. And the -Moros were so physically powerful that the average pistol couldn't stop -them. Even with a half dozen bullets in them, they could decapitate an -enemy with their bolos before they died. The Army Colt .45 was designed -especially to stop them. And it did the job well--with one slug." - -"It certainly stopped this monster," said Chris Hanson. - -"But it was a very lucky shot," Professor Stern tempered his praise. -"The first shot you fired with the rifle creased his skull and stunned -him. He was probably still whoozy when you ran into him, or you might -not have had a chance to get in a second shot. Your last shot severed -the jugular vein. It was a very lucky shot," he emphasized. - -"You don't have to convince me, Professor," Sandy said soberly. "As of -now I am a retired bear hunter." - - - - - CHAPTER THIRTEEN - The Ghost Mine - - -Two days later the Sterns and the Hansons came down to the airstrip to -see the boys off. Professor Stern promised to send the bearskin to -Valley View as soon as it was cured. "It will make a nice trophy to -spread out in front of your fireplace," he told Sandy. - -"I think I'll donate it to our local boys' club," Sandy said. - -"And every time a new fellow joins up, he'll have an excuse to tell what -a big hero he is," Jerry joked. - -Sandy laughed. "I bet I looked like a big hero up in that tree all -right." - -Russ Parker appeared in the doorway of the plane. "All revved up and -ready to go. You fellows set?" - -The boys said their last goodbyes and climbed into the cabin. - -Mrs. Stern waved and yelled, "Thanks again for refilling my freezer." - -"We'll eat it up the next time we come," Jerry said. - -Parker slammed the door and bolted it, then went forward to the cockpit. -"Fasten your safety belts," he ordered. The little plane took off -smoothly and climbed over the bay. Through the window next to him, Sandy -caught a last glimpse of the twin domes of the Russian church and the -ancient sea wall with its great iron rings where the fur traders used to -tie up their ships. The sun sparkled on the blue water and glinted -briefly off the metal oil tanks of the U.S. naval base far across the -bay. Parker leveled off at 10,000 feet and set a northeast course. - -Sandy unbuckled his seat belt and went up front to the cockpit. "How -long will it take to fly to Cordova?" he inquired. - -"With this tail wind no more than two hours," Parker said. "We should be -landing a little after ten. Your dad and the professor want to fly back -to Juneau this afternoon." - -Sandy nodded. "From there we're taking a commercial airline back to -Seattle." - -Parker put the ship on automatic pilot and turned sideways in the seat. -"Not driving back down the highway?" - -"No. Professor Crowell decided the trip was too rugged in the winter. -He's leaving his dogs up here until spring. Anyway, Jerry and I have to -get back to school, so we were planning to fly back in any case." - -Listening to the conversation with one ear, Jerry looked up from the -book he was reading. "Hey, Sandy, back in Valley View the guys are just -steeling themselves for a session with Miss Remson in English Four. -Isn't that great? And here we are three thousand miles away and two -miles in the air. Think we're safe from her?" - -"Sure," Sandy said. "And Miss Remson would probably be just as glad if -you stayed that far away from her." - -Parker pointed out a range of mountains just visible on the northwest -horizon. "Too bad you don't have time to visit the Valley of Ten -Thousand Smokes." - -"That's an interesting name. What is it?" - -"Before Mount Katmai erupted in 1912 it was a fertile farm region. Then -the whole top of the mountain blew off--two cubic miles of rock -vaporized into thin air. One hundred miles away in Kodiak they had to -shovel the dust and ashes off the roof tops." - -Sandy whistled. "That's as bad as having an H-bomb drop in your back -yard." - -"Maybe worse," Parker said grimly. "Then the entire floor of the valley -erupted into little fumaroles, or volcanic potholes, that spewed out -molten sand. Thousands of them. That's where they got the name Ten -Thousand Smokes. Today there are only seven of them that are still -active, but the valley is a desert wasteland." - -Sandy squinted through the windshield, imagining he could see a thin -ribbon of smoke rising from one of the peaks. "What happened to old -Mount Katmai? Is it still active?" - -"Well, the experts think it's still boiling way down inside. There's a -big lake in the crater now, but it never freezes. I've heard it's warm -enough to swim in." - -Jerry, who had come forward to listen to the story, was wonderstruck. -"Why, I bet you could land a plane on the lake and find out," he said. - -"It's a thought," Parker agreed, not too enthusiastically. "Maybe some -day I'll try it." - -For the remainder of the trip, he captivated the boys with other tales -about the big land, and almost before they knew it they were approaching -Cordova. The traffic was light and the tower gave them immediate -clearance to land. - -A quarter of an hour after the plane touched down, they were on their -way to town in the auto of a radio technician who was going off duty. -Russ Parker remained at the field to give the Norseman a thorough -inspection before the afternoon flight to Juneau. "We'll take off about -one, I guess," he told them as they were leaving. - -The considerate radio man dropped them off in front of the old-fashioned -hotel where Dr. Steele had said they would be staying. The clerk at the -desk informed them that the geologists were still registered, but that -he had not seen them since the previous morning. - -"Are you certain they didn't come back when you were off duty?" Sandy -asked him. - -"Positive," the clerk declared. "The chambermaid said their beds haven't -been slept in." - -Sandy looked at Jerry helplessly. "Well, I guess we'll just have to wait -for them." - -The clerk gave them a passkey to one of the two adjoining rooms occupied -by Dr. Steele and his party. When they entered the room, the boys were -surprised to see that the geologists hadn't even started to pack. -Clothing, books and toilet articles were scattered everywhere. - -Jerry looked at his wrist watch. "We're never going to take off for -Juneau at one o'clock at this rate. It's after eleven now. Are you sure -you didn't get the days mixed up, Sandy? Maybe your father wasn't -expecting us until tomorrow." - -A little seed of fear began to grow inside of Sandy. "No, he said the -third. Professor Crowell told Russ he wanted to fly to Juneau today, -too. I can't understand it, Jerry. If Dad didn't expect to be here when -we got back from Kodiak, he would have left word for us. Anyway, they -couldn't have been planning to make any overnight trips. They didn't -take razors, toothbrushes or anything; my dad shaves every morning even -when he's on a fishing trip miles from civilization. I don't like it, -Jerry." - -Jerry's face turned pale under its perpetual tan. "Sandy, you don't -think those enemy agents...?" He left the sentence unfinished. - -Before Sandy could reply, the telephone on the stand between the twin -beds jangled harshly. The boys looked at each other hopefully. - -"Maybe that's Dad calling." Sandy threw himself across one of the beds -and picked up the receiver eagerly. But it was Russ Parker phoning from -the airfield. - -"I don't think it's anything to worry about," Parker said, "but I just -found out that your dad and his friends chartered a plane yesterday -morning to fly out to McCarthy. That's an old ghost town near the -abandoned Kennecott copper mine. When they didn't show back last night, -the authorities figured they had been forced down somewhere with engine -trouble. Search planes have been combing the area all morning, but -there's no sign of the plane, crashed or otherwise." - -"What do you think we should do, Russ?" Sandy asked in a tight voice. - -"I dunno. I sort of thought we might fly out that way ourselves and have -a look." - -"That's a good idea, Russ. Jerry and I will be out as soon as we can -hitch a ride. Thanks for calling." He slammed down the receiver and -related the latest development to Jerry. Minutes later they were on -their way. - - -As they swooped low across the small ghost town of McCarthy, Parker -banked the plane sharply and indicated the unblemished expanses of white -around the town. "No one has set down here since before the last snow," -he said. - -"Is there anywhere else they might have landed?" Sandy asked. - -"Maybe up at the mine proper. We'll fly up that way and have a look." - -"Imagine having a ghost town up here," Jerry marveled. "I thought they -were exclusive to the old American West. It's kind of spooky, everyone -packing up and leaving a place. Almost as if it was haunted." - -"Ghost towns are haunted in a sense," Sandy said. "By poverty and -hunger. They're towns that build up around mines and have no other -livelihood. If the mines close down they're doomed." - -"Any community that puts all its eggs in one basket runs the risk of -becoming a ghost town," Parker put in. - -"Why did the Kennecott mine shut down?" Sandy asked curiously. - -"The ore just ran out," Parker said. "Here we are now." - -Below them Sandy saw a sprawling shedlike structure that seemed to be -hanging on the side of a hill. "That's the main building," Parker said. -"See those long wires that look like trolley cables? They used to send -the ore down from the shafts by cable car. Then it was loaded on trains -and shipped to Cordova to be put on ships." - -On a level plateau below the Kennecott mine, they spotted the long twin -ski marks of a plane. There were two sets, one set almost parallel to -the other. - -"No doubt about it," Parker said. "A plane landed here recently. And it -took off again." He brought the Norseman's nose up and began climbing. - -"But if they took off again, where _did_ they go?" Sandy was sick with -fear. The idea of his father lying badly injured--or worse--in the -wreckage of a crashed plane terrified him. "If--if they had cracked up, -the search planes would have found them by now, wouldn't they?" - -Parker chewed thoughtfully on his underlip. "I would think so. Unless -they wandered outlandishly far off course. But there isn't any reason -why they should have. The last two days and nights have been perfect for -flying." Ominously, he added, "But we can't discount that possibility -altogether. There's so much territory to cover even with an air search -that a small plane might be missed. In Canada they insist that private -planes follow well-traveled routes like the Alaska Highway instead of -flying the beam, for that very reason. If you have to make a forced -landing, there's a better chance you'll be found promptly." - -"Listen," Sandy implored the pilot, "let's land here and look around. -Maybe we'll find a clue or something to show where they went." - -Parker shrugged. "Sure, if it'll make you feel any better. But if they -were here, they definitely took off again." - -Parker landed the Norseman smoothly, cutting across the ski tracks of -the other plane. He taxied to the far end of the clearing, turning her -about in position for a take-off, then cut the engines. The plane -settled heavily in the snow. - -"Looks pretty deep out there," Parker estimated. "We better dig out -snowshoes from the baggage compartment." - -They had landed about a quarter of a mile away from the main building of -the mine, and because of the boys' inexperience on snowshoes it was a -slow walk. - -"I feel just like a duck," Jerry grumbled as he brought up the rear, -flopping along in the clumsy, webbed footgear. "Overgrown tennis -rackets, that's all they are." - -"You're not supposed to try and walk the way you do in shoes," Sandy -instructed him. "You just shuffle along." - -At last they stood beneath the big ramshackle structure. It _was_ -spooky, Sandy had to admit to himself, just as Jerry said. Once this -building had been the nerve center of a booming industry, buzzing with -activity and life. Now it stood on the hillside, gaunt, decaying and -silent. Before many more years it would become a rickety skeleton. - -He shuddered as Parker led them up on the moldy loading platform and -into the tomblike dampness of the shed. "We can go on up to the main -building through here. There are stairs right inside." They passed -through a doorway into a room illuminated only by the slivers of -daylight that penetrated the cracked boards. - -Suddenly, Russ Parker did an about-face and began talking. "Well, here -we are." Only he seemed to be talking to someone in back of them. - -Sandy whirled quickly and saw that the doorway was blocked by a huge man -wearing a stocking cap and a plaid mackinaw. His face was hidden in -shadow. But the big Lger pistol in his right hand was very plain to -see. - - - - - CHAPTER FOURTEEN - The Plot Revealed - - -In his other hand the stranger carried a square electric lantern. He -turned the powerful beam on Sandy and Jerry. "Did you have any trouble -with them, Parker?" - -"Not a bit," Parker said. "The Steele boy suggested himself that we land -here. And of course there was no trouble at all persuading him to fly -out here with me." - -The boys looked from Parker to the other man in bewilderment. "Russ," -Sandy pleaded, "tell us what's going on. Who is this guy?" He turned on -the stranger belligerently. "Do you know where my father is?" - -"My name is Kruger," the man snapped. "And, yes, I do know where your -father is. Now, turn around and march up those stairs." He waved the -pistol at them threateningly. - -As the boys started up the stairs, the men fell behind and lowered their -voices. "How do you like that!" Jerry declared. "Russ Parker is in with -these characters." - -"I can hardly believe it," Sandy said miserably. "Anyhow, at least I -know Dad is okay--so far," he amended. - -"No conversation, please," Kruger ordered sharply. - -"Parker, you sneak," Sandy said bitterly, "you won't get away with this. -The authorities know my dad and his friends are missing. And when we -don't show back at the airfield there'll be even more search planes -combing this area." - -The pilot began to laugh. "No one knows your father and the others are -missing. No one at all. By now the hotel has received a telegram from -Skagway saying that Professor Crowell and his party returned there on -urgent business and that someone will pick up their luggage and pay -their hotel bill." - -Sandy was confused. "But--but what about the people at the airport? You -said there were search planes out looking for the missing plane." - -"There is no missing plane. Yesterday morning four men rented a plane. -Last evening the plane returned--with four men. There was another crew -on duty at the airport. They couldn't suspect that the passengers were -four _different_ men." - -Kruger seemed to enjoy the boys' discomfort. "By the time the American -authorities discover that any of you are missing you will be well out of -reach in Siberia." - -"Across that narrow stretch of water we were talking about," Parker -taunted them. "The Bering Strait." - -The man with the gun took them through a series of tunnels that slanted -up steeply through the mountainside. The ascent was severe, and every -ten minutes or so they would stop to rest. When they emerged into the -open again, Sandy saw that they were at the site of the main diggings. -The terrain was pockmarked with shafts and tunnels. Rusty train tracks -disappeared into the gloomy mine tunnels, and abandoned dump cars tilted -up through the snow drifts about the entrances. Far below, the main -building of the Kennecott mine squatted at the foot of the mountain; -from this perspective it reminded Sandy of a miniature cardboard house -sitting on a floor of cotton beneath a Christmas tree. They followed a -path around a bend to the mouth of a huge tunnel. To one side of it a -flaking, rusted cable car rocked gently from a metal cable that was -equally rusted. It scraped and screeched monotonously at the slightest -gust of wind. - -"In here," Kruger ordered. "This was one of the main shafts of the -mine." - -They walked along the rail ties back about one hundred yards, where a -rectangle of yellow light splashed into the corridor from a doorway in -one wall of the tunnel. Kruger motioned them through the doorway into a -big chamber that evidently had served as a locker room for the miners. -Rotting wooden benches and tin lockers cluttered up the room, many of -them overturned, all of them sagging. A large gasoline lantern burned on -a long wooden table in the middle of the room. On either side of the -table sat a strange man with a rifle across his knees. Across the table, -seated all in a row on a bench, their hands and feet tied, were Dr. -Steele, Professor Crowell, Lou Mayer and Tagish Charley. - -"Dad!" Sandy burst out. "Am I glad to see you! Are you okay?" - -Dr. Steele managed a strained smile. "I'm all right, Son. We all are. -But I can't say I'm glad to see you boys." He turned to one of the men -with the rifles. "Did you have to drag them into it, Strak? They're only -boys. They don't even know what this is all about." - -The man he addressed, a short, intense fellow who moved with the quick, -nervous motions of a squirrel, stood up and walked toward the new -arrivals. He stopped in front of Sandy and stroked his prominent -clean-shaven chin. - -"So this is your son, Dr. Steele? A fine-looking lad." He spoke careful, -formal English. "I, too, regret that he and the other youth had to -become involved. But we couldn't take any chances. They would have -notified the police that you were missing and...." - -"Don't be a fool!" Professor Crowell snapped. "The police will discover -our absence soon enough." - -Strak smiled patiently. "I disagree. Secrecy has been the keynote of -your project. Only a few people in both your governments--high -officials--know your real purpose in coming to Alaska. By the time they -discover you are missing, we will all be safely out of the country." - -"Of course, Dr. Steele, you could spare your son and his friend a lot of -unnecessary hardship by co-operating with us," Kruger said. "Just the -answer to one simple question...." - -"You're wasting your time," Dr. Steele said flatly. - -"Have it your own way." Strak sighed wearily. "You will tell us, you -know. That is certain. Today, tomorrow, next week or six months from -now. We can wait." - -Kruger pushed the boys toward the bench where the other hostages were -seated. "Parker, help me tie these two up." - -When the boys were securely bound, Strak motioned Parker to follow him. -"Come, Parker. Let us go outside. We have a few things to discuss in -private." - -"You want Malik and me to stay here and guard the prisoners?" Kruger -asked. - -Strak hesitated a moment, then shook his head. "No, come along. You -should all hear this." He glanced at the prisoners. "I don't think -they'll get loose." He smiled. "And even if they did, where would they -go? We'll be up at the entrance--the only entrance." - -The four men left the room and their footsteps echoed off down the -tunnel. In the dim light of the lantern Dr. Steele's face was drawn and -pale. - -"I'll never forgive myself, getting you boys mixed up in this," he said. -"Once I knew they were on to us, that we hadn't deceived them into -thinking this was an innocent geological expedition, I should have sent -you back to California on the first plane." - -"Don't blame yourself, Dad," Sandy said quietly. "I wouldn't have left -you, knowing that you were in some kind of serious trouble." - -"That goes for me too, sir," Jerry backed him up. - -"What I don't understand," Sandy said, "is how they caught you." - -"We walked right into their hands," Professor Crowell explained. "Parker -knew we were coming up to the Kennecott mine and tipped them off. They -flew up ahead of us, hid their plane in the trees and covered up the ski -tracks. When we arrived they were waiting for us." - -"A whole gang of them," Lou Mayer put in. "Seven of them, armed to the -teeth. Four of them took our plane back to Cordova so the people at the -airport wouldn't report us missing." - -"I know," Sandy said grimly. "They took care of the hotel too. By the -time the authorities get suspicious it will be too late. The one called -Kruger says we'll be in Russia by then." - -Dr. Steele and Professor Crowell looked at each other hopelessly. -"Unless we tell them what they want to know," Dr. Steele said. - -Sandy's eyes were puzzled. "Just what are they after? I guess you can -tell us now." - -Dr. Steele smiled wanly. "I guess we can." He paused before he went on. -"Although he's better known as a geologist, Professor Crowell is one of -Canada's leading physicists. During World War Two he was assigned to -rocket research work for the Canadian Army and continued to specialize -in this field after the war. - -"About six months ago an old Yukon prospector submitted an ore sample to -a government assay office at Whitehorse. He said he had been prospecting -on the Alaskan border and struck what he believed was a vein of gold. An -analysis of the sample revealed traces of copper, but no gold. But much -more important, it revealed strains of a rare element that the Canadian -government was testing as a catalytic agent in top-secret experiments -with a new solid rocket fuel. - -"For years now rocket experts have acknowledged that solid fuels are -more practical than liquid propellants--even more so for the big manned -rocket ships of the future. The trouble is, up until now the solid fuels -haven't been too dependable. Professor Crowell believes this new element -will solve the most serious drawbacks, but unhappily it's about as rare -as uranium. During the past few months there have been teams out -searching for it all over the Dominion, without much success. - -"Then, unexpectedly, this old prospector shows up with an ore sample -laced liberally with it. The assay office at Whitehorse dispatched it to -Ottawa immediately and Professor Crowell was consulted. It was his -opinion that they were on to something big. A special agent flew up to -Whitehorse to interview the prospector, but tragically--any way you look -at it--the poor old man had passed away from pneumonia only a few days -before the agent arrived. - -"Now the big problem was to find out where the dead man had picked up -the ore. All kinds of soil and rock analyses were made on it without any -specific results. It was the professor's guess that it came from -somewhere in the vicinity of the Kennecott copper mine. There was copper -in the sample, of course, and the old miner had mentioned vaguely at the -assay office that he had discovered it somewhere 'on the border.' A -layman couldn't be expected to know exactly where the border lies; -actually, he may have wandered well into Alaska. - -"In any case, the Canadian government conferred with Washington, and it -was decided to send a joint team up to Alaska composed of Professor -Crowell, Lou Mayer and myself." He glanced toward the doorway and added -sourly, "We didn't count on it ending up a three-nation team." - -"How did they find out?" Sandy wanted to know. - -Dr. Steele shrugged. "They have the most efficient espionage system in -the world. That we have to give them credit for." - -Sandy pursed his lips solemnly. "But they still don't know what the -element is?" - -"Or how it's employed in the manufacture of the rocket fuel," Professor -Crowell declared emphatically. "I'm the only one who can tell them that. -And I'll die first." - -"Watch it," Jerry cautioned. "I think I hear them coming back." - -The sound of approaching footsteps reverberated hollowly through the -mine. Strak appeared in the doorway alone. "Kruger and Malik have gone -down the mountain to help Parker clear a runway," he told them. "We'll -be taking off with a heavy load." - -Sandy made a quick mental count. "That plane will never get off the -ground with ten of us." - -Strak smiled. "I agree. But there are only seven of us who will be -making the trip." - -"What do you mean?" Dr. Steele demanded. - -"Just that you and your son and Professor Crowell are the only ones who -have any real value to us. The rest will remain here." - -Dr. Steele was shocked. "You can't intend to leave them tied up in this -mine? They'll starve to death or die of exposure." - -Strak shrugged. "That's a risk we will have to take. Perhaps in time -they may be able to get loose. Perhaps they will make it back to -civilization. Who can tell? The Indian seems to be a resourceful -woodsman." He walked over and stood in front of Tagish Charley. "Tell -me, Doctor, he _is_ alive, isn't he?" - -Tagish Charley's face betrayed no trace of emotion. He had not spoken a -word since the boys' arrival. All the while he had sat stiffly on the -bench, hands behind him, eyes staring fixedly at the rock wall in front -of him--as detached as any cigar-store Indian could be, or so it seemed -to Sandy. - -In sudden irritation Strak bent close to Charley, flashing his electric -torch into his face. "You insolent Indian dog! You can speak, can't -you?" - -Then, for the first time, Charley showed some sign of life. Slowly he -lifted his eyes to Strak's face and said solemnly, "Charley too busy to -talk--until _now_!" As he shouted the last word, his two powerful arms -whipped free from behind him and wrapped around his tormentor. - -Strak tried desperately to bring up his rifle, but he was helpless in -Charley's grizzly-bear hug. The air whistled out of his lungs like a -wheezing bellows, and there was the distinct snap of a rib cracking. He -moaned softly and fainted. Charley let him drop to the floor. - -"Atta boy, Charley!" Jerry said exultantly. - -They all winced as the Indian held up his hands in the light. His wrists -were raw and bleeding from rubbing at the rope. "Big spike in bench -where I sit. Slow work, but at end I saw rope through." He bent over -Strak and removed a hunting knife from the man's belt. Quickly he cut -through the ropes that bound his own ankles. Then he went along the -bench freeing the others. - -"Come on!" Dr. Steele said, grabbing up Strak's rifle from the ground. -"No time to lose. The others will be coming back soon." He led the way -out of the room and down the tunnel to the entrance. - -At the foot of the mountain beyond the abandoned mine building, they -could see the plane sitting like a toy in the snow. The three enemy -agents were bustling around it, mere specks at this distance. - -"They're still working on the runway," Sandy observed. - -"What do we do when they come back?" Jerry asked. - -Lou Mayer indicated the rifle the doctor was holding. "We have one gun. -We can make a fight of it at least." - -Dr. Steele was not enthusiastic. "All three of them are armed. I'm -afraid it wouldn't be much of a fight." His voice was grim. "Some of us -would be hurt--or killed." - -"Why couldn't we rush down the hill when we see them start up?" -Professor Crowell suggested. "They'd be inside, coming up through the -shafts. By the time they got up here, we'd have quite a head start on -them. If we get to that plane--" - -Dr. Steele shook his head. "We'd never stand a chance without snowshoes, -and they're all down at the mine shed. They'd have a field day picking -us off with their rifles while we flounder through those hip-deep drifts -on the mountain." - -"Then we've got no choice," Lou Mayer said gloomily. "We've got to make -a stand here." - -"Wait a minute!" Sandy cried out, the bud of a wild inspiration forming -in his mind. "Is there any chance _that_ thing still works?" The others -followed his gaze upward to the old cable car creaking and rocking to -the right of the entrance. - -The professor sighed. "I'm afraid not. These cable cars were operated by -power machinery down at the depot." - -"I know," Sandy said. "But we'd be coasting downhill." - -There was a gleam of interest in Dr. Steele's eyes. "That sounds -logical. What do you say we have a look at it, Son? But keep down. We -don't want Kruger and the others to spot us against the snow." - -They slunk out of the shadow of the mine entrance, darting quickly -behind the cover of the cable car. Dr. Steele climbed into the open cab -and squinted up at the rigging. "Looks to me as if the only thing that's -restraining it is that safety lock," he said. - -Sandy disagreed. "What about the pulley cable? That must be anchored in -the shed below. She won't roll unless that's free." - -Dr. Steele studied the arrangement of rollers and cables more closely. -"You're right," he admitted. He pointed to the steel hook-eye at the -back of the car where the pulley cable was attached. "The wire is pretty -frayed back here. Possibly we could hack through it. I saw an old ax -back in the cave." - -"It's sure worth a try," Sandy said. "How do you think that overhead -cable will hold up when we start rolling downhill?" - -"I'd say it's in pretty good condition. They put a good coating of -grease on all the machinery before they shut the mine down. They must -have hoped to use it again, or possibly to sell it." - -Professor Crowell's voice rang out urgently from the tunnel entrance. -"Hurry up! Kruger and the others are starting back." - -Dr. Steele pulled Sandy down out of sight in the car. "We'll stay here -until they enter the shed." He called over to Tagish Charley, "Charley, -duck back into the mine and get a couple of those picks that are lying -around." - -Peering over the rim of the cable car, Sandy watched the three men make -their way on snowshoes back to the mine. As soon as they had disappeared -into the shed, Dr. Steele shouted for the others. "Come on, we've got to -work fast. Charley, over here with those picks, quickly!" - -Lou Mayer, Professor Crowell and Jerry scrambled aboard the car while -Dr. Steele gave instructions to Tagish Charley. "You work on the -hook-eye and pulley, Charley. I'll knock out the safety lock. The rest -of you just pray." - -One solid blow tripped the safety lock, and the car moved forward about -a foot until the taut cable stopped it. The cable itself was more of a -problem. Sandy had the uncomfortable sensation that his leaping heart -was trying to squirm out of his throat and escape from his body. - -The tension was unbearable as Charley pounded away at the pulley with -strong rhythmic strokes of the ax. At first it seemed impervious to the -dull blade. Then, with relief, Sandy saw one strand snap with a musical -twang. Charley swung harder, encouraged by this success, and another -strand broke. Each strand that let go put additional stress on the -remaining strands, making Charley's task a little easier. The last two -snapped together with a loud report. - -The car shuddered and began to roll forward slowly. There was the -nerve-shattering screech of metal against metal as the overhead rollers -and the main cable protested violently at being used so rudely after -twenty-one years of inactivity. Snow, rust and metal shavings cascaded -down on the car's occupants as it picked up momentum. - -The boys let go with a tremendous cheer and Professor Crowell and Dr. -Steele shook hands solemnly. Sandy glanced behind them at the rapidly -diminishing tunnel entrance, but as yet there was no sign of Kruger and -the other two enemy agents. - -Fortunately the pitting of the cable and the rust and stiffness of the -rollers reduced their acceleration sufficiently so that they crashed -into the bumpers at the foot of the incline with only a moderate jolt. -The cable car split the rotting wood on the bumper's face, but the -springs behind it cushioned the jolt. - -Sandy extricated himself from the mass of scrambled limbs gingerly. -"Everybody okay? No broken bones?" - -There was a chorus of relieved okays. - -Dr. Steele climbed out into the snow. "All right. Into the shed and on -with those snowshoes." Apprehensively, he looked up the mountain, but -the enemy agents still had not appeared. - -As Sandy strapped on the great clumsy snowshoes, he made a suggestion. -"Let's take the other four pairs with us. That will slow them up even -more if they try to follow us." - -"Good idea," Tagish Charley grunted. "But I got better one." He picked -up the ax he had carried with him from the cable car and began to attack -the surplus snowshoes furiously. When he had demolished them, he -straightened up and, to everyone's amazement, grinned broadly. "They no -go very far now." - -They were halfway to the plane when a distant gunshot came to them -faintly through the thin, dry air. Turning, Sandy could make out three -ant-like specks on the mountainside near the tunnel where they had been -held prisoner. - -"They've discovered we're gone," he said. - -"And they're shooting at us," Jerry commented nervously. - -"We're not in much danger at this range," Professor Crowell assured -them. "Without telescopic sights, it would take a mighty lucky shot to -hit anyone." - -Nevertheless, they were all greatly relieved when they were seated -snugly in the cabin of the plane and Professor Crowell had the motors -gunning smoothly. "Those fellows did a mighty fine job on this runway," -the professor said charitably. He advanced the throttle and the ship -glided ahead smoothly. They cleared the trees at the far end of the -clearing with plenty of room to spare and climbed in a sweeping curve -that took them over the mountain. Far below on the snowy slope they -could see the frustrated agents hopping about and shaking their fists in -the air. - - - - - CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Final Victory - - -"They've caught the entire gang!" Dr. Steele reported excitedly as he -burst into the boys' hotel room at Cordova a little after eight the next -morning. - -Sandy sat up and massaged the sleep from his eyes. "No kidding, Dad. -When?" - -"Army Intelligence moved in on Strak, Parker and the other two at dawn. -They gave up without a fight. Seems they put in a pretty rough night. -Strak was in bad shape, thanks to Charley, but he'll live to stand trial -for espionage." - -"What about the rest of the gang?" - -"The local police arrested them as they were trying to board a freighter -at Valdez. It's a clean sweep." - -"Wow!" Jerry was awake now, his eyes as big and shiny as tin plates. -"That's what I call action." Grinning, he added, "We sure could have -used a little bit of that kind of action yesterday. Where were all the -cops and G-men then?" - -"In an operation like this one," Dr. Steele explained, "they had to stay -way out on the fringes until the last moment. That was a risk we knew -we'd have to take from the start if we hoped to spring a trap on this -gang of ruthless saboteurs. If we had an army of bodyguards dogging our -footsteps, they never would have been lured in." - -"Lured in?" Sandy was perplexed. "You mean we were sort of decoys for -the spies?" - -"In a way," Dr. Steele admitted. "I couldn't tell you that, even -yesterday. But now it's officially okay to let you in on it." - -"But what about the rocket fuel Professor Crowell was working on? I -thought we came up to look for some rare element." - -"That of course was our primary reason for coming to Alaska. And of -course we'll continue to search for Element X. But when the enemy agents -began to hound us so persistently, we saw an opportunity to make a -double killing." - -Jerry stretched. "Only we came awful close to being the ones who were -killed." - -"We had a narrow scrape," Dr. Steele agreed. "It was ingenious of them -to take back the plane to Cordova after they ambushed us at the mine. -Our people were holding back, of course, and it really threw them off -the trail. As far as they knew, we had checked back into the city and -then disappeared into thin air. With a bit more luck the gang might have -smuggled us out of the country." - -Jerry laughed. "Hey, Sandy, can you see us going to school in Siberia?" - -"Frankly, no," Sandy told him. "You have enough trouble with English." - -Dr. Steele broke in with "That reminds me. We have to think of getting -you boys back to Valley View. You don't want to miss too much more -school." - -"Speak for yourself, Doctor," Jerry crowed. "How can you expect us to go -back and associate with little school kids after battling Yukon -blizzards, Kodiak bears and spies? It's positively undignified." - -Dr. Steele smiled tolerantly. "Don't feel that way, Jerry. Remember, -adventure and excitement may be just around the corner, whether you're -in Alaska or California." - -"Yeah, that's right," Jerry said thoughtfully. Then he added, with a -gleam in his eye, "Besides, it'll be great to come up with our story -when Pepper March starts spouting about that cruise he was supposed to -take. Boy, will _his_ eyes pop! And you know what? We might even be able -to stump Quiz Taylor. Wouldn't that be something? Okay, Valley View, -here we come! How about it, Sandy?" - -Sandy stretched blissfully. "I'm ready. In fact, I'm way ahead of you. -How about next summer?" - - - SANDY STEELE ADVENTURES - - 1. BLACK TREASURE - -Sandy Steele and Quiz spend an action-filled summer in the oil fields of -the Southwest. In their search for oil and uranium, they unmask a -dangerous masquerader. - - 2. DANGER AT MORMON CROSSING - -On a hunting trip in the Lost River section of Idaho, Sandy and Mike -ride the rapids, bag a mountain lion, and stumble onto the answer to a -hundred-year-old mystery. - - 3. STORMY VOYAGE - -Sandy and Jerry James ship as deck hands on one of the "long boats" of -the Great Lakes. They are plunged into a series of adventures and find -themselves involved in a treacherous plot. - - 4. FIRE AT RED LAKE - -Sandy and his friends pitch in to fight a forest fire in Minnesota. Only -they and Sandy's uncle know that there is an unexploded A-bomb in the -area to add to the danger. - - 5. SECRET MISSION TO ALASKA - -A pleasant Christmas trip turns into a startling adventure. Sandy and -Jerry participate in a perilous dog-sled race, encounter a wounded bear, -and are taken as hostages by a ruthless enemy. - - 6. TROUBLED WATERS - -When Sandy and Jerry mistakenly sail off in a stranger's sloop instead -of their own, they land in a sea of trouble. Their attempts to -outmaneuver a desperate crew are intertwined with fascinating sailing -lore. - - PUBLISHED BY SIMON AND SCHUSTER - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Secret Mission to Alaska, by Roger Barlow - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SECRET MISSION TO ALASKA *** - -***** This file should be named 50320-8.txt or 50320-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/3/2/50320/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } - .toc dt span.lj { text-align:left; display:block; float:left; } - .toc dt.jr { font-style:normal; } - .toc dt a span.cn, .toc dt span.cn, dt span.cn { width:3.5em; text-align:right; margin-right:.7em; float:left; } - dt .large {font-weight:bold; } - div.bcat dl dd { margin-left:4em; max-width:21em; } - div.bcat dl dt { text-indent:-2em; margin-left:2em; } - -.clear { clear:both; } -.htab { margin-left:8em; } - /* MAXWIDTH FOR JUVENILE BOOKS */ - p, blockquote, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre { text-align:justify; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre.internal dl { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p.csmaller { max-width:38em; } - p.csmallest { max-width:40em; } - blockquote { max-width:23em; } - - - div.verse { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:23em; } -/* book advertisements */ - p.bkad {font-size:125%; font-weight:bold; margin-top:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p.bkpr {font-size:90%; } - p.bkrv { } - dl.blist dt { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } - dl.blist, dl.biblio { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } -</style> -</head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Secret Mission to Alaska, by Roger Barlow - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Secret Mission to Alaska - Sandy Steele Adventures #5 - -Author: Roger Barlow - -Release Date: October 26, 2015 [EBook #50320] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SECRET MISSION TO ALASKA *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="img"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Secret Mission to Alaska" width="500" height="776" /> -</div> -<p class="center">SANDY STEELE ADVENTURES</p> -<p class="center"><span class="sc">Black Treasure</span> -<br /><span class="sc">Danger at Mormon Crossing</span> -<br /><span class="sc">Stormy Voyage</span> -<br /><span class="sc">Fire at Red Lake</span> -<br /><span class="sc">Secret Mission to Alaska</span> -<br /><span class="sc">Troubled Waters</span></p> -<div class="box"> -<h1>Sandy Steele Adventures<br /> -<br /><i>SECRET MISSION -<br />TO -<br />ALASKA</i></h1> -<p class="tbcenter">BY ROGER BARLOW</p> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="small">SIMON AND SCHUSTER</span> -<br /><i>New York, 1959</i></p> -</div> -<p class="csmaller">ALL RIGHTS RESERVED -<br />INCLUDING THE RIGHT OF REPRODUCTION -<br />IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN ANY FORM -<br />COPYRIGHT © 1959 BY SIMON AND SCHUSTER, INC. -<br />PUBLISHED BY SIMON AND SCHUSTER, INC. -<br />ROCKEFELLER CENTER, 630 FIFTH AVENUE -<br />NEW YORK 20, N. Y.</p> -<p class="csmaller">FIRST PRINTING</p> -<p class="csmaller">LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 59-13882 -<br />MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA -<br />BY H. WOLFF BOOK MFG. CO., INC., NEW YORK</p> -<h2 class="toc">CONTENTS</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt class="jr"><span class="jl"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span></span> <span class="small">PAGE</span></dt> -<dt><span class="cn">1 </span><a href="#c1">Off to Alaska</a> 9</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">2 </span><a href="#c2">A Hint of Trouble</a> 14</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">3 </span><a href="#c3">A Mysterious Intruder</a> 26</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">4 </span><a href="#c4">Charley Works Out the Huskies</a> 37</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">5 </span><a href="#c5">Christmas in the Wilderness</a> 49</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">6 </span><a href="#c6">Attack from the Air</a> 59</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">7 </span><a href="#c7">The Big Race</a> 66</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">8 </span><a href="#c8">Lost in a Blizzard</a> 80</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">9 </span><a href="#c9">Trapped in an Icy Tomb</a> 98</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">10 </span><a href="#c10">Down the Chilkoot Chute to Victory</a> 109</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">11 </span><a href="#c11">Off to Hunt Kodiak Bears</a> 121</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">12 </span><a href="#c12">Treed by a Wounded Bear</a> 135</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">13 </span><a href="#c13">The Ghost Mine</a> 156</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">14 </span><a href="#c14">The Plot Revealed</a> 167</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">15 </span><a href="#c15">Final Victory</a> 185</dt> -</dl> -<div class="img" id="pic1"> -<img src="images/pic1.jpg" alt="Secret Mission to Alaska" width="600" height="851" /> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div> -<h2 id="c1"><span class="small">CHAPTER ONE</span> -<br />Off to Alaska</h2> -<p>Sandy Steele twisted his lanky six-foot frame in -the cramped airplane seat, stretching his long legs -out in the aisle. Yawning, he glanced out of the -small, round window beside him. Although it was -daylight now, the ground was completely hidden -by a layer of dense clouds that stretched away to -the horizon on all sides like fluffy marshmallow -topping. The sound of the motors was a dull, monotonous -throbbing in his ears.</p> -<p>Sandy leaned forward and ruffled the black -crew cut that was just visible over the top of the -seat ahead of him. “Hey, Jerry, you awake?”</p> -<p>“Yeah,” a voice mumbled sleepily, “I’m awake. -Are we going to land yet?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div> -<p>“I don’t know.” Sandy looked across the aisle -at his father, who was just lighting his pipe. “How -about it, Dad?”</p> -<p>Dr. John Steele studied his watch thoughtfully. -“Oh, I’d say about another half hour.”</p> -<p>The steward, an army corporal, walked back -from the forward compartment with a tray of -paper cups. “Coffee, anyone?”</p> -<p>The steaming-hot black liquid cleared the cobwebs -out of Sandy’s head, and he began to look -forward with excited anticipation to their arrival -in Canada.</p> -<p>“Will Professor Crowell meet us at the airport?” -he asked his father.</p> -<p>Dr. Steele nodded. “Yes. Then we’ll drive back -to his place and pick up his dog team.”</p> -<p>Jerry James’s granite-jawed face appeared over -the back of the seat as he knelt, facing Sandy. -“What’s this about dogs?”</p> -<p>“Berkley Crowell breeds sled dogs as a hobby,” -Dr. Steele explained. “Eskimo huskies. He’s taking -his prize team up to Alaska to compete in the annual -race from Whitehorse to Skagway.”</p> -<p>“Hey, that sounds like fun,” Jerry said.</p> -<p>“As a matter of fact,” the doctor went on, “that -will be one of your major jobs on this expedition. -You boys will drive the truck with the dogs and -help the professor with their care and feeding.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_11">11</div> -<p>Dr. Steele turned his attention back to his book -as Sandy and Jerry got into a conversation with -the young corporal who had served the coffee.</p> -<p>“Both you fellows from California?” the corporal -asked. “Whereabouts?”</p> -<p>“Valley View,” Sandy told him. “That’s near -San Diego, but more inland.”</p> -<p>“I have a cousin in the Navy,” the corporal said. -“He was stationed at San Diego. Nice country.” -He grinned. “You guys are going to find the climate -of Alaska a lot different than California.”</p> -<p>Jerry shivered. “You’re telling us!”</p> -<p>“You go to school in Valley View?” the corporal -asked.</p> -<p>“High school,” Sandy told him. “We’re both -juniors.”</p> -<p>“How long are you going to be in Alaska?”</p> -<p>“About three weeks, I guess. It’s the Christmas -vacation, and my dad got our principal to let us -take an extra week on account of the educational -value of this expedition we’re going on.”</p> -<p>The corporal looked interested. “What kind of -an expedition is it?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div> -<p>“My dad is a United States government geologist,” -Sandy explained. “This expedition is part -of a long-range Canadian-American project to -chart glacial movements during the Ice Age. We’ll -be collecting soil, rock and ore samples on our -way through western Canada and Alaska.”</p> -<p>“Sounds like fun,” the corporal said. “You’ll -get a kick out of Alaska. It’s a great place. I’ve -flown up there a couple of times.”</p> -<p>“What’s our forty-ninth state like, anyway?” -Jerry asked curiously. “We bought it from the Indians -for twenty-four dollars, didn’t we?”</p> -<p>Sandy and the corporal laughed. “That was -Manhattan Island, you dope!” Sandy said. “We -bought Alaska from the Russians for about -$7,000,000.”</p> -<p>“It’s twice as big as Texas,” the corporal told -them, “but the population is only a little over -200,000. And most of these people have only been -there since the end of World War Two.”</p> -<p>“I guess we never would have realized just how -valuable Alaska is if the Japanese hadn’t tried to -attack us across the Aleutian Islands,” Sandy said.</p> -<p>At that moment, a buzzer sounded and the -green light at the front of the cabin began to -flash. “Oh-oh,” the corporal said. “Looks like -we’re getting ready to land. Fasten your seat belts, -folks.” He turned and hurried forward.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> -<p>Dr. Steele stood up and removed his mackinaw -from the overhead rack. As he did so, a big, black, -ominous-looking .45 Colt automatic slipped out of -one of the pockets and crashed to the floor.</p> -<p>The boys’ eyes widened and Sandy blurted out -in shocked surprise, “Where did you get that, -Dad?”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele retrieved the gun hastily and stuck -it back into his pocket. “Oh—er—something a -friend advised me to bring with me. In case we -get a chance to do any hunting,” he added.</p> -<p>Sandy frowned. “Hunting with an <i>automatic</i>! -That’s crazy, Dad. Wouldn’t a rifle have been -more practical?”</p> -<p>A thin smile spread the doctor’s lips. “I suppose -you’re right. I should have consulted you before -I got it.”</p> -<p>“Just where <i>did</i> you get it, Dad?” Sandy asked -suspiciously. “The Colt .45 automatic is an official -U.S. Army sidearm.”</p> -<p>There was just the faintest trace of irritation in -Dr. Steele’s voice when he answered. “All these -questions! You’re beginning to sound like your -Aunt Vivian.... Look, we had better fasten our -safety belts. We’re going to land.”</p> -<p>“Sure, Dad, sure,” Sandy said. There was something -uncommonly mysterious about his father’s -behavior, and it worried him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div> -<h2 id="c2"><span class="small">CHAPTER TWO</span> -<br />A Hint of Trouble</h2> -<p>The big U.S. army transport touched down at -the R.C.A.F. military airstrip at Fort St. John, -British Columbia, shortly after dawn on December -23. Dr. Steele and his party were groggy after -spending a restless night of fitful slumber on the -hard, uncomfortable canvas seats that were slung -along the walls of the plane’s huge, drafty cabin. -But the first bite of the dry-ice bitter air of the -Canadian winter snapped them wide-awake and -alert.</p> -<p>“Wow!” Jerry exclaimed, bundled up like a -bear in his hooded parka. “It must be at least one -thousand degrees below zero.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> -<p>Dr. Steele smiled. “You think this is cold? Just -wait until we get farther up north.”</p> -<p>Lou Mayer, Dr. Steele’s assistant, groaned. -“When does the next plane leave for California?” -He broke into a fit of uncontrollable shudders. A -dark, mild-mannered young man in his late -twenties, Lou had been born in Texas and spent -half of his life in Southern California. He consequently -had little tolerance for the cold.</p> -<p>Sandy grinned superciliously. “You guys should -have been smart like me. I wore my long red -flannels.”</p> -<p>“That’s a good point,” Dr. Steele said. “In this -country, proper clothing is essential to survival. -It’s as vital as sufficient food and drink. You must -start conditioning yourselves to think about it.”</p> -<p>Abruptly, they all became aware that Jerry was -staring with hypnotic fixity toward the edge of the -landing field.</p> -<p>“Hey!” Sandy asked. “What gives with you? -What are you looking at?”</p> -<p>Jerry’s eyes were glazed. Dumbly he raised one -arm and pointed at the mountains of snow banked -at the sides of the field. Finally he managed to -mumble, “Snow. That’s snow?”</p> -<p>“Of course it is. You act as if you never saw it -before.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> -<p>Jerry nodded, wide-eyed. “I never did.”</p> -<p>Sandy and the two men broke out laughing. -“Well, this is an occasion,” Dr. Steele said. “I -promise you you will have your fill of it before -we’re through with this trip.”</p> -<p>Jerry was flabbergasted. “I’ve seen pictures of it, -but I just never realized there could be so much -of it in one place. Man! That one drift must be -twenty feet high. Can you imagine waking up -some morning in Valley View and finding that in -your front yard, Sandy?”</p> -<p>“Well, I haven’t seen too much of it,” Sandy -admitted. “But I’ve been up to the Northwest -with Dad a few times.”</p> -<p>At that moment a jeep screeched to a stop -nearby, its exhaust spewing out smoke like a -chimney. The corporal at the wheel leaned out -and yelled to them. “Dr. Steele here?” After the -geologist identified himself, the corporal told them -to pile into the jeep. “There’s a gent waiting for -you at headquarters. A detail will be right out to -unload your baggage.”</p> -<p>“How do you keep these runways free of ice?” -Dr. Steele shouted to the driver above the loud, -rowdy roar of the little jeep motor.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> -<p>“Sweep ’em with giant vacuum cleaners regularly,” -the corporal replied. “When it gets really -rough we melt the ice with flame throwers.”</p> -<p class="tb">Professor Berkley Crowell was waiting for them -close by the glowing steel-drum coal stove that -reinforced the electric heaters in the big quonset-hut -headquarters. “You can’t beat the old-fashioned -way,” he said with a smile, toasting his fingers -in the shimmering heat waves that radiated -from the top of the steel drum.</p> -<p>The professor was a slight, stooped, very British-looking -man in his middle fifties. He had a thin -weatherbeaten face, a sharp nose and a close-cropped -mustache. His deep-set blue eyes were -warm and full of good humor.</p> -<p>“Well,” he said, upon being introduced to -Sandy and Jerry, “I understand that you boys will -be helping me with my dog team.”</p> -<p>“We’ll do the best we can, sir,” Sandy told him.</p> -<p>“They won’t give you too much trouble,” the -professor said. “Titan—that’s my lead dog—he -practically runs the whole show himself. Possesses -human intelligence, that animal.”</p> -<p>“When do we get to see them?” Jerry asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_18">18</div> -<p>“As soon as we get back to my ranch. I’m situated -about ten miles down the Alaska Highway, -toward Dawson Creek. That’s the southern terminus -of the highway.”</p> -<p>When they had finished the steaming mugs of -hot coffee served up by the flying officers’ mess, -Professor Crowell and his party climbed aboard -the big station wagon parked in the drive and -drove away from the air base.</p> -<p>The Alaska Highway was a broad, smooth, -gravel-topped road hewed through some of the -thickest forests and most rugged terrain on the -North American continent. Now the gravel was -topped by a thick crust of snow.</p> -<p>“A miracle of our century,” Professor Crowell -explained as they drove. “Built in just eight -months by your amazing U.S. Army engineers in -1943, when the Japanese forces were threatening -the Aleutian Island chain. It was a lifesaving -artery to Alaska and a vital chain to our western -air bases. Sixteen hundred and seventy-one miles. -Just imagine!”</p> -<p>An auto filled with shouting children whizzed -past them, traveling in the opposite direction. It -was weighted down with valises and bundles -strapped to the roof and fenders.</p> -<p>“Where are they going?” Jerry inquired.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> -<p>“Pioneer settlers for your glorious forty-ninth -state,” Professor Crowell answered. “There’s a -steady stream of them. Did you know that the -population of Alaska has tripled since World War -Two?”</p> -<p>“It sort of gives you goose pimples,” Sandy said. -“It’s almost as if you turned back the clock a -hundred years.”</p> -<p>“The last frontier of the United States,” Dr. -Steele remarked. “On this planet, at least.”</p> -<p>“When will we be leaving, Professor Crowell?” -Lou Mayer asked.</p> -<p>The professor glanced down at his wrist watch. -“It’s eight o’clock now. I estimate we’ll be on -our way shortly after noon. I want you fellows to -get a hot meal into you first. Then we’ll load the -truck and station wagon.” He looked around at -Dr. Steele. “We’ll pick up your equipment at -Fort St. John on the way back.”</p> -<p>Jerry was fascinated by the high banks of snow -on the shoulders of the road. “Boy, I wonder how -they keep this thing open. Back in the States we’re -always reading about whole towns being cut off -by a measly two feet of snow.”</p> -<p>“Even big cities like New York,” Sandy chimed -in.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div> -<p>The professor smiled. “That’s because cities like -New York aren’t prepared for heavy snowfalls. Up -here, we expect it. Why, I bet a little village like -Dawson Creek has more snow equipment than -most big cities on the eastern seaboard of the -United States. Along the Alaska Highway, for instance, -there are one hundred and twenty-five -weather stations alone, and almost as many maintenance -stations. No, you stand a better chance of -getting marooned on the Pennsylvania Turnpike -than you do on this road.”</p> -<p>Professor Crowell’s ranch house was located on -a cutoff about a quarter of a mile from the main -highway. It was a sprawling frame building with -a large barn at the back of the property and completely -surrounded by a thick spruce forest.</p> -<p>The professor, a widower, had twin daughters, -Judy and Jill, who kept house for him. Their -domestic efficiency made them seem older than -their seventeen years. The girls were blond and -blue-eyed and very pretty, and Jerry couldn’t look -at them without stammering and blushing. It was -obvious he was smitten with the twins.</p> -<p>The Crowell household also included a middle-aged -French couple, the Duprés; Henri took care -of the livestock and his wife, Marie, did the cooking. -Then there was Tagish Charley, who took -care of the kennels.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> -<p>Tagish Charley was a full-blooded Indian. He -stood 6′ 4″ tall, weighed 230 pounds and was as -lithe as a panther. His hair was the flat black -color of charcoal, and his skin was the texture -of ancient parchment. Charley could have been -any age, from 40 to 400. He spoke English well -enough, when he spoke, which was very seldom; -and he said what he had to say in as few words as -possible.</p> -<p>“Charley is economical with his money and his -speech,” Professor Crowell said when he introduced -him to his guests. “He’s as stoic as a cigar-store -Indian.”</p> -<p>Sandy and Jerry hit it off with Charley from the -start. While the geologists went over the last-minute -details of their trip in the professor’s study, -Charley took the boys out to the kennel at one -side of the barn. A dozen husky dogs were frolicking -in the snow inside a wire enclosure. As soon as -they saw Charley they all rushed over to the gate -and piled up in a seething mass of yelping, snarling, -twisting fur, leaping up against the chain link -fence and falling back on top of each other. It was -a wild melee.</p> -<p>“Wow!” Jerry exclaimed. “They look as if -they’d eat you alive.”</p> -<p>The Indian grunted. “No hurt. They want to -play.”</p> -<p>Jerry looked dubious. “I bet they play rough.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div> -<p>The Eskimo dogs were handsome animals. In -reality they weren’t particularly large; probably -they weighed about 75 to 80 pounds and stood 18 -inches high at the shoulder; but with their broad -chests, thick necks and massive heads they looked -enormous. Their great thick coats varied in color -from black-and-white to slate-gray, solidly and in -combinations of all three. They had powerful -wolflike muzzles, sharp ears and slanting eyes.</p> -<p>Tagish Charley opened the gate and motioned -the boys to follow him into the pen. The dogs -barked and leaped around the Indian, nipping -his trousers and mittens playfully. They ignored -the boys. There was one exception. Standing off -to one side was a big, solid-black husky with a -white mask across his eyes and upper muzzle. By -far the largest dog of the lot—Sandy estimated his -weight to be at least 100 pounds—he seemed to -regard the antics of his fellows with regal aloofness. -Finally his eyes turned solemnly on the boys -and he started toward them.</p> -<p>“Charley!” Jerry yelled, grabbing Sandy’s arm -nervously. “He’s charging us.”</p> -<p>Sandy laughed. “Go on, you sissy. His tail is -wagging. That means he wants to be friends.”</p> -<p>“You know that, and I know that,” said Jerry, -edging backward, “but does <i>he</i> know that?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div> -<p>“That Black Titan,” Charley said. “Lead dog. -Best husky in all the North.”</p> -<p>As the big dog nuzzled against his leg, Sandy -leaned down and stroked his broad, glossy head. -“Nice feller. Good boy.... Hey, where did you -get that lump on your skull, Titan?”</p> -<p>“He save professor’s life,” Charley declared -without emotion. “Bad man hit him on head -with club.”</p> -<p>“Bad man! When?” the boys exclaimed in a -chorus.</p> -<p>“Five, six nights back. Titan hear prowler. -Jump over fence. Man open window, climb into -professor’s room, choke professor. Titan jump -through window, save him.”</p> -<p>“What happened to the burglar? Did they catch -him?” Sandy asked excitedly.</p> -<p>“No. He club Titan, dive through window into -snow. Get away with dog team.”</p> -<p>“Gee,” Jerry said. “Even up here they got characters -like that. Only instead of a getaway car, -they use dog sleds.”</p> -<p>“Did he get away with anything valuable?” -Sandy asked.</p> -<p>The Indian’s brown face seemed to grow even -darker. “He no come to rob money.”</p> -<p>“What do you mean?” Sandy asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div> -<p>Charley shrugged. “Many strange things happen -here this year. Professor sleep with gun under his -pillow.”</p> -<p>Sandy and Jerry exchanged wondering looks. -“Now who’d be out to get a nice old geezer like -the professor?” Jerry wanted to know.</p> -<p>Sandy was thoughtful. “I don’t know, Jerry. I -don’t know. But I have a feeling we’re going to -find a lot more excitement on this trip than we -bargained for.”</p> -<p>“I agree with you,” a terse female voice said -from behind them.</p> -<p>Surprised, Sandy whirled around to find Judy -Crowell standing in the open gateway. Bundled -up in ski pants, mackinaw and high boots, she -might have been a boy, except for the mass of -golden hair sticking out in tufts from beneath her -wool cap.</p> -<p>“Charley’s right,” she said. “A lot of strange -things have been happening around here during -the last few months. Ever since Dad spent a week -in Ottawa this fall, he’s been a different man. -He’s lost weight. He can’t sleep or eat. And—” -she shivered—“he always carries a pistol with him. -He’s afraid of something—or someone. But when -Jill and I ask him, he just laughs and says we’ve -been seeing too many American motion pictures.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> -<p>Sandy felt cold prickles creep up his back. “It’s -funny. My dad brought along a gun with him -too.”</p> -<p>Jerry whistled. “What’s it all mean, Sandy?”</p> -<p>“I don’t know, pal. But I don’t like it.”</p> -<p>Still surrounded by his ring of canine admirers, -Tagish Charley addressed Judy Crowell. “You no -worry about your papa, Miss Judy. Charley take -good care of him. Bad fellers come around, me -break ’em up like firewood.” He made a twisting -motion in the air with his two huge fists.</p> -<p>For some reason Sandy felt relieved. “I didn’t -know you were coming with us, Charley.”</p> -<p>Charley’s serious, expressionless face altered -for a fleeting instant in a suggestion of a smile. “I -just decide now.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div> -<h2 id="c3"><span class="small">CHAPTER THREE</span> -<br />A Mysterious Intruder</h2> -<p>The little caravan headed north on the Alaska -Highway about 12:20 <span class="sc">P.M.</span> Professor Crowell, Dr. -Steele and Lou Mayer led the way in the big station -wagon, which was loaded down with scientific -equipment and supplies. Sandy, Jerry and Tagish -Charley followed in a surplus U.S. Army six-by-six -truck. The boys and the Indian all rode in the -roomy cab, with Sandy at the wheel. The back of -the truck, roofed with a heavy canvas top, had -been converted into a comfortable compartment -for the professor’s seven prize huskies. Here, also, -were the big dog sled, a pyramidal tent, sleeping -bags, cooking utensils and a Coleman stove.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div> -<p>As Professor Crowell pointed out, there were -tourist camps and aid stations all along the highway, -but sometimes it was more convenient to set -up one’s own camp at the side of the road. Particularly -in winter, travelers had to be prepared for -emergencies.</p> -<p>Both vehicles were equipped with heavy-duty -tire chains on all wheels, plus oversized snow tires, -and they rode smoothly and firmly across the hard-packed -snow surface of the highway.</p> -<p>As the afternoon deepened into an early dusk, -the temperature plummeted, and the chill penetrated -the cab of the truck, even though the heater -was going full blast. Sandy doubled up his hands -into fists inside his mittens and wriggled his feet -inside his fur-lined boots to stimulate his circulation.</p> -<p>“I’m warm as toast except for my fingers and -toes,” he said.</p> -<p>Jerry fingered his nose gingerly. “My old schnozzola -is getting numb.”</p> -<p>Tagish Charley, who was taking his turn at the -wheel, patted his stomach. “Belly say soon time to -stop and eat.”</p> -<p>Jerry yawned and looked at the dashboard clock. -“Three-thirty,” he announced. “We’ve been on -the road for about three hours. How far have we -come?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_28">28</div> -<p>Sandy studied the speedometer. “A little over -one hundred and ten miles.”</p> -<p>“That’s pretty good,” Jerry said. “We’re averaging -almost forty per.”</p> -<p>A little while later they passed a river, and now -Charley turned the headlights on. Out of nowhere, -it seemed, thousands of tiny snowflakes -swirled suddenly into the yellow cones of light.</p> -<p>“It’s snowing!” Jerry exclaimed.</p> -<p>Sandy surveyed the wilderness on both sides -anxiously. “I’d hate to spend the night out here -in a blizzard.”</p> -<p>“We stop soon,” Charley assured him.</p> -<p>The words were scarcely out of his mouth when -they rounded a curve and came upon a little settlement -set back in a clearing in a pine grove. It -consisted of two large quonset huts and three small -log cabins. The warm glow of lights in the small -windows of the buildings gave Sandy a feeling -of well-being. The station wagon slowed down, -tooted twice with its horn and swerved off the -highway into the circular drive that had been -plowed up to the entrance of the main building. -As the truck’s headlights swept across the front of -the other larger quonset hut, they could see that -it had big sliding doors that allowed one entire -wall to open up like an airplane hangar. And as -the lights probed the interior of the hut, they -could make out a neat two-engine plane mounted -on skis. The brief glimpse also revealed a big -bulldozer plow and other snow-fighting machinery.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div> -<p>“Road crew,” Charley told the boys. “They -good fellers. We eat good, drink good and sleep -good.”</p> -<p class="tb">“You were so right, Charley,” Jerry said later, as -he pushed himself away from the big plank table -after sharing a hearty meal of roast lamb, fried -potatoes, home-made rolls and apple pie with -Superintendent MacKensie and his maintenance -gang. “I never ate so good.” He polished off a pint -mug of milk that was half cream and sighed. “Or -drank so good either.”</p> -<p>Superintendent MacKensie, a big florid-faced -man, tugged at one side of his blond handlebar -mustache. “Here now, you’re not finished, are -you?” he asked.</p> -<p>Jerry patted the round swell of his stomach. “If -I ate another mouthful, I’d burst, sir.”</p> -<p>“That’s a shame,” MacKensie said solemnly. -“Now Cooky’s feelings will be hurt and he’ll make -you wash the dishes.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div> -<p>A swarthy giant of a man at the far end of the -table pounded the planks with hamlike fists. “By -gar, I weel!” he roared in mock anger. “You no -like Frenchy’s cooking?”</p> -<p>Everyone laughed as Jerry looked around uncertainly.</p> -<p>Dr. Steele patted his mouth with a napkin. “As -Jerry so aptly put it, Frenchy, ‘We never ate so -good.’”</p> -<p>“We’re happy you enjoyed it, Doctor,” Superintendent -MacKensie said. “Now if you’d like to go -into the other room and toast your feet by the -hearth, I’ll have one of the lads stir up that fire in -your cabin.”</p> -<p>“An excellent suggestion,” Professor Crowell -agreed.</p> -<p>With the exception of a half dozen men of the -road crew who had some tasks to attend to, they -all retired to the large, comfortably furnished -recreation room where an enormous stone fireplace -almost covered one wall. Sandy, Jerry and -Lou Mayer sat cross-legged directly in front of the -blazing logs, on a thick bearskin robe that was -spread-eagled on the floor.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div> -<p>“Man!” Jerry whispered in an awed voice, lifting -the huge head and inspecting the gleaming -fangs that were still frightening even in death. -“I think if I ever ran into one of these babies I’d -just roll over and die before he laid a paw on me.”</p> -<p>Lou Mayer poked one of the clawed forepaws -with his toe. “Well, it’s a sure bet you’d die if he -ever <i>did</i> lay one of those paws on you. They’re as -big as dinner plates.”</p> -<p>Superintendent MacKensie, slouched in an old-fashioned -rocker, sucked his pipe gravely. “I’ve -seen them kill a horse with one swipe.”</p> -<p>“You’ve <i>seen</i> them?” Sandy asked.</p> -<p>MacKensie smiled reminiscently. “As a matter -of fact <i>that</i> fellow did kill my horse. I was hunting -with a party up on Kodiak Island. I blundered -around a rock right into the beggar. He rose up on -his hind legs, caught my horse with one blow in -the choppers and that was it. I managed to jump -free. Then I pumped five shots into him. They -might as well have been darts. He would have got -me for sure if the guide hadn’t dropped him with -a brain shot.”</p> -<p>“Powerful beasts,” Professor Crowell acknowledged. -“The Roman Emperor Nero used to pit -bears against lions in the arena. And frequently -they killed the lions.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> -<p>“It’s a lucky thing we did bring all those guns -along—” Jerry began, than caught himself as -Sandy and Lou Mayer stiffened visibly. “Well, it’s -a good idea with mankillers like this running -loose,” he finished lamely.</p> -<p>Superintendent MacKensie laughed. “So you -expect to do some hunting while you’re up north, -do you?” he said to Professor Crowell. He turned -to Dr. Steele. “Of course, the customs officials -plugged up the barrels of your weapons, didn’t -they?”</p> -<p>“Yes, they did,” Dr. Steele said emphatically. -Speaking directly to Sandy and Jerry, he explained. -“You see, the Canadians don’t want visitors -to shoot up their game preserves, and quite -rightly so. When we cross the border into Alaska, -the officials will remove the seals from the barrels. -Do you <i>understand</i>?”</p> -<p>“Yes, sir,” Sandy mumbled, looking quickly -away into the embers. He was stunned. <i>Those -automatics weren’t plugged up.</i> He had never -heard his father deliberately tell a lie before.</p> -<p>Unaware of the tension that had mushroomed -up, MacKensie stretched. “I’d better be getting -back to the radio shack and see what’s come in -from the weather stations on this storm. If she -looks bad, I’ll have to keep a crew on alert. Any -time you gentlemen feel like sacking in, go to it. -Your cabin should be warm now. It’s small, but -cozy. There are six bunk beds, so it won’t be too -crowded.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> -<p>“Where’s Charley?” Sandy asked, suddenly -aware that the Indian was not in the room.</p> -<p>“Right after supper he went outside to get your -dogs bedded down,” one of the crewmen told him.</p> -<p>Professor Crowell smiled. “He treats them like -children, and they love it. Actually, though, all -those huskies need for a bed is a soft snowdrift.”</p> -<p>“They like to sleep in snow?” Jerry asked incredulously. -“Don’t they freeze?”</p> -<p>“No, once they tuck in their paws and stick their -noses under their tails, they’re ready for anything. -Have you noticed their coats? Double thick. -Underneath that heavy outside fur there’s a short -woolly undercoat. The fact is they’re probably -more comfortable sleeping outside than next to a -roaring fire.”</p> -<p>Lou Mayer held his hands up to the flames. “We -have nothing in common.”</p> -<p>After MacKensie left, the other maintenance -men began to drift off to bed. The snow was coming -down very hard, and they faced the prospect -of a long, hard day battling the drifts.</p> -<p>About nine o’clock, Sandy yawned and -stretched. “What do you say we turn in, pal?” he -said to Jerry.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div> -<p>“I’m with you,” Jerry replied promptly.</p> -<p>The boys looked inquiringly at the older men. -“You two run along,” Dr. Steele told them. “We’ll -finish our pipes first.”</p> -<p>Sandy and Jerry dug their mackinaws and mittens -out of a heap of clothing on the long table in -the vestibule and slipped on their boots.</p> -<p>“It’s only a hundred-yard walk,” Sandy admitted, -“but at thirty below zero it’s worth the -trouble.”</p> -<p>“Amen,” Jerry agreed, wrapping his wool muffler -around his lantern jaw.</p> -<p>The boys stepped out the back door of the big -hut and followed the path leading back to the -cabins. Ten feet away from the building, the wind-whipped -grains of ice and snow closed in on them -like a white curtain, blotting out their vision. If -it had not been for the clearly defined path, they -would have been helpless.</p> -<p>“You could get lost in your own back yard in -this stuff,” Jerry gasped. “Yipes!” he shouted as -he blundered off the path into a snowdrift. -“Where’s the St. Bernards?”</p> -<p>Sandy took his arm and guided him back on the -path. Finally, a dark outline with a faint square of -light in the center of it loomed up before them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div> -<p>“Here we are,” Sandy shouted above the wind. -“Home at last.”</p> -<p>“If only the boys back at Valley View High -could see us now,” Jerry yelled in his ear. -“Wouldn’t it be something to drop that Pepper -March out here some night? Boy! Or better yet, -let’s drop him into a den of those Kodiak bears.”</p> -<p>Sandy laughed. “I don’t know which of the two -is more ornery. He might scare them off.”</p> -<p>They reached the cabin door, and Sandy leaned -against it and pushed it open. They staggered -inside and slammed it shut behind them. The -interior of the one-room shack was dark, except -for the logs burning low and evenly on the open -hearth.</p> -<p>Sandy blinked to accustom his eyes to the dimness. -“I could have sworn there was a light in the -window as we came along the path.”</p> -<p>“Probably the reflection of the flames on the -panes,” Jerry suggested.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div> -<p>“Yeah. Well, let’s light a lamp.” Sandy took -several steps toward a table silhouetted against the -firelight, then stopped suddenly. “Hey!” he said -in a startled voice, nudging an object on the floor -with his boot. “What’s this junk spread all over the -floor? Looks like somebody was breaking up house. -I wonder—” He broke off as a dark shape materialized -from the shadows in the far corner of the -cabin and seemed to glide toward him. At the same -time, he heard Jerry’s excited shout in his ear.</p> -<p>“Sandy! There’s somebody in here. Hey, look -out!”</p> -<p>Sandy Steele, without even a consciousness of -what he was facing, reacted with his athlete’s instinct -and reflexes. Crouching low, he braced himself -solidly, and as the figure loomed up before -him, he threw a hard body block at the middle of -it. His shoulder hit a solid form and he heard a -soft grunt of pain and anger. As his arms grappled -with the intruder, he realized for the first -time that it was a man. His fingers brushed rough -wool, and then he felt the steel fingers at his -throat.</p> -<p>“Get help, Jerry!” he bellowed, just before the -wind was pinched off in his throat. Then he took -a hard, numbing blow at the back of his neck and -felt himself falling ... falling ... falling ... -into blackness.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> -<h2 id="c4"><span class="small">CHAPTER FOUR</span> -<br />Charley Works Out the Huskies</h2> -<p>When Sandy regained consciousness he was lying -flat on his back on a cot, surrounded by a ring of -anxious faces. He recognized his father, Jerry, -Professor Crowell, Lou Mayer, Superintendent -MacKensie and several other men from the maintenance -gang.</p> -<p>“What—what happened?” Sandy asked weakly.</p> -<p>“It’s all right, Son. You’re fine. Just a nasty -bump on the head,” Dr. Steele told him.</p> -<p>“He really clobbered you, Sandy,” Jerry said. -“Then he straight-armed me and sent me flying -back over a chair. Before I could get up he was -gone in the blizzard.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div> -<p>“There’s no sense trying to follow him in this -heavy snow,” MacKensie declared. “His tracks -are probably covered already.”</p> -<p>“Did he get away with anything?” Sandy wanted -to know.</p> -<p>Dr. Steele and Professor Crowell exchanged -significant glances. Then the Canadian geologist -said hurriedly, “No, he didn’t steal a thing. Probably -some renegade trapper looking for guns and -ammunition. They prey on unwary travelers, these -chaps. I’ll bet he’s wanted by the Mounties as it -is.”</p> -<p>Superintendent MacKensie looked puzzled. -“He certainly was a queer one, all right. He really -messed things up. But, now, what do you suppose -he was after in that stuff?” He pointed to an open -valise in the middle of the room.</p> -<p>Sandy propped himself up on one elbow and -saw that Professor Crowell’s notebooks and papers -were scattered all about the floor.</p> -<p>“He must have thought you had money hidden -between the pages,” Lou Mayer said quickly.</p> -<p>Superintendent MacKensie scratched his head. -“I dunno. It beats me. We’ve never had anything -like this happen before. There have been hijackings -on the highway, but no one’s ever had the -nerve to break in here.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div> -<p>“Well, no harm done,” Dr. Steele said. “And -Sandy will be as good as new after a night’s sleep. -I suggest we clean this mess up and turn in.”</p> -<p>The others agreed, and while Sandy rested on -the cot they began to gather up their scattered belongings.</p> -<p>“I wonder if he got at the rest of the stuff we -left in the station wagon,” Professor Crowell said.</p> -<p>“I doubt it,” Superintendent MacKensie said. -“Your wagon is in the shed with our scout plane -and the heavy machinery. We’ve had men working -out there all evening.”</p> -<p>After the cabin was in order, MacKensie and his -men said good night and went back to the main -barracks. As they were undressing before the fire, -Dr. Steele questioned Sandy casually but with -painstaking thoroughness about his encounter -with the intruder.</p> -<p>“Was he a big man?” the doctor asked. “Did you -get a look at his face?”</p> -<p>Sandy shook his head. “It was too dark to see -much of anything. All I know is that he was big, -taller than me, and husky.”</p> -<p>“That goes for me, too,” Jerry agreed. “For all -I know it could have been Tagish Charley.”</p> -<p>Professor Crowell dropped the boot he was -holding with a loud clatter. “What did you say, -boy?” he asked in a tense voice.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div> -<p>Jerry laughed nervously at the professor’s obvious -dismay. “I mean he was big like Charley. -Of course it wasn’t Charley. Heck, it could have -been that big French cook. All I know is that he -was big and strong.”</p> -<p>“By the way,” Dr. Steele said suddenly, “where -<i>is</i> Charley?”</p> -<p>No one answered for a long moment. Then -Sandy said, “I guess he’s still out with the dogs. Or -maybe he’s back swapping stories with the old-timers -in the barracks.”</p> -<p>Just as Lou Mayer was about to turn down the -lamp, after the others were all in bed, the cabin -door swung in and Tagish Charley tramped into -the room. His hood and parka were encrusted -with snow and ice, as were his boots and trousers. -He looked as if he had been out in the storm for -a long time. In the crook of his left arm he held -a rifle.</p> -<p>“Good lord, Charley!” the professor exclaimed, -sitting upright on his cot. “Where have you been, -man?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> -<p>The Indian walked over to the fireplace and -shook himself like a great dog. Carefully he -leaned the rifle against the wall and shrugged out -of his parka. “I drink coffee in kitchen with -Frenchy when man run in and say someone break -into this cabin. I take rifle and follow him.”</p> -<p>“In this storm!” Sandy said. “You could have -gotten lost and frozen to death.”</p> -<p>Charley grunted and tapped a finger to his -temple. “Indian have thing up here like pigeon. -Always find way home. Bad man have sled and -dogs waiting in trees. No use follow him. If snow -stop in morning, maybe I look around some -more.” He kicked off his boots, stepped out of his -wet trousers and spread them out over the back of -a chair near the fire. Then, like a big animal, he -padded across the floor to an empty bunk. Seconds -after his head hit the pillow, the rafters shook -from his mooselike snores.</p> -<p>Jerry leaned over the side of his top-deck wall -bunk and grinned at Sandy in the bunk underneath. -“Now I know those guys up in Tibet are all -wet. There isn’t any Abominable Snowman. They -bumped into Tagish Charley when he was out for -one of his evening strolls.”</p> -<p>Sandy grinned back, but it was a weak grin. He -was bothered alternately by twinges of suspicion -and pangs of guilt. It <i>couldn’t</i> be Charley; he -<i>knew</i> it! Yet, anything was possible.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> -<p>The snow stopped during the night and a high-pressure -area moved into the vicinity. Morning -brought clear blue skies and bright sun. But the -air was still dry and frosty.</p> -<p>“Actually, only about seven inches fell,” Superintendent -MacKensie told them at breakfast. -“By the time you folks are on your way, the highway -will be slick as a whistle. Our patrol plane’s -scouting back in the direction of Dawson Creek -to see if any motorcars are in trouble. If anyone -was on the road when that snow started coming -down real hard, they would have had to sit it out -overnight.”</p> -<p>“I hope we’re still here when the plane gets -back,” Jerry said. “I’d like to see how they land -those babies on skis.”</p> -<p>“Actually, it’s smoother than landing on -wheels,” Professor Crowell told him. “I know I -prefer them.”</p> -<p>“Do you have your own plane, Professor?” -Sandy asked.</p> -<p>“Oh, yes. In wild, big country like this, planes -are more common than family cars, and far more -practical. In the summertime almost every lake -you pass on your way north looks something like -a supermarket parking field. Private planes, all -sizes and shapes and makes.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> -<p>Jerry whistled. “Boy, that’s the life. Can you -imagine how that would be back in Valley View? -I can just hear myself saying to my father, ‘Hey, -Pop, I got a heavy date tonight. Can I have the -keys to the plane?’”</p> -<p>The men laughed and Professor Crowell said, -“That’s not as much of a joke as you think. My -daughters are always flying up to Edmonton to -shop for their new spring outfits and Easter -bonnets.”</p> -<p>Jerry looked wistful. “Gee, it must be more fun -being a kid up here than it is in the city.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele smiled. “It certainly must be more -exciting in some ways. Then again, I suspect that -youngsters like you and Sandy would miss your -malt shops, drive-ins and television.”</p> -<p>“They have television here,” Sandy said.</p> -<p>“Yes,” Superintendent MacKensie admitted, -“but it’s pretty limited compared to what you -Americans can see.”</p> -<p>The boys were intrigued by the heavy, thick -flapjacks that Frenchy the cook served with thick -slabs of bacon.</p> -<p>“They taste different than what my maw -makes,” Jerry commented. “Sort of sour.” Then, -with an apologetic glance at the big, bushy-headed -cook, “But I love ’em.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_44">44</div> -<p>Superintendent MacKensie’s eyes twinkled. -“You may not believe it,” he said, “but the fermented -yeast dough that went into these flapjacks -is over sixty years old.”</p> -<p>Jerry choked in the middle of a bite and swallowed -hard. “Sixty years old! You’re kidding, sir?”</p> -<p>“Not in the least. It was handed down to -Frenchy by his father, who was a gold prospector -up in the Yukon in the eighteen-nineties.”</p> -<p>“Wow!” Jerry laid down his fork. “Talk about -hoarders.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele laughed. “Sourdough, of course. -Those old prospectors got their nickname from it. -You boys have heard of sourdoughs, haven’t you?”</p> -<p>“Sure,” Jerry admitted. “I just never knew -where the name came from.”</p> -<p>“Sourdough was the prospector’s staff of life on -the trail,” Superintendent MacKensie explained. -“Once he got the mixture just right, he’d keep it -in a tightly closed container and add to it as he -used it. But the culture always remained the -same.”</p> -<p>“Yeast is like a fungus,” Professor Crowell -elaborated for the boys’ benefit. “It’s composed of -living, growing cells.”</p> -<p>“Yes,” the superintendent went on. “This particular -strain in the flapjacks we’re eating has been -kept alive for sixty years by Frenchy’s family.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div> -<p>“<i>Oui</i>,” the cook spoke from the end of the table. -“My <i>papa</i> give some of this sourdough to all his -sons and daughters when they leave home. I give -to my son some day.”</p> -<p>“Amazing,” said Lou Mayer.</p> -<p>Frenchy stood up and swung a big, empty -platter up on one hand. “I go make some more, -no?” He looked down at Jerry. “You eat five or -six more, hey, boy? They very small.”</p> -<p>Jerry attacked the last flapjack on his plate with -renewed relish. “A couple more anyway, Frenchy. -And maybe another slab of that bacon.” He -winked as Sandy began to groan. “Who knows, we -may get stranded for days in a blizzard without -food. I’m storing up energy.”</p> -<p>After breakfast, Sandy and Jerry went outside -and watched Tagish Charley work out the huskies -on the landing strip off to one side of the road -station. The dog sled was about ten feet long with -a welded aluminum frame and polished steel -runners. Extending halfway down both sides, were -guard rails to which baggage could be strapped. -There was a small footrest at the rear, where the -sled driver could ride standing erect, and a rubber-coated -handrail for him to grip.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_46">46</div> -<p>The dogs milled about excitedly as Charley -harnessed them to the sled. They were hitched up -in staggered formation, one dog’s head abreast -of the haunches of the dog in front of him. -Black Titan led the pack, and the driving reins -were attached only to his harness.</p> -<p>“Lead dog, he have to be very smart,” Charley -told them, ruffling up the thick fur collar around -Titan’s throat. “He boss of team. Not driver. -Other dogs do bad job, he scold them. Sometimes -he have to fight a bad dog who make trouble.”</p> -<p>“Do you think Professor Crowell’s team has a -chance to win the race from Whitehorse to Skagway?” -Sandy asked him.</p> -<p>“We win,” Charley said matter-of-factly. “Best -team, best lead dog.” He patted Titan’s head. -“Black Titan pull sled all alone if he have to.”</p> -<p>“Is the professor going to drive himself, Charley?” -Jerry inquired curiously.</p> -<p>The Indian shrugged his shoulders. “Better he -not drive in race. Professor fine dog driver, but -safer if he not drive this race. On trail easy for -bad men to get him. Better for Charley to drive -team.”</p> -<p>“Charley,” Sandy asked worriedly, “do you -have any idea why the bad men are after Professor -Crowell? Why would anyone want to harm a nice -man like him?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div> -<p>Anger tightened Charley’s features. “Professor -got something they want very bad. They kill him -if they have to.”</p> -<p>“But <i>what</i> do they want? What is it the professor -has that’s so valuable to them? Money? -Jewels?”</p> -<p>Charley shook his head. “Professor no have -money or jewels. Maybe something he have in -here.” He tapped his finger against his forehead -wisely.</p> -<p>Sandy looked at Jerry. “You know, he could -have something there. I think I’m going to have -a man-to-man talk with my dad first chance I get.”</p> -<p>The two boys rode on the sled as ballast while -Charley put the powerful team through its paces, -whizzing back and forth on the hard-packed surface -of the landing strip and churning through -high drifts in the virgin snow around the fringes.</p> -<p>“Great!” Jerry yelled in Sandy’s ear, clutching -the guard rail with one hand and, with his other -hand, protecting his face from the spray of snow -flung back by the dogs’ flying feet. “This is better -than the roller coaster at Disneyland.”</p> -<p>Sandy nodded vigorously. “That Titan is fantastic, -isn’t he? He acts almost human.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_48">48</div> -<p>Seemingly aware of his admiring audience, -Black Titan put on an impressive display. Setting -a pace for his teammates that kept their tongues -lolling from their black-roofed mouths, he guided -them smoothly into sharp turns and sudden twists -and broke trail through muzzle-high snow with -his broad chest as if it were light as dust—all the -time responsive to the slightest tug at the reins.</p> -<p>“He’s a marvel, all right,” Sandy told Charley -later when the dogs were resting after their work-out.</p> -<p>“Boy, would I ever like to get into that big race. -You don’t need any passengers, do you, Charley?” -Jerry asked.</p> -<p>“Okay for you boys to come along. Need five -hundred pounds on sled anyway.”</p> -<p>Sandy was overjoyed. “You mean it, Charley? -Really? Jerry and I can ride ballast on the sled?”</p> -<p>“Sure. You ask professor.”</p> -<p>At that minute, Dr. Steele came walking across -the landing strip toward them. “You fellows about -ready to leave? It’s nine-thirty. Superintendent -MacKensie has had our vehicles warming up for -almost half an hour now.”</p> -<p>Sandy spoke to Jerry in a low voice. “You help -Charley get the dogs in the truck. I want to talk -to my dad—in private.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div> -<h2 id="c5"><span class="small">CHAPTER FIVE</span> -<br />Christmas in the Wilderness</h2> -<p>“Dad,” Sandy began haltingly as they walked -slowly back to the barracks, “Professor Crowell is -in some kind of trouble, isn’t he?”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele was evasive. “You mean because of -that man who broke into our cabin? What makes -you think that had anything to do with the professor?”</p> -<p>Sandy looked earnestly into his father’s eyes. -“That was no ordinary thief, Dad. He was after -something in Professor Crowell’s notes and -papers.” His face became even graver. “Maybe -they’re after you, too.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele tried to laugh it off, but his mirth was -hollow. “Aren’t you becoming a little melodramatic, -Son?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div> -<p>“You don’t fool me for a minute, Dad. I know -that whatever’s going on is probably top-secret -government business and you can’t tell me what -it’s all about. But I do think it’s only fair to tell me -whether or not you or the professor or Lou Mayer -are in any danger.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele appeared to think it over very carefully. -Finally, he sighed. “Yes, I guess you’re right. -I brought you boys along, so I don’t suppose I have -any right to keep you completely in the dark. The -fact is we <i>are</i> in danger—all of us. I had no right -to expose you boys—especially Jerry—to this kind -of thing, but I thought at first we could deceive -<i>them</i> into believing that this was just a routine -geological survey. I was wrong. They’re far too -clever.” His mouth tightened. “Maybe the best -thing to do would be to send you and Jerry back -home.”</p> -<p>“Dad!” Sandy looked hurt. “Not on your life. If -you’re in any kind of trouble, I’m sticking with -you until you’re out of it.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele frowned. “I wish I could tell you -more about this, Sandy, but I’m bound by an oath -of secrecy. You’ll just have to trust me.”</p> -<p>“I trust you, Dad.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> -<p>“As for Jerry James, I think it’s only fair for you -to tell him what I’ve told you and let him decide -whether he wants to continue on with us.”</p> -<p>“I’ll ask him,” Sandy agreed. “But I know what -he’s going to say right now.”</p> -<p>They were almost at the front door of the barracks -now. “One more thing, Dad,” Sandy said. -“Tagish Charley. I like him an awful lot. You -don’t think that he—”</p> -<p>“That he’s the one who ransacked our cabin last -night?” the doctor finished for him. “The same -thought flashed through my mind, too. I just can’t -believe it, though. Charley’s been with the professor -for years; he’s like one of the family. Still—” -his face went grim—“we don’t really know—and -we can’t afford to take chances.”</p> -<p>Superintendent MacKensie greeted them as -they entered the building. “Your wagons are all -set to roll,” he announced.</p> -<p>Sandy took his friend aside just before they -left the station and repeated what his father had -said, offering Jerry the choice of going back to -Valley View.</p> -<p>“I ought to slug you,” the husky, dark-haired -boy roared, his black eyes flashing, his square -jaw jutting out defiantly, “for even thinking I’d -back out on you when you were in trouble! What -kind of a guy do you think I am?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div> -<p>“Take it easy, Buster.” Sandy threw his arm -around his friend’s shoulders. “I told Dad that’s -exactly what you would say.”</p> -<p class="tb">They made good time all that morning, and a -little after one o’clock they reached Fort Nelson. -Here they ate lunch with the Game Commissioner, -an old friend of Professor Crowell’s. -Later, while the station wagon and truck were -being refueled, the boys accompanied Tagish -Charley down to the Indian village on the banks -of the frozen Nelson River. Charley went straight -to the house of the headman in the village, and -they talked earnestly and excitedly in an Indian -dialect for some time.</p> -<p>On the way back to the truck, he told the boys: -“That man know everything go on in province. -He say many strangers pass this way. They say they -French trappers, but they speak strange tongue -and never sell any furs.”</p> -<p>“Did he say how many?” Sandy asked.</p> -<p>“Maybe six.”</p> -<p>Jerry clapped his mittened hands together. -“And there are five of us. Those aren’t bad odds.”</p> -<p>“In a fair fight,” Sandy corrected him. “But -from what I’ve heard and seen of these guys, they -probably have no idea of fighting fair.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div> -<p>The sun went down early, but this night was -clear and the sky was full of stars, so they drove on -for quite a while after dark. At five-thirty they -came to a weather station near Lake Muncho. It -was a small place, manned by three technicians, -and although the five guests really crowded their -quarters, the weathermen were very hospitable.</p> -<p>“You chaps are lucky,” the man in charge told -them. “This high-pressure area should be with us -for the rest of the week. You’ll have fine weather -all the way to Alaska.”</p> -<p>“Gosh,” said Jerry, when he saw the small pine -tree trimmed with tinsel and colored balls and -lights that stood in one corner of the shack’s main -room. “I almost forgot—this is Christmas Eve.”</p> -<p>“It doesn’t seem like it, somehow,” Sandy said, -feeling a slight twinge of homesickness. “Not -without Mom’s turkey dinner and presents and -Christmas carols.”</p> -<p>“Christmas isn’t turkey and presents and -chimes,” Professor Crowell observed. “It’s what -you feel in the heart.”</p> -<p>“You’re right, sir,” Sandy admitted. Then he -grinned. “I guess Jerry and I are still kids at -heart.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_54">54</div> -<p>“That’s as it should be,” the professor said. -“It’s one of the things I admire most about you -Americans—your boyish exuberance. You’re always -looking for an excuse to give a party. I think -it’s one of the reasons why you have so many national -holidays.”</p> -<p>“Nothing shy about us Canadians when it comes -to a party either,” one of the weathermen put in. -He turned to his two partners. “Let’s show these -Yanks a real Christmas party. What do you say?”</p> -<p>There was a chorus of “ayes.”</p> -<p>After a hearty meal of tinned ham, fried potatoes -and frozen candied yams, topped off by a -flaming plum pudding, they gathered in a tight -circle about the little fireplace and sipped hot -cider and nibbled marshmallows toasted in the -winking embers. About nine o’clock the weathermen -picked up a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation -program of Christmas carols on their shortwave -radio and piped it through a big hi-fi speaker -over the fireplace.</p> -<p>“This is more like it,” Jerry sighed contentedly, -stuffing himself with marshmallows and roasted -nuts, staring at the lights twinkling on the Christmas -tree and listening to the strains of “Silent -Night.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele grinned mysteriously. “And who -knows, maybe Santa will find you boys even up -here. Better pin up your stockings before you go -to bed.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> -<p>There were only two extra cots at the weather -station, so the boys, Lou Mayer and Tagish Charley -bedded down in their sleeping bags around -the fireplace. Just before he turned in, Charley -fed the dogs and let them run for a while on the -deserted highway. Then he penned them in on the -big front porch of the weather station.</p> -<p>Sandy fell asleep as soon as his head touched the -pillow, and the next thing he knew, sunlight was -streaming into his eyes. Yawning, he sat up and -looked around. Tagish Charley and Lou Mayer -were already up and off somewhere. Only Jerry -was still asleep, curled up in his sleeping bag like -a hibernating bear.</p> -<p>Sandy’s eyes widened as they came to rest on the -little Christmas tree in the corner. Beneath it were -piled assorted boxes wrapped in gaily colored -tissue and tied with tinseled ribbon. He leaned -over and shook his friend.</p> -<p>“Hey, Jerry, wake up!”</p> -<p>Jerry snorted and opened his eyes, heavy-lidded -with sleep. “Whazza matter?” he mumbled.</p> -<p>Sandy grinned. “Looks like Santa was here -while we were asleep. C’mon, get up.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> -<p>Sandy rolled out of his sleeping bag, put on his -trousers, shirt and boots and went over to the -tree. Kneeling down, he read the tags on the packages: -“‘<i>To Sandy from Dad</i>,’ ‘<i>To Jerry....</i>’ Hey! -There’s something here for everybody.”</p> -<p>He looked up and saw his father, Professor -Crowell and Lou Mayer standing in the doorway -that led into the tiny kitchen. They were all -smiling broadly.</p> -<p>“Well, don’t just sit there,” Dr. Steele said. -“Pass them around.”</p> -<p>As Sandy had observed, there was something -for everyone. An intricate chronometer wrist watch -that told the days of the month and even the phases -of the moon for Sandy; a candid camera for Jerry; -a gold fountain pen for Lou Mayer; and a fine -steel hunting knife with a silver inlaid handle for -Tagish Charley. Professor Crowell, with genuine -Yuletide spirit, gave a set of ivory chessmen he -had bought from an Indian at Fort Nelson to the -three weathermen. They, in turn, presented the -professor and Dr. Steele each with a pair of fine -snowshoes.</p> -<p>After they had burned the wrappings in the fire, -Sandy remarked rather sadly, “Gee, Dad, now I -wish I hadn’t left your present back home. But -Mom said we’d save all the gifts till we got back.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> -<p>Dr. Steele put his arm around his son’s shoulders. -“Sandy, the best present you could ever give -me is just being here.” He reached for Jerry with -his other arm. “That goes for you too, Jerry.”</p> -<p class="tb">Right after breakfast, they said goodbye to their -new friends and headed north again. They drove -into Watson Lake, just across the border in Yukon -territory, about two o’clock. Watson Lake was one -of the largest towns along the Alaska Highway. In -addition to a Mountie station and an R.C.A.F. -base, there was an airstrip for commercial airlines -and accommodations for putting up passengers -overnight. They drove straight out to the air force -base, where the sentry ushered them through the -gate with a snappy salute as soon as Professor -Crowell identified himself.</p> -<p>“The old prof really rates in these parts, doesn’t -he?” Jerry mused, as they drove through the precisely -laid-out checkerboard streets past neat log-cabin -barracks to the HQ building.</p> -<p>They were even more impressed by the reception -the professor received from the Base Commander, -an old friend he had worked with in -World War II.</p> -<p>“You’re just in time for Christmas dinner,” the -Commander told them happily. “Roast turkey -with all the trimmings.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div> -<p>Jerry rubbed his stomach gleefully. “This stands -to be the best holiday season of our lives, Sandy. -Wherever we go people give us Christmas dinners.”</p> -<p>The geologists decided to stop over at Watson -Lake and get an early start the next morning for -the long, grueling uphill drive over the divide.</p> -<p>“What is the divide?” Jerry asked.</p> -<p>“A high shelf on the continent that determines -the direction of water drainage,” Dr. Steele explained. -“In the case of North America, it’s the -Rocky Mountains. All the rivers and streams on -one side of the Rockies run in a generally easterly -direction; on the other side they flow to the west.”</p> -<p>“Will we have any trouble driving up those -mountains with all this snow and ice?” Sandy inquired -of the R.C.A.F. Commander.</p> -<p>“Well, it’s a pretty tortuous route,” the officer -admitted. “But the ascent is fairly gradual. With -chains you shouldn’t have too much trouble. Of -course, if it should snow again, that would be -another matter.”</p> -<p>“We’ll get an early start,” Professor Crowell -told them. “About six <span class="sc">A.M.</span>”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div> -<h2 id="c6"><span class="small">CHAPTER SIX</span> -<br />Attack from the Air</h2> -<p>It was gray and cold when they left Watson Lake -on the last leg of their journey on the Alaska -Highway.</p> -<p>“At Whitehorse, we’ll give the car and truck a -rest and take to the air,” Dr. Steele explained. -“The Canadian government has put a plane at -the professor’s disposal for as long as we’re up -here.”</p> -<p>But the big attraction at Whitehorse as far as the -boys and Tagish Charley were concerned was the -big dog-sled race to Skagway.</p> -<p>“The professor says it’s okay with him if Jerry -and I ride ballast,” Sandy informed the Indian. -“That’s if it’s all right with you?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div> -<p>“Okay by me,” Charley said. He glanced sideways -at Jerry. “But this boy keep eating so much -he get too fat to sit on sled.”</p> -<p>Sandy let out a guffaw and Jerry pretended to -sulk. “You guys have a nerve,” he said. “You both -lick your plates cleaner than Black Titan does.”</p> -<p>“If Tubby, here, is too much of a load for the -huskies,” Sandy suggested, “we can always let him -run behind the sled.”</p> -<p>Suddenly, Charley hunched down and squinted -through the windshield. “Plane,” he announced -curtly.</p> -<p>The boys followed his gaze but could see nothing. -“Where?” Sandy asked.</p> -<p>Charley pointed toward a line of snow-capped -mountain peaks in the distance surrounded by -blue haze. Sandy saw a speck that moved out of -sight behind one of the peaks. He couldn’t make -out what it was.</p> -<p>“Are you sure it wasn’t a bird?” he said uncertainly.</p> -<p>“It plane,” Charley said firmly.</p> -<p>“Maybe it’s from one of the road stations,” Jerry -suggested.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div> -<p>“I guess so,” Sandy said and pushed down a little -harder on the accelerator to close the gap between -them and the station wagon, which had -drawn about a quarter of a mile ahead.</p> -<p>Gradually the road climbed, winding and twisting -through canyons and hugging mountainsides -in hazardous stretches. At one such spot Jerry -peered down into the chasm that dropped off -steeply on one side and clapped his hands over his -eyes.</p> -<p>“I think I’ll get out and walk the rest of the -way,” he groaned.</p> -<p>Sandy’s face was grim as he nursed the big truck -around the curves, never letting the speedometer -needle climb above the 30 on the dial.</p> -<p>Then, without warning, a great throbbing roar -bore down on them from the rear. Instinctively, -they ducked their heads as it seemed to shatter -the roof of the cab. An instant later a plane -appeared through the windshield zooming down -the road toward the station wagon.</p> -<p>“Yipes!” Jerry exclaimed. “What does he think -he’s doing?”</p> -<p>“The crazy fool!” Sandy said angrily. “He could -have scared us off the highway. Look at him! He -can’t be more than fifty feet off the ground.”</p> -<p>The little ship skimmed over the station wagon -and started to climb in a wide arc.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div> -<p>“You think it’s a scout plane from one of the -road stations?” Jerry said anxiously.</p> -<p>“I don’t know,” Sandy replied, trying to keep -one eye on the road and the other on the circling -plane. “It looks as if he’s coming back again.” -Gratefully, he noted that they were approaching -a less treacherous section of highway.</p> -<p>Once more they heard the little plane gunning -its motor at top speed as it flew up behind them. -As it passed over them, a small round hole appeared, -as if by magic, at the top of their windshield.</p> -<p>For a moment they were too stunned to react, -then Jerry yelled, “They’re shooting at us!”</p> -<p>With an unintelligible oath, Tagish Charley -whirled in the seat and reached back through the -curtain partition into the rear of the truck. -“Stop!” he told Sandy as he pulled out his hunting -rifle.</p> -<p>As Sandy brought the lumbering vehicle to a -skidding halt at the side of the road, he saw that -the station wagon had pulled up also, and the -three geologists were piling out frantically.</p> -<p>Tagish Charley motioned to a patch of timber -about a hundred yards away. “Go—fast.” The -three of them floundered through knee-deep drifts -as the engine roar of the plane built up in their ears.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div> -<p>“Down!” Charley bellowed. “Flat!” As the boys -flattened out, the Indian turned, dropped to one -knee and threw the rifle to his shoulder. He -squeezed off two shots, leading the plane as if it -were a wild duck. In return, a fusillade of shots -from the plane kicked up the snow all around -them.</p> -<p>“Those guys really mean business!” Jerry -yelled as they scrambled to their feet and ran for -the woods again.</p> -<p>“This is like one of those nightmares where -you’re being chased by a wild animal and your legs -move in slow motion,” Sandy gasped, churning -through the snow.</p> -<p>They reached the trees just before the plane -swooped over them again. Crouching behind a -tree bole, Charley emptied his rifle at the retreating -ship. A slug splattered the bark just above his -head.</p> -<p>This time as the plane climbed, a thin spiral of -smoke trailed back from the engine, and the -rhythm of the motor was uneven.</p> -<p>Sandy let out a cheer. “You got him, Charley! -Good shooting.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> -<p>Immediately the plane broke off its attack and -headed north. Sandy led the way down the road to -where the three geologists were standing by the -station wagon, watching the ship dwindle to a -speck in the distance.</p> -<p>“Are you okay, Dad?” he yelled anxiously. -“Anybody hurt?”</p> -<p>“No, just badly frightened,” Dr. Steele replied. -“How about you fellows?”</p> -<p>“No casualties,” Sandy reported breathlessly. -“Just a bullet hole in the windshield.”</p> -<p>“It seems as if Charley saved the day,” Professor -Crowell said. He took one of the Indian’s big -hands in both of his. “I’m glad you decided to -come along, my friend.”</p> -<p>Charley gave him one of his rare, quick smiles. -“Bad men try hurt you—” He paused and drew a -finger across his throat.</p> -<p>“Like I said before,” Jerry declared, “I’m glad -he’s on our side.”</p> -<p>The Indian cocked his head toward the truck, -where the dogs were setting up a raucous clamor. -“I go see if huskies okay.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> -<p>Lou Mayer shivered and hugged his arms -tightly around his body. “And to think I could -have been a teacher in a nice cozy classroom in -some peaceful college in the balmy South instead -of shooting it out with enemy agents in the -Yukon—” He stopped short and looked guiltily -at Dr. Steele. “I’m sorry, sir. That just slipped -out.”</p> -<p>“That’s all right, Lou,” Dr. Steele said. “I think -by now the boys have a pretty good idea of what -we’re up against.” Sensing the question that was -forming in Sandy’s mind, he added hastily, “But -for the present, at least, that’s all we can tell you.” -As Lou and the professor were getting back into -the station wagon, he whispered to his son, “At -least this little incident answers our question -about Charley, once and for all.”</p> -<p>“It sure does,” Sandy agreed. “We’ll see you -later, Dad.” He and Jerry turned and trudged -back to the truck.</p> -<p>Jerry’s voice was small and numb. “Wow! Enemy -agents! Wow! Wait till the guys hear about -this!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div> -<h2 id="c7"><span class="small">CHAPTER SEVEN</span> -<br />The Big Race</h2> -<p>They rolled into Whitehorse late that night. -The boys were surprised to find a fairly modern -city with paved streets, rows of stores and shops -and street lamps. As they drove down the main -street, festively decorated with wreaths, colored -lights and holly, Jerry shook his head.</p> -<p>“Why, it looks pretty much like Valley View.”</p> -<p>“They even have bowling alleys,” Sandy -pointed out. “And neon signs.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> -<p>Later, as they ate supper in the hotel dining -room, Dr. Steele told them about the origin of the -city: “Whitehorse was born in the gold rush, when -thousands of sourdoughs trekked over the mountains -from Alaska and the Pacific ports to seek -their fortunes. Whitehorse was sort of a jumping-off -place. They ran the rapids to Lake Laberge in -anything that would float—barges, rafts, scows—and -on down the Yukon River to Dawson. A few of -them struck bonanzas, but most of them found -only poverty and disillusionment. There’s just no -way to get rich quick.”</p> -<p>“I know you’re right, Dr. Steele,” Jerry remarked. -“Though I was kind of hoping that Sandy -and I could strike out north with Professor Crowell’s -dog team and stake ourselves a claim. That -French cook back at the road station even gave me -a jar of that sourdough of his to get us started.”</p> -<p>Professor Crowell laughed. “Before you boys -do anything like that, you had better see how you -stand up to the rigors of the trail during the big -race to Skagway.”</p> -<p>“When do we start?” Jerry asked.</p> -<p>“The day after tomorrow.”</p> -<p>Charley gulped down a small roll with one bite. -“Tomorrow we give huskies plenty exercise. Not -much to eat.”</p> -<p>Sandy frowned. “You’re going to starve them -before the race? Won’t it weaken them?”</p> -<p>Charley grunted. “No starve. Huskies can go -week without food. They little hungry, they run -faster and fight harder.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div> -<p>“What are you, Lou and Professor Crowell going -to be doing the rest of this week?” Sandy asked -his father as they left the table.</p> -<p>His father thought about it a minute before -answering. “Well, tomorrow we thought we’d fly -up to Fairbanks and visit the University of Alaska. -The president’s an old friend of mine. We hope -to inspect some of the fossils they’ve dug up lately. -I understand they have some fine specimens on -display.”</p> -<p>“Gee, I wish we could come with you,” Sandy -said. “That sounds like interesting stuff.”</p> -<p>“Yeah,” Jerry agreed. “We kids in the States -never get to see things like that.”</p> -<p>“Why, that’s not so, Jerry,” Professor Crowell -objected. “Your American museums and universities -contain some of the most fascinating specimens -of prehistoric beasts that I’ve ever seen. -The last time I visited the American Museum of -Natural History in New York I saw the leg of a -baby mammoth that was completely intact. It had -been preserved for centuries in a glacier, and the -museum kept it in a deep freeze.”</p> -<p>“The professor’s right, Jerry,” Sandy admitted. -“The trouble with so many of the kids we know is -that they’re too lazy to use their eyes and their -ears—and their legs.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div> -<p>Dr. Steele interrupted. “As a matter of fact, -did either of you boys know that Black Bart, the -notorious stagecoach bandit, is reputed to have -buried a strongbox with $40,000 in gold in the -hills back of Stockton?”</p> -<p>“Gosh, no!” Jerry exclaimed. “What do you say, -Sandy? Let’s go on a treasure hunt next summer. -That’s practically in our back yard.”</p> -<p>Professor Crowell smiled. “That beats digging -for gold in the Yukon, I’d say.”</p> -<p>“How long will you be in Fairbanks?” Sandy -wanted to know.</p> -<p>“Oh, no more than a day,” Dr. Steele said. “We -want to get back to Skagway to see you fellows -come across the finish line in the big race.”</p> -<p>“In first place, of course,” Jerry added smugly.</p> -<p>“That would be a treat,” Professor Crowell -said.</p> -<p>“Now I think we should all go up to our rooms -and get a good night’s sleep,” Dr. Steele suggested. -“We’ve had a long, trying day.”</p> -<p>“That sounds good to me,” Lou Mayer seconded. -“It will be a real pleasure to rest my weary -bones on an honest-to-goodness bed with a soft -mattress.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div> -<p>“You chaps go ahead,” said Professor Crowell. -“I’m going down the street to the police barracks -and report that incident with the plane today.”</p> -<p>“Do you really think that’s wise?” Dr. Steele -asked gravely.</p> -<p>“The chief constable is a reliable man,” the -professor told him. “He can be depended upon to -be discreet. He may have received a report from -one of these local airstrips about a small plane -making an emergency landing. I don’t think those -fellows could have traveled too far with their engine -smoking like that. If they did land near here, -we can put our people on their track.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele nodded. “Good idea. Do you want -me to come with you?”</p> -<p>“That won’t be necessary,” the older man assured -him. “I’ll take Charley along.”</p> -<p>Upstairs, when the boys had bathed and -changed into their pajamas, they lay in the dark -in the small hotel room they shared and discussed -the events of the day.</p> -<p>“What do you think it’s all about, anyway?” -Jerry wondered. “We know enemy agents are -after the professor. But why? It’s not like he was -an atomic scientist or something. What could they -want with a plain old geology professor?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> -<p>“I don’t know,” Sandy said worriedly. “But it -must have something to do with our reason for -coming up to Alaska. You can bet my dad and the -professor didn’t make the trip <i>just</i> to look at fossils -and take soil samples. Well, we’ll just have -to wait and see.”</p> -<p>“Br-r-r,” Jerry said, “it’s like walking through -a haunted house on Halloween Eve. You don’t -know what to expect. But whatever it is, you know -it won’t be good.” He threw back the covers and -got out of bed.</p> -<p>“Hey, where are you going?” Sandy demanded.</p> -<p>Jerry padded across the room barefoot. “I just -want to make sure that door is locked.”</p> -<p class="tb">The day of the big race was bitter cold and the -sky was leaden with snow clouds scudding across -the mountain peaks around Whitehorse. A huge -crowd had gathered at the starting line on the -outskirts of the city, and the air rang with merry -voices and the yelping of dogs. Sandy and Jerry -huddled close to a big bonfire outside the officials’ -tent while Tagish Charley made a last-minute -check of the sled and the dogs’ harnesses.</p> -<p>One of the judges came up and spoke to Sandy. -“I understand you boys are from the States. What -do you think of our big country?”</p> -<p>“It’s very exciting, sir,” Sandy said.</p> -<p>“And very cold,” Jerry added.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div> -<p>The judge laughed. “Wait until you’re out on -the trail a few hours. Then you’ll know how cold -it is. You’re riding with Professor Crowell’s -team, right?”</p> -<p>“Yes, sir. And we’re really looking forward to -it. This is some big event, isn’t it?”</p> -<p>The air was charged with a holiday atmosphere. -Men and women were laughing and singing as -they sipped from steaming mugs of coffee and tea; -and a few were drinking from mugs that Sandy -suspected contained even stronger brew.</p> -<p>“The race from Whitehorse is a time-honored -ritual,” the judge told them. “Back in the old -days, the course was even longer. From Dawson to -Skagway, almost six hundred miles.”</p> -<p>“Good night!” Jerry said. “Those poor dogs -must have worn their legs down to the shoulder.”</p> -<p>“As a matter of fact,” the judge went on, “Klondike -Mike Mahoney used to operate a mail and -freight route from Skagway to Dawson.”</p> -<p>“Who was Klondike Mike Mahoney?” Sandy -asked.</p> -<p>“A rather fantastic young man who came to the -Yukon during the gold rush and became a living -legend.” He smiled. “You might say he was our -counterpart of your Davy Crockett.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<p>“Hey! What are they doing?” Jerry pointed to -a group of Eskimos who were laughing and -whooping as they catapulted an Eskimo girl high -into the air from a large animal hide stretched -taut like a fireman’s net.</p> -<p>“That’s one of their favorite games,” the judge -said. “You’ve probably played something like it -at the beach—tossing a boy up in a blanket.”</p> -<p>“Yeah,” Jerry said. “But not like <i>that</i>. She’s -better than some acrobats I’ve seen on the stage.”</p> -<p>Time after time, the slender Eskimo girl shot -into the air, as high as twenty-five feet, like an -arrow, never losing her balance. While they were -watching her, Tagish Charley joined them by the -fire. In his one hand he held a sheet of oiled paper -on which were spread a half-dozen cubes that -looked like the slabs of chocolate and vanilla ice -cream served in ice-cream parlors.</p> -<p>“Eat,” Charley said, offering them to the boys.</p> -<p>Sandy took one gingerly. “Looks good. But -what is it?”</p> -<p>“<i>Muk-tuk</i>,” the Indian grunted.</p> -<p>“A Northern delicacy,” the judge said with a -straight face.</p> -<p>Jerry stuffed one of the cubes into his mouth -with gusto. “Say, that’s good. Tastes like coconut.”</p> -<p>Sandy nibbled at his with more reserve. “It -does a little. Maybe a little oilier. What’s it made -of?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div> -<p>“Whale skin and blubber,” the judge informed -him. “The white part is blubber, and the dark is -hide.”</p> -<p>Jerry gagged momentarily, swallowed his last -mouthful, then smiled manfully. “I wish you -hadn’t said that, sir,” he declared. “But it still -tastes good.”</p> -<p>“You ready now?” Charley asked the boys. -“Time for race soon.”</p> -<p>They shook hands with the official and followed -Charley over to the starting line, where the teams -were lining up.</p> -<p>There were eight entries altogether. The dogs -were prancing about restlessly in their harnesses -like proud race horses, their curved tails waving -over their backs. They were charged with excitement -and seemed eager to get started. The huskies -on opposing teams eyed each other sullenly, -baring their long fangs and growling deep in their -throats. Occasionally, one would dart out of line -and snap at another dog, but there were no fights. -Black Titan, like the good lead dog he was, -watched his team closely, and whenever one of -them became too frisky and pugnacious, he would -bark a sharp command. Immediately, the offender -would drop his ears and quiet down.</p> -<p>“They act almost human,” Sandy said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div> -<p>“I’ll say,” Jerry agreed. “That Titan reminds -me of Mr. Hall, my math teacher. No horseplay -when he’s around.”</p> -<p>Charley helped the boys arrange themselves in -the sled, Sandy in back, with Jerry in front of him, -sitting between his legs. “Just like on a toboggan,” -Sandy observed. They tucked the big robe -that covered them around their sides as Charley -took his place behind the sled and gripped the -handles.</p> -<p>The sharp crack of the starter’s pistol split the -crisp air and Charley’s bellowing “Mush! Yea, -huskies, mush!” almost split Sandy’s eardrums. -The figures lined up on both sides of them -blurred rapidly as the sled picked up speed, and -wind and snow whipped into their faces. Gripping -the handles tightly, Charley matched the -pace of the team effortlessly with his long strides.</p> -<p>“He’s not going to run all the way, is he?” Jerry -yelled to Sandy.</p> -<p>“I guess he wants to give the team the best of it -this early in the race. He’ll hop on when he gets -winded.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div> -<p>But a half hour went by and still the driver’s -boots pounded behind them in unbroken rhythm. -At first the seven teams were bunched pretty close -together on the hard-packed trail, then gradually -the distance between them widened. Sandy kept -glancing back as Charley urged their sled into the -lead and finally lost sight of the nearest team as -they rounded a hummock and entered a stretch of -forest.</p> -<p>“If we keep this pace up, we’ll be in Skagway -in time for lunch,” Jerry said.</p> -<p>The big Indian reined in the dogs when they -reached a spot where three separate narrower -paths forked off the main trail.</p> -<p>“Which way do we go?” Sandy called to him.</p> -<p>Still breathing as easily as if he had taken a -short walk around the block, Charley answered, -“All go to Skagway. We take middle trail. More -snow, but less up and down.” Having made up his -mind, Charley shouted to the dogs: “Mush! -Mush! Mush, huskies!” And they were off again.</p> -<p>A short time later they left the trail and went -skimming down a windswept slope that stretched -away into a barren icy plain. Now Charley hopped -onto the back of the sled and rode like a Roman -charioteer, shouting encouragement to the dogs in -Indian. Although there was no broken trail, the -sled rode solidly on the surface of the old snow -crusted over thickly by the 50-below-zero cold.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_77">77</div> -<p>“This is really living!” Jerry exulted, his voice -trailing off eerily in the slipstream behind the -sled. At noon they stopped to rest the dogs in the -lee of a rock overhang. Sandy broke out a thermos -of steaming coffee and sandwiches, and Charley -threw the huskies some chunks of lean dry -meat.</p> -<p>“How far do you think we’ve come so far?” -Jerry asked.</p> -<p>Charley shrugged. “Twenty, maybe twenty-five -mile.”</p> -<p>“Say, that’s pretty good.” He looked back in the -direction they had come from. “Where do you -suppose those other guys are?”</p> -<p>Charley finished his sandwich, rumpled up the -wax-paper wrapping and set a match to it, warming -his hands over the brief torch it created. He -motioned to the west. “Some follow other trail. -Maybe a few stay just in back of us. Let us break -new trail for them. Then when our dogs tired, -they fresh and catch us.” He cupped one hand to -his ear. “Listen!”</p> -<p>The boys held their breaths for a minute, -straining to hear. They could just make out the -sound of barking dogs floating on the wind in the -distance.</p> -<p>“He’s right,” Jerry said indignantly. “That’s a -sneaky thing to do.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div> -<p>“No, it’s not,” Sandy disagreed. “No more than -a track man letting another runner set the pace.”</p> -<p>“No worry,” Charley assured them. “We win -anyway.”</p> -<p>“What a man you are, Charley.” Jerry regarded -the big Indian with admiration. “We could use -you in the fullback spot on the Valley View football -team.” He grinned at Sandy. “I bet he could -walk down the field with both teams on his back.”</p> -<p>Charley squinted up at the sky abruptly. The -ceiling seemed even lower and grayer than before. -“It snow soon. We better go.”</p> -<p>Sandy looked up too. “How can you tell?”</p> -<p>“I know,” Charley said somberly. “Bad storm -on the way.”</p> -<p>“Oh, great!” Jerry said. “What happens if we -get caught out in this deep freeze in a blizzard?”</p> -<p>“There are check points every twenty-five -miles,” Sandy recalled what the professor had told -him. “We must be pretty close to one now, Charley. -Think we should stop and get a weather report?”</p> -<p>Charley nodded toward the east. “Two, three -miles over that way. On main trail. We go there, -we lose race. We stop at next post, at halfway -mark. Three hours away maybe.”</p> -<p>“I guess that’s the only thing to do,” Sandy -agreed. “Well, let’s get moving.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_79">79</div> -<p>Ten minutes later, the snow began to come -down, fine granular pellets that stung like sand as -the rising wind blasted it into their faces. Visibility -was reduced to no more than fifty feet. Even -the dogs were slowed down. The snow, mixed -with the loose surface fluff of previous falls, piled -up quickly in drifts. As it dragged at his boots -more and more, Charley began to mutter angrily -to himself in Indian.</p> -<p>“I don’t like it, Sandy,” Jerry said uneasily. -“We’re never going to make that check point before -dark.”</p> -<p>“At this rate we’ll never make it at all,” Sandy -retorted. “Listen, Jerry, what do you say we get -out and trot along with Charley? It’s bad enough -pulling the sled by itself without our weight too.”</p> -<p>“Good idea,” Jerry admitted. “Let’s give the -dogs a break.”</p> -<p>Sandy signaled Charley to stop and told him of -their plan.</p> -<p>“All right,” Charley agreed. “I go up front and -break trail.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div> -<h2 id="c8"><span class="small">CHAPTER EIGHT</span> -<br />Lost in a Blizzard</h2> -<p>For the next half hour the boys were able to -keep up with the sled. But in the ever-deepening -snow, their legs grew heavier and heavier. At last, -they lost sight of the sled in the swirling flakes. -When Jerry slipped and fell, Sandy cupped his -hands to his mouth like a megaphone and yelled: -“Charley! Char-r-ley! Wait for us.”</p> -<p>Gasping for breath, Jerry struggled up to his -hands and knees. “I’ve had it, Sandy,” he gasped. -“I can’t go any farther.”</p> -<p>Sandy helped his friend to get up and supported -him with one arm. “C’mon, boy, we can -make it. As soon as we catch up with the team you -can rest awhile in the sled.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div> -<p>Clutching each other tightly, they staggered -forward, trying to follow the tracks of the sled -runners. But before they had covered twenty-five -feet, the blowing snow had obliterated the trail. -Sandy continued on doggedly in the direction he -thought the team had taken, dragging Jerry with -him. Every few steps he would stop and call: -“Char-ley! Char-ley!” But there was no answer—only -the moaning of the wind and the hiss of the -snow beating against the fabric of their parkas.</p> -<p>Once more Jerry sagged to his knees. “We’re -lost, pal,” he muttered. “Look, I’m exhausted. I -can’t go a step farther. You go ahead and look for -Charley. When you find him, you can come back -for me.”</p> -<p>“Don’t be crazy, Jerry. Our best chance is to -stick together. If we keep walking, we’re bound to -catch up to the team. Once Charley finds we’re -gone, he’ll stop and wait for us.”</p> -<p>Jerry’s voice cracked. “I can’t see my hand in -front of my face. We don’t even know if we’re going -in the right direction.”</p> -<p>While he was speaking, a low, mournful howl -drifted to them on the wind from somewhere on -their left. Sandy clutched Jerry’s arm. “You hear -that?” he said tensely.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div> -<p>Jerry’s voice brightened. “That must be the -team. C’mon.” With renewed vigor, he veered off -in the direction of the howling.</p> -<p>Sandy grabbed him with both hands. “No, -wait! It could be a wolf.”</p> -<p>Jerry stopped dead. “Oh my gosh!” he murmured. -“What are we going to do?”</p> -<p>Sandy dusted the snow that had crusted on his -eyebrows with the back of one mitten. “I don’t -know. I still think we’re heading in the right direction. -Let’s go a little farther. If we don’t find -Charley and the team soon, we can always head -over that way.”</p> -<p>The snow was coming down so hard now that -every breath was an effort. Sandy felt as if he were -being smothered in a sea of white cotton. He -stopped as the howling broke out again, in a chorus -this time.</p> -<p>“Maybe you’re right,” he said to Jerry. “That -sure sounds like a bunch of dogs.”</p> -<p>“Yeah, let’s give it a try, anyhow,” Jerry -pressed.</p> -<p>They were just about to veer off in the direction -of the howling when they heard a familiar -harsh rumbling directly in front of them. It was -the unmistakable growl of a husky.</p> -<p>“Charley!” Sandy called out. “Titan! Black Titan!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div> -<p>A succession of sharp yelps knifed through the -storm. “That’s the team all right!” Jerry cried.</p> -<p>Miraculously, their legs seemed to find new -strength, and they practically ran the rest of the -way through the knee-deep snow. Directly ahead -of them, the sled loomed out of the darkness. The -dogs, in harness, were seated on their haunches or -huddled low in drifts to escape the force of the -wind. But Charley was nowhere to be seen.</p> -<p>Jerry sagged against the back of the sled. “Oh -my gosh! What happened to him?”</p> -<p>“He must have doubled back to look for us and -we didn’t see him in the storm.” Night had deepened -the blinding downfall even more.</p> -<p>There was a tremor in Jerry’s voice. “You don’t -think the wolves got him, Sandy?”</p> -<p>“No, they rarely attack a man. Especially with -the dogs here. Besides, Charley had a rifle.” He -rummaged through the packs on the front of the -sled. “It’s not here, so he must have taken it with -him.”</p> -<p>“What do we do now?” Jerry wanted to know. -“Go back and try to find Charley?”</p> -<p>“That’s the worst thing we could do,” Sandy -said emphatically. “We’d get lost but good. No, -the best thing to do is to wait here until Charley -gets back.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div> -<p>Jerry was skeptical. “I’m not sure even an old -woodsman like Charley can find his way back in -this soup.”</p> -<p>“Maybe if we shout to him he’ll hear us,” Sandy -suggested.</p> -<p>For the next ten minutes the boys pitted their -voices against the intensity of the raging storm. -But even in their own ears their shouts sounded -pitifully weak. At last they gave it up.</p> -<p>“It’s no use,” Sandy said hoarsely. “We’ll just -have to wait.” He crouched down in the lee of the -sled.</p> -<p>What seemed like hours passed and still there -was no sign of Charley. The boys could feel the -cold seeping through their heavy clothing and -stiffening their limbs. They were both badly -frightened now.</p> -<p>“Sandy,” Jerry pleaded, “we just can’t sit here -and do nothing. We’ll freeze to death. My nose -and cheeks are numb now.”</p> -<p>Sandy fought back the panic that was rising in -him too. “If we don’t lose our heads, we’ll be okay, -Jerry. The way it looks now, we’re going to have -to spend the night here. Tomorrow, they’ll have -search parties out looking for us. I bet the rest of -the contestants are in the same boat we are.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> -<p>“We’ll be stiff as washboards by then,” Jerry -prophesied. “Frozen wolf food.”</p> -<p>“Don’t be a nut,” Sandy snapped. “Now get up -and help me rig up a lean-to.”</p> -<p>“A lean-to?” Jerry said wonderingly. “What -kind of a lean-to?”</p> -<p>“The kind Charley says the Eskimos build on -the trail. They fasten a big hide to the side of the -sled that’s out of the wind and peg the other side -down to the ice, or weight it down. The snow piles -up against the far side of the sled, forming a solid -windbreak, and you have yourself a cozy little -tent.”</p> -<p>“We don’t have any hides,” Jerry said.</p> -<p>“We have that big rug in the sled. C’mon, let’s -get to work.”</p> -<p>While Sandy fastened the robe to the top of the -sled’s guard rail, Jerry weighted the far side down -with a pair of snowshoes he found in the sled and -heaped up snow on top of the shoes until they -weighted down the robe securely. When they -were finished, Sandy scooped the excess snow out -from beneath the robe and they had a small lean-to -with just enough room in it to shelter two people.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div> -<p>“Well, that’s that,” Sandy said with satisfaction, -brushing off his mittens. “Now I’ll unhitch the -dogs while you get our supper ready.”</p> -<p>The erection of the lean-to had renewed Jerry’s -confidence. “What’ll you have?” he inquired flippantly. -“Roast turkey with chestnut stuffing or a -thick steak smothered with onions and a side of -French fries?”</p> -<p>Sandy played the game with him. “No, I’m getting -sick of that goppy stuff. How about a couple -of frozen sandwiches and a thermos of cold coffee?”</p> -<p>“Just what I had in mind,” Jerry called to him -as he rummaged through the packs on the sled. -“Are we going to feed the huskies?”</p> -<p>“Sure, get out some of that meat Charley keeps -in that big tin can up front.”</p> -<p>The dogs seemed overjoyed to see Sandy. They -leaped about him, wagging their tails furiously -and barking and whining.</p> -<p>“I bet you guys are hungry,” Sandy spoke to -them. “Keep calm. Your dinner’s coming right -up.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div> -<p>When he knelt beside Black Titan to remove -his harness, the big lead dog jockeyed obediently -into the proper position. As soon as he -was free, he nuzzled affectionately against the -boy’s cheek. “Hey!” Sandy laughed. “That is the -coldest nose I ever felt in my life.” He ruffled up -the thick fur around the husky’s throat with his -fingers, and was surprised to feel the soothing -warmth deep down in the animal’s undercoat. -“Boy, I wish I had your fur, Titan. No wonder -you can sleep in a snow foxhole.” He pressed both -hands against Titan’s body gratefully. “That feels -good, old boy.”</p> -<p>Jerry came up behind him with the can of dog -meat. “And look what else I found.” He held out -a bulky .45 Colt automatic. “It’s fully loaded, -too.”</p> -<p>The sight of the lethal-looking pistol was reassuring. -“Dad must have given it to Charley before -we left,” Sandy reasoned. “He asked me if I -wanted to take a gun along, but I knew Charley -had his rifle, so I didn’t bother. It’s a good thing -we have it. Now maybe we can signal to Charley. -Fire a few shots in the air to let him know where -we are.”</p> -<p>“Good idea,” Jerry agreed. “And I’ve got an -even better one.”</p> -<p>“What’s that?”</p> -<p>“Let’s send old Titan out to find his buddy. -Bet you he can do it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div> -<p>Sandy was pessimistic. “I don’t know if he could -pick up Charley’s trail in a storm like this, but we -can give it a try.”</p> -<p>While the dogs were gulping down their food, -the boys rummaged through Charley’s gear until -they found a heavy wool shirt that the Indian had -recently worn. When Black Titan had finished -eating, Sandy held the shirt under his nose.</p> -<p>“Charley, Charley,” he kept repeating. “Go -find Charley, Titan.” He slapped the husky on the -rump. “Go on, Titan!”</p> -<p>Titan began to whine as he sniffed at the shirt. -Then he trotted off into the blizzard with his head -down. When he had disappeared from sight, Jerry -turned to Sandy. “Well, what do we do now?”</p> -<p>“Eat supper and climb into our sleeping bags, -I guess. But first I want to fire a couple of shots to -see if we can signal Charley.”</p> -<p>He took out the heavy automatic and levered a -shell into the firing chamber. Pointing it up in -the air, he pulled the trigger. The muzzle flash -lit up the night briefly like lightning, but the shot -was muffled by the wind and thick curtain of snow. -The dogs milled around nervously and began to -bark. Sandy fired one more shot, then shoved the -gun back in the pocket of his parka.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> -<p>“I bet those shots didn’t carry over five hundred -feet. I feel as though we’re inside a vacuum. I -don’t want to waste any more shells until this gale -lets up a little. C’mon, let’s sack in for the night.”</p> -<p>They gathered up the sandwiches, coffee thermos, -Coleman stove and sleeping bags and crawled -into the lean-to. The blowing snow had sealed up -all the cracks and even the openings at either end -of the makeshift shelter. Sandy burrowed through -a drift at the rear of the sled to form an entranceway.</p> -<p>“This back end gets less wind,” he explained to -Jerry.</p> -<p>The interior of the lean-to was cramped, but -seated with their backs resting against the sides -of the sled and their legs crossed in front of them, -they were not too uncomfortable. Sandy pumped -up the pressure in the one-burner gasoline stove -and lit it. He turned the wick up abnormally high -until the pale-blue flame became streaked with -yellow and began to smoke slightly. Although -this was a waste of fuel and reduced the cooking -efficiency of the stove, it provided more light and -warmth.</p> -<p>“Say, this is all right,” Jerry said, grinning. “It -reminds me of the time we went on a Boy Scout -camping trip and slept in pup tents.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> -<p>Sandy grinned. “The only difference was we -were only a ten-minute walk away from home and -there was a hot-dog stand across the road from the -bivouac area.” He took a half-frozen sandwich out -of the knapsack and passed it to Jerry. “Be careful -you don’t break your teeth when you bite into -it.”</p> -<p>“Thanks, pal.” Jerry filled two aluminum canteen -cups from the coffee thermos and sipped -from one. “It’s lukewarm, anyway,” he commented.</p> -<p>“I’ve got an idea,” Sandy said. “We can heat the -cups on the stove and sit the sandwiches on top of -the cup. That way the steam will thaw out the -bread.”</p> -<p>“Brilliant. If it wasn’t so cold, I’d take my hat -off to you.”</p> -<p>Ten minutes later, they were munching hungrily -on a relatively decent meal. Jerry inhaled -the steam that was rising from his canteen cup and -sighed contentedly. “I know it must be my imagination, -but right now I’d say this is the best-tasting -chow I ever ate.”</p> -<p>Sandy laughed and nodded. “We used to say the -same thing about the mickeys we roasted in the -corner lot when we were kids. All black with ashes -and dirt, but boy, they sure did taste good.” He -lowered the wick a little on the stove. “It’s probably -the hot coffee, but I’m beginning to get -warm in here.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> -<p>“What’s wrong with being warm?” Jerry protested. -“Turn it up as high as it will go.”</p> -<p>Sandy frowned. “When you live in frigid temperatures -it’s safer to feel a little cold than it is -to be overheated, because when you cool off, the -perspiration will turn to ice on your skin.”</p> -<p>“Perspiration!” Jerry gawked incredulously. -“Are you kidding?”</p> -<p>“Well, we’re not going to take any chances. As -soon as we’re finished eating, I’m going to turn -off the stove altogether.”</p> -<p>“Not until I’m snug in my bedroll,” Jerry -begged.</p> -<p>Sandy looked worried. “Poor Charley. He’s not -going to be very snug tonight. No bedroll, no -food. Gee, I wish I knew what happened to him.”</p> -<p>“What makes it worse,” Jerry said gloomily, “is -that it’s our fault. If we hadn’t dragged so far behind, -he wouldn’t have had to go looking for us.”</p> -<p>The boys finished their sandwiches and coffee -in subdued silence, staring out into the stormy -night through the diminishing black hole of the -entranceway.</p> -<p>“You know,” Sandy said suddenly, “in another -hour we’ll be snowed in tight inside this lean-to.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div> -<p>Jerry surveyed the drifting snow anxiously. -“You’re right. Like a tomb. We’ll be able to get -out, though, won’t we?”</p> -<p>Sandy reached over and enlarged the opening -with one hand. “Oh, yes. It’s as light as powder.”</p> -<p>After they had finished eating and wrapped up -the garbage, they prepared to bed down for the -night. “We’d better do this one at a time,” Sandy -suggested. “We’d only be in each other’s way moving -around in here together. I’ll go outside until -you’re all settled. You lie with your head up at -the front of the sled. I’ll lie the opposite way. -That way we’ll have more room.”</p> -<p>Crawling on hands and knees, Sandy pushed -through the drift that was blocking up the opening. -A furious blast of bitter cold wind took his -breath away as he got to his feet and sent him reeling -back from the sled. It was even warmer inside -the lean-to than he had realized. He recalled that -Tagish Charley had a powerful flashlight in his -gear and walked through knee-high snow to the -front of the sled to look for it. It would be wise to -keep it handy in the lean-to, he decided. He -found the light easily and turned it on to see how -the dogs were making out. They were all huddled -together behind the windbreak of the sled, growling -and shifting around restlessly. As the flash -beam swept over them, a few cringed and bared -their fangs. Their behavior distressed Sandy, who -had expected that by now they would all be cozily -balled up in holes and snoring peacefully. He -skirted around them and walked back to consult -with Jerry. Beaming the light on the lean-to, he -saw that the snow was mounding it over like an -igloo. Once more he had to dig the snow away -from the entrance before he could get in.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> -<p>When he crawled inside, he saw that Jerry was -stretched out in his sleeping bag, the hooded -cover zipped up tightly around his head. Only his -eyes, nose and mouth were showing.</p> -<p>“How’s the weather outside?” he asked Sandy.</p> -<p>Sandy shook the snow off his hood. “Same as before. -Terrible. The dogs are acting up, too. I’m -worried.”</p> -<p>“Maybe they’re cold.”</p> -<p>“I don’t think so. They act frightened.”</p> -<p>“Me too. We’re snowbound in the Yukon. -Charley’s missing, probably frozen to death in a -snowdrift. Our food is about gone. What a mess! -I’m scared plenty.”</p> -<p>At that moment a long, mournful animal howl -rose clearly above the intensity of the wind. Before -it trailed off, another howl and still another -joined it, forming an eerie chorus.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div> -<p>Jerry snapped upright like a jack-in-the-box, his -face drained of blood. “Wolves!”</p> -<p>“And close by,” Sandy said grimly.</p> -<p>Outside, the dogs were really setting up an uproar -now, snarling and barking frantically.</p> -<p>Despite the seriousness of the situation, Sandy -had to smile as he watched his friend struggling to -get out of the sleeping bag. In his excitement, -Jerry couldn’t work the zipper. “Get me out of -this strait jacket!” he yelled.</p> -<p>“Take it easy,” Sandy said. “In that bag you -look like a big fat hot dog with a face.”</p> -<p>“Not so loud,” Jerry cautioned him. “The -wolves might hear you. Just hurry and get me out -of here.”</p> -<p>Between them they finally got the sleeping bag -unzipped, and Jerry rolled out. Sandy took the -Army .45 out of his pocket and checked the clip. -There were still four shells in it.</p> -<p>“Do we have any more ammunition for that -cannon?” Jerry asked anxiously.</p> -<p>“Probably up front in Charley’s gear. I’m going -up to get it.”</p> -<p>“I’m going with you,” Jerry said promptly. -“One of those wolves might poke his snout in here -while you’re gone.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<p>They scrambled out into the blizzard and stood -up. Sandy switched on the flashlight and swept it -in a wide circle about them. The powerful beam -seemed to run into a solid wall of white no more -than fifty feet away. He turned it on the dogs, -who were setting up such a loud racket that it -drowned out the howling of the wolves. The huskies -were all on their feet now, standing stiff-legged -with their tails curled tightly beneath their bellies. -Their lips were drawn back over their teeth, -and the thick fur around their necks bristled like -porcupine quills. Sandy swung the light in the direction -of their gaze, and felt his heart flip and -miss a beat. Glowing greenishly through the falling -flakes was a circle of eyes. They were there for -just an instant and then faded back out of range -of the beam.</p> -<p>Jerry gripped Sandy’s arm tightly. “There -must be a whole pack of ’em. They’re just waiting -for us to fall asleep and then they’ll jump us.”</p> -<p>One of the huskies began to slink forward toward -the wolves, his belly flattened close to the -ground.</p> -<p>“Come back here, boy!” Sandy shouted. -“They’ll tear him to pieces,” he muttered to -Jerry. He cocked the automatic and aimed in the -direction of the glowing eyes. “I hate to waste -ammo like this, but maybe we can scare them off.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div> -<p>He fired three shots. The last shot was answered -by a sharp yelp of pain.</p> -<p>“You got one!” Jerry yelled excitedly.</p> -<p>“Shh! Listen!” Sandy said. Above the wailing -of the storm they could hear wild snarling and -yelping.</p> -<p>“Sounds like they’re fighting among themselves,” -Jerry said.</p> -<p>The commotion ended as abruptly as it had begun, -and although Sandy kept searching the darkness -with the light for a long time, there was no -further sign of the wolves. At last, when the dogs -quieted down and curled up in burrows, the boys -relaxed.</p> -<p>“I guess the shots did scare them off at that,” -Sandy decided. “Now let’s find that box of ammo -in Charley’s pack, and then we can go back inside -and see if we can get some rest.”</p> -<p>“Sleep?” Jerry said. “Are you kidding? Suppose -they come back again?”</p> -<p>“The dogs will warn us if they do.”</p> -<p>Jerry shivered. “Okay. But I’ll take the bed -next to the wall, just in case.”</p> -<p>The snow had completely blocked the entrance, -and they had to shovel energetically to -clear it. “Man, it’s really warm in here,” Jerry -said as he crawled into the lean-to.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div> -<p>The snow wall that had built up at the other -end of the lean-to and on the sled side was smooth -and glistening. “Just like an igloo,” Sandy said. -As soon as they were inside their sleeping bags, -he turned off the Coleman stove.</p> -<p>Jerry sighed as the little hut was plunged into -pitch-darkness. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think -I was back in my little trundle bed in Valley -View.”</p> -<p>“Go to sleep,” Sandy grunted. He was facing the -entrance and the automatic was within easy reach -in his side pocket. In an emergency, he knew he -could fire right through the sleeping bag.</p> -<p>Gradually, his eyes became accustomed to the -darkness and he could make out the faint outline -of the round doorway. His eyelids grew heavier -and the hole grew smaller and smaller. Then he -dropped off to sleep.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div> -<h2 id="c9"><span class="small">CHAPTER NINE</span> -<br />Trapped in an Icy Tomb</h2> -<p>When Sandy awoke, it was still pitch-dark inside -the lean-to. He was about to roll over and go back -to sleep, but he decided to see what time it was -first. He pulled down the zipper of his sleeping -bag, fumbled for the flashlight and flicked the -switch.</p> -<p>The sudden burst of light woke up Jerry. -“Whazza matter?” he mumbled.</p> -<p>“Go back to sleep,” Sandy told him. “It’s still -the middle of the night.” He turned the spot on -his wrist watch. “What the—” he exclaimed, and -sat up, startled. He squinted at the dial again, but -there was no mistake. It said 7:30. “That’s impossible! -It must have stopped!” But he held it up -to his ear and heard the steady, rhythmic ticking.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div> -<p>“What’s the matter with you?” Jerry, fully -awake now, propped himself up on one elbow.</p> -<p>Suddenly, Sandy began to laugh. “Oh, I get it. -We’re snowed in.” He explained to Jerry. “My -watch said it was half past seven, but I couldn’t believe -it because it was so dark in here. It’s the -snow; it’s blocking out the daylight.”</p> -<p>“It’s really morning?” Jerry said doubtfully. -“Well, let’s go out and find out.” He unzippered -his sleeping bag.</p> -<p>Propping the torch up in the snow, Sandy tried -to push his head and shoulders through the drift -that blocked the entrance. It was like running into -a stone wall. “Ouch!” he cried. He dug at the -snow with his fingers, but his mittens slid futilely -off a surface that was as smooth as a skating rink.</p> -<p>“Well, come on,” Jerry said impatiently. “Let’s -go.”</p> -<p>“Door’s frozen up,” Sandy told him. He sat -down and tried to kick through the ice with his -feet, but couldn’t dent it. He turned to Jerry. -“Try your end. This one is plugged up solid.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_100">100</div> -<p>“So is this end,” Jerry reported, after pounding -away with his hands and feet for several minutes. -“So, we’ll go out the side.” He grabbed one corner -of the robe and tugged it loose from where -it was anchored under the snow, while Sandy -worked on the other corner. Then they pulled it -aside, exposing a smooth, glittering expanse of ice -behind it.</p> -<p>Sandy tested it with his fist and whistled. “Like -iron.”</p> -<p>There was a tremor in Jerry’s voice. “What -goes on around here? Maybe I wasn’t kidding last -night when I called this thing a tomb.”</p> -<p>“Take it easy,” Sandy soothed. “It’s only snow.”</p> -<p>“Yeah, ice,” Jerry repeated. “You ever see -them drive trucks across the ice on frozen lakes? -I’ve seen it in newsreels. That ice is pretty rugged -stuff.”</p> -<p>“You got a knife?” Sandy asked. “I left mine in -the sled.”</p> -<p>“So did I. Say, let’s try to move the sled,” -Jerry suggested.</p> -<p>They both shoved and pulled at the sled for a -long time, but it seemed welded to the spot. At -last, Jerry sank down exhausted. “I don’t get it. -What happened?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> -<p>Sandy played the light over the walls of the -lean-to. “I can guess. Remember how cozy and -warm it got in here last night? Between that stove -and the heat from our bodies, I bet the temperature -in here was a good fifty degrees higher than it -was outside. The heat radiates through the snow, -causing it to melt partially. Then it freezes up. -That’s how the Eskimos harden the walls of their -snow houses. They build big bonfires in them.”</p> -<p>“Only they don’t forget to make doors in ’em,” -Jerry said grimly. “Another thousand years from -now, I can see a couple of geologists like your dad -and the professor digging us out. Preserved in a -block of ice like that baby mammoth.”</p> -<p>“It’s no joking matter,” Sandy said. “We’ve -got to think of a way to break out of here. One -thing, though: they’re bound to send out search -parties and sooner or later they’ll find the sled.”</p> -<p>“What makes you think so?” Jerry demanded. -“The sled is probably covered with snow by now -and this must look like any other part of the landscape. -And you don’t think those dogs are going to -hang around here forever, do you? They’ve probably -run off looking for food already.”</p> -<p>Sandy felt his heart begin to race madly. “I -never thought of that,” he admitted. “Well, it’s -up to us then. What have we got that we can use -as a chipping tool?”</p> -<p>“Only thing I can think of that’s metal is the -Coleman stove.”</p> -<p>“That’s no good. No sharp edges.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> -<p>They were silent for a moment, then Sandy -snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it! The gun!” He -took the bulky .45 out of his pocket and held it up -in the light. “We’ll blast our way out.”</p> -<p>Jerry looked worried. “You know what they -say about shooting fish in a rain barrel? Well, if -one of those slugs ever ricochets inside here, we’ll -be dead fish.”</p> -<p>“It’s our only chance,” Sandy said. He loaded -the gun, cocked the hammer and nudged off the -safety with his thumb. Holding the gun at arm’s -length away from him, he pointed the muzzle at -the end where the entrance had been. “Better -make sure your hood is pulled tight over your -ears,” he advised Jerry.</p> -<p>“I’m all set. Let ’er go.”</p> -<p>Sandy shut his eyes and tightened his finger on -the trigger. The explosion reverberated like a -bomb in the small lean-to. Sandy felt the shock -wave slam into his face, and the recoil almost tore -the gun out of his hand. He sat there stunned for -a while.</p> -<p>Jerry’s voice screaming in his ear brought -him out of it. “Sandy, it worked!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div> -<p>He opened his eyes to the most wonderful sight -he had ever seen. A beam of sunlight was pouring -through an opening in the ice wall. The potent, -snub-nosed .45 slug had blasted a hole almost four -inches in diameter. In the light of the flashlight, -he also observed that the ice around the hole was -shattered and veined from the shock wave.</p> -<p>Dropping the gun back into his pocket, Sandy -got on his knees and began to work on the opening -with his hands. Snow and ice crumbled easily, -and before long he had enlarged the hole so that -he was able to squirm through. Jerry was right behind -him. Painfully, they stood up.</p> -<p>“Oh,” Jerry groaned. “I feel like a dog on its -hind legs.” Looking up at the clear blue sky, he -threw kisses into the air with both hands. “Mr. -Sun, I never figured we’d ever see you again.”</p> -<p>It was a perfect, cloudless day without even a -breeze. Looking around him, Sandy realized that -the high winds of the night before had exaggerated -the intensity of the blizzard. Except where it -had drifted around the sled and lean-to, no more -than twelve inches of new snow had fallen. He -discovered, too, that they had been traveling -along the ridge of a low hill and had stopped on -the most exposed spot in all the surrounding terrain. -On either side, the ground sloped away -gently into protected valleys thick with fir trees.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_104">104</div> -<p>After spending hours shut up in the gloom of -the lean-to, the boys found the sunlight on the -snow blinding. They dug their smoked glasses out -of their packs and put them on. The dogs crowded -around them, yelping and wagging their tails.</p> -<p>“I guess they’re hungry,” Sandy said. “Is there -any meat left?”</p> -<p>“A little,” Jerry said. He went to get the can of -food from the front of the sled. As he threw the -last chunks of raw horse meat to the huskies, he -eyed it forlornly. “I’m so hungry I could eat it -myself.”</p> -<p>Sandy grinned. “Even some of that <i>muk-tuk</i> -would look good to me now.”</p> -<p>“Are the sandwiches all gone?”</p> -<p>“We finished them last night.”</p> -<p>They had just finished feeding the dogs when -a faint “Ha-lo-oo-oo...” floated through the -still air. On a distant ridge the figure of a man and -a dog were silhouetted against the sky.</p> -<p>“It’s Charley and Titan!” the boys yelled in -unison. They began to leap up and down, waving -their arms and screaming, “Charley! Over here!”</p> -<p>Less than a quarter of an hour later, the Indian -came plowing up the hill with Black Titan floundering -behind him. They hugged him joyfully -and pounded his back, and even Charley was grinning -from ear to ear. He listened solemnly while -they related their harrowing experiences with the -wolves and how they had been trapped in the lean-to.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div> -<p>Charley had had a pretty bad time of it himself. -He admitted that, for the first time in his life, he -had lost his way when he went back to look for -the boys, and had somehow mistaken east for west. -Confused and blinded by the shifting gale winds -and whipping snow, he had wandered off to an -adjacent ridge. After walking around for hours, -he had become exhausted—he had been tired out -by running twenty-five miles behind the sled to -start with—and erected a lean-to in a clump of -thick pine trees in the sheltered valley. He had -built a big fire and had fallen asleep beside it almost -immediately. The next thing he knew, Black -Titan was licking his face and the first streaks of -dawn were filtering through the pine branches -overhead. He had been searching for the boys -when he heard the gunshot.</p> -<p>Using the snowshoes as shovels, the three of -them dug the sled out of the snow bank. The -intense heat of the sun softened the hard upper -crust and melted the ice that had formed around -the runners. Then Charley hitched up the dogs -and headed for the nearest check point, which -was only a few miles away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div> -<p>Their arrival created quite a bit of excitement. -“Only one other sled has come through here,” -a worried official told them. “The Mounties have -planes and search parties out looking for the others.”</p> -<p>“We saw one of the planes,” Sandy said. “He -dipped his wings and we waved to him. So he -knew we were all right.”</p> -<p>“Actually, though,” the official went on, “the -storm looked worse last night than it was. Those -winds were gale force. I don’t imagine anyone -was really in serious trouble. They’re all experienced -woodsmen, accustomed to roughing it on -the trail.”</p> -<p>Jerry hooked his thumbs inside his belt and -puffed out his chest. “Sure, it was a breeze.”</p> -<p>Tagish Charley was more interested in the sled -that had passed through the check point that -morning. The official said the other driver had -about one hour’s start on them.</p> -<p>“We catch ’im,” Charley said. “Let’s go.”</p> -<p>“Hey!” Jerry complained. “What about breakfast? -I’m so ravenous, I’m liable to take a bite out -of one of the dogs.”</p> -<p>“No time to eat,” the Indian said. “We have to -win race.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div> -<p>“We’ll give you some sandwiches and hot coffee -to take along,” the official promised. “You can eat -on the run.”</p> -<p>Jerry stared wistfully at the platters of flapjacks, -juicy Canadian bacon and hot biscuits on -the stove. “If we come out of this alive, I’ll never -look at a cold sandwich again,” he vowed.</p> -<p>A short time later, they were racing down the -trail. It was a good day, and by nightfall they had -covered another forty-five miles and overtaken -the sled ahead of them. Its driver turned out to be -a young uranium prospector. For five years he and -his brother had been competing in the big race. -Two years before, they had come in first and they -were hoping to repeat this year. They were pleasant -young men and spent the night with Charley -and the boys at the last check point on the route.</p> -<p>That night, after a hearty supper, they sat -around the fire talking to Sandy and Jerry. -Tagish Charley went to bed as soon as he had the -team fed and settled in the barn. About nine -o’clock, another sled arrived at the check point, -and the driver reported that still another team -was camped at the side of the trail about an hour’s -ride away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div> -<p>“This is really going to be a photo finish,” one -of the brothers said. He got to his feet and -knocked the ash out of his pipe into the fireplace. -“We better sack in, men. There’s going to be a -mad scramble to get away first in the morning.”</p> -<p>Sandy and Jerry followed them to the big dormitory -bedroom, where a dozen army cots were -set up around a potbellied stove that glowed a -dull cherry-red in the darkness. Charley was already -snoring loudly as they slipped into their -bedrolls.</p> -<p>“Now how are we supposed to get to sleep with -that big lug sawing wood?” Jerry grumbled. -“We may as well sit and ... and ... talk ... -around ... the ... fire....” His voice trailed -off into a pretty good imitation of a buzz saw of -its own.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div> -<h2 id="c10"><span class="small">CHAPTER TEN</span> -<br />Down the Chilkoot Chute to Victory</h2> -<p>It seemed to Sandy that he had just closed his -eyes when he felt rough hands on his shoulders, -shaking him. “Time to go,” Charley’s voice whispered.</p> -<p>“What time is it?” he mumbled, raising himself -on his elbows.</p> -<p>“Four o’clock,” Charley said. “Other fellers -hitching up already.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_110">110</div> -<p>Sandy struggled out of his sleeping bag and sat -on the edge of the cot, stretching. It was still dark, -but when Charley opened the stove door to throw -on another log, he could see that the cots that the -two brothers had slept on were empty. Yawning, -he raised his left foot and kicked the cot where -Jerry was still sleeping soundly.</p> -<p>“Rise and shine!” he called to his friend.</p> -<p>They ate a hurried breakfast of hot cereal -and scalding coffee, and by four-thirty they were -on the trail again. The cold wind in their faces -and the stinging spray kicked up by the dogs’ feet -brought them fully awake before they had gone -far.</p> -<p>When it began to get light, the boys got out of -the sled and trotted along with Charley. They -kept it up for a mile or so before Jerry developed -a bad case of rubber legs and went down on his -knees.</p> -<p>“I feel like a dope,” he said, as Sandy helped -him back into the sled. “Here we are, a couple of -kids, puffing like steam engines, and an old guy -like Charley isn’t breathing any harder than if he -had run up a flight of stairs.”</p> -<p>“And we’re in pretty good condition from being -in school athletics. Can you imagine how -some of the other guys in school would make -out?” Sandy asked. “The guys who hop in the -family car to go down to the corner newsstand and -sneak smokes between every class?”</p> -<p>“Yeah,” Jerry agreed ruefully. “The kids in the -States are getting soft, there’s no doubt about it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> -<p>“My Uncle Russ always says you should take at -least as much pride in your body as you do in your -home. Most people wouldn’t live in sloppy, rundown -houses, but a lot of them don’t care if they -spend their lives in sloppy, rundown bodies.”</p> -<p>Jerry slapped his middle irritably. “Let me tell -you, I’m going to work on this flab when I get -home. Old Charley here has taught me a lesson. -You miss a lot of the fun of life if you’re out of -shape.”</p> -<p>Sandy kept up with Charley for another mile, -then he got back into the sled. He noticed that the -Indian held to a pattern: he would run along for a -half hour or so and then hitch a ride on the sled -for ten minutes. It seemed as if he could go on like -that endlessly and tirelessly.</p> -<p>They stopped at mid-morning to give the dogs a -rest and brew some strong Indian tea. Charley -wouldn’t drink the coffee in the thermos. “Coffee -no good. You ever see huskies drink coffee?” The -boys had to admit that they never had. “Indian -tea like medicine. Make you strong and healthy. -Dogs know.” To demonstrate, he poured a little -into a tin plate for Titan, and the big lead dog -lapped it up promptly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div> -<p>“It sure doesn’t look as if we’re ever going to -catch those guys ahead of us, Charley,” Sandy commented, -dropping a handful of snow into his cup -to cool it.</p> -<p>Charley looked down the trail behind them. -“They behind us now. Last hill we pass, we go -around the long way, maybe mile longer. They go -through valley.”</p> -<p>Jerry blinked. “If we came the long way, how -come we’re ahead of them?”</p> -<p>The Indian shrugged. “That valley like pocket -after big snow. Drifts three, four feet deep. They -have plenty trouble getting through.”</p> -<p>Sandy grinned. “What a sly old fox you are, -Charley.”</p> -<p>They were traveling high in the coastal mountains -of British Columbia now, moving through -the Chilkoot Pass. Just before noon, they arrived -at a customs check point.</p> -<p>“You’re the first team through,” the mounted -policeman who waved them past shouted.</p> -<p>Abruptly, the trail appeared to end at the edge -of a cliff. Charley reined the team in and motioned -for the boys to step to the rim of the drop-off. -Here they saw that, in reality, the trail continued -on down a steep incline that resembled the -big drop on a roller coaster. For almost 1,200 feet -it fell away at a 45-degree angle into the coastal -valley below. It was a magnificent spectacle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_113">113</div> -<p>Jerry gulped hard. “We’re not going down <i>that</i> -in a sled, are we?”</p> -<p>Tagish Charley nodded curtly. “Chilkoot -Chute. We take dogs off first. They follow us -down.” He walked back and began to remove -Black Titan’s harness.</p> -<p>Sandy grinned at Jerry. “You ever been on a -bobsled?” Jerry shook his head mutely. “Well, -after this it’ll be a cinch.”</p> -<p>When the dogs were unhitched, the boys -climbed aboard the sled, and Charley pushed it -to the edge of the chute. It teetered briefly, then -nosed down the incline.</p> -<p>“Alaska next stop!” Sandy yelled as they picked -up speed. A rush of air choked the words off in -his mouth, and his stomach rose up in his rib -cage with a sickening sensation that was ten times -worse than he had ever experienced in an elevator.</p> -<p>Faster and faster the sled shot down the slope, -swaying from side to side, as Charley, riding the -tail, shifted his weight skillfully to steer it. Behind -it the dogs skidded and scrambled down the -chute, barking and yelping excitedly. The sled -reached the bottom and glided down the trail almost -half a mile before it came to a halt.</p> -<p>“What a ride!” Jerry exclaimed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_114">114</div> -<p>“We must have skidded halfway to Skagway,” -Sandy said. He got out of the sled and looked back -at the Chilkoot Chute. “Gee, it doesn’t look so -bad from here, but when you’re on it, you’d swear -it was a perpendicular wall.”</p> -<p>The dogs finally caught up and Charley hitched -them to the sled again. “We win now easy,” he -said matter-of-factly.</p> -<p>As they approached Skagway, they passed cabins, -farms and other signs of civilization. A group -of children playing in one yard gave them a lusty -cheer and chased after the sled. Farther along, -other children tagged on to the caravan along -with three dogs.</p> -<p>Then, up ahead on the outskirts of the city, -they saw a big crowd of people. “Finish line,” -Charley informed them.</p> -<p>When the sled came into view, a tremendous -roar went up and continued unabated as they shot -past a man waving a flag. The next thing Sandy -knew, they were engulfed by a sea of well-wishers, -and men were pounding him on the back so enthusiastically -that it took his breath away. At last -he spied his father and Professor Crowell fighting -their way through the throng.</p> -<p>“Dad!” he called out happily. “We made it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div> -<p>Dr. Steele reached the boys and threw an arm -around each of them. “Congratulations! This -was quite a race, I hear.”</p> -<p>“Charley is the guy who rates the congratulations,” -Sandy answered.</p> -<p>Professor Crowell pounded Tagish Charley on -the back ecstatically. “I’m the proudest and happiest -man in the world. I haven’t felt like this -since my twin girls were born. Thank you, -Charley.”</p> -<p>Charley knelt down and put his arms around -Black Titan, who was accepting praise and pats -from all quarters with the dignified reserve of a -true champion. “Dogs win the race. Charley just -come along for ride.”</p> -<p>Later, back at the hotel, after a warm bath and -a good supper, the boys recounted the adventures -they had had during the race.</p> -<p>“Bless my soul,” Professor Crowell said to -Jerry, “now you really have an idea of the rigorous -life that the sourdoughs led. Does it still -sound appealing to you?”</p> -<p>Jerry forked the last piece of homemade apple -pie from his plate. “I’ve come to the conclusion -that I’m just a city boy at heart, sir,” he declared -emphatically.</p> -<p>“How was your visit to Fairbanks?” Sandy asked -his father.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div> -<p>“We had a fine time,” Dr. Steele said. “I gathered -some priceless material for the pamphlet -I’m preparing on the Pleistocene Era.” He -smiled. “But promise you won’t tell Quiz Taylor, -Sandy.”</p> -<p>Sandy laughed. “I know what you mean, Dad. -My solemn word, I won’t mention it.”</p> -<p>“What’s on the agenda now, Dr. Steele?” Jerry -inquired. “Are we going home?”</p> -<p>“Not for another few days, Jerry,” Dr. Steele -said. “The professor and I want to fly up to Valdez -and look over some old mining sites.”</p> -<p>“Where’s Valdez?” Jerry asked.</p> -<p>“The most northerly ice-free port in Alaska. It -used to be the shipping point for copper ore until -the Kennecott mines closed down in 1938. We -had planned an exciting outing for you fellows—” -he hesitated and looked wryly at Jerry—“but inasmuch -as Jerry says he’s a city boy at heart, well, -maybe we’d better forget it.”</p> -<p>“What kind of an outing, Dad?” Sandy asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div> -<p>Dr. Steele lit his pipe and blew a cloud of -smoke at the ceiling. “We won’t be using the -plane for several days, and we thought you might -like to visit Kodiak Island. One of the instructors -from the university will be spending a week -there, hunting bear, and he said you boys would -be welcome to join him.” He winked at Sandy. -“But I’m not sure your city friend here would be -up to it.”</p> -<p>“That’s all right,” Sandy said. “Jerry can stay -here at the hotel until we come back.”</p> -<p>“Not on your life!” Jerry snorted. “I want to -take one of those bearskins back to my mom.”</p> -<p>Tagish Charley looked up from his plate solemnly. -“Kodiak bear plenty bad killer. Maybe he -take your skin back to his mamma.”</p> -<p>Everyone except Charley laughed.</p> -<p class="tb">The next morning they boarded the big Norseman -plane and headed northwest up the coast for -Valdez. As they flew over the glacier-ribbed -mountains, the boys were awed by the wild -beauty of the country beneath them.</p> -<p>“It’s so primitive,” Sandy remarked. “I don’t -think man will ever tame it.”</p> -<p>“Yes, he will,” Dr. Steele said. “As surely as -he tamed the American West. We just didn’t pay -much attention to it until after World War Two.”</p> -<p>“A land of untold riches,” Lou Mayer mused. -“Gold, copper, silver, coal, lead, tin, mercury, -platinum—Lord knows what else.” He looked -over meaningfully at Dr. Steele.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div> -<p>“Things are certainly moving fast,” Dr. Steele -went on, a little too quickly, Sandy thought. “Oh, -yes, Son, in another fifty years Alaska will be as -civilized as California.”</p> -<p>“But not nearly so warm,” Lou Mayer added.</p> -<p>Professor Crowell smiled. “I don’t know, I like -our northern winters. They make for greater intimacy -among families and friends. When the temperature -is fifty below zero and the snow is piled -up to your window sills, there is literally no place -like home. You discover that being together in -front of a warm fireplace can be just as enjoyable -as running off to the theater, bridge clubs, night -clubs, bowling alleys and all your so-called civilized -diversions. The trouble with so many young -people these days is that they try too hard to have -fun.”</p> -<p>Jerry scratched his head thoughtfully. “Professor, -you know, you’re right. I can’t think of -any time in my life when I’ve had more fun than -I did the Christmas Eve we spent at that little -weather station.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele took out a small wallet calendar and -consulted it. “Which reminds me that tonight is -New Year’s Eve.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div> -<p>“Isn’t it funny how you keep forgetting about -the holidays up here?” Sandy said. “I guess they -see the old year out pretty quietly. Not like the -States.”</p> -<p>Professor Crowell’s eyes twinkled through his -glasses. “Don’t bet on it, son. Some of the New -Year’s parties I’ve been to in the North make -your Stateside celebrations seem like pink teas. In -the old days, I remember some shindigs that went -on continuously from Christmas right through -New Year’s.” He smiled nostalgically. “I wouldn’t -be surprised if a few of them were still going on.”</p> -<p>“But we’ll be spending our New Year’s on Kodiak,” -Jerry reminded them. “I was looking at it -on the map. It’s just a dinky little island.”</p> -<p>“Not so dinky,” Dr. Steele said. “It’s about a -hundred miles long, you know. And I think you’ll -find that its citizens have just as much holiday -spirit as the people in the States.”</p> -<p>“Do many people live on Kodiak?” Sandy asked.</p> -<p>“It’s not too heavily populated,” Dr. Steele admitted. -“Once it was the center of the Alaskan -fur trade. The Russians settled in the town of Kodiak -in 1784, and it wasn’t until much later that -they moved their headquarters to the mainland.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_120">120</div> -<p>“Nowadays it’s hard to make a living on Kodiak. -I think the only major occupation is salmon -fishing. There’s rich farming land at the south end -of the island, but the natives have always had difficulty -raising sheep and cattle. Too many hungry -bears around.”</p> -<p>Jerry squinted down the barrel of an imaginary -rifle. “Well, there’ll be a few less after we get -there, eh, Sandy boy?”</p> -<p>Tagish Charley, who had been staring moodily -out of the window, turned his quizzical black eyes -on Jerry. “You shoot big as you talk, everything -be fine.”</p> -<p>“I think you better go along and take care of -these fellows, Charley,” the professor suggested.</p> -<p>“That would be great,” Sandy said. “How -about it?”</p> -<p>Charley appeared to consider the proposition -for a moment, then looked gravely at Sandy -from beneath his black eyebrows. “Charley like -to go to Kodiak. But better not. I stay and look -out for professor.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div> -<h2 id="c11"><span class="small">CHAPTER ELEVEN</span> -<br />Off to Hunt Kodiak Bears</h2> -<p>At quarter after twelve the Norseman put -down on the outskirts of Cordova, and the three -geologists disembarked along with Tagish Charley.</p> -<p>“You’ll be in Kodiak before dark,” Dr. Steele -told the boys before he left them. “The pilot will -radio ahead so Professor Stern can be on hand to -meet you when you land. Be sure and bring us -back a bearskin.”</p> -<p>“We will,” Sandy promised. “And we’ll see you -back here on the third of January.”</p> -<p>“Goodbye, Doctor,” Jerry said. “And Happy -New Year.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_122">122</div> -<p>“Thank you, Jerry, and the same to you.” Dr. -Steele winked. “Don’t eat too much <i>muk-tuk</i>.”</p> -<p>As soon as the plane was refueled, they took off -again. When Jerry began to nod drowsily, Sandy -went up front and sat down in the copilot’s seat.</p> -<p>Russell Parker, the pilot, was a chunky, gray-haired -man in his late forties, a veteran of the -World War II Air Corps. “I was stationed in the -Aleutians for four years,” he told Sandy. “The -place sort of grew on me. There was this girl in -Anchorage, too. Well, as soon as the war was over -we were married, and I decided to settle here permanently. -I had no family ties back in the States, -so the transition was easy.” He smiled. “You -might say I found a home here.”</p> -<p>“And you’ve been a bush pilot ever since?” -Sandy said. “Boy, that must be an exciting life.”</p> -<p>“Well, I wouldn’t call it exciting exactly. A little -romantic maybe—everything about <i>Alashka</i> is -romantic.”</p> -<p>“<i>Alashka?</i>” Sandy looked puzzled. “I notice you -always say it that way.”</p> -<p>“It’s an ancient Aleutian term. Means the ‘big -land.’”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div> -<p>“It’s big all right,” Sandy said, glancing out of -the cockpit window. Below the plane, twin mountain -peaks reached up through the wispy clouds. -Cupped in the valley between them lay a gigantic -glacier whose front was a solid wall of ice ten -miles across and as high as a fifteen-story building.</p> -<p>“That’s why there are plenty of jobs for bush -pilots,” Parker explained. “We’re like taxi drivers -back in the States. To get around in the big -land you have to take giant steps. A quick trip to -the city may mean a hop of a hundred miles or -more. You should see Lake Hood on a Saturday -morning in the summer—that’s in Anchorage, my -home town. Hundreds of little planes.”</p> -<p>“It looks like a supermarket parking lot,” -Sandy finished the thought for him. “Professor -Crowell told us.”</p> -<p>“It’s worse. More like Times Square in New -York.”</p> -<p>“But since so many people up here have their -own planes, doesn’t it cut down on your jobs?” -Sandy wanted to know.</p> -<p>“Not really. Most of the amateurs are pretty -cautious, as they should be. They’ll only fly in -perfect weather, and stick to the safe air routes. -When there’s a tough job to be done in a hurry, -they call on a bush pilot. I’ve carried everything -from heavy machinery to medical supplies. I’ve -been a flying ambulance, too; I don’t know how -many lives I’ve helped to save in the back country.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_124">124</div> -<p>“Do you often get assignments like this one?” -Sandy asked.</p> -<p>“I’ve flown my share of VIPs, but mostly it’s a -job for military pilots.”</p> -<p>“You consider my dad and Professor Crowell -VIPs?”</p> -<p>“I got that impression,” Parker said guardedly. -He was about to add something else when a burst -of static from the radio diverted his attention. -“Tower at Anchorage calling us,” he told Sandy, -adjusting his earphones. He listened, then flipped -the switch over to transmit. “N-140 to Anchorage -... Read you clear ... Climbing to 12,000 -feet ... Over and out.” He flipped the switch -and reported to Sandy. “We’re climbing another -4,000 feet. We’re heading into a snow squall off -Kodiak, moving northeast.”</p> -<p>Jerry awoke from his nap and came up front to -join them. “You guys hungry? I’m going to break -out the sandwiches.”</p> -<p>Sandy laughed. “Is eating all you ever think -about?”</p> -<p>Jerry flicked Sandy’s cowlick with one finger. -“Especially when I ride in airplanes. I have to -keep my stomach weighted down so it won’t do -flip-flops.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> -<p>“Okay, I’ll join you,” Sandy agreed. “How -about you, Mr. Parker?”</p> -<p>“I’ll wait awhile,” the pilot declined. “Soon as -we level off at 12,000, I’ll set her on automatic -pilot.”</p> -<p>The boys walked back to their seats and opened -the lunchbox the hotel had prepared for them -that morning.</p> -<p>“I was just thinking,” Jerry said, chewing on a -chicken leg, “we haven’t seen anything of those -characters who took pot shots at us for a few days -now. Think they’ve given up?”</p> -<p>Sandy’s brow furrowed in anxiety. “I don’t -know, Jerry. From what we know of them, they -don’t seem to be the kind who give up so easily. -They’ve been after the professor for months now. -Maybe we should have stayed with them back at -Cordova.”</p> -<p>“Aw, what could happen to them in Cordova? -Those birds wouldn’t try anything in the middle -of a big town like that.”</p> -<p>Sandy nibbled at his sandwich without relish. -“I suppose not. But Dad and the professor are going -to be out poking around some old abandoned -mine sites.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_126">126</div> -<p>The discussion ended when Parker called back, -“I’m ready for that sandwich now. And a cup of -coffee if you don’t mind. Black, no sugar.”</p> -<p>“I’ll take it up to him,” Jerry said.</p> -<p>It was still bright daylight in the air when they -sighted Kodiak, but the island and the sea around -it were shrouded in purple dusk. Lights began to -twinkle on below as they circled the city of Kodiak, -losing altitude. Towering prominently over -the other low buildings were a pair of onion-shaped -domes.</p> -<p>“What’s that?” Sandy asked Parker. “They look -almost Turkish.”</p> -<p>“The Russian Orthodox church,” the pilot -said. “Remember, the Russians founded Kodiak.”</p> -<p>“How did those Russians ever get way over -here?” Jerry wanted to know.</p> -<p>“Boy, are you dumb!” Sandy said. “On the west -side only a thin strip of water separates Alaska -from Russia. The Bering Strait is only about forty -miles wide.”</p> -<p>Parker nodded. “In the winter you can cross it -on a sled.”</p> -<p>That thought seemed to sober Jerry.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div> -<p>Parker touched the Norseman down gently on -its skis and reversed the propeller to brake their -slide. As they climbed out of the plane, the figure -of a man emerged out of the glare of the landing -lights. Clad in fur trousers, fur hood and fur -parka, he looked like an Eskimo. But as he approached, -Sandy could make out a small clipped -mustache and rimless eyeglasses.</p> -<p>“Welcome to Kodiak,” he greeted them. “You -must be Dr. Steele’s son.” He held out his hand.</p> -<p>“Yes, sir.” Sandy smiled. “I’m Sandy.”</p> -<p>“I’m Kenneth Stern.”</p> -<p>Sandy performed introductions all around. It -turned out that Parker and the young university -teacher were friends. “My wife took some courses -with Professor Stern,” the pilot explained.</p> -<p>Stern clapped his fur mittens together. “I have -my jeep parked over at the edge of the field. Let’s -get back to the lodge. Dora—that’s my wife—has -a big bear roast in the oven. I imagine you fellows -are pretty hungry.”</p> -<p>“You go ahead,” Parker said. “I want to make -sure they put my baby safely to bed. I’ll hitch a -ride to your camp.”</p> -<p>“All right, Russ,” Stern said. “We’ll hold supper -for you.”</p> -<p>“What’s he got to do?” Jerry inquired as they -walked through the crunchy snow to the jeep, -which was almost hidden by the great cloud of -smoke that was pouring out of the exhaust.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div> -<p>“He wants to make sure the crankcase gets -drained,” Stern said. “You really do have to treat -machinery as if it were a baby in cold like this. -That’s why I left the jeep running. It could freeze -up in a few minutes.”</p> -<p>As they drove through the town of Kodiak, the -boys were fascinated by the atmosphere. The cultures -of three centuries and varied races were -blended startlingly but not offensively.</p> -<p>“It’s like being on a Hollywood sound stage -where the sets are all mixed up,” Sandy said -breathlessly.</p> -<p>“Mostly, it reminds me of the Old West,” Jerry -said. “Dodge City. I almost expect to see Wyatt -Earp come striding down the middle of the street -with his hands on his six-guns.”</p> -<p>Professor Stern laughed. “That’s an apt description, -Jerry. This is the twentieth-century -American frontier in a sense. It’s only fitting that -the characteristics of the frontier should predominate.”</p> -<p>The hunting lodge was a sprawling two-story -log building about a mile outside of Kodiak, with -a wide porch running around it on three sides. -Lights blazed warmly from its windows as they -pulled in the drive and bumped along to a big -barn at the back of the house.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div> -<p>“Four other teachers and myself own it jointly,” -Stern explained. “We bought it about ten years -ago as a summer place. The fact is, we’ve been using -it just as much in the winter as a hunting -lodge.”</p> -<p>“Did I understand you to say we were having -bear roast for supper, Professor?” Jerry inquired -politely.</p> -<p>“Yes. You’re not squeamish about eating it, are -you?”</p> -<p>“Uh, no!” Jerry assured him. “After some of -the things I’ve been eating since I came to Alaska, -bear sounds like steak to me.”</p> -<p>“It’s better,” Stern told him. “You wait and -see.”</p> -<p>“Did you shoot the bear, sir?” Sandy asked.</p> -<p>“No, we haven’t been out yet. This is a piece of -meat we’ve had in the freezer since last year.”</p> -<p>Jerry laughed. “You’re kidding. What do you -need a freezer for up here?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_130">130</div> -<p>“That’s where you’re wrong, young fellow. It -so happens that the old joke about selling ice-boxes -to Eskimos isn’t such a joke any more. During -the war, the Army discovered it was a lot more -practical to keep food in freezers than it was to -stow it in a shed outside. You see, the temperature -drops to sixty and seventy below zero some -nights in this country. That’s about forty to fifty -degrees lower than the coldest deep freeze. At that -temperature food takes hours to thaw out. In the -freezer, it keeps just right.”</p> -<p>Jerry shook his head. “Can you beat that! Next -thing you know, the Arabs on the Sahara desert -will be turning to steam heat.”</p> -<p>They followed Stern along a path to the back -door of the lodge. Mrs. Stern, a young woman in -ski pants and sweater, was in the kitchen basting -the roast when they came in. “Supper will be another -hour yet,” she apologized. “I hope you boys -can hold out.”</p> -<p>“That’s good,” Stern said. “Russ Parker will be -along later.” He turned to the boys. “Come on inside -and meet Chris Hanson and his wife. They’ll -be spending a few days with us too.”</p> -<p>“Chris Hanson?” Sandy repeated it thoughtfully. -“There used to be an All-American tackle -by that name.”</p> -<p>Stern grinned. “That’s our boy. He’s an athletic -coach at the university.”</p> -<p>“Say, that’s great!” Jerry exclaimed. “Chris was -the best.” Self-importantly, he added, “As a matter -of fact we have a lot in common. I expect to -make All-American tackle myself some day.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div> -<p>Sandy smirked and dug his fist playfully into -Jerry’s midsection. “You get any fatter, you won’t -be able to bend down to flip the ball.”</p> -<p>Chris Hanson was a brawny man who made -even a six-footer like Sandy Steele feel like a little -boy. He reminded Sandy of the paintings of fierce -Vikings he had seen in grade-school history books, -though his blond hair was a bit thin on top. His -wife was a small, thin woman who sat as close to -the fire as possible, despite the fact that she was -bundled up in sweaters. The Hansons were just -finishing a game of Scrabble when the boys arrived.</p> -<p>“I’m a Georgia girl, you know,” Mrs. Hanson -said in a marked Southern accent. “And I don’t -believe I’ll ever get used to this climate.”</p> -<p>“We have a friend who would sympathize with -you,” Sandy told her. “Lou Mayer, my father’s -assistant.”</p> -<p>Chris grinned devilishly. “Oh sure, we met -Lou when your dad came up to Fairbanks. Took -him skiing once. I don’t think he likes me very -much.”</p> -<p>While they waited for supper to be served, the -boys coaxed Chris to reminisce about some of his -big gridiron games. Hungry as they were, it was -an unwelcome interruption when Mrs. Stern announced: -“Chow’s on the table.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div> -<p>There were seven people at the table—including -Russ Parker, who arrived just as they were sitting -down—and among them they picked an -eight-pound sirloin bear steak clean.</p> -<p>Jerry swabbed his plate clean with a crust of -bread. “That was delicious, Mrs. Stern.”</p> -<p>“That’s an understatement,” Sandy said, “considering -that you had three portions.”</p> -<p>“I know I made a hog of myself,” Jerry admitted. -“But when I bag one of those big Kodiaks tomorrow, -you can fill up your freezer with steaks.”</p> -<p>Mrs. Stern smiled. “That’s very thoughtful of -you, Jerry.”</p> -<p>Chris Hanson looked amused. “You ever done -any hunting before, Jerry?”</p> -<p>“No, but I’m on the high-school rifle team back -home.”</p> -<p>Sandy winked at Chris. “He’s the guy they’re -talking about when they say, ‘He couldn’t hit the -side of a barn.’”</p> -<p>Jerry reddened as everyone laughed, and glared -at Sandy. “I suppose you think you’re Davy Crockett?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div> -<p>“Seriously, though,” Professor Stern interjected, -“a bear hunt can be very dangerous. Some of -these brutes on Kodiak are virtually indestructible. -And when they’re wounded—well, just watch -out. There’s an old saying among hunters that -you’ve got to kill a Kodiak with your first shot, or -you never will kill him. I’ve heard men who have -stalked lions, tigers—all kinds of big game—concede -that a Kodiak is the most fearsome of all -beasts.”</p> -<p>“On second thought,” Jerry said gravely, -“maybe I’ll just stay back here and play Scrabble -with the ladies.”</p> -<p>After supper the boys cornered Chris Hanson -again and discussed football and other sports. At -ten o’clock, Professor Stern drove Russ Parker -into town.</p> -<p>“Some of the boys invited me to a party at the -airport,” Russ explained. “I hate to run away like -this, but my brother-in-law is going to be there. I -haven’t seen him in a while. He’s in the service, -stationed in the Aleutians.”</p> -<p>“That’s perfectly all right,” Mrs. Stern said.</p> -<p>“You don’t fool us, Russ,” Chris Hanson kidded -him. “You just want to sneak out of that bear hunt -tomorrow.”</p> -<p>Parker snorted. “You aren’t going to drag me -off after any bears. Not unless I can hunt them -from the air.”</p> -<p>“When are we going back to Cordova, Mr. -Parker?” Sandy asked him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_134">134</div> -<p>“I figure you can have a couple of days of hunting. -The professor expects us back on the third of -January.”</p> -<p>Professor Stern asked the boys whether they -wanted to ride into town with him and see how -the Kodiakans celebrated the New Year, but they -declined.</p> -<p>“We heard they had some pretty wild times up -here,” Jerry said. “But the way I feel, the only -thing that would look good to me is a soft, warm -bed.”</p> -<p>And by twelve o’clock they were in bed. “I -wonder what the gang is doing back in Valley -View,” Jerry sighed as they lay in the dark listening -to the sound of foghorns in St. Paul’s harbor -blending with church bells and firecrackers in -distant Kodiak.</p> -<p>“You can bet they’re not planning to go bear -hunting at six in the morning,” Sandy answered -sleepily.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div> -<h2 id="c12"><span class="small">CHAPTER TWELVE</span> -<br />Treed by a Wounded Bear</h2> -<p>Professor Stern roused the boys at eight o’clock -on New Year’s morning. “Put on two suits of long -woolen underwear and two pairs of socks,” he instructed -them. “We’ll probably be out until -dark.”</p> -<p>They dressed quickly and went downstairs to -the big kitchen, where Chris Hanson was cooking -breakfast. “How’ll you have your eggs, fellows?” -he asked.</p> -<p>“Sunny side up,” Sandy answered. “Can we -help?”</p> -<p>“Sure. You can start the toast.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_136">136</div> -<p>Sandy took a handful of sliced bread out of the -bread box and began searching through the cupboards. -“Where’s the toaster?” he asked finally.</p> -<p>Chris smiled and pointed to the stove. “Right -here. Just butter the bread lightly and spread the -slices out between the lids.”</p> -<p>For the first time, Sandy became aware that -the cooking stove was the old-fashioned, cast iron, -wood-burning type; the kind you saw only in -Western movies in the United States. A long -tongue of flame and a shower of sparks shot up into -the air as Chris lifted one of the front lids and set -the teakettle over the opening.</p> -<p>“When we first bought the place,” Chris said, -“we planned to install one of those newfangled -electric stoves in a year or two. But we got attached -to this old girl. We’ve never regretted it -either. I don’t know how many times the electric -power has conked out for days at a time. Anyway, -this cooks better than any gas or electric -stove I’ve ever seen.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div> -<p>After they had eaten, they stacked the dishes in -the sink and went out to the garage. Chris Hanson -and Professor Stern were armed with .30-.30 -Winchester rifles. Stern said their neighbor down -the road had promised to provide weapons for the -boys. They piled into the jeep, which had been -warming up for a half hour, and drove about two -miles into the foothills to the ranch of Vladimir -Thorsen, the son of a Russian-Swedish sourdough -who had struck it rich in the gold rush. Thorsen -was a short, rugged-looking man of fifty, with -jet-black hair and a Vandyke beard. His English -was precise, with just a trace of an accent. He welcomed -the boys heartily and insisted that the men -join him in a last cup of strong black coffee mixed -with brandy.</p> -<p>“I don’t think we will have to look far for our -bear,” he announced grimly. “Two nights ago, a -big brute came right into the barnyard and carried -off one of my lambs.”</p> -<p>Chris Hanson whistled shrilly between his -teeth. “He had his nerve, didn’t he?”</p> -<p>“A cunning old monster,” Thorsen said. -“From the size of his footprints, I would estimate -he weighs about 1,400 pounds. He has toes missing -on his two forefeet.”</p> -<p>“He’s evidently been in some battles,” Stern -said. “And won them.”</p> -<p>When the men had finished their coffee, Thorsen -escorted them into his den. The walls were -covered with pistols and rifles and the mounted -heads of every kind of big game imaginable. The -rancher took down two big, unwieldy, ancient-looking -rifles and handed them to the boys. “Here -are your weapons.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_138">138</div> -<p>Sandy and Jerry couldn’t help but show their -disappointment. “They’re very nice guns, sir.” -Sandy made an effort to sound appreciative. “But—what -are they?”</p> -<p>“They look as if they were left over from the -Revolutionary War,” Professor Stern said tartly. -“What are you trying to pull on these kids, Thorsen?”</p> -<p>Thorsen stroked his pointed beard and cast a -reproving eye on the instructor. “You are an -American teacher and you don’t recognize this -magnificent rifle! It is a Sharpe’s buffalo gun, the -same kind that your Buffalo Bill killed 1,800 buffalo -with. I’m ashamed of you, Kenneth.”</p> -<p>“It’s only single-shot, too,” Jerry observed critically.</p> -<p>“With a gun like that you only need one shot,” -Thorsen said. “You could drop an elephant with -one shot.” He opened a drawer of his desk and -took out a handful of enormous cartridges. “See?”</p> -<p>Chris Hanson picked one up and hefted it in -his palm. “It’s a small artillery shell.” He grinned -at the boys. “You want to trade? I’d feel plenty -safe facing Mr. Bear with this cannon.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div> -<p>“No,” Jerry answered quickly. “If it was good -enough for Buffalo Bill, it’s good enough for me.” -He picked up one of the long rifles and balanced -it on his shoulder. “Hup-two-three-four....” He -staggered around the room. “Hey, doesn’t a -weapons carrier come with this thing?”</p> -<p>The rancher smiled, showing two rows of -strong, white teeth. “You are a very funny fellow,” -he said. “Maybe the bear will die laughing.... -Come, the horses are already saddled and waiting.”</p> -<p>Jerry’s face clouded over. “Horses?” he said.</p> -<p>“Yes, we may have to go ten or fifteen miles -into the hills.” He led them out of the den, -through the kitchen and out the back door.</p> -<p>The boys fell behind as they approached the -stables. “Have you ever ridden a horse before?” -Jerry whispered to Sandy.</p> -<p>“Sure, I’m a fair rider.” Realization suddenly -dawned in his eyes. “You’ve ridden before—haven’t -you?”</p> -<p>“Only on the merry-go-round,” Jerry said miserably. -“But don’t say anything. I don’t want to -spoil the party.”</p> -<p>“Well ...” Sandy was uncertain. “I suppose -we’ll be walking the horses mostly, so you can’t -get into too much trouble.”</p> -<p>“Sure, we can hang back and you can instruct -me in the fine points of horsemanship.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_140">140</div> -<p>An Indian groom brought the horses out of the -stable. They were much sturdier animals than the -ones Sandy had rented at any riding academy—more -like cowboy ponies. They wore Western -saddles, too.</p> -<p>“They’re all mares,” Thorsen explained. “Not -too high-spirited and very manageable. Good -mounts for tracking.”</p> -<p>Jerry’s eyes were round as he and his horse -confronted each other. “This is the closest I’ve -ever been to one,” he confided to Sandy. “I never -realized they were so big.”</p> -<p>“You won’t have any trouble,” Sandy assured -him. “She’s a gentle girl.” He stroked the smooth -flanks and the muscles rippled beneath the glossy -black coat. “Come on, I’ll give you a lift.”</p> -<p>Jerry mounted without difficulty and settled -himself comfortably in the big saddle with his -feet planted in the stirrups. “Nothing to it,” he -said.</p> -<p>Sandy grinned. “Nothing to a jet plane either, -while it’s sitting in the hangar. Here.” He -handed Jerry’s rifle up to him.</p> -<p>“What do I do with it?” Jerry demanded.</p> -<p>Sandy indicated a large leather sheath that was -fastened to the right side of the saddle. “Stick it -in the saddle boot.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_141">141</div> -<p>They rode out single file, with Thorsen’s horse -breaking trail through knee-deep snow across a -broad meadow behind the ranch house. A long -split-rail fence ran along the back of the property. -Thorsen pointed out a break in the fence, where -the heavy logs lay scattered around like jackstraws -and a six-inch post was snapped off at the base.</p> -<p>“That’s where he came through.”</p> -<p>From the break in the fence a wide path, which -looked as if it had been plowed by a small bulldozer, -led up a slope into a grove of spruce trees.</p> -<p>“It won’t be much of a problem tracking him, -will it?” Chris Hanson said.</p> -<p>Thorsen shrugged. “It depends. We’re protected -from the wind in the valley. Farther up in -the mountains, the trail may be covered over by -now. It’s been two days.”</p> -<p>Professor Stern swung down off his horse and -knelt to examine the bear’s footprints, which had -been almost obliterated by blowing snow. He -brushed away some of the fine, white powder with -his mitten. Abruptly, he looked up at the rancher. -“Did any one of your hands take a shot at this -fellow?”</p> -<p>Thorsen frowned. “Certainly not. Why?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_142">142</div> -<p>Stern pointed to faint, rust-colored streaks in -the snow between the imprints of the bear’s foot -pads. “Looks like blood to me. Probably a -wound, high on the leg, and the blood trickled -down between the toes.”</p> -<p>“Maybe he hurt himself when he broke -through the fence,” Sandy suggested.</p> -<p>“That’s possible,” Stern conceded. He walked -back and inspected the broken logs carefully. Finally, -he shook his head. “No sign of blood here. -I’m afraid our bear has been the victim of a careless -hunter.”</p> -<p>Thorsen scowled fiercely and muttered something -in a guttural foreign tongue. Then he exploded -in English. “I would like to get my hands -on that filthy pig!”</p> -<p>“I don’t get it,” Jerry said to Sandy. “What’s -he so excited about? That’s the whole idea, isn’t -it, to shoot the bear?”</p> -<p>“Sure, but once you wound an animal, it’s your -obligation to finish him off. That’s the first commandment -of hunting. First of all, it’s cruel to let -an animal suffer. And when you’re dealing with -big game, it’s downright dangerous. A pain-crazed -bear, for instance, can be a menace to anything -that comes anywhere near him.”</p> -<p>“That’s right,” Chris Hanson agreed. “We’re -going to have to stay on our toes from here on.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_143">143</div> -<p>Professor Stern swung back into the saddle and -they followed the bear’s trail into the woods. -There were great, towering ancient pines, clustered -together so that their heavy foliage meshed -to form a solid roof above the forest floor. Only a -fine dusting of snow had filtered through their -heavy branches onto the thick carpet of pine needles -that cushioned the earth. The horses’ hoofbeats -were barely audible as they picked their way -between the trees, which were bare for at least -twenty feet up.</p> -<p>“It’s like being in a cathedral,” Sandy said reverently. -The voices of the men ahead sounded -embarrassingly loud in the silence beneath the -pines.</p> -<p>A pine cone skittered out from under the hoof -of Jerry’s horse and rattled across the dry needles. -Jerry started and almost slipped out of the saddle.</p> -<p>“Watch it, boy,” Sandy cautioned him. “How is -it going, anyway?”</p> -<p>“I’ll be okay, once old Dobbin and I get ourselves -co-ordinated. Every time he goes up, I’m -coming down and vice versa.”</p> -<p>Sandy grinned. “You’re too tense. Relax and try -to imagine you’re part of the horse.”</p> -<p>“I know what part I feel like,” Jerry said wryly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_144">144</div> -<p>On the other side of the grove they picked up -the bear’s trail again. It headed up a steep, rocky -hillside, dotted with patches of scrubby trees and -huge boulders. The horses had slippery footing -and they went very slowly now.</p> -<p>Thorsen took his rifle out of the saddle boot, -levered a shell into the chamber and rested it -across the saddle in front of him. The other men -followed suit.</p> -<p>Professor Stern turned and smiled reassuringly -at the boys. “Don’t be alarmed. It just -doesn’t pay to take any chances. I’ve heard of these -wily old bears doubling back on their trail and -setting up an ambush for unwary hunters.”</p> -<p>Jerry swallowed hard and cast a nervous glance -back over his shoulder. “Maybe it wasn’t such a -good idea to bring up the rear.” His horse skidded -unexpectedly on a mound of loose stones and -Jerry clutched it frantically around the neck with -both arms, burying his face in the thick mane. -When the horse had steadied itself again, he -straightened up and settled himself gingerly in -the saddle.</p> -<p>He touched one hand to the seat of his pants -and moaned. “How can one part of you feel so -hot when the rest of you is so cold?”</p> -<p>Sandy was sympathetic. “Yeah, I feel for you, -pal. That old saddle gets pretty hard after a while. -And this is a rough way to get initiated to horseback -riding to begin with.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_145">145</div> -<p>They rode on for another half hour until they -came to a shallow ravine with a dense growth of -white birch trees and underbrush. Thorsen studied -the steep rocky slopes of the ravine carefully. -Except for a light dusting of snow they were wind-blown -clean, as was the rocky shelf on the other -side.</p> -<p>“I can’t see any sign of a trail. For all we know, -he may be hiding down there in those trees,” he -said.</p> -<p>Professor Stern nodded in agreement. “It’s possible. -I’d hate to run into a Kodiak in those close -quarters. What do we do now?”</p> -<p>“We play it completely safe,” Thorsen replied. -“Some of us can ride around the ravine—it’s no -more than a quarter of a mile to the north—and -see if we can pick up his trail on the other side. If -we do, we can assume he’s not waiting to pounce -on us in the ravine. Those who remain here can -safely ride across directly.”</p> -<p>“Why don’t we all ride around together?” Chris -wanted to know. “What’s the point of leaving anyone -here?”</p> -<p>Thorsen stroked his silky beard. “Because if -Mr. Bear <i>is</i> hiding in the ravine, we have him -trapped. One group can flush him out into the -guns of the other group.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_146">146</div> -<p>“That seems sound,” Stern acknowledged. -“Which of us will stay here?”</p> -<p>“Jerry and I will,” Sandy volunteered. “Both -of us are pretty tired, and it’ll give us a chance to -rest.”</p> -<p>“All right,” Stern said. “Better make sure your -guns are ready for action in case that bear surprises -you.”</p> -<p>As the three men rode off along the edge of the -ravine, the boys dismounted and tethered their -horses to a bare, crooked sapling. Sandy sat down -on a boulder with his buffalo gun across his knees, -but Jerry remained standing.</p> -<p>“I may never sit down again,” he told Sandy.</p> -<p>Soon the three men passed out of sight where -the ravine curved back behind a ridge, and the -boys turned their attention to the birch trees below -them.</p> -<p>“Think our bear is down there?” Sandy asked.</p> -<p>“Naw, I bet he’s miles away from here by now.”</p> -<p>The words were scarcely out of Jerry’s mouth -when the sound of a rock clattering down the far -side of the ravine jerked their eyes upward. Standing -beside a big boulder on the rocky shelf facing -them was the biggest bear they had ever seen in -their lives. His long, shaggy fur was tipped with -silver, and on his underside it almost brushed the -ground. The monster seemed oblivious of their presence.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_147">147</div> -<p>“I don’t think he sees us,” Sandy whispered to -Jerry. “They have very poor eyesight. And we’re -upwind of him so he can’t smell us.”</p> -<p>But the horses caught the scent of the bear and -began to whinny and stamp their hoofs in terror. -The big Kodiak’s ears went up and he lifted his -head, probing the air with his sensitive snout. -Slowly he reared up on his hind legs.</p> -<p>Jerry couldn’t restrain a gasp of astonishment -and wonder. “Wow! Will you look at the size of -him! He must be ten feet tall if he’s an inch.”</p> -<p>When the bear stood erect, Sandy could see a -red, matted spot on his left shoulder. “Someone -shot him all right,” he said. He pressed his lips -firmly together and lifted the big rifle to -his shoulder. “Well, here goes.” Then he added, -“You take a bead on him too, Jerry, in case I -miss.”</p> -<p>“I’m so jittery, I don’t think I <i>could</i> hit the side -of a barn,” Jerry answered breathlessly. Nevertheless, -he brought up his rifle.</p> -<p>“It’s an easy shot,” Sandy told him. “Only -about forty yards. I’ll try for a head shot. You aim -just below the left shoulder. And take off your -mittens, idiot.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_148">148</div> -<p>Sandy squinted down the long barrel, fixing the -sight on a spot directly between the bear’s eyes. -Very gently he squeezed the trigger. There was -a tremendous explosion and a numbing blow -against his shoulder that sent him somersaulting -backward off the boulder. He lay there stunned -for an instant. Then Jerry grabbed the front of -his parka and pulled him to his feet.</p> -<p>“What a recoil,” Sandy mumbled.</p> -<p>“Forget the recoil!” Jerry was hopping up and -down in excitement. “You got him! Look! One-shot -Steele, that’s you. Bet you could have made -a chump out of Buffalo Bill.”</p> -<p>Sandy focused his bleary eyes across the ravine. -The Kodiak was just a big mound of motionless -fur sprawled out on the ground.</p> -<p>“Come on!” Jerry pulled at Sandy’s arm. “Let’s -hurry over there so we can make like big-game -hunters when those other guys show up.” Using -his rifle as a staff, he started down the slope into -the ravine.</p> -<p>Sandy caught up to him at the bottom and -grabbed the rifle away from him. “Don’t ever do -anything like that again!” he snapped. “You -dope! You might have blown your head off—or at -least your hand. This is a loaded gun. You’ve got -to have respect for it. Never point it at yourself or anyone else.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_149">149</div> -<p>Jerry flushed and dropped his eyes. “Yeah, -you’re right. It was a dopey thing to do. I’m so -crazy excited I forgot.”</p> -<p>“Okay.” Sandy handed the rifle back to him and -they crashed through the brush and brambles -that grew among the trunks of the birches. -Scrambling up the far slope, Sandy was aware of -a heavy weight banging against his right hip. He -slipped his hand into his pocket on that side and -touched the cold metal grip of the Colt automatic. -He had forgotten about it when he packed the -heavy parka away after the sled race.</p> -<p>He had just withdrawn his hand from his -pocket when Jerry, who was in the lead, reached -the top of the ravine. As his eyes cleared the rim, -he stopped short and let out a wild yell. Then the -bear lumbered into full view, looming over Jerry -like a cat over a very small mouse. The monster’s -red-rimmed eyes blazed with hatred and Sandy -could see pink foam gleaming on the long, bared -fangs. It came to him as an incredible shock that -here they were face to face with the most dangerous -living thing in all the world—a wounded, -pain-crazed Kodiak bear.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_150">150</div> -<p>“Jerry! The gun! Shoot!” Sandy spat the words -out jerkily.</p> -<p>Obeying mechanically, Jerry swung the long -barrel up and fired in the same motion. The -slug plowed harmlessly between the bear’s legs, -kicking up dirt and gravel. But it turned out to be -a lifesaving shot. Caught off balance, Jerry was -kicked off his feet by the booming recoil and went -tumbling head over heels down the steep grade. -At the same time Sandy drew out the big .45 pistol -and cocked it. Then, as the bear dropped to all -fours, with the obvious intention of attacking, -Sandy fired at its hairy throat. The Army Colt -.45-caliber packs a tremendous wallop. At such -close range, it knocked the giant Kodiak back on -its haunches.</p> -<p>Sandy pumped the last bullet into the bear’s -midsection, then turned and ran down the slope. -Jerry was just getting to his feet when he reached -the bottom of the ravine. “Find a tall tree and -climb it,” Sandy yelled. “Come on!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_151">151</div> -<p>Together they stumbled into the woods. Sandy -remembered that on their way over they had -passed one gnarled birch with a trunk as big -around as a man’s waist. In the manner of so many -trees of this species, it had branched out into -three thick, sturdy limbs at a height of about four -feet. Without breaking his stride, Sandy leaped -up, planted one foot in the crotch and clawed and -shinnied his way up through the branches. He -kept climbing until the limb began to bend beneath -his weight. Then, with his heart fluttering -like a frightened bird, he looked down, half expecting -to see his friend in the embrace of the -great bear. There was no trace of either Jerry or -the Kodiak.</p> -<p>“Here I am,” Jerry’s voice rang out, so startlingly -close that Sandy almost lost his hold on -the branch. The sight of Jerry swaying back and -forth on an adjacent limb at least five feet above -him, arms and legs wrapped tightly around it like -a monkey, made him weak with relief. In spite -of their precarious position, he had to smile.</p> -<p>Jerry was appalled. “He’s hysterical. Stark, raving -mad,” he cried. “Sandy! Snap out of it.”</p> -<p>“I’m fine,” Sandy said. “It’s just that I didn’t -expect to see you up there.”</p> -<p>“Where did you think I’d be? Back there, Indian-wrestling -with old Smokey so you could escape?”</p> -<p>“I don’t know how you got up there so fast. I -didn’t even see you pass me.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_152">152</div> -<p>“Brother,” Jerry said huffily, “if you had been -as close to that critter as I was you’d be back in -Valley View by now.”</p> -<p>As yet there was still no sign of the bear on the -ground below them. Sandy searched the rocky -shelf where they had encountered him, but it was -empty. The clatter of horses’ hoofs drew his attention -back to the side of the ravine they had -come from. Professor Stern and the other two -men came galloping into view and reined in their -horses.</p> -<p>“Here, in the tree!” Sandy hailed them. -“We’re up in the tree.”</p> -<p>Stern’s face reflected his relief—and not a little -amazement. “What on earth are you doing in a -tree? And what were those shots we heard?”</p> -<p>“We shot the bear. Then he came to life again -and chased us up here.” Sensing the professor’s -understandable confusion, he grinned. “I guess -that sounds pretty wild, doesn’t it?”</p> -<p>“Indeed it does,” Stern admitted. “But never -mind that. Where is the bear now?”</p> -<p>“I don’t know.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_153">153</div> -<p>Thorsen and Chris Hanson were already starting -down into the ravine, rifles ported for action. -Stem dismounted and followed them. Cautiously -the men made their way through the trees. Before -they reached the far side of the ravine the boys -lost sight of them.</p> -<p>After several minutes of complete silence, -Sandy began to get anxious.</p> -<p>“Maybe that old bear was hiding behind a -tree,” Jerry suggested, “and clobbered each one -of them as they went by him, like the Indians -used to do.”</p> -<p>Finally they heard Stern’s voice calling to -them. “You guys can come down now.”</p> -<p>Sandy was puzzled. “That’s funny. I guess the -bear got away after all.” He slid hurriedly to the -ground.</p> -<p>When they emerged from the birch grove, both -boys stopped dead. Sandy shut his eyes tight, -opened them, shut them, and opened them again. -He couldn’t believe what he saw. The three men -were standing at the bottom of the slope, all flashing -broad grins. At their feet was the mountainous -carcass of the bear.</p> -<p>“You—you sure he’s dead?” Sandy stammered.</p> -<p>“Yeah,” Jerry said. “He’s a tricky one.”</p> -<p>Thorsen jabbed his toe into the shaggy body. -“Quite dead, I assure you, my young friends.”</p> -<p>“We had just reached the end of the ravine -when we heard the shots,” Professor Stern said. -“Now tell us what happened.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_154">154</div> -<p>Both talking at once, the boys recited the story -of their escapade with the big Kodiak.</p> -<p>“You remember that old movie <i>King Kong</i>, -where the girl first sees this giant gorilla?” Jerry -asked. “Well, that’s how I felt when this thing -came at me. Oh broth-er!” He shuddered.</p> -<p>Sandy took out the black Colt pistol. “And this -is what saved our lives.”</p> -<p>Thorsen took it from him and examined it admiringly. -“A true gem. Do you know how this gun -was developed? During the Philippine Insurrection, -American troops were being demoralized by -fierce Moro tribesmen, savage warriors who carried -wicked bolo knives. The Moros would pop up -out of the jungle without warning and attack the -soldiers at such close quarters that it was impossible -for them to use their rifles. And the Moros -were so physically powerful that the average pistol -couldn’t stop them. Even with a half dozen -bullets in them, they could decapitate an enemy -with their bolos before they died. The Army Colt -.45 was designed especially to stop them. And it -did the job well—with one slug.”</p> -<p>“It certainly stopped this monster,” said Chris -Hanson.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_155">155</div> -<p>“But it was a very lucky shot,” Professor Stern -tempered his praise. “The first shot you fired -with the rifle creased his skull and stunned him. -He was probably still whoozy when you ran into -him, or you might not have had a chance to get in -a second shot. Your last shot severed the jugular -vein. It was a very lucky shot,” he emphasized.</p> -<p>“You don’t have to convince me, Professor,” -Sandy said soberly. “As of now I am a retired bear -hunter.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_156">156</div> -<h2 id="c13"><span class="small">CHAPTER THIRTEEN</span> -<br />The Ghost Mine</h2> -<p>Two days later the Sterns and the Hansons -came down to the airstrip to see the boys off. Professor -Stern promised to send the bearskin to Valley -View as soon as it was cured. “It will make a -nice trophy to spread out in front of your fireplace,” -he told Sandy.</p> -<p>“I think I’ll donate it to our local boys’ club,” -Sandy said.</p> -<p>“And every time a new fellow joins up, he’ll -have an excuse to tell what a big hero he is,” -Jerry joked.</p> -<p>Sandy laughed. “I bet I looked like a big hero -up in that tree all right.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_157">157</div> -<p>Russ Parker appeared in the doorway of the -plane. “All revved up and ready to go. You fellows -set?”</p> -<p>The boys said their last goodbyes and climbed -into the cabin.</p> -<p>Mrs. Stern waved and yelled, “Thanks again for -refilling my freezer.”</p> -<p>“We’ll eat it up the next time we come,” Jerry -said.</p> -<p>Parker slammed the door and bolted it, then -went forward to the cockpit. “Fasten your safety -belts,” he ordered. The little plane took off -smoothly and climbed over the bay. Through the -window next to him, Sandy caught a last glimpse -of the twin domes of the Russian church and the -ancient sea wall with its great iron rings where -the fur traders used to tie up their ships. The sun -sparkled on the blue water and glinted briefly off -the metal oil tanks of the U.S. naval base far -across the bay. Parker leveled off at 10,000 feet -and set a northeast course.</p> -<p>Sandy unbuckled his seat belt and went up front -to the cockpit. “How long will it take to fly to -Cordova?” he inquired.</p> -<p>“With this tail wind no more than two hours,” -Parker said. “We should be landing a little after -ten. Your dad and the professor want to fly back -to Juneau this afternoon.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div> -<p>Sandy nodded. “From there we’re taking a commercial -airline back to Seattle.”</p> -<p>Parker put the ship on automatic pilot and -turned sideways in the seat. “Not driving back -down the highway?”</p> -<p>“No. Professor Crowell decided the trip was too -rugged in the winter. He’s leaving his dogs up -here until spring. Anyway, Jerry and I have to get -back to school, so we were planning to fly back in -any case.”</p> -<p>Listening to the conversation with one ear, -Jerry looked up from the book he was reading. -“Hey, Sandy, back in Valley View the guys are -just steeling themselves for a session with Miss -Remson in English Four. Isn’t that great? And -here we are three thousand miles away and two -miles in the air. Think we’re safe from her?”</p> -<p>“Sure,” Sandy said. “And Miss Remson would -probably be just as glad if you stayed that far -away from her.”</p> -<p>Parker pointed out a range of mountains just -visible on the northwest horizon. “Too bad you -don’t have time to visit the Valley of Ten Thousand -Smokes.”</p> -<p>“That’s an interesting name. What is it?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_159">159</div> -<p>“Before Mount Katmai erupted in 1912 it was -a fertile farm region. Then the whole top of the -mountain blew off—two cubic miles of rock vaporized -into thin air. One hundred miles away in -Kodiak they had to shovel the dust and ashes off -the roof tops.”</p> -<p>Sandy whistled. “That’s as bad as having an H-bomb -drop in your back yard.”</p> -<p>“Maybe worse,” Parker said grimly. “Then the -entire floor of the valley erupted into little fumaroles, -or volcanic potholes, that spewed out -molten sand. Thousands of them. That’s where -they got the name Ten Thousand Smokes. Today -there are only seven of them that are still -active, but the valley is a desert wasteland.”</p> -<p>Sandy squinted through the windshield, imagining -he could see a thin ribbon of smoke rising -from one of the peaks. “What happened to old -Mount Katmai? Is it still active?”</p> -<p>“Well, the experts think it’s still boiling way -down inside. There’s a big lake in the crater now, -but it never freezes. I’ve heard it’s warm enough -to swim in.”</p> -<p>Jerry, who had come forward to listen to the -story, was wonderstruck. “Why, I bet you could -land a plane on the lake and find out,” he said.</p> -<p>“It’s a thought,” Parker agreed, not too enthusiastically. -“Maybe some day I’ll try it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_160">160</div> -<p>For the remainder of the trip, he captivated the -boys with other tales about the big land, and almost -before they knew it they were approaching -Cordova. The traffic was light and the tower gave -them immediate clearance to land.</p> -<p>A quarter of an hour after the plane touched -down, they were on their way to town in the auto -of a radio technician who was going off duty. Russ -Parker remained at the field to give the Norseman -a thorough inspection before the afternoon -flight to Juneau. “We’ll take off about one, I -guess,” he told them as they were leaving.</p> -<p>The considerate radio man dropped them off in -front of the old-fashioned hotel where Dr. Steele -had said they would be staying. The clerk at the -desk informed them that the geologists were still -registered, but that he had not seen them since -the previous morning.</p> -<p>“Are you certain they didn’t come back when -you were off duty?” Sandy asked him.</p> -<p>“Positive,” the clerk declared. “The chambermaid -said their beds haven’t been slept in.”</p> -<p>Sandy looked at Jerry helplessly. “Well, I guess -we’ll just have to wait for them.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_161">161</div> -<p>The clerk gave them a passkey to one of the two -adjoining rooms occupied by Dr. Steele and his -party. When they entered the room, the boys -were surprised to see that the geologists hadn’t -even started to pack. Clothing, books and toilet -articles were scattered everywhere.</p> -<p>Jerry looked at his wrist watch. “We’re never -going to take off for Juneau at one o’clock at this -rate. It’s after eleven now. Are you sure you didn’t -get the days mixed up, Sandy? Maybe your father -wasn’t expecting us until tomorrow.”</p> -<p>A little seed of fear began to grow inside of -Sandy. “No, he said the third. Professor Crowell -told Russ he wanted to fly to Juneau today, too. -I can’t understand it, Jerry. If Dad didn’t expect -to be here when we got back from Kodiak, he -would have left word for us. Anyway, they -couldn’t have been planning to make any overnight -trips. They didn’t take razors, toothbrushes -or anything; my dad shaves every morning even -when he’s on a fishing trip miles from civilization. -I don’t like it, Jerry.”</p> -<p>Jerry’s face turned pale under its perpetual -tan. “Sandy, you don’t think those enemy agents...?” -He left the sentence unfinished.</p> -<p>Before Sandy could reply, the telephone on the -stand between the twin beds jangled harshly. The -boys looked at each other hopefully.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_162">162</div> -<p>“Maybe that’s Dad calling.” Sandy threw himself -across one of the beds and picked up the -receiver eagerly. But it was Russ Parker phoning -from the airfield.</p> -<p>“I don’t think it’s anything to worry about,” -Parker said, “but I just found out that your dad -and his friends chartered a plane yesterday morning -to fly out to McCarthy. That’s an old ghost -town near the abandoned Kennecott copper -mine. When they didn’t show back last night, the -authorities figured they had been forced down -somewhere with engine trouble. Search planes -have been combing the area all morning, but -there’s no sign of the plane, crashed or otherwise.”</p> -<p>“What do you think we should do, Russ?” -Sandy asked in a tight voice.</p> -<p>“I dunno. I sort of thought we might fly out -that way ourselves and have a look.”</p> -<p>“That’s a good idea, Russ. Jerry and I will be -out as soon as we can hitch a ride. Thanks for calling.” -He slammed down the receiver and related -the latest development to Jerry. Minutes later -they were on their way.</p> -<p class="tb">As they swooped low across the small ghost -town of McCarthy, Parker banked the plane -sharply and indicated the unblemished expanses -of white around the town. “No one has set down -here since before the last snow,” he said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_163">163</div> -<p>“Is there anywhere else they might have -landed?” Sandy asked.</p> -<p>“Maybe up at the mine proper. We’ll fly up -that way and have a look.”</p> -<p>“Imagine having a ghost town up here,” Jerry -marveled. “I thought they were exclusive to the -old American West. It’s kind of spooky, everyone -packing up and leaving a place. Almost as if it was -haunted.”</p> -<p>“Ghost towns are haunted in a sense,” Sandy -said. “By poverty and hunger. They’re towns that -build up around mines and have no other livelihood. -If the mines close down they’re doomed.”</p> -<p>“Any community that puts all its eggs in one -basket runs the risk of becoming a ghost town,” -Parker put in.</p> -<p>“Why did the Kennecott mine shut down?” -Sandy asked curiously.</p> -<p>“The ore just ran out,” Parker said. “Here we -are now.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_164">164</div> -<p>Below them Sandy saw a sprawling shedlike -structure that seemed to be hanging on the side of -a hill. “That’s the main building,” Parker said. -“See those long wires that look like trolley cables? -They used to send the ore down from the shafts -by cable car. Then it was loaded on trains and -shipped to Cordova to be put on ships.”</p> -<p>On a level plateau below the Kennecott mine, -they spotted the long twin ski marks of a plane. -There were two sets, one set almost parallel to the -other.</p> -<p>“No doubt about it,” Parker said. “A plane -landed here recently. And it took off again.” He -brought the Norseman’s nose up and began -climbing.</p> -<p>“But if they took off again, where <i>did</i> they go?” -Sandy was sick with fear. The idea of his father -lying badly injured—or worse—in the wreckage -of a crashed plane terrified him. “If—if they had -cracked up, the search planes would have found -them by now, wouldn’t they?”</p> -<p>Parker chewed thoughtfully on his underlip. -“I would think so. Unless they wandered outlandishly -far off course. But there isn’t any reason -why they should have. The last two days and -nights have been perfect for flying.” Ominously, -he added, “But we can’t discount that possibility -altogether. There’s so much territory to cover -even with an air search that a small plane might -be missed. In Canada they insist that private -planes follow well-traveled routes like the Alaska -Highway instead of flying the beam, for that very -reason. If you have to make a forced landing, -there’s a better chance you’ll be found promptly.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_165">165</div> -<p>“Listen,” Sandy implored the pilot, “let’s land -here and look around. Maybe we’ll find a clue or -something to show where they went.”</p> -<p>Parker shrugged. “Sure, if it’ll make you feel -any better. But if they were here, they definitely -took off again.”</p> -<p>Parker landed the Norseman smoothly, cutting -across the ski tracks of the other plane. He taxied -to the far end of the clearing, turning her -about in position for a take-off, then cut the engines. -The plane settled heavily in the snow.</p> -<p>“Looks pretty deep out there,” Parker estimated. -“We better dig out snowshoes from the -baggage compartment.”</p> -<p>They had landed about a quarter of a mile away -from the main building of the mine, and because -of the boys’ inexperience on snowshoes it was a -slow walk.</p> -<p>“I feel just like a duck,” Jerry grumbled as he -brought up the rear, flopping along in the clumsy, -webbed footgear. “Overgrown tennis rackets, -that’s all they are.”</p> -<p>“You’re not supposed to try and walk the way -you do in shoes,” Sandy instructed him. “You just -shuffle along.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_166">166</div> -<p>At last they stood beneath the big ramshackle -structure. It <i>was</i> spooky, Sandy had to admit to -himself, just as Jerry said. Once this building had -been the nerve center of a booming industry, -buzzing with activity and life. Now it stood on the -hillside, gaunt, decaying and silent. Before many -more years it would become a rickety skeleton.</p> -<p>He shuddered as Parker led them up on the -moldy loading platform and into the tomblike -dampness of the shed. “We can go on up to the -main building through here. There are stairs -right inside.” They passed through a doorway -into a room illuminated only by the slivers of daylight -that penetrated the cracked boards.</p> -<p>Suddenly, Russ Parker did an about-face and -began talking. “Well, here we are.” Only he -seemed to be talking to someone in back of them.</p> -<p>Sandy whirled quickly and saw that the doorway -was blocked by a huge man wearing a stocking -cap and a plaid mackinaw. His face was hidden -in shadow. But the big Lüger pistol in his right -hand was very plain to see.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_167">167</div> -<h2 id="c14"><span class="small">CHAPTER FOURTEEN</span> -<br />The Plot Revealed</h2> -<p>In his other hand the stranger carried a square -electric lantern. He turned the powerful beam on -Sandy and Jerry. “Did you have any trouble with -them, Parker?”</p> -<p>“Not a bit,” Parker said. “The Steele boy suggested -himself that we land here. And of course -there was no trouble at all persuading him to fly -out here with me.”</p> -<p>The boys looked from Parker to the other man -in bewilderment. “Russ,” Sandy pleaded, “tell -us what’s going on. Who is this guy?” He turned -on the stranger belligerently. “Do you know -where my father is?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_168">168</div> -<p>“My name is Kruger,” the man snapped. “And, -yes, I do know where your father is. Now, turn -around and march up those stairs.” He waved the -pistol at them threateningly.</p> -<p>As the boys started up the stairs, the men fell -behind and lowered their voices. “How do you -like that!” Jerry declared. “Russ Parker is in with -these characters.”</p> -<p>“I can hardly believe it,” Sandy said miserably. -“Anyhow, at least I know Dad is okay—so far,” he -amended.</p> -<p>“No conversation, please,” Kruger ordered -sharply.</p> -<p>“Parker, you sneak,” Sandy said bitterly, “you -won’t get away with this. The authorities know -my dad and his friends are missing. And when we -don’t show back at the airfield there’ll be even -more search planes combing this area.”</p> -<p>The pilot began to laugh. “No one knows your -father and the others are missing. No one at all. -By now the hotel has received a telegram from -Skagway saying that Professor Crowell and his -party returned there on urgent business and that -someone will pick up their luggage and pay their -hotel bill.”</p> -<p>Sandy was confused. “But—but what about the -people at the airport? You said there were search -planes out looking for the missing plane.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_169">169</div> -<p>“There is no missing plane. Yesterday morning -four men rented a plane. Last evening the plane -returned—with four men. There was another -crew on duty at the airport. They couldn’t suspect -that the passengers were four <i>different</i> men.”</p> -<p>Kruger seemed to enjoy the boys’ discomfort. -“By the time the American authorities discover -that any of you are missing you will be well out of -reach in Siberia.”</p> -<p>“Across that narrow stretch of water we were -talking about,” Parker taunted them. “The Bering -Strait.”</p> -<p>The man with the gun took them through -a series of tunnels that slanted up steeply through -the mountainside. The ascent was severe, and -every ten minutes or so they would stop to -rest. When they emerged into the open again, -Sandy saw that they were at the site of the main -diggings. The terrain was pockmarked with shafts -and tunnels. Rusty train tracks disappeared into -the gloomy mine tunnels, and abandoned dump -cars tilted up through the snow drifts about the -entrances. Far below, the main building of the -Kennecott mine squatted at the foot of the mountain; -from this perspective it reminded Sandy of -a miniature cardboard house sitting on a floor of -cotton beneath a Christmas tree. They followed -a path around a bend to the mouth of a huge tunnel. -To one side of it a flaking, rusted cable car -rocked gently from a metal cable that was equally -rusted. It scraped and screeched monotonously at -the slightest gust of wind.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_170">170</div> -<p>“In here,” Kruger ordered. “This was one of -the main shafts of the mine.”</p> -<p>They walked along the rail ties back about one -hundred yards, where a rectangle of yellow light -splashed into the corridor from a doorway in one -wall of the tunnel. Kruger motioned them -through the doorway into a big chamber that evidently -had served as a locker room for the miners. -Rotting wooden benches and tin lockers cluttered -up the room, many of them overturned, all of -them sagging. A large gasoline lantern burned on -a long wooden table in the middle of the room. -On either side of the table sat a strange man with -a rifle across his knees. Across the table, seated all -in a row on a bench, their hands and feet tied, -were Dr. Steele, Professor Crowell, Lou Mayer -and Tagish Charley.</p> -<p>“Dad!” Sandy burst out. “Am I glad to see you! -Are you okay?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_171">171</div> -<p>Dr. Steele managed a strained smile. “I’m all -right, Son. We all are. But I can’t say I’m glad to -see you boys.” He turned to one of the men with -the rifles. “Did you have to drag them into it, -Strak? They’re only boys. They don’t even know -what this is all about.”</p> -<p>The man he addressed, a short, intense fellow -who moved with the quick, nervous motions of a -squirrel, stood up and walked toward the new arrivals. -He stopped in front of Sandy and stroked -his prominent clean-shaven chin.</p> -<p>“So this is your son, Dr. Steele? A fine-looking -lad.” He spoke careful, formal English. “I, too, -regret that he and the other youth had to become -involved. But we couldn’t take any chances. They -would have notified the police that you were missing -and....”</p> -<p>“Don’t be a fool!” Professor Crowell snapped. -“The police will discover our absence soon -enough.”</p> -<p>Strak smiled patiently. “I disagree. Secrecy has -been the keynote of your project. Only a few -people in both your governments—high officials—know -your real purpose in coming to Alaska. -By the time they discover you are missing, we will -all be safely out of the country.”</p> -<p>“Of course, Dr. Steele, you could spare your -son and his friend a lot of unnecessary hardship -by co-operating with us,” Kruger said. “Just the -answer to one simple question....”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_172">172</div> -<p>“You’re wasting your time,” Dr. Steele said -flatly.</p> -<p>“Have it your own way.” Strak sighed wearily. -“You will tell us, you know. That is certain. Today, -tomorrow, next week or six months from -now. We can wait.”</p> -<p>Kruger pushed the boys toward the bench -where the other hostages were seated. “Parker, -help me tie these two up.”</p> -<p>When the boys were securely bound, Strak motioned -Parker to follow him. “Come, Parker. Let -us go outside. We have a few things to discuss in -private.”</p> -<p>“You want Malik and me to stay here and guard -the prisoners?” Kruger asked.</p> -<p>Strak hesitated a moment, then shook his head. -“No, come along. You should all hear this.” He -glanced at the prisoners. “I don’t think they’ll get -loose.” He smiled. “And even if they did, where -would they go? We’ll be up at the entrance—the -only entrance.”</p> -<p>The four men left the room and their footsteps -echoed off down the tunnel. In the dim light of -the lantern Dr. Steele’s face was drawn and pale.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_173">173</div> -<p>“I’ll never forgive myself, getting you boys -mixed up in this,” he said. “Once I knew they -were on to us, that we hadn’t deceived them into -thinking this was an innocent geological expedition, -I should have sent you back to California on -the first plane.”</p> -<p>“Don’t blame yourself, Dad,” Sandy said quietly. -“I wouldn’t have left you, knowing that you -were in some kind of serious trouble.”</p> -<p>“That goes for me too, sir,” Jerry backed him -up.</p> -<p>“What I don’t understand,” Sandy said, “is how -they caught you.”</p> -<p>“We walked right into their hands,” Professor -Crowell explained. “Parker knew we were coming -up to the Kennecott mine and tipped them off. -They flew up ahead of us, hid their plane in the -trees and covered up the ski tracks. When we arrived -they were waiting for us.”</p> -<p>“A whole gang of them,” Lou Mayer put in. -“Seven of them, armed to the teeth. Four of them -took our plane back to Cordova so the people at -the airport wouldn’t report us missing.”</p> -<p>“I know,” Sandy said grimly. “They took care -of the hotel too. By the time the authorities get -suspicious it will be too late. The one called Kruger -says we’ll be in Russia by then.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele and Professor Crowell looked at -each other hopelessly. “Unless we tell them what -they want to know,” Dr. Steele said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_174">174</div> -<p>Sandy’s eyes were puzzled. “Just what are they -after? I guess you can tell us now.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele smiled wanly. “I guess we can.” He -paused before he went on. “Although he’s better -known as a geologist, Professor Crowell is one of -Canada’s leading physicists. During World War -Two he was assigned to rocket research work for -the Canadian Army and continued to specialize in -this field after the war.</p> -<p>“About six months ago an old Yukon prospector -submitted an ore sample to a government -assay office at Whitehorse. He said he had -been prospecting on the Alaskan border and -struck what he believed was a vein of gold. An -analysis of the sample revealed traces of copper, -but no gold. But much more important, it revealed -strains of a rare element that the Canadian -government was testing as a catalytic agent in top-secret -experiments with a new solid rocket fuel.</p> -<p>“For years now rocket experts have acknowledged -that solid fuels are more practical than liquid -propellants—even more so for the big manned -rocket ships of the future. The trouble is, up until -now the solid fuels haven’t been too dependable. -Professor Crowell believes this new element -will solve the most serious drawbacks, but unhappily -it’s about as rare as uranium. During the -past few months there have been teams out searching -for it all over the Dominion, without much -success.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_175">175</div> -<p>“Then, unexpectedly, this old prospector -shows up with an ore sample laced liberally with -it. The assay office at Whitehorse dispatched it to -Ottawa immediately and Professor Crowell was -consulted. It was his opinion that they were on to -something big. A special agent flew up to Whitehorse -to interview the prospector, but tragically—any -way you look at it—the poor old man had -passed away from pneumonia only a few days before -the agent arrived.</p> -<p>“Now the big problem was to find out where -the dead man had picked up the ore. All kinds of -soil and rock analyses were made on it without -any specific results. It was the professor’s guess -that it came from somewhere in the vicinity of the -Kennecott copper mine. There was copper in -the sample, of course, and the old miner had -mentioned vaguely at the assay office that he had -discovered it somewhere ‘on the border.’ A layman -couldn’t be expected to know exactly where -the border lies; actually, he may have wandered -well into Alaska.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_176">176</div> -<p>“In any case, the Canadian government conferred -with Washington, and it was decided to send -a joint team up to Alaska composed of Professor -Crowell, Lou Mayer and myself.” He glanced toward -the doorway and added sourly, “We didn’t -count on it ending up a three-nation team.”</p> -<p>“How did they find out?” Sandy wanted to -know.</p> -<p>Dr. Steele shrugged. “They have the most efficient -espionage system in the world. That we -have to give them credit for.”</p> -<p>Sandy pursed his lips solemnly. “But they still -don’t know what the element is?”</p> -<p>“Or how it’s employed in the manufacture of -the rocket fuel,” Professor Crowell declared emphatically. -“I’m the only one who can tell them -that. And I’ll die first.”</p> -<p>“Watch it,” Jerry cautioned. “I think I hear -them coming back.”</p> -<p>The sound of approaching footsteps reverberated -hollowly through the mine. Strak appeared -in the doorway alone. “Kruger and Malik have -gone down the mountain to help Parker clear a -runway,” he told them. “We’ll be taking off with -a heavy load.”</p> -<p>Sandy made a quick mental count. “That plane -will never get off the ground with ten of us.”</p> -<p>Strak smiled. “I agree. But there are only seven -of us who will be making the trip.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_177">177</div> -<p>“What do you mean?” Dr. Steele demanded.</p> -<p>“Just that you and your son and Professor -Crowell are the only ones who have any real value -to us. The rest will remain here.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele was shocked. “You can’t intend to -leave them tied up in this mine? They’ll starve to -death or die of exposure.”</p> -<p>Strak shrugged. “That’s a risk we will have to -take. Perhaps in time they may be able to get -loose. Perhaps they will make it back to civilization. -Who can tell? The Indian seems to be a resourceful -woodsman.” He walked over and stood -in front of Tagish Charley. “Tell me, Doctor, he -<i>is</i> alive, isn’t he?”</p> -<p>Tagish Charley’s face betrayed no trace of emotion. -He had not spoken a word since the boys’ -arrival. All the while he had sat stiffly on the -bench, hands behind him, eyes staring fixedly at -the rock wall in front of him—as detached as any -cigar-store Indian could be, or so it seemed to -Sandy.</p> -<p>In sudden irritation Strak bent close to Charley, -flashing his electric torch into his face. “You -insolent Indian dog! You can speak, can’t you?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_178">178</div> -<p>Then, for the first time, Charley showed some -sign of life. Slowly he lifted his eyes to Strak’s -face and said solemnly, “Charley too busy to talk—until -<i>now</i>!” As he shouted the last word, his -two powerful arms whipped free from behind him -and wrapped around his tormentor.</p> -<p>Strak tried desperately to bring up his rifle, -but he was helpless in Charley’s grizzly-bear hug. -The air whistled out of his lungs like a wheezing -bellows, and there was the distinct snap of a rib -cracking. He moaned softly and fainted. Charley -let him drop to the floor.</p> -<p>“Atta boy, Charley!” Jerry said exultantly.</p> -<p>They all winced as the Indian held up his -hands in the light. His wrists were raw and bleeding -from rubbing at the rope. “Big spike in bench -where I sit. Slow work, but at end I saw rope -through.” He bent over Strak and removed a -hunting knife from the man’s belt. Quickly he cut -through the ropes that bound his own ankles. -Then he went along the bench freeing the others.</p> -<p>“Come on!” Dr. Steele said, grabbing up -Strak’s rifle from the ground. “No time to lose. -The others will be coming back soon.” He led -the way out of the room and down the tunnel to -the entrance.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_179">179</div> -<p>At the foot of the mountain beyond the abandoned -mine building, they could see the plane sitting -like a toy in the snow. The three enemy -agents were bustling around it, mere specks at -this distance.</p> -<p>“They’re still working on the runway,” Sandy -observed.</p> -<p>“What do we do when they come back?” Jerry -asked.</p> -<p>Lou Mayer indicated the rifle the doctor was -holding. “We have one gun. We can make a fight -of it at least.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele was not enthusiastic. “All three of -them are armed. I’m afraid it wouldn’t be much -of a fight.” His voice was grim. “Some of us would -be hurt—or killed.”</p> -<p>“Why couldn’t we rush down the hill when we -see them start up?” Professor Crowell suggested. -“They’d be inside, coming up through the shafts. -By the time they got up here, we’d have quite a -head start on them. If we get to that plane—”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele shook his head. “We’d never stand a -chance without snowshoes, and they’re all down -at the mine shed. They’d have a field day picking -us off with their rifles while we flounder through -those hip-deep drifts on the mountain.”</p> -<p>“Then we’ve got no choice,” Lou Mayer said -gloomily. “We’ve got to make a stand here.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_180">180</div> -<p>“Wait a minute!” Sandy cried out, the bud of -a wild inspiration forming in his mind. “Is there -any chance <i>that</i> thing still works?” The others followed -his gaze upward to the old cable car creaking -and rocking to the right of the entrance.</p> -<p>The professor sighed. “I’m afraid not. These -cable cars were operated by power machinery -down at the depot.”</p> -<p>“I know,” Sandy said. “But we’d be coasting -downhill.”</p> -<p>There was a gleam of interest in Dr. Steele’s -eyes. “That sounds logical. What do you say we -have a look at it, Son? But keep down. We don’t -want Kruger and the others to spot us against the -snow.”</p> -<p>They slunk out of the shadow of the mine entrance, -darting quickly behind the cover of the -cable car. Dr. Steele climbed into the open cab -and squinted up at the rigging. “Looks to me as if -the only thing that’s restraining it is that safety -lock,” he said.</p> -<p>Sandy disagreed. “What about the pulley cable? -That must be anchored in the shed below. She -won’t roll unless that’s free.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_181">181</div> -<p>Dr. Steele studied the arrangement of rollers -and cables more closely. “You’re right,” he admitted. -He pointed to the steel hook-eye at the -back of the car where the pulley cable was attached. -“The wire is pretty frayed back here. Possibly -we could hack through it. I saw an old ax -back in the cave.”</p> -<p>“It’s sure worth a try,” Sandy said. “How do -you think that overhead cable will hold up when -we start rolling downhill?”</p> -<p>“I’d say it’s in pretty good condition. They put -a good coating of grease on all the machinery before -they shut the mine down. They must have -hoped to use it again, or possibly to sell it.”</p> -<p>Professor Crowell’s voice rang out urgently -from the tunnel entrance. “Hurry up! Kruger -and the others are starting back.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele pulled Sandy down out of sight in -the car. “We’ll stay here until they enter the -shed.” He called over to Tagish Charley, “Charley, -duck back into the mine and get a couple of -those picks that are lying around.”</p> -<p>Peering over the rim of the cable car, Sandy -watched the three men make their way on snowshoes -back to the mine. As soon as they had disappeared -into the shed, Dr. Steele shouted for the -others. “Come on, we’ve got to work fast. Charley, -over here with those picks, quickly!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_182">182</div> -<p>Lou Mayer, Professor Crowell and Jerry scrambled -aboard the car while Dr. Steele gave instructions -to Tagish Charley. “You work on the hook-eye -and pulley, Charley. I’ll knock out the safety -lock. The rest of you just pray.”</p> -<p>One solid blow tripped the safety lock, and the -car moved forward about a foot until the taut cable -stopped it. The cable itself was more of a -problem. Sandy had the uncomfortable sensation -that his leaping heart was trying to squirm out of -his throat and escape from his body.</p> -<p>The tension was unbearable as Charley -pounded away at the pulley with strong rhythmic -strokes of the ax. At first it seemed impervious to -the dull blade. Then, with relief, Sandy saw one -strand snap with a musical twang. Charley swung -harder, encouraged by this success, and another -strand broke. Each strand that let go put additional -stress on the remaining strands, making -Charley’s task a little easier. The last two snapped -together with a loud report.</p> -<p>The car shuddered and began to roll forward -slowly. There was the nerve-shattering screech of -metal against metal as the overhead rollers and -the main cable protested violently at being used -so rudely after twenty-one years of inactivity. -Snow, rust and metal shavings cascaded down on -the car’s occupants as it picked up momentum.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_183">183</div> -<p>The boys let go with a tremendous cheer and -Professor Crowell and Dr. Steele shook hands solemnly. -Sandy glanced behind them at the rapidly -diminishing tunnel entrance, but as yet there was -no sign of Kruger and the other two enemy -agents.</p> -<p>Fortunately the pitting of the cable and the -rust and stiffness of the rollers reduced their acceleration -sufficiently so that they crashed into -the bumpers at the foot of the incline with only a -moderate jolt. The cable car split the rotting -wood on the bumper’s face, but the springs behind -it cushioned the jolt.</p> -<p>Sandy extricated himself from the mass of -scrambled limbs gingerly. “Everybody okay? No -broken bones?”</p> -<p>There was a chorus of relieved okays.</p> -<p>Dr. Steele climbed out into the snow. “All -right. Into the shed and on with those snowshoes.” -Apprehensively, he looked up the mountain, -but the enemy agents still had not appeared.</p> -<p>As Sandy strapped on the great clumsy snowshoes, -he made a suggestion. “Let’s take the other -four pairs with us. That will slow them up even -more if they try to follow us.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_184">184</div> -<p>“Good idea,” Tagish Charley grunted. “But I -got better one.” He picked up the ax he had carried -with him from the cable car and began to -attack the surplus snowshoes furiously. When he -had demolished them, he straightened up and, to -everyone’s amazement, grinned broadly. “They -no go very far now.”</p> -<p>They were halfway to the plane when a distant -gunshot came to them faintly through the thin, -dry air. Turning, Sandy could make out three ant-like -specks on the mountainside near the tunnel -where they had been held prisoner.</p> -<p>“They’ve discovered we’re gone,” he said.</p> -<p>“And they’re shooting at us,” Jerry commented -nervously.</p> -<p>“We’re not in much danger at this range,” Professor -Crowell assured them. “Without telescopic -sights, it would take a mighty lucky shot to hit -anyone.”</p> -<p>Nevertheless, they were all greatly relieved -when they were seated snugly in the cabin of the -plane and Professor Crowell had the motors gunning -smoothly. “Those fellows did a mighty fine -job on this runway,” the professor said charitably. -He advanced the throttle and the ship glided -ahead smoothly. They cleared the trees at the far -end of the clearing with plenty of room to spare -and climbed in a sweeping curve that took them -over the mountain. Far below on the snowy slope -they could see the frustrated agents hopping -about and shaking their fists in the air.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_185">185</div> -<h2 id="c15"><span class="small">CHAPTER FIFTEEN</span> -<br />Final Victory</h2> -<p>“They’ve caught the entire gang!” Dr. Steele -reported excitedly as he burst into the boys’ hotel -room at Cordova a little after eight the next -morning.</p> -<p>Sandy sat up and massaged the sleep from his -eyes. “No kidding, Dad. When?”</p> -<p>“Army Intelligence moved in on Strak, Parker -and the other two at dawn. They gave up without -a fight. Seems they put in a pretty rough night. -Strak was in bad shape, thanks to Charley, but -he’ll live to stand trial for espionage.”</p> -<p>“What about the rest of the gang?”</p> -<p>“The local police arrested them as they were -trying to board a freighter at Valdez. It’s a clean -sweep.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_186">186</div> -<p>“Wow!” Jerry was awake now, his eyes as big -and shiny as tin plates. “That’s what I call action.” -Grinning, he added, “We sure could have used a -little bit of that kind of action yesterday. Where -were all the cops and G-men then?”</p> -<p>“In an operation like this one,” Dr. Steele explained, -“they had to stay way out on the fringes -until the last moment. That was a risk we knew -we’d have to take from the start if we hoped to -spring a trap on this gang of ruthless saboteurs. If -we had an army of bodyguards dogging our footsteps, -they never would have been lured in.”</p> -<p>“Lured in?” Sandy was perplexed. “You mean -we were sort of decoys for the spies?”</p> -<p>“In a way,” Dr. Steele admitted. “I couldn’t tell -you that, even yesterday. But now it’s officially -okay to let you in on it.”</p> -<p>“But what about the rocket fuel Professor -Crowell was working on? I thought we came up to -look for some rare element.”</p> -<p>“That of course was our primary reason for -coming to Alaska. And of course we’ll continue to -search for Element X. But when the enemy agents -began to hound us so persistently, we saw an opportunity -to make a double killing.”</p> -<p>Jerry stretched. “Only we came awful close to -being the ones who were killed.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_187">187</div> -<p>“We had a narrow scrape,” Dr. Steele agreed. -“It was ingenious of them to take back the plane -to Cordova after they ambushed us at the mine. -Our people were holding back, of course, and it -really threw them off the trail. As far as they -knew, we had checked back into the city and then -disappeared into thin air. With a bit more luck -the gang might have smuggled us out of the -country.”</p> -<p>Jerry laughed. “Hey, Sandy, can you see us -going to school in Siberia?”</p> -<p>“Frankly, no,” Sandy told him. “You have -enough trouble with English.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele broke in with “That reminds me. -We have to think of getting you boys back to Valley -View. You don’t want to miss too much more -school.”</p> -<p>“Speak for yourself, Doctor,” Jerry crowed. -“How can you expect us to go back and associate -with little school kids after battling Yukon blizzards, -Kodiak bears and spies? It’s positively undignified.”</p> -<p>Dr. Steele smiled tolerantly. “Don’t feel that -way, Jerry. Remember, adventure and excitement -may be just around the corner, whether -you’re in Alaska or California.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_188">188</div> -<p>“Yeah, that’s right,” Jerry said thoughtfully. -Then he added, with a gleam in his eye, “Besides, -it’ll be great to come up with our story when -Pepper March starts spouting about that cruise -he was supposed to take. Boy, will <i>his</i> eyes pop! -And you know what? We might even be able to -stump Quiz Taylor. Wouldn’t that be something? -Okay, Valley View, here we come! How about it, -Sandy?”</p> -<p>Sandy stretched blissfully. “I’m ready. In fact, -I’m way ahead of you. How about next summer?”</p> -<div class="box"> -<h3 id="c16">SANDY STEELE ADVENTURES</h3> -<p class="center rubric">1. BLACK TREASURE</p> -<p>Sandy Steele and Quiz spend an action-filled summer -in the oil fields of the Southwest. In their search for oil -and uranium, they unmask a dangerous masquerader.</p> -<p class="center rubric">2. DANGER AT MORMON CROSSING</p> -<p>On a hunting trip in the Lost River section of Idaho, -Sandy and Mike ride the rapids, bag a mountain lion, -and stumble onto the answer to a hundred-year-old -mystery.</p> -<p class="center rubric">3. STORMY VOYAGE</p> -<p>Sandy and Jerry James ship as deck hands on one of -the “long boats” of the Great Lakes. They are plunged -into a series of adventures and find themselves involved -in a treacherous plot.</p> -<p class="center rubric">4. FIRE AT RED LAKE</p> -<p>Sandy and his friends pitch in to fight a forest fire in -Minnesota. Only they and Sandy’s uncle know that -there is an unexploded A-bomb in the area to add to -the danger.</p> -<p class="center rubric">5. SECRET MISSION TO ALASKA</p> -<p>A pleasant Christmas trip turns into a startling adventure. -Sandy and Jerry participate in a perilous dog-sled -race, encounter a wounded bear, and are taken as -hostages by a ruthless enemy.</p> -<p class="center rubric">6. TROUBLED WATERS</p> -<p>When Sandy and Jerry mistakenly sail off in a stranger’s -sloop instead of their own, they land in a sea of trouble. -Their attempts to outmaneuver a desperate crew are -intertwined with fascinating sailing lore.</p> -<p class="center"><b>PUBLISHED BY SIMON AND SCHUSTER</b></p> -</div> -<h2 id="tn">Transcriber’s Notes</h2><ul><li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.</li> -<li>In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)</li></ul> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Secret Mission to Alaska, by Roger Barlow - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SECRET MISSION TO ALASKA *** - -***** This file should be named 50320-h.htm or 50320-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/3/2/50320/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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