"I believe," said Rand, "I should like to come back here some time. I sometimes think that in spite of the fact that this great territory is so near the North Pole, it"s going to be a great commonwealth. I want to see it in the winter time, when they say it is so terrible."
"Gee, I think we"ve had enough of it for this time," put in Gerald, with a serious look. "I want to get home and build another aeroplane. They"ll be getting ahead of us on airships if we stay away much longer."
"And I hae me doots," put in the economical Don, "if this country isn"t too expensive for just regular living."
"I"m going to write a book about this country, and I want to get home to do it," said Jack.
"Well," said d.i.c.k, "I"m rather in favor of a short visit to the old home at this time, just to astonish the natives with a few of our adventures.
Since this patrol was formed, its experiences have got to be a regular habit with the Creston folks, and I have an idea they must miss something by this time. I think it"s our duty to let them have at least an "Old Home Week" to relieve their--hey, what do you call it, Jack, in that high school French of yours?--oh, yes, their _ongwee_."
"Well," said the ingenious Pepper, unguardedly, "I"ve got no reason--I just want to go home."
"Nothing to do with a sudden case of "private consumption?"" cruelly remarked Jack, and amid the shout of laughter that followed Pepper, covered with a sunset glow, made a sudden exit in search of the guide.
Colonel Snow had a conference with the Indians after he had inspected the "treasure," and heard the story of its perilous recovery. He recognized that the value of the mammoth tusks as museum specimens was far greater than its worth as ivory, and he offered to pay the Indians far above its commercial value for their interest in it, allowing them full possession of the remaining ivory. They gladly accepted his suggestion, and all of them returned to their village near Skagway, with sufficient wealth to make them independent until the next "potlatch," when they would probably give it all away.
After a conference with the old guide, Colonel Snow made him an offer to join Swift.w.a.ter in the Fairbanks region, and operate with him on such claims as he should secure, and the old man prepared to return to his occupation as a miner, by the first fall stage from Valdez.
Having secured an official permit to take the caribou"s head out of the territory through the influence of Colonel Snow, the whole party embarked next day on the homeward bound steamer, which leaving Seward, and stopping at Valdez and Cordova, took the "outside pa.s.sage," for their trip, giving the Scouts for the first time a full taste of the Pacific Ocean. They proved good sailors in this instance, however, and in a few days stepped ash.o.r.e in Seattle in their "Ain Countree."
As they crept into their berths in the Great Northern"s Transcontinental Limited that night, eastward bound, Jack said:
"Rand, what do you suppose became of Dublin, Rae and Monkey? They seem to have missed us lately."
"You"ve heard, Jack, of a bad penny, haven"t you? Well, they"re three bad pence. Look out."
(THE END.)
THE BOY SCOUTS By RALPH VICTOR
The Boy Scout Movement has secured a hold on the American boy that is remarkable in its far-reaching effects. It is doing a great work in the development of manliness, self-confidence and physical perfection and is making better citizens out of the members of the organization.
This series will foster interest in the Boy Scout Organization. There is excitement such as every boy"s book should contain. There are many and varied experiences, and much worth-while information about out-door sports and camp life, in which the youths take part.
1. The Boy Scouts" Patrol 2. The Boy Scouts" Motor-Cycles 3. The Boy Scouts" Canoe Trip 4. The Boy Scouts in the Canadian Rockies 5. The Boy Scouts" Air Craft 6. The Boy Scouts on the Yukon 7. The Boy Scouts in the North Woods 8. The Boy Scouts in the Black Hills