THE LAKEWOOD BOYS
IN THE FROZEN NORTH

THE LAKEWOOD BOYS IN
THE FROZEN NORTH

CHAPTER I.

SHIPWRECKED.

G-R-R-R—R! Thump!

"What was that?"

Jack Lakewood stuck his head out from the lower bunk as he almost yelled the question.

"What's the matter now?" came in sleepy tones from the upper bunk.

"Sounded as though we'd struck something."

"Oh, go back to sleep, you've been having a nightmare."

"Night-mare nothing. Listen."

A faint sound of voices reached their ears and, a moment later, the sound of hurrying footsteps past the door of their state-room brought Jack out into the middle of the room.

"I tell you we hit something," he cried. "Don't you notice that the engines have stopped?"

"You're right about that anyhow," Bob Lakewood replied as he slid from the upper bunk to the floor. "We'd better get dressed so as to be on the safe side."

"I'll say we had," Jack agreed pulling off his pajamas. "I don't suppose it's anything—"

"All hands on deck, quick!"

The order was shouted outside their door to be repeated an instant later further down the corridor.

"That sounds ominous," Bob declared pulling on his trowsers.

"I'll say it does. We'd better make it snappy."

"Don't forget your money."

"And we'd better slip on a life preserver," Jack added as he pulled two of them out from beneath the bunk.

"Wonder what we hit?" Bob asked as he strapped the life preserver over his coat.

"Iceberg likely, or maybe a derelict."

"More likely the latter," Bob said.

"You ready?"

"Come on."

Bob pulled the door open and they stepped out into the corridor. The sound of voices some shrill and others low and gruff seemed to fill the ship. As they started toward the stairway, a little way back, a half dressed woman, her arms filled with clothes, rushed up to them.

"Oh, what has happened?" she gasped.

"I'm afraid we hit something," Bob told her.

"Is the ship going to sink?" she cried.

"I hope not," Bob tried to reassure her. "But you had better get back to your state-room and finish dressing and put on a preserver."

"Are you sure there'll be time?"

"I think so. Where is your room?"

"Just around the corner."

"Are you alone?"

"Yes, all alone. Oh, this is awful. I know the ship is going to sink and we'll all be drowned."

"Come quick," Bob ordered taking hold of her arm and drawing her along. "Is this your room?" he asked as he turned a corner and saw a door half open.

"This is it, yes."

"Then lose no time. Put on the warmest thing you have and, as soon as you're ready, I'll strap on your life preserver."

The woman slipped into the room and closed the door while he was speaking.

"All hands on deck, and make it quick."

Doors were opening all along the corridor now and people, some fully dressed and others only half clothed, were rushing toward the stairway.

"Better put on life preservers," Bob yelled.

Some turned back at the suggestion while others in a state of frenzy rushed along the corridor intent only on getting to the upper deck.

"Why doesn't she hurry?" Jack asked impatiently as he glanced both ways.

"I'm ready."

The door was pushed open and the boys stepped in. The woman, or rather girl, for she could not have been more than twenty, was now fully dressed and, reaching beneath the bunk, Bob dragged out a life preserver and, an instant later, had it strapped securely about her.

"It's so brave and kind of you to wait for me," she whispered.

"Got a bag?" Bob asked.

"All my valuables are in this little bag," she replied picking up a small leather bag from the bunk. "I suppose I'll have to leave my trunk here," she sighed.

"I'm afraid so," Bob said. "And you'd better take the bag as we may be separated," he added.

"All hands out on deck. No time to lose."

"I'm ready," she cried, and the next moment they were hurrying along the corridor evidently the last of those who had rooms in that part of the ship.

"Do you think we're too late?" she gasped as they reached the foot of the stairway.

"No, they'll have boats enough to hold everybody. Have to since the Titanic went down, you know," Bob told her as they started to mount the stairs.

On deck the scene was one of indescribable confusion. Officers were rushing about shouting out orders and trying to calm the excited passengers, while the creak of ropes as the life boats were lowered added a sinister note to the occasion. Cries of men trying to locate their wives or children and of women separated from their loved ones, added also to the confusion.

"Women and children first. Stand back there or I'll fire."

The deck was lighted by many lights and the boys could see the captain of the ship, close by the rail, as he endeavored to hold back the swarm of fear crazed men from the steerage as they fought for a place in each boat before it was lowered to the water.

But he might as well have tried to hold back the tide itself. The crowd, many of them foreigners, fought like wild beasts and there was immediate danger that the brave captain would be overpowered.

"Come on, Jack boy, we've got to take a hand in this," Bob said in a low voice as he grabbed the girl by the arm and urged her forward.

Holding her close as possible he pushed into the fighting mob closely followed by Jack.

"Way for the lady," he shouted pushing a big Swede aside.

With a snort of anger the man aimed a blow for Bob's head but he saw it coming in time to duck and the next instant he had planted a beautiful right, with all his strength behind it, on the point of the Swede's chin. The man went down as though a sledge hammer had struck him and, for an instant, the crowd gave way enabling them to reach the captain's side. A boat was just being lowered and, as Bob spied an empty seat close up by the bow, he shouted:

"There's room for one more there, Captain."

"All right, but hurry," the captain cried.

Both boys helped the girl over the side into the boat and, a moment later she vanished as it quickly slid down to the water.

There had been a moment's pause in the mad struggle for a place in the boats but now, as another was swung over the side, the rush began again.

"Back, you men. Women and children first," the captain again shouted waving his revolver.

"I've as mooch right ter save my life as a woman," shouted a big German as he reached for the side of the swinging boat.

"Not on this boat, you haven't," Bob yelled as he seized the man by the coat collar and yanked him back.

The man fell sprawling on the deck and, before he could scramble to his feet, Bob had leaped onto the rail where he stood holding onto a rope. Lifting his free hand high in the air he shouted at the top of his voice.

"Are you all cowards? There are still women and children to go in the boats. Let's be men."

"Hurrah for the kid," shouted a voice some feet away.

The effect, whether of Bob's short speech or of the man's cheer, was magical and Jack, who was directly in front of his brother, was quick to take advantage of the lull in the mad struggle.

"Make way, now, for those women behind there," he shouted as he urged aside those in front of him.

Like children the foreigners obeyed and in an instant he had opened up a lane and was beckoning to a dozen women and as many children who had been standing back despairing of being able to get to the boat.

"Quick, now," he ordered, motioning them to come.

They rushed after him and, a moment later another boat load was lowered to the water.

Much the same scene had been taking place in other parts of the ship where the boats were being filled under the supervision of the officers, but nowhere had the confusion been so great as here. And now, it being pretty certain that all the women and children had been placed in the boats, the men were allowed to take their places and boat after boat was quickly filled and lowered. In this work Bob and Jack assisted the captain in keeping some semblance of order and that officer was loud in his praise of their action.

"I don't know what I would have done had it not been for you," he panted as, all the passengers in sight having found a place in the life boats they had a moment's breathing spell.

"You think she'll go down?" Bob asked.

"No doubt of it. See how she's settling in the bow."

A single glance was enough to convince even a land lubber that the big ship was doomed. Already the deck sloped sharply toward the bow and in addition there was a decided list to port.

"You boys get into this boat," the captain ordered as two sailors swung the last boat in sight over the side. "I must make sure that no one is left behind." And, before they could say a word he was off down the stairway.

There seemed nothing to do but obey his order and they lost no time in climbing into the boat.

"Is this the last one?" Jack asked one of the sailors who was holding on to the rope.

"No, there's three or four more on the upper deck but I reckon we won't need 'em. Most of the crew has gone already."

"Will he have time to make the round of the ship?" Bob asked anxiously.

"Reckon so. The mates are helpin' him. She ought ter hold up another fifteen minutes or so."

"What did we hit?" Jack asked.

"Nobody knows fer sure, but it must have been a derelict an' a sunken one at that 'cause the lookout swears as how he was on his job an' that there wasn't a thing in sight an' Toby's a good man all right."

"Probably you're right," Bob agreed.

At that moment two men came running from the stern of the ship and Bob noticed that they wore the uniforms of first and second mates.

"Hasn't the captain come back yet?" the first mate asked anxiously.

"Not yet," one of the sailors replied.

"It's strange. We left him below and he didn't have as much of the ship to look through as we did, and he ought to be here."

"He'll have to hustle or he'll be too late," the second mate declared. "She's going to take her last dive before many minutes."

As he finished speaking all the lights suddenly went out. Fortunately it was moonlight and they could see for some distance.

"Water's got up to the dynamos," the first mate announced.

"And what's more the wind's getting up too," the other mate said.

When the boys had first reached the deck there was only a light breeze blowing, but it had been steadily increasing and now had grown to a strong wind.

"We can't wait much longer," the second mate declared. "What in the world do you suppose is keeping him?"

"But you wouldn't go without him?" Bob suggested.

"I'd hate to, but there's no use in all of us going down."

"Which we're going to do if we're not off in less than ten minutes," the other added. "I tell you she's going down mighty soon."

"Then let's go."

"But we can't leave him," Bob insisted.

"You jest watch us, matey," one of the sailors broke in as he sprang over the rail into the boat still holding the lowering rope.

"Give me five minutes and I'll go see if I can find him," Bob proposed.

"All right, but yer've got to hustle," the sailors agreed grudgingly.

Bob waited no longer, but dashed for the stairway.

"You go back, Jack," he shouted as he turned at the head of the stairs and saw his brother close at his heels.

"Back nothing," the boy yelled. "Now, don't stop to argue because it won't do any good."

Bob knew his brother well enough to know that it would be useless to say anything more so he leaped down the stairs and Jack followed.

"Oh, Captain!" he shouted as soon as he had reached the foot.

There was no answer.

"He must be up forward somewhere," Jack shouted as he started toward the bow.

Fortunately the boys had had the foresight to slip into their pockets their flashlights and, with their aid, they quickly located a door on the far side of the large hall, which opened into a corridor leading to the bow. On both sides of this corridor were staterooms and into these they peeped, Bob taking those on the right side while Jack followed suit on the left. But the captain was in none of them and they reached the open deck in the bow without having discovered him. From time to time they had called at the top of their voice without result.

"If he's in this part of the boat he must be dead or unconscious," Bob declared as he threw the light from his flash over the deck.

"Well, there's no use standing here," Jack returned. "There's a passage on each side close to the rail. You take one and I'll take the other."

As Bob reached the right hand rail he noticed with a shudder of alarm that the water was nearly on a level with the deck. "She can't stay afloat much longer," he thought as he pushed open the door of the first room.

He had covered about half the rooms in the row when he heard a faint cry from the other side of the ship.

"Bob—Bob. This way, quick!"

Like a flash he sped down the corridor and, as he reached the other side of the ship, he saw Jack standing about half way down the passageway.

"Found him?" he yelled.

"Yes, he in this room, but I'm afraid he's dead."

By this time Bob was at the door of the stateroom and, a moment later, was bending over the body of the captain who was stretched on the floor face up.

"He isn't dead," he announced after he had laid his head on his chest.

"Then we've got to get him up. You take his head and I'll take his feet. Quick now."

Fortunately the captain was not a large man and could not have weighed over one hundred and forty pounds so they had little trouble in carrying him.

"Wonder if they've waited," Jack panted as they came to the foot of the stairs.

"We've been gone mor'n five minutes," Bob told him.

A moment later they had reached the middle deck and their first glance was toward the rail where they had left the two mates and the two sailors.

"They've gone!" Bob gasped.

"What do you know about that? The cowards!" Jack added.

CHAPTER II.

THE STRUGGLE.

Ten days previous to the events related in the preceding chapter Bob and Jack Lakewood were preparing to return East for the fall term at College. They had spent the summer on the Lazy S ranch a few miles from the little town of Cold Springs in the State of Texas, except for a few weeks during which they had been in Mexico, hunting for a lost mine. It was late in October and ordinarily college would have opened several weeks before but, owing to a serious outbreak of influenza, the opening had been delayed, giving them several weeks more of vacation.

The day before they were to start a telegram had come from their father, bidding them to delay their departure until a letter, which he had already sent, should reach them.

"That's funny," Bob said as he handed the telegram to Jack.

"What do you suppose is up?" Jack asked as soon as he had read it.

"Curiosity killed a cat, you know."

The last remark came from a girl with bobbed hair and a slightly turned up nose, who had read the message over Jack's shoulder. Her name was Sue Stebbins and her father, Jeb Stebbins, was manager of the large ranch which was owned by a Mr. Leeds who lived in the East. Sue, who was something of a tomboy when it came to out-of-doors sports, ruled all hands, including her father, with, as the latter often declared, a rod of iron. But her rule was a generous one and she was a general favorite with all the hands from the manager down to the Chinese cook.

"If that was so you'd have been dead long ago," Jack retorted. "You've only got one life, you know, and a cat has nine."

"But I'm not curious," Sue pouted.

"Oh, no, not a bit," Jack jeered.

"Well, anyhow, it gives you a few days more before you have to go back to that horrid old college," she smiled.

"Who said it was horrid?" Jack demanded.

"I did. Anything that takes you two away from the ranch is horrid, so there."

"I reckon that settles it," Bob broke in laughingly. "But, honestly, Sue, we hate to go worse than you can possibly hate to have us."

"Well, we won't argue the point. Come on, there's just time for a gallop before supper."

It was three days before the letter came and Bob read it with Jack and Sue looking over his shoulder. It was as follows:

My dear boys:

My wire undoubtedly was a great surprise to you and, of course, you have been wondering what it was all about.

You will, no doubt, recall hearing me speak many times of my brother, Silas, who lives in the State of Washington. You have never seen him as he is a bit queer and has not been East for nearly thirty years, although he has always been a great rover. About six months ago he wrote me that he was going to take a trip to Alaska and try his hand at mining. Three months later I received a second letter from Nome stating that he was about to start for the upper waters of the Yukon with another man by the name of Long and that they would be gone a month. He promised that he would write as soon as they returned, but I have no word from him and, frankly, I am worried. He should have been back two months ago and I should have heard from him a few days later.

I have wired several times to Nome to find out if he had returned, but each time have received a reply stating nothing had been heard from them.

How would you like to take a trip up there and see if you can find out what has become of him? I know you ought to be in college, but you are well up in your studies and the trip will be a new one for you. I would go myself, but business will not let me get away just now. If your friend, Slats Magee, can go with you so much the better. I am so sure that you will want to go that I am inclosing check for expenses. Wire what you will do. Mother sends lots of love as do I.

Your loving father.

"Do we go?" Bob asked as he finished reading.

"Does a duck swim?" Jack laughed.

"But Slats is laid up with a broken leg," Bob said mournfully.

"And, of course, that's too bad, but I reckon it needn't stop us from going. Father didn't say for us not to go without him, you know."

"I know, but—"

"But nothing. Father wants us to go whether Slats can go or not and that settles it."

"How about taking me along to take care of you?" Sue asked.

"Huh," Jack snorted. "Anyone'd think we were a couple of babies."

"And I reckon we'd have to have a chaperon along if we took you," Bob laughed.

"Well, of course, I didn't mean it, but just the same, I wish I was a boy and then I could go," Sue pouted.

Mr. Stebbins, or Jeb as everyone called him, shook his head when they showed him the letter.

"Your father has a lot of confidence in you for a fact and I'm not saying that it's misplaced, but I can't help thinking that it's risky for you two boys to go away off up there. If Slats could go along I'd feel better about it but, of course, that's out of the question. Yes, I know your father wants you to go," he added as Bob was about to speak, "and of course, the thing for you to do is to go only—"

Within an hour a wire was on its way to Mr. Lakewood, saying that they were starting as soon as they could get ready. Then followed a busy time looking up routes and making reservations, to say nothing of outfitting themselves with clothing suitable for wear in the far North.

Slats Magee, just beginning to hobble around, on crutches, was loud in his bewailment of the fate which kept him at home.

"If it was only an arm, now," he groaned. "I'd put it in a sling an' go anyhow."

They found that they could get a boat from Seattle on a Monday and as that was only three days off, they were kept busy the most of the time. Finally the moment came to say good-bye and, as the train pulled out from Cold Springs, Sue waved her hand from the platform and shouted:

"Look out you don't fall in love with an Esquimo girl."

* * * * * * * * *

Hoping that the lifeboat might not have left the side of the ship the boys laid the form of the captain on the deck and rushed to the rail.

"Too late," Jack cried as he pointed to a spot of light dancing up and down some distance from the ship.

"Yes, they've gone all right," Bob agreed.

"What'll we do?"

"There must be another boat. Didn't one of the mates say there were others on the upper deck?"

"Yes, he said so, but do you suppose we can get it over in time?"

"We can try."

Rushing back to the head of the stairway they again picked the captain up and a moment later were on the upper deck. There they were encouraged to find three lifeboats hanging from their davits and, placing their burden gently down, they set about getting it ready to lower.

"Hurry," Jack gasped as the boat gave a sickening lurch. "She's going in a minute or two."

Jack had quickly succeeded in getting his rope clear, but Bob was not so fortunate. His had gotten caught and it took him some time to get it free.

"I'm doing the best I can," he panted pulling frantically at the stiff rope. "There, she's free. Now you hold them while I drag him over."

He handed his rope to Jack and rushed back a few feet for the captain. It was hard work getting him into the boat, but it was finally accomplished and, springing in after him, they quickly began to lower away. As the boat touched the water a heavy wave dashed it against the side of the ship and all but upset it, but Bob grabbed an oar and succeeded in fending it off before the next wave hit them and, a moment later, he was pulling on both oars with all his strength.

They were not twenty feet away from the ship when a loud explosion told them that the water had reached the boilers.

"Guess that'll finish her," Bob gasped.

Hardly had he spoken when the stern of the ship rose in the air and a moment later the ill-fated ship slid beneath the waves.

"Good-bye, Majestic," Jack groaned.

Now that the danger from the suction, caused by the big ship, was over, Bob rested on his oars and looked about him. The sea was rough and the lifeboat danced up and down, but he knew there was no danger unless the wind increased in strength. Far away he could see several points of light which he knew marked the location of the other lifeboats, but the boats themselves he could not see as heavy clouds had obscured the moon.

"Guess we'd better pull toward them," he said as he again bent to the oars.

"Let me take them," Jack suggested.

"You see if you can bring the captain around first. I'm not tired yet."

The form of the captain lay on the bottom of the boat at Jack's feet and the boy slid from his seat and took his head in his lap.

"He's still breathing," he announced.

"Good. Get some water on his head."

Under his ministrations the man soon sighed and, a moment later opened his eyes.

"Where am I?" he whispered.

"You're safe," Jack replied. "How do you feel?"

"I'll be all right in a minute. The ship? Did it—"

"Yes, she went down," Jack told him.

The captain closed his eyes and for a moment did not move. Then he again opened them and, in a much stronger voice, asked:

"How did I get in this boat?"

"Why, we put you in."

"But the others?"

"They're in another boat."

"They didn't wait?"

"No."

"Then how—"

"Better wait till you're a bit stronger, sir," Jack suggested as the captain hesitated.

"I'm all right now," he insisted as he raised his head from the boy's lap.

Seeing that he was determined to sit up Jack helped him to the seat on which he had been sitting.

"Now suppose you tell me about it," he said.

"Well, there isn't much to tell," Jack began. "When you didn't come back we went to find you and—and found you."

"But where were the two mates? Did they get back before you left?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, why didn't they go?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Well, I guess I can see about the way it was and I guess I owe my life to you two boys. But, tell me, didn't they agree to wait till you came back?"

"Well, they said they'd wait five minutes, but I guess we were considerable longer than that," Jack told him.

"And they went off without you, eh?"

"I'm afraid they did, sir."

"I know it, but perhaps it's best not to judge them too harshly. I suppose a man has a right to save his own life."

"But what happened to you, sir?" Bob asked as he rested on his oars for a moment.

"I must have fainted," the captain told them. "You see I was subject to fainting spells some years ago and had to give up the sea for several years but, after I had gone five years without a single one, I thought I was over them and persuaded the owners to let me have a command again. This was my first voyage," he groaned. "But I suppose the excitement and severe strain was responsible for the relapse. I shall never try it again."

"Do we seem to be getting any nearer the other boats?" Bob asked a little later.

"It's hard to say," the captain replied. "But I don't think we're gaining much if any."

"Let me spell you now," Jack said as he rose from his seat.

While they had been talking the wind had been steadily rising and now it was blowing almost a gale making it difficult to keep the boat's head into the wind.

"Just a minute," Bob cried pulling strongly on his right oar. "It won't do to let her get broadside," he added as he moved over on his seat to give Jack room.

It was a fortunate thing that they were used to boats else it is doubtful if they would have been able to change places without allowing the craft to wallow in the trough, but they finally accomplished it and Bob was glad to rest his aching arms.

"Have you any idea how far we are from shore, sir?" he asked as soon as he had settled himself in the seat beside the captain.

"A matter of twenty-five or thirty miles. As you know we were about twelve hours out, but we've been running not far from land."

In spite of his warm clothing Bob's teeth soon began to chatter as the night was cold and he had been sweating from the violent exercise of rowing. Fortunately the captain had on his heavy coat and, although he acknowledged that he was none too warm, he was not shivering.

"What do you think of the weather, sir?" Bob asked a few minutes later.

"I don't like it. I'm afraid we'll have snow before morning."

As if to confirm his words Bob felt a snow flake strike his face.

"I'm afraid you're right, sir," he said.

The first flake was quickly followed by others and in less than ten minutes they were flying thick and fast driven by the strong wind, and so great was their velocity that they stung like needles as they struck the skin.

"Getting tired, Jack?" Bob shouted.

"No, not yet," Jack called stoutly back.

"Well, I'm coming anyhow so move over. There's no use in taking too long shifts and, besides, I want to get warmed up a bit," he added as he reached the seat by his brother's side. "We've simply got to take it as easy as we can for goodness knows how long we'll have to keep this up."

The lights from the other boats had disappeared soon after it had begun to snow and now there was nothing to be seen about them save the swirling snow and the white foam of the water as the wind blew off the tops of the waves.

"Wonder if there's anything to eat or drink in this boat," Jack said as soon as he had reached his former seat beside the captain.

"There should be both food and water," the latter replied. "All the lifeboats are kept stocked in case of an emergency such as this."

"Where would it be?"

"Right back of you in the locker."

Jack turned half around and, reaching beneath the seat in the stern lifted the cover of a small box fitted in the narrow space. But it was empty and, with a sinking heart, he turned back.

"Guess they forgot to stock this boat," he announced.

"You mean there's nothing there?"

"Not a thing."

"It's criminal negligence," the captain declared. "It's the purser's business to see that the lifeboats are kept stocked, but the fellow we have is always neglecting his work, but, as he's some relative of the owners it's been overlooked and now we've got to suffer for it."

The storm seemed to increase and Bob was having all he could do to keep the boat head on. He had lost all sense of direction and had no idea whether he was rowing toward the shore or out to sea. They were running with the wind and he judged that they must be making several miles an hour.

"It's my turn now," the captain shouted a few minutes after Jack had discovered the lack of food and water.

Both boys protested against the move, but the man declared that he was all right and well able to do his share of the work.

"Besides I need to get warmed up a bit," he added as he shifted his position to the rower's seat.

"Looks like we might not get out of this scrape," Jack said in a low tone as soon as Bob was seated beside him.

"Never say die," Bob replied hopefully. "I've seen sicker cats than this get well, and don't forget, Jack boy, that God can take care of us just as well out here as He can on the land."

"I know it and, believe me, I've been asking Him to do that very thing."

"So have I, and I believe He will."

The dismal night wore on. At times the snow slackened until it had almost ceased only to swirl down harder than ever a few minutes later. The wind kept about the same. Every half hour they changed shifts, as Jack called it, an arrangement which gave each an hour's rest after a half hour of strenuous labor. And each welcomed the chance to row in spite of the hard work as he suffered with the cold while resting.

"It'll be daylight in another hour," Bob announced as he moved to Jack's side to take his shift.

"But I don't believe we'll be able to see much better than we can now unless this snow lets up," Jack declared as he gave up the oars.

"Well, it can't keep on snowing forever," Bob added hopefully.

Just at that instant, as they were changing places, an extra strong gust struck the boat and Bob, feeling the bow swing off, put all his strength into his left oar in a desperate effort to straighten his course. Snap! The oar broke like a pipe stem and the boat was wallowing in the trough in an instant. Almost instantly a huge wave broke over it filling it half full of water and nearly throwing it over.

"She'll go over in a minute," Bob shouted.

An instant later and his words proved true for the very next wave caught the boat just right and over she went.

CHAPTER III.

THE CABIN BY THE SHORE.

The water was icy cold and as Bob went beneath the surface it seemed to him that his blood froze in his veins. Thanks to the cork jacket which he had kept on his head bobbed out of the water almost immediately and, as he rose on the top of a wave, he looked about for Jack, and saw him only a few feet away.

"Where's the captain?" he shouted.

"Don't know," Jack shouted back shaking the water from his eyes.

Both boys were expert swimmers and, with the help of the life preservers, they had no difficulty in keeping afloat although the big waves dashed over their heads filling their eyes with salt water.

"I'm afraid he's a goner," Bob gasped as he fought his way to his brother's side. "He didn't have on a preserver, you know."

"And I reckon we're goners too in spite of them," Jack chattered back.

Bob felt in his heart that Jack was right unless a miracle happened as he well knew that no one could live long in that cold water which seemed to penetrate to the very marrow of the bones.

"Swim hard so as to keep up the circulation," he began and then paused as his eyes caught sight of something floating in the water only a few feet to his right. A few powerful strokes brought him to the spot, but the object had disappeared. With a prayer on his lips he dove and swam downward with all his strength. Down, down, he struggled until he knew that he had reached his limit. Then, just as he was about to turn, his outstretched hand came in contact with something and he knew he had found what he was after. The memory of that awful struggle to the surface haunted his dreams for months afterward. But, although it seemed as though his lungs would burst with pressure and he more than once nearly lost his hold, he finally succeeded and, to his great relief, he came up close beside Jack.

"Hold him a minute," he gasped.

As Jack relieved him he drank in great gulps of air and immediately felt the strength pouring bade info his body.

"Is he dead?" Jack shouted.

"Don't know, but we must keep him up as long as we can."

"You bet."

Holding the form of the captain between them they fought the waves striving to protect him from their fury as much as possible. The wind had swept the overturned boat far beyond their reach and they knew it would be useless to try to reach it.

"I—I'm about all in," Jack gasped after they had fought but a few minutes.

Bob knew that he himself was in about the same condition, but he would not give up as long as an ounce of strength remained.

"Let me have him while you rest a bit," he said trying to keep his teeth from chattering and the weakness from his voice.

"Not—much," he heard Jack murmur.

Bob did not have enough strength to insist and so they kept on until it seemed he could not possibly take another stroke. Was this to be the end?

"I—I've got to—give—" he heard Jack cry but, at the same moment his heart gave a great leap for his feet touched something and, the next instant he was standing only waist deep in the water and helping Jack to recover his footing while holding the captain's head above water with one hand.

"Just in time," he encouraged his brother.

"I—I'll say—it was," Jack's teeth chattered so that he could hardly speak.

Between them they managed to drag the unconscious form of the captain through the shallow water to the shore, which was covered to a depth of several inches, with snow.

"What are we going to do?" Jack panted as he looked about him. "We'll all be frozen stiff in a few minutes if we stand here. Suppose we can get a fire going?"

"I've got a waterproof box of matches somewhere but I'm afraid we'll not be able to find anything that'll burn."

"Well we'd better—" Jack began and then uttered a cry of joy. "There comes somebody," he shouted.

Through the gloom they could see a point of light swinging in such a way that they knew someone was approaching with a lantern.

"This way, quick," Bob shouted, and, a moment later a tall, thickset man stood beside them.

"Whar from you come, oui?" he asked.

"We were wrecked and—and, is there a house near?" Bob replied.

"Oui, ver' close by," the man told them and then, putting his hands to his mouth shouted: "Hey Jacques, Pierre, come queek, queek."

It seemed that he had hardly called before an answering shout came through the night and two forms, dimly seen at first, soon joined them.

"You tak' heem to the house queek," the man ordered, and as the others picked up the captain as though he was a child, he turned to the boys.

"You think you walk heem? Eet's just behind that bush clump."

"Sure, we're all right," Bob assured him as they started off through the snow.

As they rounded the clump of bushes a good sized log cabin loomed before them and, in another minute, they were inside in front of a roaring fireplace.

"You geet dem wet things off queek now and tak' one bon rub with deese towel," their benefactor ordered as he pulled a couple of coarse, but clean towels from a chest. "Dem boys dey look after heem," he added nodding toward the other side of the fire where Jacques and Pierre were already at work stripping the wet clothing from the captain.

"Is—is he alive?" Bob asked.

"Oui, heem still breath some, but heem one mighty close call. Mebby heem geet well, mebby not. Eet for the bon Dieu to say. We do the best we can."

"God must have sent you out to us," Jack declared rubbing his body till it glowed.

"Oui, Le Dieu, heem tell me go out. Me go."

A few minutes later wrapped in heavy blankets they were toasting their feet in front of the fireplace and drinking hot coffee while the captain, also wrapped in blankets, had been placed in one of the bunks which lined one side of the cabin, after everything possible had been done. He was still unconscious and they knew that his life hung in the balance.

"I never thought I'd be so warm again," Jack sighed contentedly as he sipped his second dipper of hot coffee.

"Nor did I," Bob agreed. "It was little short of a miracle. But what I can't understand is why there wasn't more surf where we came ashore."

"That's so. I never thought of it, but it does seem strange. Maybe we drifted into a cove or something."

"Reckon we must have."

"We'll ask one of the men when they come in," Jack said as he listened to the sounds which came from a back room, which he supposed was the kitchen and which indicated that they were getting a meal.

"Wonder what became of the other boats."

"They didn't come in where we did, that's sure."

"Maybe they were picked up."

"I hope so."

The faint light of the coming dawn was just beginning to steal in through the window when, a little later, they heard a low moan from the bunk where the captain had been laid. Bob hurried across the room, closely followed by Jack, and bent over the bed. The captain's eyes were open, but in them was no sign of recognition.

"Hard to the starboard," he muttered. And then, "Starboard I said, not port."

Bob laid his hand on the man's forehead and, as he expected, found it very hot.

"He's burning up with fever," he told Jack.

"You—you think?"

"Pneumonia, most likely."

Just then the door opened and Pierre came in with the announcement that breakfast was ready.

"The captain has recovered consciousness, but he's out of his head," Bob told him.

"Oui, we thot he would be. Jacques, heem gone for doctor."

"How long will it take?"

"Eet tak' long time—too bad—eet thirty mile an heem have to walk, but heem go ver' fast an' come back wid horse, mebby gas wagon."

"But he may die before he gets the doctor here."

"I think not. We geeve heem medicine."

"Pray God he may live," Bob sighed.

"Oui, we pray. Now you geet eats. I watch heem."

Had food ever tasted so good as those baked beans and hot biscuit to say nothing of the huge wedge of apple pie which followed? Both boys agreed that if it had they had forgotten when or where.

"If I eat another mouthful I'll burst," Bob declared as he pushed back his chair.

"Well, I can still chew, but that's the limit. There won't another bit go down," Jack added.

Breakfast over they found that their clothes had dried and they were soon, as Jack put it, clothed in their right minds once more. The three Frenchmen, they soon learned, were trappers and had lived here for years as they were brothers and none had married.

The captain was raving as they came again info the big living room and, at times, Pierre was having his hands full to hold him in the bunk.

"Heem ver' bad, but heem got lots strength an' that bon sign," he said as they approached.

"You think he'll pull through?" Bob asked anxiously.

"No can tell." Pierre shook his head.

"Can we do anything?"

"Non. I geeve him medicine, all we can do."

As they walked slowly around the clump of bushes and looked out over the tumbling water they saw that their conjecture regarding the surf, or rather the lack of it, had been correct. A small cove, the points of which were only a few yards apart, broke the violence of the waves, making the water inside comparatively still.

"It's lucky we hit the opening," Bob said as he watched the rollers come in and break outside the cove.

"I'll say it was. I doubt if we could have gotten ashore outside without having the life knocked out of us," Jack agreed.

"It's awful when you think what may have happened to the rest of them," Bob said as they turned back.

"But they may have been picked up or got ashore all right."

"We'll hope so at any rate."

It was nearly two o'clock when the doctor came in a small touring car with Jacques. After a hasty examination he confirmed their fears that it was pneumonia.

"Both lungs are congested," he told them. "But his heart action is strong and he's evidently lived a clean life, two very important factors in a case of this kind."

"Then you think he has a chance?" Bob asked.

"Sure he has," the doctor assured him. "But, of course, you never can tell how pneumonia is going to turn out. Much depends on the nursing."

"Can we get a trained nurse?"

"You've got one." The doctor nodded toward Pierre who had stepped over to the fireplace. "What that fellow doesn't know about nursing hasn't yet been learned. I'd rather have him than anyone I know."

"He was the captain of the steamer."

"Is that so? How did it happen that you three were together?"

Bob told him the story of their escape. "Did you hear anything of any of the other boats?" he asked when he had finished.

"Yes, three of them came ashore about ten miles down the coast and the others were picked up early this morning a few miles out."

"Then there were no deaths?"

"Not unless some of them die from the effects."

"It's good to know that," Bob assured him.

The doctor left an hour later promising to come again the next day and somehow the boys felt encouraged although they realized that the captain was a very sick man.

"We'll have to stay here till it goes one way or the other," Bob whispered to Jack as the doctor drove off.

"Of course, unless we'll be in the way."

But Baptist, the older of the three brothers and the one who had found them, assured them that so far from being in the way, they could do much to help as they had their traps to see to. So they remained and did all they could to help about the place. When the doctor came the next day he found his patient about the same and told them that in all probability there would not be much change for another week at least. When he left the boys asked him to take a message to wire to their father and also to the ranch that they were safe.

Day followed day with little or no change in the sick man. Pierre was untiring in his nursing and the boys soon found that the doctor's praise had not been misplaced. No woman could have been more tender than was this rough appearing Frenchman. Night and day he watched by the bed of the stricken man leaving his post only long enough to snatch a few hours' sleep each day. At times the captain was in his right mind for a few minutes and then he recognized them with a faint smile of gratitude. But for the most part he lay in a stupor. Only occasionally did he rave and then his mutterings were all of the sea.

Once his heart nearly stopped beating and Pierre thought, for a moment that he was gone, but an injection of a powerful stimulant brought him around. Then, a few days later, came the crisis and the two boys waited with bated breath while Pierre bent over the bunk watching for the slightest sign of change.

"Queek. The blankets," he shouted suddenly, and they grabbed from before the fireplace the thick woolen blankets which had been hanging there for several hours.

"Shut the windows," Pierre ordered as he snatched them from their hands.

Quickly he wrapped the man in the warm folds and then sat with his fingers on his pulse.

"Heem will live." Pierre sprang to his feet as he made the announcement and the boys never forgot the look on his face as he closed his eyes. They knew he was praying and they bowed their heads.

"See heem sweat."

Bending over the captain, who lay with closed eyes, they could see the great drops of sweat on his forehead and knew that Pierre had spoken the truth. The fever was broken and, barring the unexpected, the captain was on the road to recovery.

"Thank God," Bob breathed as they moved away.

"Amen," Jack added.

Great was the joy of Baptist and Jacques, when they returned from a trip to their traps shortly before dark, to learn the good news.

"And it's all due to your nursing, Pierre," Bob declared.

"Non—non. Le Bon Dieu, heem watch over heem," the Frenchman insisted.

"Yes, he'll pull through all right now," the doctor said when he came the following day. "Didn't I tell you he was a good nurse?"

"He's the best ever," Bob assured him.

Another week and the captain was able to sit up though still very weak.

"I owe my life twice to you boys," he said slowly as Bob pushed his chair nearer to the fire.

"But most of all to Pierre," Bob reminded him.

"I know, and he shall have his reward if he will accept it. I am not a poor man by any means, but what do you think? Can I offer him money?"

"I don't think he would accept it?"

"Nor do I. And yet I must do something. What would you suggest?"

"Wait till you get home and then send them all a good present."

"I'll do it. You don't find men like them very often."

It had been arranged that the boys were to leave the next day. Now that the captain was well out of danger they felt that they must not delay longer and the doctor was to take them back to the little town thirty miles down the coast, where they could get a train for Seattle.

CHAPTER IV.

THE BOYS START AGAIN FOR ALASKA.

"Well, we're off again."

It was two days after they had left the log cabin by the sea and the steamer, on which they had, for the second time, engaged passage, was drawing slowly away from the wharf.

"And here's hoping we have better luck than last time," Bob returned and he leaned over the rail. "But I might as well confess that I feel a bit squeemish."

"But lightning never strikes twice in the same place you know," Jack laughed.

"And, by the same token, I don't suppose we're likely to hit that same derelict but there are others, you know," Bob smiled back.

"I know, but let's not borrow trouble."

"Pardon me, but are you Bob and Jack Lakewood?"

The boys turned quickly at the question and were much surprised to see the captain of the ship standing before them.

"Yes, sir."

Both boys answered at the same time.

"I thought so," the captain smiled, holding out both hands which the boys, although greatly puzzled, were quick to grasp. "I am Richard Blake and, as you have probably noted by my uniform, have the honor to command this ship."

"Yes, we noticed it," Jack said as the captain paused.

"But you probably do not know that the man you saved is my brother."

"No, sir, we did not. He told us that his name was Blake and that he had a brother who was also a captain, but you do not look like him." Bob smiled.

"That's true," the captain smiled back. "Frank is light and small while I am dark and rather above the average in size, but he's my brother just the same and more than that he's the best brother a man ever had."

"I can easily believe that, sir," Bob began and then stopped short. "No, I don't either," he corrected. "Make it as good a brother as a man ever had and I won't say a word, but he can't be any better than the one I've got."

The captain again reached out his hand and, as soon as Bob had grasped if, said:

"That's one of the finest things I ever heard, and I'll accept the suggestion. Son," he added turning to Jack whose face was flushed, "you also have a good brother so we might as well make it a trio."

"All I've got to say is that if you've got as good a brother as I have you've got as good as they make," Jack grinned.

"I'm not going to try to thank you," the captain continued after a moment's pause and both boys noticed that his eyes were dim with tears. "There are some things which are beyond thanks and—and I know you know how I feel."

"Indeed we do, sir," Jack assured him.

"But, during this trip you are my guests. I have already arranged for you to sit at my table."

"That's very good of you, sir, and we certainly do appreciate it," Bob assured him.

"But please don't tell anyone about it," Jack begged.

"I won't," the captain smiled.

But in some way or other the truth leaked out and before the trip was a day old they, much to their disgust, found themselves regarded as heroes by crew and passengers alike. But, in spite of it, the trip proved most enjoyable. The weather was perfect and the captain seemed to take great delight in showing them the different parts of the ship and in answering their many questions. They, in turn, took him into their confidence as to the object of their journey and he expressed great surprise that their lather had sent them on such a mission.

"Alaska is a mighty big place," he told them, "and in the winter it's a very rough place let me tell you."

"You think it's dangerous: the trip up the Yukon, I mean?" Bob asked him.

"Well, for you two boys to take such a trip at this time of the year would be decidedly dangerous, not to say foolhardy, but if you get a good native to go with you the risk will, of course, be much less."

"And do you think we can get one?"

"I guess there's little doubt about that provided you can afford it. They charge a pretty stiff price these days."

"I'm sure father would want us to have a guide and will be willing to pay whatever is right."

"Then by all means do it."

"Do you know of a man we can get?"

"Not personally, but I know a fellow up there who will know where to get the right man and I'll attend to it."

"That's very good of you, and—"

"Good nothing," the captain interrupted. "You forget what I owe you two boys."

It was late in the afternoon when, a few days later, the ship steamed up to her wharf at Nome.

"My, it's quite some city," Jack declared as he stood with Bob and the captain in the pilot house.

"Largest in Alaska," the captain assured them.

"What's the population?" Bob asked.

"It was about 2,600 the last census and I guess it hasn't changed much since."

The captain had invited them to remain on board as his guests while the ship remained in port instead of going to a hotel and they had been glad to accept the invitation.

"The ship will be here for three days and I won't have much to do so we can put in the time together getting your outfit in shape," he told them.

"That'll be fine if you can spare the time," Bob assured him.

"It'll keep me out of mischief," the man laughed.

"But don't you think it would be a good idea to see if we can find someone who knew my uncle? You see he was here for several weeks and he must have gotten acquainted with somebody who would know something about where he started for," Jack suggested.

"Of course, and I think I can name the very man to go to. If he got well acquainted with anyone here the chances are a hundred to one that it was Pete Slinger. Pete's a character, but a good reliable man all the same. I don't believe there's a man, woman or child in Nome that doesn't know Pete well enough to call him by his first name and as for Pete—well, he can tell you the life history of about everyone who has spent upwards of two days in Nome during the past ten years."

"Is he Irish?" Bob asked.

"Irish and French."

"What does he do?" Jack asked.

"Keeps a store and sells everything from tooth picks to second hand pulpits."

"He ought to do some business," Bob remarked.

"He does. He looks like a tramp, but I guess there's little doubt, but that he's a got a good sized roll laid up against a rainy day. We'll go and see him right after supper tonight."

As the three friends walked up the main street of the town that night the boys were much surprised to find that it differed but little from towns with which they were familiar in the northern part of Maine. Except for an occasional Esquimo the people also seemed much the same being largely French Canadians with a liberal sprinkling of Americans.

"Gee, I expected to see polar bears running about the streets," Jack laughed.

"And reindeer pulling the pungs I suppose," the captain added.

"Sure thing," Jack assured him whereat they all laughed.

"Well, here we are," the captain said as they stopped in front of one of the largest buildings on the street. "This is Pete's place."

There were several men and two or three women in the store as they entered, but no sooner did the proprietor catch sight of the captain than he dropped a sugar scoop back in the barrel and, pushing his customers right and left, came rushing up.

"Faith an' yer a sight fer sore eyes so yer be," he cried as he grasped the captain's hands in both of his.

"And, believe me, I'm glad to see you again," the captain laughed. "But I want you to meet my two friends, Bob and Jack Lakewood."

The Irishman, a small man standing not over five feet two or three inches and weighing less than a hundred and twenty pounds, looked at the two boys for a full minute before speaking.

"Don't be after tellin' me thot they're the byes what saved Frank," he said at last.

"But they are," the captain assured him.

Without a word the small man threw his arms about Bob's neck and gave him a hearty hug at the same time kissing him on both cheeks. Then, releasing him he gave Jack the same treatment.

"The store's yer's, the house's yer's, bless me heart the whale blamed town's yer's, yes wid all uv Canada throwed in," he cried. Then turning to the people who were standing looking wonderingly on, he shouted: "Did yer hear ut? These be the byes whot saved Cap'n Frank whin his ship went down. What yer standin' thar fer loike a lot uv dummies? Come up here forninst and shake hands wid 'em ivery mother's son uv yer."

The people needed no second invitation and in another moment the boys were busy shaking hands and murmuring their thanks.

"Now git out uv here all uv yees an' let me talk wid me friends," the storekeeper ordered and the boys were amazed at the meekness and celerity with which the order was obeyed.