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Cornell University Library 
 PZ 7.Y69R2 
 
 The Racer boys to the rescue- or, Stirri 
 
 3 1924 Oil 869 132 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924011869132 
 
BUT THE BULLKT FROM THE RIFLE OF THE ELDER RACER LAD 
 
 HAD SPED TRUE. 
 Racer Boys to the Rescue Page 78 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE. 
 
 I. Good News And Bad ..... i 
 
 II. A Strange Story 12 
 
 III. A Farewell Supper 21 
 
 IV. Ready to Start 29 
 
 V. Off to the North 37 
 
 VI. News of the Boy 45 
 
 VII. On the Camp Trail .... 55 
 
 VIII. A Quick Shot 71 
 
 IX. Making a Camp 78 
 
 X. Andy Is Missing 87 
 
 XI. In the Bear Trap 94 
 
 XII. Welcome Shots loi 
 
 XIII. A Race for Life iii 
 
 XIV. Making AN Ice Boat 119' 
 
 XV. On Wings of the Wind .... 126 
 
 XVI. After a Big Moose 133 
 
 XVII. Trailing a Bear 143 
 
 XVIII. At Bay 148 
 
 XIX. Tom Crawford Arrives , ... 155 
 

 CONTENTS 
 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 
 t-ASE 
 
 XX. 
 
 "To THE Rescue!" ., 
 
 .. .1 •! . 165 
 
 XXI. 
 
 On the Way . ;.; . 
 
 . :. K .. 170 
 
 XXII. 
 
 A Storm Battle .; > 
 
 , [•: [•: > 177 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 In a Big Drift . . 
 
 ; (•; w [• 185 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 A Strange Discovery 
 
 w !•; >: 191 
 
 XV. 
 
 Baffled . . > . ; 
 
 1-: w I. 199 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 The Puff of Smoke . 
 
 ; • :•■ . 205 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 A Lonely Cabin . . 
 
 ., . > 212 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 The Boy Prisoner 
 
 .'. ;•: ..: 2l8 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Pursuit 
 
 : •] ..J ■■•, 224 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Capture — Conclusion. 
 
 . - ■ 233 
 
 .^i.i.(y:'x 
 
THE RACER BQYS TO 
 THE RESCUE 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 (GOOD NEWiS AND BAD 
 
 " Wow, Andy 1 This water is freezing cold 1 " 
 " I expect it is, Frank. The weather's cold 
 
 too. 
 
 CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 GIFT OF 
 Mrs . Janet Carter 
 
 rn to go get some of 
 perature nearer that 
 egrees than this is." 
 
 lay last night that if 
 ition for you, you'd 
 norning? " 
 
 're going to do it, 
 
 ard-hearted on your 
 Ludy with mock pa- 
 rm and comfortable 
 : the nerve to chase 
 
 Racer, and grinned. 
 Iter around his chin. 
 
2 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 Frank stood near the washstand. He had dipped 
 his finger into the pitcher of cold water and had 
 quickly taken it out again. 
 
 " Get that hot water! " commanded the elder 
 lad. " All you've got to do is to slip on your 
 robe, and chase to the bathroom at the end of 
 the hall." 
 
 " Chase yourself; I'm going to wash in cold 
 water." 
 
 " Well, I'm not, and you're going to do as you 
 said." 
 
 Frank gave a leap toward the bed in which 
 his brother was so warmly entrenched. Andy 
 saw what was coming, and tried to avoid it by 
 hugging the spread and sheet tightly to him. But 
 it was of no avail. 
 
 With rapid motions Frank pulled the covers 
 from his brother, leaving him to shiver on the 
 exposed bed. 
 
 " Now will you go?" Frank demanded. 
 
 "Bur-r-r-rl It's cold 1 " cried Andy. "Give 
 me the hem — ^just the lower edge of one sheet, I 
 pray thee ! " 
 
 "Get that water 1" demanded Frank sternly, 
 yet with a smile. " Hustle ! " And he sprinkled 
 some of the frigid drops on the bare legs of his 
 brother. 
 
 "Wow!" yelled the doused one. "I'll go! 
 Hand me my bathrobe ! " 
 
GOOD NEWS AND BAD 3 
 
 Frank tossed it from a closet, and tKe moment 
 the elder lad's back was turned his room-mate 
 brother hurled a pillow at his head. 
 
 " Oh ho ! You want to fight, do you I " yelled 
 Frank. " Well, I can play that game, too 1 " 
 
 In an instant he had hurled a pillow at his 
 brother, and, a moment later the fight was on furi- 
 ously, but with the best-natured fun in the world. 
 Finally, in trying to dodge one of the feathered 
 missiles, Andy slipped and fell to the floor with 
 a crash. Instantly from the next room came a' 
 hail: 
 
 " What are you Kacer boys doing in there, 
 anyhow? Trying to tear down the old dormi- 
 tory before the new one is built? " 
 
 " Something like that. Jack," replied Frank. 
 " Andy went back on his promise to get the hot 
 water, and I'm showing him how to throw pil- 
 lows." 
 
 " Sayl " sang out another voice In the apart- 
 ment where Jack Sanderson roomed, " if there's 
 any hot water to be got, fill my pitcher, will you, 
 Andy? " 
 
 "I will not! What do you think I am? Go- 
 ing to cart water for the whole of Riverview 
 Hall ? Get out yourself. Ward Piatt ! " 
 
 " Cruel-hearted wretch 1 " exclaimed Ward, 
 ^vith a groan. 
 
 Then Andy, fearing his chums In the next rporn 
 
4 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 might come in and wreaE vengeance on him, 
 leaped to his feet, fairly jumped into his bath- 
 robe, and ran down the hall with an empty water 
 pitcher in his hand. 
 
 " Say, it sure is cold I " he cried as he came 
 back, and with Frank began to make his toilet. 
 " Flopps must have let the furnace fire go out 
 last night." 
 
 " Maybe it was the fire's night out, and it 
 hasn't come in yet," suggested Frank, vigorously 
 rubbing with a coarse towel. 
 
 " Ha I Ha I Listen to that, fellows," Andy 
 called to Ward and Jack in the next room. 
 
 "What is it?" they asked, pausing In their 
 preparations for the morning scrub. 
 
 " F^-ank made a joke. He's fined four hot 
 chocolates as soon as we get to town." 
 
 " Sure thing," came from Jack. "The joking 
 hours are from twelve G. M. to six Q. M. Don't 
 forget that again, Frankie, my boy." 
 
 " I'll not. Andy, here, says it's cold but." 
 
 " Shouldn't wonder," commented Ward. 
 " There was a big freeze last night. We'll bei 
 having snow soon." 
 
 The splashing of water interrupted further 
 talk, and, a little later, our two heroes, FranK 
 and Andy Racer, with Ward, Jack and scores of 
 other students, filed from the dormitory at River- 
 view Hall, and trooped down to breakfast. 
 
GOOD NEWS AND BAD S 
 
 There was talk, laughter, jokes, merry quips 
 and some horse play. Indeed, the latter came in 
 good stead, for the weather had turned unexpect- 
 edly cold during the night, and Flopps, who acted 
 as gardener, janitor and general man of all work 
 at the boarding school, had not much steam on so 
 early in the morning. The muscular exercise of 
 the lads started the blood circulating, and soon 
 they were in a healthy glow. 
 
 " Now, boys, not so much noise, please," 
 begged Mrs. Stone, the matron. " Order, please. 
 The doctor is coming in I" 
 
 "What's thatl" 
 
 " Doctor Doolittle coming here? " 
 
 "What's the trouble?" 
 
 These questions were put to the matron, who 
 was trying to bring order out of chaos. 
 
 " He's coming to tell us we needn't study ! " 
 
 " No, he's going to order a reduction in the 
 grub!'* 
 
 "Get out! He's coming in to say we're tc^ 
 have pie three times a day." 
 
 " Go on I He's going to order roast turkey 
 served in our rooms every night I " 
 
 These and other guesses, as to the cause of thef 
 head of the school paying an unexpected visit, 
 came from all sides. The lads, who had been! 
 busy with knives, forks and spoons, paused in 
 their eager eating to hurl the remarks at one an- 
 
6 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 other. There was a clatter of cutlery, and a; 
 rattle of china. 
 
 " Oh, boys 1 Boys I " cried Mrs. Stone in de- 
 spair, raising her hands to restore order. The 
 din seemed to increase. 
 
 " Why is the doctor coming? " 
 
 "Tell us! Tell us I" 
 
 These were only some of the demands. 
 
 *' Boys I Boys I " she began again. " If you 
 will " 
 
 How much longer the jolly riot might have 
 been kept up there is no way of telling, but it 
 was suddenly and effectively squelched by the 
 frantic announcement from a lad sitting near the 
 door. 
 
 " Cheese it I The doctor I " cried the youth, 
 
 That was all he said, but it was enough. In- 
 stantly there was silence, and venerable Doctor 
 Doolitde, head master at Riverview, stalked into 
 the room. There was a benign smile on his 
 pleasant face, and if he had heard the noise he 
 did not seem to have noticed it. The doctor 
 was wise in his day. Under his left arm was a' 
 book, and in his left hand he held another, with 
 his finger between the covers to mark the place 
 he had been reading. 
 
 Some crumbs on his vest, the hint of a bit of 
 tegg on his tie, told as plainly as words that the 
 doctor had left his own breakfast table to enter 
 
GOOD NEWS AND BAD 7 
 
 ^e common dining-room. There must be some 
 unusual reason for that, and certain lads, who 
 had not behaved themselves strictly according to 
 rules, began to have nervous fears. But they 
 "' were groundless. 
 
 " Young gentlemen," began the head of the 
 school, " as you all know, Riverview will close 
 in a few weeks for the usual Christmas holidays. 
 It is the intention of the trustees, as you have 
 been informed, to keep the school closed several 
 weeks longer than the regular vacation, so that a 
 number of improvements may be made. These 
 are in accordance with our plans, previously an- 
 nounced, of building a larger and better institu- 
 tion here, with the money my millionaire friend 
 so kindly invested. 
 
 " But, unexpectedly, something has arisen that 
 makes necessary a slight change in our plans. 
 We " 
 
 The doctor was partly interrupted by .whis- 
 pered remarks from many sides. 
 
 " Say, I hope he isn't going to cut out the vaca- 
 tion !" 
 
 " Maybe there's a slip-up on the improve- 
 ments I " 
 
 " If we don't get the long vacation we can't 
 make that hunting trip," [whispered Frank to 
 Andy. 
 
 Doctor Doolittle held up his hand. 
 
8 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " You need have no fears," he said, smiling 
 as he caught the whispers. " You will have more 
 of a vacation than you counted on. I have just 
 been informed by our janitor that he cannot heat 
 the chapel. Other parts of the school are very 
 cold this morning. There is something the mat- 
 ter, with the steam plant, and, in view of that fact, 
 and also as we expect soon to close, anyhow, I 
 have decided to shut up Riverview Hall at once. 
 There will be no lectures or recitations to-day, 
 and you may make arrangements to go to your 
 homes as soon as possible. I will communicate 
 with your parents later." 
 
 It was impossible to stop the cheer that broke 
 but spontaneously, nor was its meaning misun- 
 derstood by the good doctor. He smiled, and 
 raised his hand again for silence. It came in- 
 stantly. 
 
 " As there are to be no chapel exercises, I will 
 offer a brief prayer here, with your permission," 
 he said courteously. 
 
 The boys bowed their heads. " With their 
 permission " I The doctor could have even 
 preached a sermon, and there would not have 
 been a word of complaint, after the good news 
 of the early closing of the school. 
 
 The prayer was brief, and, at its dose Doctor 
 Doolittle said: 
 
 " I will bid you young gentlemen good-bye, 
 hoping to see you all, sometime before spring, 
 
GOOD NEWS AND BAD* 9 
 
 In a new and better school. Of course not all 
 our improvements can be made this winter, but 
 many of them will be. I thank you for your at- 
 tention," and with a bow he was gone. 
 
 Then such a riot as broke out! The boys 
 forgot to eat, in their desire to talk. Dozens 
 of plans were made and changed in a minute. 
 Vacation had come nearly a month ahead of time, 
 and not a lad but blessed the ancient steam plant 
 that had so unexpectedly given out. Even 
 Flopps, the gardener-janitor, came in for his 
 share of praise. 
 
 "Say, talk about liick!" exclaimed Frank, 
 " We have it 1" 
 
 " Sure," agreed Andy. " Now we can go on 
 that hunting trip as soon as we want to." 
 
 "What hunting trip is that? " asked Jack San- 
 derson. 
 
 "Yes, tell us about it," urged Ward Piatt. 
 " It sounds good." 
 
 " It's going to be great," declared 'Kiidy. 
 " Frank and I have an invitation from our Uncle 
 Ben Armstrong, who lives in the northern part 
 of Maine, to go up there this winter and shoot 
 big game — ^bull moose and bears. We were 
 going as soon as school closed. Now we can 
 go sooner." 
 
 " Say! I should say you did have luck! " ex- 
 claimed Ward. " I wish I could go." 
 
 "So do I!" added Jack. 
 
10 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 Franic and Andy looked at each other. THg 
 same thought came to both. 
 
 " Why couldn't we ?, " asked the younger Racer 
 lad. 
 
 " Of course we can," said Frank. 
 
 " Do what? " inquired Jack. 
 
 " Take you two fellows with us," said Frank. 
 "We'll do it if you'll come." 
 
 " Oh, we'll come all right! " cried Jack. 
 
 *' Surest thing you know," added Ward. 
 
 " Then come on in to town," urged Frank, 
 " and we'll send a telegram home, telling 'em 
 we're coming. They can write to Uncle Ben and 
 make the plans. Come on ! " 
 
 His brother and chums needed no urging. The 
 remainder of the breakfast was soon disposed of, 
 and a little later, the four lads were on their 
 way to the town of Riverview, from which the 
 boarding school took its name. 
 
 As the four, talking excitedly, neared the tele- 
 graph office, Frank saw another lad just coming 
 from it. 
 
 " There's Tom Crawford," the elder Racer 
 lad remarked, pointing to a youth whom he had 
 once saved from drowning. " I wonder what 
 he's wiring about?" 
 
 " Maybe Waterside Hall has closed, too," sug- 
 gested Andy, naming the school which Tom 
 Crawford attended. 
 
GOOD NEWS AND BAD ii 
 
 " Not much chance of that," commented Jack. 
 
 "What's up, Tom?" asked Ward, as he 
 greeted the other student. " Did you hear about 
 our good news ? " 
 
 " No, but I've just had some bad news," said 
 Tom, and for the first time his friends noticed the 
 anxious look on his face. 
 
 "What is it?" asked Frank sympathetically. 
 " Someone sick at home? " 
 
 " Worse than that. I just got a telegram 
 that my little crippled brother, Len, who has been 
 at a sanitarium in Maine for his health this fall, 
 wandered off into the woods the other day, and 
 can't be found." 
 
 " Can't be found 1 " gasped Frank. 
 
 " No, he's lost in the Maine woods, and it 
 IS very cold up there now," went on Tom. " I 
 just wired home that I'm going up there to search 
 for him." 
 
 The Racer boys and their chums looked at 
 one another, and each one knew of what the other 
 was thinking. 
 
 " Maine! " murmured Frank. "That's where 
 we're going after big game! Maybe we can 
 help find Len Crawford ! " 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 A STRANGE STORY 
 
 Eagerly Frank, Andy and the others Hegan 
 to question Tom about his crippled brother, and 
 how it was that he had come to wander off in 
 the Maine wilderness with winter coming on. 
 
 And, while they are thus engaged I will talce 
 just a moment to tell you a little more about the 
 characters who are to take part in this story. 
 
 Frank and Andy Racer were the sons of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Richard Racer of New York. Mr. 
 Racer was a wealthy silk merchant, and his wife 
 was well known in charitable and social circles. 
 
 In the first book of the series, entitled, " The 
 'Racer Boys," I related how the two were at 
 their summer home, in Harbor View, about thirty 
 miles from New York City. They had much fun 
 and many adventures there, not the least of which 
 was being attacked by a whale when they were 
 out in the bay in their rowboats. 
 
 They stumbled upon a queer mystery, too. In 
 a damaged motor boat they found a lad who 
 leaped overboard following an explosion of the 
 gasolene. They saved this lad, but he was in 
 
 12 
 
A STRANGE STORY 13 
 
 dire straits, for he lost his memory because of 
 an injury. 
 
 For a long time it was not known who he was, 
 except that his first name was Paul. How the 
 Racer boys solved the mystery, how they man- 
 aged to get out of a cave on a lonely island, 
 where an unscrupulous man imprisoned them, 
 how they discovered Paul's secret and restored 
 him to his father — all these things are set down 
 in the book, which many of you have read. 
 
 In the second volume, called " The Racer Boys 
 at Boarding School," I related how Frank and 
 Andy were sent to Riverview Hall, a small board- 
 ing academy. Mrs. Racer picked out this insti- 
 tution because she had heard much of the learn- 
 ing of Doctor Doolittle, and the guiet atmos- 
 phere of Riverview. 
 
 But the place proved to be too quiet. In fact 
 it was affected with " dry rot," as the boys very 
 soon found out. The school was all run down 
 because of lack of means to keep it up. The 
 baseball diamond and football gridiron were 
 grass-grown, the boathouse was in ruins, there 
 was no nine, no eleven, and no racing crew. In 
 fact Riverview Hall was on the verge of ruin 
 when Frank and Andy got there. That they 
 were disappointed need not be said, for they had 
 hoped for great things from a boarding school. 
 
 Andy and Frank were of a fun-loving nature, 
 
14 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 ;and were always " up to something." Andy was 
 continually playing tricks, and Frank was not far 
 behind him, so to be sent to a " dead " school 
 was a great hardship. 
 
 But the Racer boys were not the kind t6 sit 
 idly down and let such a state continue. Even 
 though from the very first, they got on the " bad 
 books" of Professor Thorndyke Galium, head 
 assistant, because they stopped him from brow- 
 beating a young lady, in spite of this handicap, 
 Frank and Andy managed to come out ahead. 
 
 They organized a rowing crew, patched up an 
 old four-oared shell they found in a barn, and 
 defeated the crack crew from Waterside Hall, a 
 rival school. They also organized a football 
 eleven, and won the championship, and it was 
 directly due to their part in this that the school 
 benefited. 
 
 For under the Incentive of Frank and Andy 
 the toppling grandstands were patched up, the 
 boathouse repaired, the gridiron cleaned, and 
 other improvements made. 
 
 Just before this change had been made a mil- 
 lionaire, Mr. Pierson Lairman, had been on the 
 point of buying a half interest in Riverview Hall. 
 But when he visited the place, and saw how run- 
 down it was, he kept his money, to the deep re- 
 gret of Doctor Doolittle, who was more of a 
 scholar than a financier. So Mr. Lairman went 
 
A STRANGE STORY 15 
 
 away, and it seemed that Riverview Hall must 
 shut its doors. In fact, announcement was made 
 that it would close, on the day the championship 
 football contest was to be played. 
 
 How it was played, however, and won, glori- 
 ously, how Mr. Lairman happened to be present 
 and saw the victory, how he noticed the small im- 
 provements made — ^^all this is related in my sec- 
 ond volume. 
 
 The millionaire Inquired wHo was responsible 
 for the change since his first visit, and was told 
 that the Racer boys were largely instrumental. 
 He was Interested at once, and said that If a| 
 school had students who could show such en- 
 ergy It would be a pity to see It close. 
 
 He bought a half interest and some Improve- 
 ments were made at once. Others were con- 
 tracted for, as Doctor Doolittle Intimated in 
 his little talk at the breakfast table. Then came 
 the unexpected giving out of the ancient heating 
 system. But a new one would soon be Installed.: 
 Meanwhile the boys were to have more of a vaca* 
 tlon than they had counted on. 
 
 The closest chums of the Racer boys at school 
 were Ward Piatt and Jack Sanderson. They 
 stood by our heroes when Gerald Welter, and 
 his crony, Luke Moss, made trouble for them. 
 Now Gerald had withdrawn from Riverview be- 
 cause of a cowardly act. Professor Galium — • 
 
i6 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " Old Thorny " — ^had also left because of a dis- 
 agreement with Doctor Doolittle. No one was 
 sorry to see him go, however, for fie was not a 
 lovable character. 
 
 I might mention that Grace Knox, and Ger- 
 trude Morton, of Dailsburg, not far from River- 
 view, were friends of Frank and Andy. In fact 
 Frank had been instrumental In saving Mrs. 
 Morton's modest fortune for her, when Mr. Gal- 
 ium endeavored to foreclose a note the widow had 
 given. 
 
 Another friend of our heroes was Tom Craw- 
 ford, a member of the boat crew of Waterside 
 Hall. In an accident one day Frank had saved 
 Tom from drowning when a rowing shell upset, 
 and from then on, though he went to a rival 
 school, Tom was almost a chum to Frank and 
 Andy. 
 
 And it was Tom who had just told of his bad 
 news. 
 
 " But how did it happen? " asked Frank. " I 
 don't see how the managers at a sanitarium would 
 let a little chap wander away in the woods." 
 
 " I don't exactly understand It myself," re- 
 plied Tom. "I haven't all the particulars yet. 
 I've wired for the folks to give me the details, 
 and then I'm going up there. My mother's a 
 widow, you know," he added, " and I've got to 
 look after things. Len always was a sickly chap 
 
A STRANGE STORY 17 
 
 '—never strong — and we've tried everything td 
 get him well. The latest plan was to send him 
 to this Maine sanitarium. Mother thought a 
 cold, dry climate, in the woods might work won- 
 ders for him. And, in fact, it seemed to, early 
 this fall. He got so he could go about by him- 
 self. 
 
 " I guess maybe that's how this happened. The 
 people at the sanitarium may not have thought 
 he could travel far, and they didn't keep a close 
 watch on him. He probably went out one day, 
 walked farther than he meant to, and couldn't 
 find his way back. Now he's lost; but I'm going 
 to find him I As soon as I get further particu- 
 lars I'll let you know. He's only twelve years 
 old, poor little chap 1 " and Tom's voice was 
 husky. *' I — I hope nothing — nothing happens 
 to him." 
 
 " It gets pretty cold up In the Maine woods in 
 winter," said Andy. " Uncle Ben says twelve, 
 and even twenty, below zero isn't uncommon. 
 I " 
 
 Andy stopped suddenly, for Frank gave him a. 
 sly kick. 
 
 " What — what's the matter? " began the 
 younger Racer lad. 
 
 " Can't you understand 1 " whispered his 
 brother. " Do you want to make Tom feel any 
 worse, telling how cold it is for his little 
 
i8 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 brother out in the woods? Keep still; can't 
 you?" 
 
 " Oh, I see," murmured Andy. 
 
 " It's about time," growled Frank, but it is 
 doubtful if Tom Crawford really was distressed 
 at what Andy had blurted out so suddenly. The 
 Waterside student was too busy thinking of other 
 things. 
 
 " You say you fellows are going up to Maine 
 to hunt? " he asked, musingly. 
 
 " Yes, to our uncle's place," replied Frank. 
 " It's up somewhere near Lake Beachwood. And 
 say, Tom, if you're going to start in a few days 
 we'll go up with you. Jack and Ward are com- 
 ing with us." 
 
 " We are if our folks will let us," put in 
 Ward. 
 
 " Oh, sure they will," declared Jack. 
 
 " I'm just going to wire home," added Frank, 
 " and tell the folks to make arrangements for 
 the four of us to go. I'll tell them about the 
 school closing, too. Can't you come with us, 
 Tom?" 
 
 " Well, I might go as far as you go, but the 
 sanitarium is quite some farther north, at a lit- 
 tle place called Pinehurst. If I can manage it 
 I'll go with you." 
 
 " And if we can do anything to help you, let 
 
A STRANGE STORY 19 
 
 us know," said Andy. " I don't see why we 
 fellows can't organize a searching party, and help 
 hunt for your little brother; that is, if he isn't 
 found by the time we get there." 
 
 " That's very kind of you," said Tom grate- 
 fully. " I'm all at sea at present. I don't know 
 what to do, nor what plans to make. I can't tell 
 until I get an answer to my message. I've wired 
 the head of the sanitarium to telegraph directly 
 to me here, so mother won't worry if — if there's 
 bad news." 
 
 " Say, I'll tell you what we'll do ! " exclaimed 
 Frank. " After we send our message we'll stay 
 around town here, until you get some word, Tom. 
 We'll be back here in a couple of hours. How's 
 that? " 
 
 " Fine I But I don't want to burden you with 
 my troubles." 
 
 "Burden us? Pshaw! We'll do all we can 
 to find that little chap; won't we fellows? " 
 
 " Sure we will I " came the prompt chorus. 
 
 There were tears in the eyes of Tom Crawford 
 as he entered the telegraph office. 
 
 Frank sent his message, and then, in accord- 
 ance with his earlier promise, he treated the crowd ' 
 to hot chocolate, for the day was an early winter 
 one, and, though no snow had yet fallen, the tem- 
 perature was low. 
 
2d RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " Well, let's get back to the telegraph office," 
 suggested Andy, after a stroll about the town. 
 " Tom may have an answer now." 
 
 As they neared the place they saw Tom run- 
 ning from it holding a slip of paper in his hand. 
 
 " Did you hear anything? " asked Frank. 
 
 " Yes, it's a strange story. Poor little Len 
 has been carried away off in the woods by a 
 gang of lumberjacks! " 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 A FAREWELL SUPPER 
 
 For a moment after Tom's announcement no 
 one spoke. It seemed as if one item of bad 
 news was piling on another. Then Frank said: 
 
 "What do you mean, Tom? Did they kid- 
 nap him, and take him away for a ransom? " 
 
 " No, I don't believe h was anything like that, 
 though this message I just got from the sanita- 
 rium doesn't give any details. It just says that 
 they have written me a letter of explanation, and 
 that, after making inquiries, they have learned 
 that the lumbermen picked up my brother." 
 
 " Then I believe I know how it is," put in 
 Andy. 
 
 " How? " demanded everyone. 
 
 " The little fellow was probably wandering 
 about in the woods, maybe in a snowstorm, and 
 didn't know where he was. A gang of lumber- 
 men came along and took him to their camp. It 
 was the only thing they could do, for they couldn't 
 tramp back to the sanitarium with him after 
 dark." 
 
22 RACER BOYS TQ JHE RESCUE 
 
 *' How do you Know; it was 'dark? " asked 
 Jack. . 
 
 " I don't. I'm only guessing at the most nat- 
 ural thing. Even if it was daylight, Len might 
 have been so far from the sanitarium that they 
 couldn't make it before dark. Besides, he may 
 have been cold and hungry, and they thought 
 the best thing to do would be to take him to their 
 camp, feed him up, keep him warm, and hold him 
 there until someone came for him." 
 
 " I believe Andy's right," spoke Frank. 
 " But I can't understand why, if the sanitarium 
 people knew he was taken by the lumbermen, 
 they couldn't go right after him. He isn't 
 back at the sanitarium; is he, Tom?" 
 
 " No, not according to this dispatch. But 
 probably the folks at the institution, where my 
 brother was stopping, just heard from someone 
 that the lumbermen had him. Maine is a lone- 
 some place in the northern part, and travel and 
 communication are difficult." 
 
 " That's right," agreed Ward- " I've been 
 up there. Our folks spent one summer in Maine. 
 Those lumberjacks are fine fellows; A bit rough, 
 maybe, but I don't believe they'd hurt a little 
 boy." 
 
 " Of course hot," chimed in Frank, and at 
 this expression of opinion Tom seemed to feel 
 better. It relieved his mind.; 
 
A FAREWELL SUPPER 23 
 
 " But I've got to go to Maine, just the same," 
 he said. 
 
 ^ " Of course," agreed Andy. " And we'll go 
 with you." 
 
 " That's whatl " exclaimed Jaclc. " Say, It'll 
 be great to get off In the woods In the winter. 
 A regular camp life. Snowshoes for breakfast, 
 iskates for dinner, and ice boats for supper, and 
 shooting moose and bear on the side ! Living In 
 the open — cooking over a campfire and " 
 
 " Washing In cold water," added Andy, with 
 ia look at his brother. " No chasing for the two 
 hundred and twelve degrees up there, Frank, old 
 man." 
 
 "That's right," agreed the elder Racer lad, 
 with a laugh, as he thought of the scene that 
 iiiorning, 
 
 " Well, I can't do any more now," said Tom, 
 ias he turned to go back to Waterside Hall. " I'll 
 have to wait for that letter from the sanitarium 
 people. I must send mother a wire, though, tell- 
 ing her that it isn't as bad as It seemed at first. 
 
 " If Len is with the lumbermen they'll see 
 that he gets back safe. And I guess we won't 
 keep him In a sanitarium any more. He's bet- 
 ter off at home. It won't be as hard to find him, 
 ias I thought It would, if I can get on the track 
 gf the lumbermen, and that ought to be easy." 
 
 Neither Tom, nor any of the others, had an 
 
24 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 inkling of what they were to go through, while 
 trying to locate poor little Len. 
 
 "Well, let's make a sort of agreement," pro- 
 posed Frank. "We'll all go to Maine, that's 
 settled. And we'll go together — if we can. Of 
 course if T^om has to go on ahead we'll arrange 
 to meet him." 
 
 " But don't let me spoil your fun," urged the 
 lad whose little brother had disappeared. 
 
 " Oh, you won't spoil anything I " cried Andy. 
 " This will be something worth while." 
 
 " I was going to say," went on Frank, " that 
 we'd wait here a couple of days until we heard 
 further word from Maine. We might as well 
 be at Riverview as in New York, with nothing 
 but streets iand autos to look at. We can have 
 some fun here." 
 
 " But what about getting ready to go to 
 Maine?" asked Andy, 
 
 " Oh, it won't take us long to pack," said his 
 brother. " We've got our guns, and we can take 
 our clothes and what other things we need in 
 short order. The rest of the stuff Uncle Ben 
 will have. Now, Jack, do you and Ward think 
 you can go? " 
 
 " Of course we can ! " cried Ward. " I'll tell 
 you what we'd better do. Jack and I had bet- 
 ter get to our homes as soon as we can. We live 
 in New Jersey, you know, not far from New 
 
A FAREWELL SUPPER 25 
 
 Yorlc. We can spring this surprise on tHe folks, 
 get 'em to consent, and pack up. Then we can 
 join you in New York." 
 
 "Good! " cried Frank. "That's the way to 
 talk. Meanwhile, Andy and I will stay here 
 until we learn what Tom's plans are, and we can 
 make ours fit In. We'll come on to New York 
 as soon as we can, and telegraph you. And now 
 for a farewell supper at old Riverview. How 
 about it? " 
 
 " Sure ! " cried Andy, Ward and Jack. As for 
 Tom, naturally he would not be expected. He 
 hurried off, promising to let his friends know 
 whenever he had any more news. 
 
 " Say I things have done nothing but happen 
 since morning," remarked Frank, as he and the 
 others started back to Riverview. 
 
 " And more things are likely to happen If we 
 get to Maine," added Andy. " Looking for a 
 lost boy In the lumber region Isn't as easy as It 
 sounds." 
 
 " Poor little chap ! " exclaimed Fra!nk. 
 
 " Still, we'll have lots of fun after we do find 
 him," spoke Ward. 
 
 " Just as If we could go out In the wooiJs, plclc 
 up the trail like that of a rabbit, and bring the 
 little chap in," said Jack. " Still, we'll do our 
 best. Come on, there's a car ! " 
 
 They ran to catch the trolley car, and soon 
 
26 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 were being carried toward their boarding school. 
 On the way they talked of little but the unex- 
 pected vacation, how they were going to spend it,, 
 and of the chances for finding little Len. 
 
 When the four got back they found that 
 Flopps had managed to get up enough steam to 
 make the rooms of the dormitories fairly warm. 
 The dining apartment was also well heated, but 
 the rest of the school was frigid, and was closed 
 up. 
 
 Already many students had left, and after din- 
 ner more departed, including Ward and Jack, 
 who promised to write to Frank and Andy as 
 soon as they could make up their plans. 
 
 " Well, there aren't many of us lef^ for the: 
 banquet," said Andy, as night approached.: " It's 
 too bad Ward and Jack didn't stay." 
 
 " If they'd missed the afternoon train it would 
 mean a big delay for them," said Frank. " We'll 
 have some fun as it is. There are quite a few o£ 
 the fellows left." 
 
 ' This was so, as a number of the parents of the' 
 boys at the school were away from home, and 
 the houses were closed for the winter, so that the 
 lads had to await instructions before leaving 
 Riverview. In their case provision was made for 
 them to stay on until they could join their parents 
 or guardians. 
 
 " I'm glad Old Thorny isn't here," remarked 
 
A FAREWELL SUPPER 27 
 
 Frank, as he came back from a talk with Mrs. 
 Stone, who, under sanction from the doctor, had 
 agreed to allow the boys to hold an improvised 
 banquet in one of the smaller dining rooms. 
 
 "Yes, he sure would put a damper on the 
 eats," agreed Andy. " I say, Frank, lend me a 
 dollar, will you. I'm broke." 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 " Couldn't help it. It just happened." 
 
 "No, I mean what do you want the dollar 
 ^or? " asked Frank, as he laughed in unison with 
 his brother. 
 
 " That's a secret. You'll see at the banquet 
 to-night." 
 
 " Donk work off any of your fancy jokes." 
 
 " No, I won't. You'll see." 
 
 " Yes, I generally do see," complained Frank, 
 as he handed over the bill. " Don't get rash, 
 that's all." 
 
 " Not for worlds," promised Andy, chuckling 
 as he went out. 
 
 'RIverview Hall began to take on a deserted 
 look. In spite of the jolly groups of students who 
 gathered about to celebrate the farewell banquet. 
 Still there were enough for quite a party. 
 
 They assembled in the dining room, which had! 
 been fantastically decorated for the occasion by 
 Frank and his chums. The structure in which 
 this room was located was coming down, to make 
 
28 liACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 way for a larger one, and, probably this was the 
 last use of it as an eating apartment that would 
 be made. 
 
 " Gentlemen, Ee Seated 1 " iexclaimed Andy, as 
 he entered with sa crowd of his own particular 
 friends. " The feast begins^ and there's a sur- 
 prise at the end of it." 
 
 " That's some of his mbnKey business," mur- 
 mured Frank to a neighboring lad. ■. " I wonder 
 whatitwiUbe?" 
 
 " Oh, something out of the ordinary, if Andy 
 has anything to do with it," was the reply. 
 
 Then the banquet began, each school boy won- 
 dering what was to follow. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 READY TO START 
 
 " Pass tEe mustard I " 
 
 " Drive that cheese down this way I " 
 
 " Say, Bricktop, don't take all the pickles." 
 
 " Me for some olives I " 
 
 "Who took all the crackers?" 
 
 These were only some of the commands, en- 
 treaties and comments that flew back and forth 
 over the banquet table. The boys who were left 
 at Riverview were having the time of their lives, 
 or, rather, one of the times, for they had had so 
 many in the past, especially since the advent of 
 the Racers, that this only counted as one. 
 
 There were merry jests, jokes galore, and 
 songs of the baseball field or the football grid- 
 iron, while occasionally one of the choruses that 
 had helped urge the boat crew tc» victory would 
 break forth. 
 
 Frank and Kndy were in their element, and, 
 as lads who had done much for the school, they 
 were the heroes of the occasion. Since it had be- 
 come known that they were to go into the wilds 
 pf Maine to hunt big game, and spend weeks in 
 
 29 
 
30 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 a winter camp, many were the expressions of 
 envy directed toward them. 
 
 " But they sure do deserve it all," declared 
 Duke Yardly, " for if any fellows ever made 
 Riverview sit up and take notice they are Andy 
 and Frank." 
 
 The banquet went on. Several times Frank 
 looked at his brother, wondering when the trick 
 was to come off, and what it would be. But in 
 ianswer to Frank's sly signals for information the 
 younger lad only laughed and nodded. 
 
 "Now for a dessert I" cried Andy after a 
 •while. " Bring on the pie and cheese, Mrs. 
 Stone." 
 
 " Oh, you boys ! You'd eat pie five times a 
 day if I'd give it to you ! " cried the matron in 
 3espair. Nevertheless, she set around the plates, 
 and soon the finishing touches were being put on 
 
 the feast. 
 
 Suddenly, just as the last crumbs of pie were 
 
 being scraped up, the lights went out. 
 
 " What's the matter? " yelled several. 
 
 "It's all right 1" came Andy's voice. "Sit 
 still a minute everybody, and wait for the sur- 
 prise." 
 
 Frank, who sat next to Andy, heard his 
 brother moving about. 
 
 " Look out for yourself," the elder lad cau- 
 tioned. " Don't have any come-back." 
 
READY TO START 313 
 
 ,*' I won't," was the confident reply. 
 
 The room continued to be shrouded in dark- 
 ness, but there came no inquiry from Mrs. Stone 
 and her assistants, who had been forewarned by 
 Andy. Suddenly through the dimness there came 
 floating a little light. Then another and another 
 until tiny tongues of bluish flame floated about 
 like, fairy lamps, and in a moment it was seen 
 how that part of the trick was worked. 
 
 " They're balloons — ^toy balloons I " cried sev- 
 eral lads, and this was true. Andy had, with the 
 dollar he had borrowed from Frank, bought sev- 
 eral of the little rubber bags. He had filled them: 
 with illuminating gas, and to the bottom of each 
 one fastened a bit of sponge, which he wet with 
 alcohol. 
 
 This he lighted and then, with the aid of it 
 chum he had set the fire balloons loose from a' 
 pantry opening into the dining room. The bal- 
 loons floated about the apartment. 
 
 "Pretty! Pretty!" cried some one. "Is 
 that all there is to it? " 
 
 " Just wait," advised Andy, iand, hardly had 
 he spoken than there came a sharp report, and 
 one of the balloons had burst. The heat from 
 the alcohol had been too much for it. But Andy 
 had reckoned on this, and had provided for it. 
 
 "Bang! Bang! Bang!" went one balloon 
 after another, and then the air was filled with 
 
32 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 finely cut bits of paper — confetti — ^with which the 
 balloons had been stuffed. All over it sifted, 
 down the necks of the diners, until they felt as if 
 they had slept in beds of sawdust. 
 
 "Oh, wow!" 
 
 "Cheese it, Andyl" 
 
 " What are you doing that for, anyhow? " 
 
 Every one was protesting at Andy's " joke," 
 for the bursting of the confetti-filled balloons 
 scattered the finely cut stuff all over. 
 
 " How do you like it? " demanded the plot- 
 ter, as the lights were turned up. But, really it, 
 wasn't so bad, and after the first shock everyone 
 laughed. Then John North, who had been help- 
 ing Andy, handed the latter a red balloon. 
 
 " It's the last one left," said John. " Keep it 
 for a souvenir." 
 
 " All right," agreed Andy, as he advanced to- 
 ward the table with it, intending to tie it to a 
 water pitcher. But, before he had gone two steps 
 John slyly touched a match to the balloon. It 
 burst with a loud report. A moment later Andy 
 began to sneeze violently. 
 
 "A-choo! Aker-chool Chool Chuff 1 A- 
 choo I " he cried. " Snuff-^there was snuff in that 
 balloon I " 
 
 " Was there? " asked John innocently. " How 
 strange! I wonder who could have put it 
 there ? " and he dodged under a t^ble, just asf 
 
READY TO START 33 
 
 Andy made a dash for him, sneezing the while. 
 
 " You-aker-choo-did 1 " cried the younger 
 [Racer lad. " I'll get even with you." 
 
 Then more boys began to sneeze, as the snuff 
 floated around, but it was all taken in good spirit, 
 and made a merry end to the litde spread. 
 
 "Bur-r-r-rl" shivered Frank. "It's getting 
 cold. I guess Flopps is saving coal again. Let's 
 wind up." 
 
 And they did, with a jolly song. Then they 
 went out and cheered under Doctor Doolittle's 
 window, the master coming out, book-encum- 
 bered as usual, to make a little speech. 
 
 " Farewell to Riverview for a while," said 
 Frank, as he and Andy went to their room. 
 
 They lingered on a few days longer, however, 
 until Tom got word from the sanitarium. Then 
 it developed that the lumber gang that had taken 
 Len with them was in a lonely part of the wilder- 
 ness and was snowed In, even thus early in the 
 season. 
 
 " It will be over a week before we can get 
 word to them," said the Waterside lad gloomily. 
 " There's no use waiting any longer though. I'm 
 going to start for the woods." 
 
 " And we'll be with you ! " exclaimed FranE 
 " We got word from home, and it's all right. 
 Ward and Jack are coming along. They're to 
 meet us in New York. We'll go to Portland by 
 
r34 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 boat, and by rail the rest of the way. Will you 
 be with us, Tom? " ' 
 
 " ,Yes, I think so. I'll meet you in New York, 
 too. Now I'm going home to comfort my mother 
 as much as I can. This is telling on her." 
 
 ■" Tell her we'll get Len back all right," sug- 
 gested Andy. " It's only a mistake and a delay. 
 He'll be all right." 
 
 " I wish I could think so," said the missing 
 lad's brother. 
 
 " Don't you? " asked Frank. 
 
 ." Well, somehow or other, I feel as if some- 
 thing had happened to him — or was going to hap- 
 pen. Maybe I'm nervous, but I admit I'm wor- 
 ried." 
 
 They tried to cheer him up, but it was Hard 
 work. Then our heroes turned their backs on 
 Riverview Hall for a while, and started for their 
 New York home, there to make preparations for 
 their winter camp. 
 
 Mr. Armstrong — their Uncle Ben — ^was a 
 lumber dealer and contractor. He also furnished 
 supplies for lumber camps, and, in fact, lived in 
 a sort of camp himself part of the time. His 
 home was in the village of Spruceton, near Lake 
 Beechwood, but he was seldom there in the win- 
 ter, being off in the woods a good part of the 
 ^ime. 
 
 Frank and Andy were to go to Spruceton, and 
 
READY TO START 35 
 
 pay their uncle a short visit. Then he had ar- 
 ranged to let them go off camping by themselves 
 with Jack and Ward, he agreeing to furnish the 
 outfit. Tom Crawford would travel with his 
 friends as far as Spruceton, and then strike fur- 
 ther to the north, the sanitarium as his starting 
 point. 
 
 It seemed to the boys as if the hour for start- 
 ing would never come, though time passed quickly 
 in packing up. They all had guns, and if Mr. 
 Racer had not interfered, they would have taken 
 along enough ammunition to stock a small regi- 
 ment. 
 
 " You can get that in Maine," he said. " Don't 
 carry too much." 
 
 " Oh such boys I " cried Mrs. Racer, a day be- 
 fore they were to go, when Jack and Ward had 
 been guests of their chums. " I'm sure if I had 
 to stand it another day I'd want to be in a sani- 
 tarium myself. Oh, but I do hope they find that 
 little boy 1 Isn't it sad 1 " 
 
 " Yes," agreed her husband. " An3 the 
 chances of finding Len are pretty slim, I'm 
 afraid." 
 
 " Why, what could happen to him? " she asked 
 in alarm. 
 
 " Oh, nothing intentionally, but it's very cold 
 in Maine, for a delicate lad. However, don't; 
 discourage the boys." 
 
36 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " I won't. Oh, but Frank and Sndy are so] 
 lively, and full of mischief ! " 
 
 " They're regular boys 1 " admitted Mr. Racer 
 half-admiringly, as he listened to the noise of 
 packing going on in a room upstairs. " Boysi 
 have to be lively — ^when they're good for any- 
 thing." 
 
 "Oh, but these four I" cried Mrs. Racer,- 
 holding up her hands. " If there's one 
 thing " 
 
 She paused and put her palms over her ears. 
 From the room above there came a piercing yell 
 and the sound of a heavy fall. 
 
 "Someone's hurt!" cried Mr. Racer, making 
 a dash for the stairs. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 iOFF TO THE NORTH 
 
 Silence followed the commotion in the Racer 
 home, and the mother of Frank and Andy waited 
 in breathless anxiety the result of her husband's 
 investigation. 
 
 " Oh 1 " she exclaimed softly to herself, " if 
 one.of the boys should have a broken arm or leg! 
 Wouldn't it be dreadful I And — and they 
 couldn't go camping 1 " 
 
 At the moment this seemed worse than the pos- 
 sible physical suffering that might be entailed, for 
 Mrs. Racer knew how much the boys had set 
 their hearts on the trip to Maine after big game. 
 
 " And the little lost boy, too ! " added the 
 mother. " I want them to find him ! Oh, if any 
 of them should be hurt! " 
 
 She sank Into a chair, and waited. She could 
 hear her husband bounding up the stairs. Then, 
 to her Telief, she heard laughter from the room 
 where the boys were. 
 
 " Oh I Oh, I— I guess it's all right," she fal. 
 terpd. 
 
 3Z 
 
38 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 "What's the matter up here?" Mrs. Racer 
 heard her husband ask the four lads. She had 
 gone to the foot of the stairs to listen. 
 
 " Oh, it's Andy, as usual," replied Frank, and 
 there was more laughter. "He was trying one 
 of his everlasting jokes and— — " 
 
 " It wasn't a joke at all," Interrupted the 
 younger lad indignantly. " I was practicing for 
 when we got up in the Maine woods." 
 
 " Practicing what? " asked Mr. Racer. 
 
 " Carrying a fellow who's wounded, of hurt 
 in a fall," explained Andy. " You see it's this 
 way, Pop: We had some lessons In first aid to 
 the injured at the school, and I was just putting 
 them to some use. I pretended Jack, here, was 
 hurt by his gun going off before he knew it, and 
 he couldn't walk. Then I picked him up on my 
 back, and started for camp with him. Then " 
 
 " Yes, and then came the joke," broke in 
 Frank. 
 
 " I tell you I didn't mean it for a joke I " cried 
 Andy. 
 
 " Well, anyhow you dumped me off your 
 back! " cried Jack, " and I fell on the bed, and 
 then into the water pitcher. Look at my clean 
 collar. It's all wilted ! " 
 
 " You can have one of mine," spoke Andy. 
 
 "Was that all that happened?" asked Mr. 
 Racer, 
 
OFF TO THE NORTH 39 
 
 " Yes, except that Jack let out an awful yell 
 when I dropped him," explained the younger 
 son. 
 
 " Well, I guess you'd yell too, if you hit your 
 funny bone on the edge of the bed," retorted 
 Jack, rubbing his left elbow gently. "The next 
 time you want to practice toting a fellow on your 
 back, begin on a football dummy, and work up 
 to live stock gradually." 
 
 " Oh, get out, you're not hurt," exclaimed 
 Andy with a laugh. " Didn't I hit my head 
 against the wall." 
 
 " I hope It knocked some of the jokes out of 
 you," spoke his brother. " It's all right. Dad. 
 Did they scare you ? " 
 
 *' Well, your mother got a little / nervous. 
 Don't do it again; that's all." 
 
 " We won't 1 " chorused the lads, and Jack 
 added : 
 
 " I fell from the bed to the floor, you see. I 
 hope I didn't jar the chandelier loose." 
 
 " I seems to be in place yet," replied Mr. 
 'Racer grimly. " Are you sure you're not hurt? " 
 
 " Oh, yes. I expect to get harder knocks than 
 ithat, if I stay where Andy is, very long." 
 
 " Probably," agreed the lad's father, and, as 
 he went downstairs he could not help joining in 
 his wife's wish that the four lads were safely off 
 pn their trip to Maine. 
 
40 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " For they are certainly full of life, spirits and 
 toilschlef," reflected Mr. Racer, " though I'm not 
 sorry for that. I almost wish I was going with 
 them. It's great to be a boy — great I And you 
 can't be one but once, more's the pity I " 
 
 "Are they all right?" asked Mrs. Racer. 
 
 " Yes, mother. No harm done. They'll be 
 (quiet now I guess." 
 
 It would be rather a stretch of the imagination 
 to say that the boys were " quiet," but, as Andy 
 remarked afterward, they were " quite quiet con- 
 sidering." 
 
 The rest of the evening was spent, as far as 
 our heroes were concerned, in talking over what 
 they would and would not do, and in packing up 
 the things they were to take with them. The 
 heavier articles of outer clothing they would get 
 at their uncle's place, and so they would not have 
 to carry so much. 
 
 Their guns, of course, went with them, and the 
 weapons were never far from reach during the 
 few days that remained while they were waiting 
 for Tom Crawford to join them for the start to 
 the north woods. 
 
 They practiced aiming at bull moose and big 
 bears until, had they pulled the triggers on real 
 ammunition, as often as they aimed, there would 
 not have been a whole article of furniture in the 
 house. Chairs, sofas, bureaus, sideboards and 
 
OFF TO THE NORTH 41 
 
 tables served as bears and moose for the purpose 
 of " drawing a bead," as Andy put it, until Ward 
 remarked that his friend must have a "whole 
 necklace of beads." 
 
 The last of the packing had been done. Suit 
 cases and valises stood in the hall, ready to be 
 taken to the steamer. Word had come from 
 Tom Crawford that he would be on hand the next 
 day, and then there was nothing to do but wait, 
 and very impatiently did the lads do that. 
 
 "Well, how about you?" asked Frank, as he 
 greeted Tom at the depot where the four chums 
 met him. 
 
 " All right," was the rather quiet answer. 
 " I'm ready to start. I was delayed a little with 
 matters at home. Mother isn't very well, and I 
 didn't like to leave her." 
 
 " Worrying over Len, I suppose? " 
 
 "Yes, that's it." 
 
 " Have you heard anything more ? " asked 
 Andy. 
 
 " Nothing more of any account. It's just as I 
 told you at first. Len was more spry on his feet 
 than the sanitarium folks gave him credit for. 
 He wandered off and was picked up by the lum- 
 bermen, too weak, probably, to tell where he be- 
 longed. And now they have him^ — at least wd 
 hope so — and I've got to get on their trail. I 
 suppose it will all come out right in the end, hut 
 
42 RACER BOYS TO. THE RESCUE 
 
 it's worrying mother, and the rest of us, very 
 much. Are you fellows ready to start? " 
 
 " Yes," replied Frank, " and we've made a 
 little change in our plans." 
 
 " How's that? " asked Tom quickly. 
 
 " Well, we're going right on through to the 
 sanitarium with you, and strike across country 
 for Uncle Ben's place, instead of leaving you to 
 go on alone." 
 
 " Say, that's good of you I " cried Tom, " but 
 won't it take you out of your way? " 
 
 "What of it?" exclaimed Ward. "We've 
 got all the time we want, and the further north 
 we go the better I'll like it." 
 
 " So will 1 1 " added Jack, and the others 
 nodded in assent. 
 
 " You see, Tom," explained Frank, " we can 
 go directly to the sanitarium with you by rail, and 
 not have to change cars. If we branched off to 
 go to Uncle Ben's camp first we'd have to make 
 two changes, and take a different line of railroad. 
 But by going with you we can make better connec- 
 tions, so you see the thing isn't all one sided." 
 
 " I'm glad of it ! " cried Tom. " Well, when 
 can we start?" 
 
 " First thing in the morning," replied Jack. 
 " It's about the last trip the steamer makes this 
 season. Afraid of getting icebound I guess." 
 
 " It's snowing and blowing up in Maine, now," 
 
off: to the north 43 
 
 added Sndy. "We've got a letter from Uncle 
 Ben to-day, and he said it was as cold as Green- 
 land up there, and he told us to bring our heavy 
 flannels." 
 
 "Cold, eh?" exclaimed Tom. "Well, that 
 will be good for you fellows who are going to 
 camp and do hunting, I suppose, but it isn't so 
 nice for me and — Len." 
 
 " Oh, those lumbermen will looE after him," 
 said Frank quickly, not wishing his chum to 
 worry. " He'll be all right. And, after you've 
 found him, you can come with us and have some 
 jolly fun." 
 
 " I hope I can," spoke Tom quietly. " I guess 
 I'll need it after this affair." 
 
 Tom was welcomed by Mrs. Racer, and she 
 made him to feel as much at home as if she was 
 his mother. 
 
 "Five boys now; eh?" remarked Mr. Racer 
 when he came home and heard the riot of talk 
 up In his sons' rooms. " Well, I guess we can 
 stand it for another day." 
 
 " Oh, I'm getting used to it," said his wife 
 with a smile. "But you ought to see them eat! " 
 
 "And you ought to see them put food away 
 when they get up in those Maine woods," added 
 her husband. " I was up at Ben's place one win- 
 ter, and I ate enough for two men." 
 
 The evening before the start was spent quietly 
 
44 RACER BOYS TO JHE RESCUE 
 
 enough", talking over plans, an3 checking the list 
 of, things to be taken along, to make sure nothing 
 had been forgotten. 
 
 There was double-barreled excitement the next 
 morning as the lads made ready to start for the 
 steamship landing. The last good-byes were said, 
 Mrs. Racer gave innumerable injunctions about 
 " being careful," on every point from guns to wet 
 feet. Mr. Racer shook hands with his sons and 
 their chums, and they were off on their long trip. 
 
 The steamer journey was vastly enjoyed by all, 
 though nothing of moment or interest occurred 
 on it^ In due time they reached Portland, and 
 took the train. 
 
 " Now we're really in Maine ! " exclaimed 
 Frank, as he sat looking at the scenery whirling 
 past. 
 
 " Me for a moose ! " cried Jack. 
 
 " A bear is my meat," added Ward. 
 
 " And maybe I can bowl over a few timber 
 wolves," said Andy. 
 
 I Tom said nothing, but they all knew of what he 
 was thinking — his brother. 
 
 I'he train dashed on toward the north, and 
 they had not been riding more than an hour be- 
 fore Frank exclaimed: 
 
 "Look, fellows, it's snowing 1 " 
 
 "So it is I" cried Andy. "Wow! This is 
 great! We'll soon be in camp, and, maybe, 
 snowed in I " 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 NEWS OF THE BOY 
 
 Though! the weather had been cold, even 
 "when the Racer boys and their friends were at 
 RIvervIew Hall, there had been no snow so far 
 that winter, and now the sight of the white, swirl- 
 ing flakes fairly made the blood of our heroes 
 tingle with delight. 
 
 " It's a real storm, all right ! " exclaimed 
 Andy, as the white crystals came down thicker 
 and faster. " I guess there'll be plenty of It." 
 
 " Yes, you'll get all the snow you want from 
 now on," remarked a grizzled man in the seat 
 across the aisle from the boys. " It's going to be 
 a heavy winter for Maine, I'm thinking. Are 
 you going far? " 
 
 " To a sanitarium at Pinehurst," replied 
 ' Frank. 
 
 " What! Spruce gum and rubber boots 1 You 
 don't mean to tell me all you lads is sick — sick 
 enough to go to a sanitarium ! " cried the man. 
 " Well, I'll be log-rolled 1 I could see you was 
 from the city, 'cause you ain't got what might be 
 called a good, healthy color, but my land! I 
 
 45 
 
46 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 never would suspect you all had to go to a san- 
 itarium. My I But city life must be terrible on 
 a young chap. I'm glad I don't live there. Sani- 
 tarium; eh? It's too bad — too badl " 
 
 " Oh, we're not going there for our health," 
 Frank hastened to state as he laughed at the, 
 man's mistake. And then, by degrees, they told' 
 the story of the missing boy. 
 
 " Say, that is too bad ! " exclaimed the sym'- 
 pathetic stranger. " But don't worry. If he's 
 in with any fairly decent gang of lumberjacks, 
 that boy will be treated all right. He may not 
 get pie and cake every meal, but he'll be kept 
 warm, I'll wager." 
 
 " But we can't understand why the lumber- 
 men should take him with them," spoke Tom. 
 " And if they have him, why can't they send him 
 back? " 
 
 " I'll tell you how it probably is," said the man, 
 who gave his name as Hank Bender. " I've been 
 in them camps, and I know how it is. There's a 
 lot of work to be done in a short time, and every- 
 one is busy every day when it's possible to be 
 out. The weather is against the men lots of 
 times. You see we have more of a winter up here 
 in northern Maine than you do in New York. 
 
 " Then, again, there aren't trolley cars and 
 steam roads running to the lumber camps. The 
 logs are cut and snaked to the nearest stream. 
 
NEWS OF THE BOY 47 
 
 There they lay until high water In the spring, 
 when they're floated down to the mills. 
 
 " Now it may be weeks at a time, especially if 
 the snow Is heavy, when no one from a lumber 
 camp gets to civilization, and, likewise no one 
 from civilization goes to the camp. So, if the 
 little chap is in a lumber camp, he'll have to stay 
 there until some one comes for him. Don't you 
 worry, sonny." 
 
 " I won't feel so badly, after what you've told 
 me," said Tom'. " But of course I'm anxious to 
 rescue Len." 
 
 " Naturally, yes. But you've got to take It 
 easy. I heard from the region you're going to 
 the other day, and the report was that the snow 
 was unusually heavy for this time of year. But 
 you'll get through sooner or later. Don't worry." 
 
 Mr. Bender told the boys many Interesting 
 things about the lumber camps, relating some of 
 his own experiences. The day passed quickly, 
 and as night settled down the snowstorm still 
 kept up. 
 
 " Well, I get off here," said Mr. Bender as the 
 train drew Into a small station. " You'll travel 
 all night, of course, and, if she's on time, you'll 
 pull into PInehurst In the morning. I wish you 
 luck I" 
 
 " Thanks"! " chorused the boys, as they bade 
 him good-bye. 
 
48 JtACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 Supper was served on the train, and then, aS 
 they were tired from their day's travel, the boyS 
 had their berths made up and turned in for the; 
 night. 
 
 It was snowing still when they got up in thg 
 morning, and, on inquiring from the conductor, 
 they learned that the train was about two hours 
 late on account of the storm. 
 
 "That means we'll be late getting to Uncle 
 Ben's place in Spruceton," said Frank. " WeU, 
 it can't be helped." 
 
 The train kept losing time ias it proceede3,- 
 for the storm grew worse instead of showing 
 signs, of letting up, and the boys saw what Maine 
 could turn out in the way of weather when it 
 tried. 
 
 " And it's only the beginning of winter! " com- 
 mented Ward. 
 
 It was nearly noon when they reached Pine- 
 hurst, and Tom, arranging to meet his friends 
 later, hurried off to the sanitarium to learn all the 
 particulars concerning his brother. A stage that 
 met the train took him to the institution. 
 
 " Well, we've missed our train," announced 
 Frank after a talk with the ticket agent. " The 
 connection was close at best, on the other rail- 
 road line, and what, with the way our train lost 
 time getting here, we've got to stay over one 
 night." 
 
NEWS OF THE BOY 49 
 
 "And go on to Uncle Ben's in the morning? " 
 asked Andy. 
 
 " That's it. I guess there's no use sending him 
 word that we're delayed. He can tell that It was 
 due to the storm. Well, now let's get rid of most 
 of our baggage, and see about putting up at some 
 hotel." 
 
 " What about Tom? " asked Jack. 
 
 " He's coming back here as soon as he has a 
 talk with the sanitarium people," explained 
 Frank. 
 
 He soon arranged to have their heavier bag- 
 gage taken to the other station, where they were 
 to get a train in the morning for their uijcle's 
 place. Then they went to the only hotel in' iPine- 
 hurst and secured rooms. By the time they got 
 back to the station they found Tom aiwaiting 
 them. 
 
 "Well, any news?" asked Andy. 
 
 " Yes, I have some news of Len. But say, 
 can't you come back to the sanitarium with me? 
 I want you to hear the story." 
 ' " I guess so," replied Frank. " We're going 
 to stay here over night." 
 
 " So am I, and the first thing in the morning 
 I'm going to try and find some way of getting to 
 that lumber camp." 
 
 "Then Len is with the lumbermen?" asked 
 Ward. 
 
50 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " Yes, the sanitarium people confirmed that. 
 It seems that the gang was in a hurry to get to 
 their camp, which is at a place called Rockyford. 
 There was a storm coming up, and they knew if 
 they didn't get through then they might not for 
 a week. But come on over, and hear the whole 
 story." 
 
 This the boys did. There was nothing told 
 that the reader does not already know, except one 
 point. That was how word had come back from 
 the lumber camp about Len. 
 
 It seems that he was unconscious when picked 
 up and was put in one of the lumber wagons. He 
 was well cared for, and, on reaching camp, re- 
 vived suf&ciently to tell who he was and where 
 he belonged. 
 
 But there was no way of sending him back, 
 and then came the big storm. Finally it became 
 necessary for one man to get to the nearest town, 
 which was nothing more than a camp itself, to 
 order some supplies, which had run low. It was 
 too risky to take the boy along, and so Len was 
 left with the lumbermen. But at least his where- 
 abouts were made known to the sanitarium 
 people. From then on there had been no chance 
 to get Len. 
 
 " But I'm going to try for that camp in the 
 Inorning! " declared Tom. 
 
 "How? "asked Frank. 
 
NEWS OF THE BOY 51 
 
 " I've made arrangements with a man to drive 
 me in," was the answer. " I'm going to take 
 plenty of furs along, and plenty to eat, and bring 
 Len back with me if possible." 
 
 " I think that will be a good plan," said Dr. 
 Morse, the head of the sanitarium. "We are 
 very sorry this occurred, and we would have 
 formed a sort of rescue party ourselves, only you 
 wired us you were coming, and so I thought it 
 best to wait, Mr. Crawford. I hope we did 
 right." 
 
 " Oh, yes," replied Tom. " It wasn't your 
 fault at all. Poor Len probably didn't know what 
 he was doing. But I'm going to bring him back." 
 
 " Do you think you'll want any help ? " asked 
 Frank. " One of us might go with you to the 
 rescue." 
 
 " No, I've put you out enough as It is. You 
 go on to your uncle's place. I'll write you as soon 
 as I have Len safe." 
 
 " And after you get him home, come on camp- 
 ing with us," suggested Jack eagerly. " I guess 
 Waterside Hall can get along without you for a 
 while, especially as the Christmas vacation will 
 soon be here." 
 
 " I'll think it over," replied Tom. " I'd like 
 to, first rate." 
 
 Tom was to stay at the sanitarium over night 
 and the boys soon left him to go to their hotel. 
 
52 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 It had stopped snowing now, but the ground waS 
 deep with the white flakes, and the weather was 
 very cold. 
 
 " It will be jolly in camp I " cried Andy in de- 
 light, capering about the hotel bedroom. ." May- 
 be we'll have to be rescued ourselves." 
 
 " If we are, you're not going to carry me on 
 your back," declared Jack. " You'd drop me in 
 some drift." 
 
 " No, honest I wouldn't," promised Andy; but 
 they all laughed, and did not believe him. 
 
 Sleigh bells were jingling in Pinehurst when 
 ■the boys awoke the next morning, and soon after 
 breakfast they went to the sanitarium to bid Tom 
 good-luck on his trip into the wilderness. 
 
 They found him talking to a big, hearty man 
 who was to drive him in a bob-sled, to try and 
 find little Len. 
 
 " It's going to be a great trip, boys I " cried 
 Tom, from the depths of a pile of fur robes. 
 " Fifty miles, and I've got to camp in the open 
 perhaps."' 
 
 " That is if we don't strike some lumber 
 shanty," explained the driver with a laugh. " But 
 if we don't this sled ain't such a bad place. Many 
 a night I've slept in it." 
 
 " I don't care what happens, as long as I ge£ 
 Len back!" exclaimed Tom. "I'd give a 
 thousand dollars if I had him with me now, and 
 could wire mother that he's safe. Of course I'ml 
 
NEWS OF THE BOY 53 
 
 hot as worried as I was, but I'd give a good deal 
 to have him back," 
 
 " That's right," spoke Frank. 
 
 As he stepped up to shake hands with his 
 chum, and bid him good-bye, the elder Racer lad 
 noticed a surly-looking man slinking off around a 
 corner of the sanitarium building. And it seemed 
 to Frank that the man was muttering to himself 
 over and over again: 
 
 " A thousand dollars 1 A thousand dollars I 
 That's a heap sight of money ! " 
 
 "Well, good-bye! Good-bye 1 Good luck! " 
 called the four other lads to Tom. 
 
 "Good-bye!" he answered. The driver 
 climbed into his sled all prepared to start. Frank 
 had another glimpse of the surly-looking man, 
 peering around the corner of the building, and it 
 seemed that the fellow was eying Tom with eager 
 eyes. 
 
 "Who are you looking at?" asked Tom, not- 
 ing his friend's rather staring glance. 
 
 " At that fellow — sort of tramp I'd take him 
 to be," was the answer. " Does he work at the 
 sanitarium? " 
 
 " I saw him shoveling snow off the paths this 
 morning when I got up," replied Tom. 
 "Why?" 
 
 " Oh, I was just wondering," spoke Frank, al- 
 most laughing at his own suspicions. 
 
 "Who, that fellow?" asked the sled driver 
 
54 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 who overheard the talk. " Oh, that's Ike Bruce. 
 He used to be lumberman, but he got into bad 
 habits and no one would hire him. Now he's a 
 sort of town ne'er-do-well. Whoa there 1" he 
 added to his restive horses. 
 
 " Well, good-bye ! " called Tom again, and 
 then, with a jingle of bells, and a crack of the 
 whip In the frosty air, he was off on his hard trip. 
 
 " Come on, it's about time for our train," said 
 Frank to his chums, and, as they walked toward 
 the depot, the elder Racer lad could not help 
 thinking of the tramp — and the way he had eyed 
 Tom, when the latter spoke of the thousand dol- 
 lars. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 ON THE CAMP TRAIL 
 
 " Well, fellows, now we haven't anything to 
 worry about, since Tom has gone after his 
 brother," spoke Frank, as he, Andy and their 
 chums stood In the other depot, waiting for the 
 train that was to take them to Spruceton and Mr. 
 Armstrong's place. " All we need to think of is 
 having a good time." 
 
 " And we'll have itl " cried Andy, as he play- 
 fully pushed Ward over Into a bank of snow that 
 had been cleared from the depot platform. 
 "How's the weather down there. Ward?" he 
 :asked, as his chum floundered about In the white 
 flakes. 
 
 " Come and find out I " was the quick answer, 
 las Ward pulled Andy down beside him. 
 
 "Wow I Woof I" ejaculated Andy, as his 
 mouth was filled with snow* "What'd you do 
 that for?" 
 
 " To get even, of course," replied Ward. " I 
 suppose this is another joke." 
 
 55 
 
56 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " It's on him all right," said Jack with a laugh. 
 
 "tiere comes the train!" cried Frank. 
 " Come on, fellows." 
 
 " Help brush me off 1 " pleaded Andy, for he 
 was covered with snow. *' They won't let me on 
 this way." 
 
 " You're no worse than I am," declared Ward. 
 " But it's dry snow, that's one consolation. It 
 isn't like New York slush." 
 
 The two lads succeeded in getting rid of most 
 of the snow on their garments before the train 
 puffed in, and then they scrambled aboard. They 
 were the only passengers to get on, for travel in 
 that part of Maine was not heavy at that season 
 of the year. Their baggage had been put in the 
 proper car, and now they were on the last stage of 
 their journey to Mr. Armstrong's place. 
 
 Nothing of interest happened, except that the 
 boys met several men who had worked in the lum- 
 ber camps, and the lads asked them innumerable 
 questions as to the cutting of big trees, and the 
 chances for getting game. 
 
 " Game is plentiful," said one man. " You 
 can have all the shooting you want, within the 
 limits of the game laws, of course," he added. 
 But he need not have done so, for the boys were 
 true sportsmen, and did not believe in taking wild 
 life needlessly. 
 
 " Well, we'll soon be there," remarked Frank, 
 
ON THE CAMP TRAIL 57 
 
 ias he looked at his watch, and consulted the time- 
 table. " We're a little behind the schedule, but 
 that doesn't matter. We'll soon be at Uncle 
 Ben's." 
 
 " And then, after a rest of a day or so, we'll 
 strike right off into the woods 1 " cried Andy. 
 " We'll do our own cooking and " 
 
 " Our own eating too I " interrupted Jack with 
 a laugh. " I don't want to be selfish, or inter- 
 fere with the plans of you boys," he went on, 
 half-seriously. " But I insist on doing my own 
 eating. I don't care who cooks it, as long as it 
 isn't burned." 
 
 "We'll let Andy do the cooking," proposed 
 Ward. 
 
 *' I will not — that is, not all the while 1 " cried 
 the younger Racer lad. " I'll do my share, but 
 it's got to be turn and turn about. I want to do 
 some hunting, some tracking on snow shoes, and 
 have a bit of skating or Ice boating, and I'm not 
 going to be bothering with pots and pans all the 
 while." 
 
 " Oh, sure, we'll do our share," offered Jack. 
 
 A little later the train pulled Into the Spruce- 
 ton station. It was not much of a place, for the 
 town was small. The Racer boys looked about, 
 for a sight of their uncle. They did not see him, 
 but as they got off the train, an elderly man, well 
 wrapped up in an overcoat, with a red scarf about 
 
S8 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 his neck, came up to them from a large open sled 
 in which he had been sitting. 
 
 "You th' Racer boys, an' th' others?" he 
 asked. 
 
 " You've hit it," replied Frank. 
 
 "Wa'al, I'm Jed Mackay. Work for your 
 uncle," he explained laconically. "I'll drive you 
 to his place. He couldn't come." 
 
 "Busy?" asked Andy. 
 
 " Yep." 
 
 " Pile in, boys 1 " called Frank. 
 
 "Baggage?" asked Jed Mackay. The boys 
 soon discovered that he was a man of few words.' 
 
 " That's right. Came near forgetting it," said 
 Frank. " Come on, fellows, get the grips." 
 
 Their baggage was soon in the sled, and then 
 they took their seats. Jed spoke to the horses, 
 and the animals started off at a lively pace. 
 
 "Uncle Ben well? " asked Frank. 
 
 " Yep," replied Mr. Jed Mackay. " He was 
 -T-last I seen of him this mornin'." 
 
 "Aunt Sallie well?" 
 
 " Kinder so. Busy bakin' when I druv away." 
 
 "That's the stuff! " cried Andy. 
 
 " Pies an' cakes," added Mr. Mackay. 
 
 " How's that? " inquired Frank, not quite un- 
 derstanding whether his uncle's man was speak- 
 ing to the horses or to him. 
 
 " I said pies an' cakes. Your aunt. Bakin'." 
 
ON THE CAMP TRAIL 59 
 
 " Oh I " Frank understood then. He was be- 
 ginning to appreciate Jed Mackay. 
 
 " How did you know we would be on this 
 train? " asked Andy. 
 
 " Ain't no other. You didn't come yisterday, 
 kinder looked fer ye t'-day," was the reply. 
 "Giddapl" This to the steeds. 
 
 The animals swung away from the depot and 
 out into the single main street of Spruceton. It 
 was a small village, and it did not take long to 
 pass through it. Then they were In the open, 
 snow-covered country. 
 
 The boys talked, shouted and laughed In the 
 excess of good spirits. It was all pure delight to 
 them. They asked Jed Mackay every question 
 they could think of, from the chances of getting 
 a bear or moose soon, to how long it would be 
 before they got to Mr. Armstrong's place. 
 
 " It won't be a great while now," spoke the 
 driver, using more words than he usually appor- 
 tioned to himself. " Be there pretty soon now. 
 Good road rest th' way." 
 
 "Say, then, let me drive, will you?" begged 
 Andy. " I haven't had hold of the reins in I 
 don't know how long. Let me manage the 
 horses; will you, Jed?" 
 
 "Don't you do it," warned Frank., "He'll 
 have us upset in no time." 
 
 " I will not, you old dub I " exclaimed the 
 
6o RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 younge;lr Racer lad. " I can handle a team as 
 well as you can." 
 
 " That's not saying much," declared Frank. 
 " I'm not used to horses. If this was a boat 
 now " 
 
 " Oh, sure I can drive," pleaded Andy, reach- 
 ing over to take the leather ribbons from the 
 hands of the driver, to whom he sat next. 
 
 "Hold onl" cried Jed. "There's a bad 
 turn in the road just ahead, and after we pass 
 that " 
 
 " You keep right on driving 1 " exclaimed 
 Ward. "We doa't want to be dumped in a 
 snow bank." 
 
 " I should say not," added Jack. " Not with 
 our best clothes on, anyhow." 
 
 " I won't dump you out," promised Andy. 
 
 " Shall I let him ? " the driver asked, turning 
 to Frank. 
 
 " Oh, well, I suppose he'll make a fuss if you 
 don'4: let him," assented Fra!nk. " But keep hold 
 of the reins behind his hands, Jed, and then if 
 anything happens " 
 
 "I'll not drive that way!" cried Andy in 
 disgust. " I tell you I can handle horses good 
 enough for anybody, and I'll drive in the regular 
 way or not at all." 
 
 " All right," assented his brother. " There's 
 some joke in It, I suppose, or Andy wouldn't 
 
ON THE CAMP TRAIL 6i 
 
 want to do it. Look out, fellows 1 Hold on 
 tight, and watch." 
 
 " No joke at all," Andy assured them. " I 
 just want to prove that I know something about 
 horses. How about the road now, Jed?" 
 
 Mr. Armstrong's man skillfully guided the 
 steeds around a bad turn in the highway, and 
 then handed the reins over to Andy. It must be 
 confessed th^t he did it with a sigh that seemed 
 to contain some anxiety, and he looked at Andy 
 narrowly as the lad grasped the leathers in a 
 firm grip. 
 
 " Get along there ! " cried the lad, as he 
 reached for the whip. 
 
 " Nope 1 " spoke Jed firmly, laying a retain- 
 ing hand on Andy's arm. " No whip — runaway." 
 
 " Oh," exclaimed Andy knowingly. " All 
 right, only I just wanted to get up a little speed." 
 
 " Speak to 'em," advised Jed, and he called 
 out: "Pick it up, boys I" He ended with a 
 peculiar little click' of his tongue. At once the 
 horses sprang forward, drawing the sled on at 
 a lively pace, for the road was straight and 
 level now. 
 
 " Better'n a whip," explained Jed, laconically. 
 " Never use a whip — ornament," and Andy saw 
 that the whip had never been used. 
 
 " All right," he agreed with a laugh. " So 
 much the better." He tried to imitate Jed's 
 
62 RACER BOYS TQ THE RESCUE 
 
 method of speaking to the horses, and succeeded 
 fairly well. 
 
 " Save some of the speed for the time when 
 you need it," advised Frank. "iWhat's the 
 rush?" 
 
 " Oh, I just want to show you fellows that I 
 can drive," was the answer. " How about it, 
 Jed?" 
 
 " Pretty fair. Not there yet, though." 
 
 " Well, I'm going to drive in with style all 
 right," predicted Andy, as he shook the reins. 
 The horses, who were doing well, took this as a 
 further incentive to speed, and fairly leaped 
 ahead. 
 
 " Look out! " cried Frank, for he well knew 
 that his brother, in spite of the fact that he had 
 done well so far, was not used to handling fast 
 animals. " There are some drifts ahead, Andy." 
 
 " I'll look out for 'em," was the confident 
 reply, and as Andy passed a bad place in the 
 road, without anything happening, even Jed be- 
 gan to believe that the lad could do well. 
 I But there was trouble ahead for Andy. Per- 
 haps he might have done all right if he had not 
 wanted to show off. ^He approached a turn in 
 the highway, not a bad turn by any means, and 
 one that he could have taken if he had left the 
 horses alone. But Andy wanted to demonstrate 
 that he was a " near-expert," at any rate. 
 
ON THE CAMP JRAIL 63 
 
 " Here's where I shave a corner I " he cried, 
 as he called to the steeds, inciting them to mors 
 speed. 
 
 " Look outl " cried Jed, as he saw Andy puU 
 on dne rein to make a sharp curve with the sled. 
 "Lookout!" 
 
 " Take those reins away from him 1 " yelled 
 Frank. 
 
 " Hold onl" shouted Ward. 
 
 " It's all up with us I " came from Jack, with 
 laughable despair in his tones. 
 
 And indeed it was all up, or rather " all over " 
 with the sled load in another second or two. For 
 Andy had turned too short, and with a creak of 
 the runners, and a rattle of the retaining chains 
 under the rear bob, the sleigh went over in a big 
 drift, spilling everyone out, and sending a shower 
 of baggage over them. 
 
 "Now you've done it!" yelled Frank. 
 " What did you " 
 
 But that was as f^r as he got, for his mouth 
 was filled with snow from the drift. 
 
 " Whoa, boys ! Steady I " called Jed to the 
 horses, and though they were frightened for a 
 moment, as they floundered in the snow, since 
 they, too, had gone down, the animals stood still 
 on hearing the familiar voice. 
 
 In a trice Jed had freed himself from encum- 
 bering robes, had kicked his legs out from th? 
 
64 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 sled body, and was plunging through the drift 
 toward the heads of the steeds. 
 
 " Whoa, now," he spoke to them soothingly 
 as they regained their feet and stood there, trem- 
 bling somewhat at the excitement, for they were 
 blooded animals. 
 
 " Any of you boys hurt? " asked Jed as he saw 
 the four jfigures crawling out. 
 
 " I guess not," spoke Ward, brushing the snow 
 from his clothes. " Wait until I count noses, 
 and see if any are missing." 
 
 Frank sprang from a drift, followed by Jack, 
 who was rubbing a bump on his forehead. 
 
 "Where's Andy?" asked Frank. 
 
 " Present ! " shouted the irrepressible younger 
 [Racer lad. " Present I " and he scrambled out 
 from under the sled, and stood at attention, giv- 
 ing a military salute. 
 
 "Hurt?" asked Frank, a bit anxiously, as 
 he saw a small spot of blood on his brother's 
 hand. 
 
 " Some," admitted the lad responsible for the 
 accident. , 
 
 "Where?" demanded Frank. 
 
 "My feelings," replied Andy. "To think I 
 should have an upset just as I was doing my 
 best. It makes me sick! " 
 
 " It serves you right ! " declared Frank, when 
 he realized that hi§ brother was not hurt much, 
 
PN THE CAMi; JRAIL 65 
 
 and was only trying to make a joke of the whole 
 yffair. " We told you to be careful." 
 
 " Oh, there you go 1 " cried Andy. " Any- 
 body can say ' I told you so,' after it's happened. 
 Why didn't you say so before ? " 
 
 " You drove so fast we didn't get a chance," 
 spoke Ward. 
 
 " You certainly made as pretty an upset as 
 I've seen in a long while," remarked Jack sar- 
 castically. 
 
 "Well, it's all over," said Andy calmly. 
 "Anything busted, Jed? You can drive the rest 
 of the way." 
 
 " I should say he would 1 " exclaimed Frank 
 vigorously. "If you try to do any more driv- 
 ing while we're on this trip I'll send you back 
 home by express, and don't you forget it." 
 
 " I won't," promised Andy, looking at his 
 hand, that was bleeding from a slight scratch. 
 " Come on, boys, help to right the sled." 
 
 " You ought to be made to do it alone, to pay 
 for upsetting us," grumbled Frank, but his mo- 
 mentary ill-feeling against Andy was rapidly 
 passing away, as was that of the others. No 
 one could remain angry at Andy very long at a 
 time. 
 
 " I guess it won't be hard t' git th' sled up," 
 commented Jed. " I'll unhitch th' bosses, an' 
 we'll see what we can do." 
 
66 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 The traces were soon unhooked, and the 
 steeds led off to one side of the road, being teth- 
 ered to a fence. Then, a passing farmer and 
 his hired man, who were in their punt, stopped 
 to inquire if they could be of any help. 
 
 With their aid the upset sled was soon righted, 
 and an examination showed that no damage had 
 been done, beyond the breaking of one of the 
 chains on the rear bob. This was temporarily 
 repaired with a piece of wire, the horses were 
 hitched up again, the scattered baggage collected, 
 and Jed called out : 
 
 " All aboard now I Any of you other boys 
 want to drive ? " 
 
 " Not much 1 " cried Frank decidedly. " Andy, 
 you get in the back seat, and cover up with a 
 robe. Then you won't be tempted to ask to han- 
 dle the ribbons again." 
 
 " All right," assented the younger Racer lad 
 meekly, and he crawled obediently in beside 
 Ward, while Frank went up front with the driver. 
 
 " We ought to be at your uncle's house soon," 
 remarked Ward, after a pause, during which the 
 horses made good time. " At least it's been some 
 time since Jed said we'd be there in a little while." 
 
 " There it is 1 " cried Frank at length, as he 
 espied a comfortable and snug-looking house set 
 back some distance from the road. " Now for 
 some good times." 
 
ON THE CAMP TRAIL 6^ 
 
 Mrs. Armstrong came to the door as the sled' 
 drove up. 
 
 "Hello, Aunt Salliel" sang put FranK an'(J 
 Andy. 
 
 " Oh, you boys I " she cried in Her jolly voice. 
 " I'm glad you came. Your uncle went to get you 
 yesterday, but something must have happened." 
 
 " It was the storm. We were delayed," ex- 
 plained Frank. 
 
 " I thought as much. Now see here," she went 
 on, " come right into the house and get good and 
 warm. I've got a meal all ready, and then Jed 
 will drive you to camp." 
 
 " To camp I " exclaimed Andy. " I thought 
 we were going to stay here for a week or so. Are 
 we going to camp at once ? " 
 
 " Yes. Didn't Jed tell you? " she asked. 
 
 "Tell us what?" inquired Frank. 
 
 " Why your uncle had to go into the woods — 
 into one of his lumber camps — to straighten out 
 some business. I don't know what it was. He 
 was hoping you'd get here yesterday so he could 
 take you out, but he had to leave when you didn't 
 come. It's not far, and Jed can drive you to the 
 place." 
 
 "Why, he didn't say anything about that on 
 the way from the station," spoke Andy, glanc- 
 ing at Mr. Mackay. 
 
 "Didn't you tell 'em, Jed?" asked Mrs. 
 
68 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 Armstrong, looking reproachfully at the hireid 
 man over the tops of her glasses. 
 
 " Nope." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " Didn't ast me." 
 
 "Well," cried FranE, laughing, "I guess we 
 asked him about every other question in the 
 books. It's all right. We expected to meet 
 Uncle Ben here, but if he's in camp so much the 
 better. We'll go right out to where he is." 
 
 " That's what he calculated you'd want to do," 
 said the aunt of the Racer boys. " Now come on 
 in, and I'll feed you up. You must be hungry." 
 
 "I wonder how she guessed it?" spoke Jack 
 in a low voice. " I could eat a whole moose, I 
 believe." 
 
 " Come right in," invited Mrs. Armstrong. 
 " Jed, you feed the horses, and then I'll get you 
 a bite. No use unhitching as you can drive the 
 boys right in, and they'll get there before dark." 
 
 " Um," said the hired man, who was so saving 
 in his words. 
 
 There were pies and cakes aplenty, and other 
 things too, as the boys soon saw. Ward and 
 Jack were introduced to Mrs. Armstrong, and 
 soon made to feel at home. The lads made a 
 hearty meal, and later Jed came in for his din- 
 ner. 
 
 " Just where is Uncle Ben? " asked Franlc o£ 
 
ON THE CAMP TRAIL 69 
 
 his aunt, when the keen edge had been taken from 
 his appetite. 
 
 " Oh, he had to go to Salt Spring camp. 
 There's some dispute over stumpage or some- 
 thing like that. I didn't pay much attention, ex- 
 cept to hear what he said for the benefit of you 
 boys. Now If you*d rather stay here, and wait 
 for him, he'll be back in a few days." 
 
 " No, we'll go right on to camp," declared 
 Frank. 
 
 " Well, that's what your uncle allowed you'd 
 want to do," spoke Mrs. Armstrong. " But it's 
 a new lumber camp, and not very comfortable," 
 she added. " He's figuring on fitting out a regu- 
 lar camp for you, later, as soon as he clears up 
 this business. But I thought maybe you'd want 
 to stay in a house instead of a shack." 
 
 "We've been in the house all this fall and 
 winter," complained Frank. " Now we want to 
 get out in the open." 
 
 " Oh, you boys ! " exclaimed his aunt. " Well, 
 you're here for a good time. Do as you please. 
 Now, Jed, are you ready? " 
 
 " Yep." 
 
 " Then you may as well start," went on Mrs. 
 Armstrong. " It gets dark early this time of 
 year. Now you boys must come and pay me a' 
 visit when you get tired of camping," shei 
 finished. 
 
70 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " We will," promised Jack, the others joining 
 in the chorus. 
 
 " Here's the basket, Jed," said the good lady. 
 
 She handed out a substantial hamper, which 
 seemed heavy. 
 
 "What's in it?" asked Ward of the hired 
 man. 
 
 " Pies an' cakes. Other eatin' stuff ! " 
 
 " Oh," and Ward smiled happily. 
 
 " Good-bye I " cried Mrs. Armstrong. " I 
 don't just like the idea of hustling you off this 
 way, but, as long as you want to go, why I'll have 
 to submit. But come and see me later." 
 
 Jed cracked his whip, and the horses leaped 
 forward with a jingle of bells. 
 
 " Off to the winter camp 1 " cried Andy. 
 
 " And what fun we'll have I " added Frank. 
 
 " It's too good to be true ! " exclaimed Ward. 
 
 " Just think of having no lessons or lectures," 
 came from Jack. " Oh, it's great ! " 
 
 " Say, Jed, don't you wish you were us ? " 
 asked Frank. 
 
 " Nope," replied the hired man. " Giddap ! " 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 'A QUICK SHOT 
 
 " Well, boys, glad to see you ! " exclaimed 
 Mr. Armstrong about an hour later, when the big 
 sled drove up into his camp at Salt Spring, and 
 the Racer lads, with their chums, leaped out in 
 the snow. " Sorry I couldn't meet you, but I had 
 some business here, and I had to come. Did you 
 treat 'em right, Jed? " 
 
 "Yepl" 
 
 " Say, you haven't got any more tongue than 
 you had yesterday; have you?" exclaimed Mr. 
 Armstrong with a laugh at his hired man. " Not 
 a bit more. Just as close-mouthed as ever." 
 
 " Yep," was the only answer, as Jed turned the 
 sled about for his trip back. 
 
 "Well, boys, I certainly am glad to see you," 
 went on Mr. Armstrong, when Jack and Ward 
 had been introduced. " Did you get along all 
 right?" 
 
 They told him of their trip, and of how they 
 had come a different route in order to be with 
 Tom Crawford, whose trouble over his brother 
 they mentioned. 
 
 " Well, now, make yourselves right at home," 
 71 
 
72 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 invited the lumberman. "You'll find it rather 
 rough here, but we've got plenty to eat, such as 
 it is. Not much bread and jam or cake, but 
 plenty of substantial food." 
 
 " Pies an' cake ! " exclaimed Jed, as he lifted 
 out the basket Mrs. Armstrong had packed. 
 
 " How's that? " asked the lumberman, curi- 
 ously. 
 
 " Pies an' cake," repeated the hired man. 
 
 " Oh, I see. Mother fixed up a lunch for the 
 boys. That's good. Well, lads, you can come 
 right in and sit down. Bring your things with 
 you. I thought maybe you'd like to spend a few 
 days here, to get an idea of a small lumber camp, 
 and then I can fit you out to go camping by your- 
 selves." 
 
 "Where's the salt spring?" asked Frank. 
 
 " Oh, somewhere around here. It isn't much. 
 It's just a spring with water in it that tastes a 
 bit salty. It never freezes over, even in the 
 coldest weather. Sort of a freak, I guess. It's 
 about two miles out, but I named this camp after 
 it. Come on in." 
 
 Jed had lifted from the sled the boys' baggage, 
 and the hamper of food. Then, with a short 
 good-bye, he started back to Spruceton. As the 
 lads walked toward the shacks Mr. Armstrong 
 told them, briefly, why he had made a camp at 
 this place. 
 
A QUICK SHOT^ 73 
 
 " You see, I began cutting timber as far north 
 as I owned," he said. " I aimed to work down 
 this way gradually, later, but I had a tract of 
 very tall trees in here that I was saving. Then 
 I recently got an offer for them, and so I decided 
 to make a cut in here. I built a camp and started 
 work. This is where I expect to stay for a few 
 weeks anyhow." 
 
 The boys looked about them. They were in 
 the midst of a vast wilderness, where many trees 
 had been cut. Others were marked to fall by 
 the axe or saw. In a sort of clearing were a 
 number of rudely-built shacks, where the men 
 slept and ate. There were also stables for the 
 horses. Off in the distance could be seen a num- 
 ber of men finishing up their work for the 
 day. 
 
 " Aunt Sallie said you came here to settle a 
 dispute about stumpage, or some counter-claim to 
 your land," spoke Frank, as his uncle led him and 
 his chums toward the shack where they were to 
 stay. 
 
 " Well, that's what I told her," replied Mr. 
 Armstrong, " as I didn't want to worry her. 
 But, as a matter of fact, it's more important 
 than a case of stumpage. I don't mind telling 
 you boys that I'm being robbed." 
 
 "Robbed!" gasped Jack. 
 
 " Yes, robbed. Some of jny finest cut-down 
 
^4 JIACER BOYS J_Q THE RESCUE 
 
 trees are being stolen away from the place where 
 I leave them to wait for the spring freshets, and, 
 up to date, we haven't been able to discover the 
 thief. That's why I came out here. I wanted 
 to look over the ground, and see if I could land 
 the man who's been taking my property. But 
 don't say anything to your aunt," he cautioned 
 the Racer boys. " She'd only worry, and there's 
 no need of it. I'll land the fellow yet." 
 
 The boys promised, and Andy fired at his uncle 
 a dozen questions about how the theft of the 
 logs was accomplished. 
 
 " I'll tell you after supper," Mr. Armstrong 
 promised. 
 
 From the shack, where the cook of the camp 
 held sway, came appetizing smells. It was al- 
 most time for the evening meal, and, from vari- 
 ous parts of the woods, where they had been at 
 work cutting down trees, the lumbermen came. 
 They greeted the boys cordially. 
 
 Our heroes were shown to a small shack which 
 they were to occupy alone. It was fitted up with 
 wall bunks, and made a fairly comfortable place 
 in which to spend the time. 
 
 Then came supper, served at a rough table, in 
 a rough shack, under the light of kerosene 
 lanterns, but the boys thought they had never ^ 
 tasted such a good meal. They ate as they had 
 seldom eaten before. And as for the lumbei* 
 
A QUICK SHOT 7$ 
 
 jacEs — ^well, I will leave that to your imagina- 
 tion. 
 
 After dark the boys sat about the main shack 
 where the lumbermen gathered to smoke and tell 
 stories. Mr. Armstrong formed a member of 
 the party, and there was a jolly time until a fussy 
 little alarm clock showed the hour of nine, when 
 there was a general movement toward the bunks. 
 
 " The men work hard, and they go to bed 
 early," explained Mr. Armstrong. " I guess 
 you boys feel like turning in, also." 
 
 Indeed they did, for being out in the open air 
 so much, and in the woods, made them sleepy. 
 They were in dreamland almost as soon as they 
 landed in the comfortable bunks. 
 
 "And now for a hunt! " cried Frank, the next 
 morning. " Can we go out, Uncle Ben, and try 
 our hand at some game? " 
 
 " Yes, go ahead. But don't get lost." 
 
 " We have a compass," replied Jack. " Oh, 
 sayl This is great I " he cried, as he looked off 
 through the snowy woods. 
 
 It was indeed a winter scene to thrill the heart 
 of any boy. Wild and natural it was on every 
 side, and, best of all, only a few miles off, it was 
 more wild still, so that bear and moose, and even 
 wolves, might be encountered. 
 
 The lads had their guns in readiness, and they 
 had plenty of ammunition. Snowshoes had been 
 
yd RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 provided at the camp, and with these strapped 
 to their backs, for use in case they should be 
 needed, with matches, coffee and a coffee pot, 
 and several packages of lunch, the boys were 
 ready for almost anything, except staying out all 
 night, and even that might be managed, Mr. 
 Armstrong said, if they made a sort of shack of 
 boughs covered with snow to keep out the wind. 
 They expected to be gone all day. 
 
 " Don't you want to come along. Uncle Ben? " 
 asked Frank, as the four started off. 
 
 " No, I've got other fish to fry," he replied. 
 " I'm trying to get on the trail of the thieves who 
 are taking my lumber." 
 
 " If we see anything of 'em we'll let you 
 know," called back Ward. 
 
 " Don't run afoul of 'em," cautioned the lum- 
 berman. " There are some desperate charac- 
 ters in these woods." 
 
 Frank thought of the man who had Iboked at 
 Tom so intently, and wondered if Ike Bruce was 
 one of the desperate men. 
 
 With wishes of good luck from the lumber- 
 men, the boys started off, eager-eyed, and with 
 weapons held in readiness. 
 
 For several miles they tramped through the 
 woods, and saw not a sign of game. They 
 reached a stream, deep and swift, and sat down 
 there to eat some lunch. 
 
 *' I guess I'll make some coffee while I'm at 
 
A QUICK SHOT 17 
 
 itl" spoke Andy. "I can get water down in 
 the river. You fellows gather some wood." 
 
 Andy went down to the shore with the coffee 
 pot in his hand. As he was stooping over to fill 
 it with water there was a crash in the bushes 
 behind him. Then came a snort of rage and a 
 thunder of hoofs. 
 
 *' Look out ! " yelled Frank, instinctively. 
 
 Even as he spoke a bull moose burst from 
 cover and darted straight toward the stream, in- 
 tending to swim it and so escape from the tell- 
 tale man-smell, that told him of enemies abroad. 
 And the big moose, In his blind terror, was rush- 
 ing straight toward Andy. 
 
 " Look out ! Look out I " yelled the boys. 
 
 And well might they yell, for once under those 
 sharp hoofs and Andy's life would be crushed 
 out as though knives had been used on him. 
 
 The lad with the coffee pot jumped to his feet, 
 but it was easily seen that he had no chance to 
 escape, for the moose was rushing straight to- 
 ward him at full speed. 
 
 "Run! Runl" yelled Jack. 
 
 " Jump to one side ! " counseled Ward. 
 
 Frank said nothing, but, like a flash, he caught 
 up his rifle, and fired on the instant, making one 
 of the quickest shots he had ever made. 
 
 Ping I sang the bullet from the muzzle of the 
 weapon. Would It find Its mark? Would it 
 save Andy from a terrible death?, 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 MAKING A CAMP 
 
 Surprise and terror held Andy's chums and 
 his brother motionless for a brief instant after 
 Frank had fired. They did not seem able to 
 move, and, had they done so, they were too far 
 off to render aid. 
 
 But the bullet from the rifle of the elder Racer 
 lad had sped true. The moose had reared up to 
 drive those knife-like hoofs through Andy, but, 
 even as the big bi'ute reared he staggered, and 
 whirled to one side as the heavy bullet struck him 
 fairly. 
 
 " You hit him I You hit him ! " yelled Jack. 
 
 " Look out, Andy ! " shouted Frank, alive 
 more to the peril that still menaced his brother, 
 rather than to the praise of his own skill. 
 " Look out, or he may fall on you yet ! " 
 
 There was no longer any question but that it 
 was only in falling that the bull moose could 
 do harm, for he was incapable of doing damage 
 otherwise. 
 
 With a quick spring. Andy leaped to one side, 
 and out of danger. And just in time, too, for a 
 
 78 
 
MAKING A CAMP 79 
 
 moment later the big beast fell heavily, and on 
 the very spot where the boy had been standing. 
 With a few convulsive kicks of the powerful 
 legs, the moose was dead, but, to make certain 
 of it, Frank fired another bullet into the carcass. 
 
 Then there were four long-drawn breaths of 
 relief, and Andy held out his hand to his brother. 
 
 " You did the trick," he said quietly, but there 
 was a world of meaning in those few words. 
 
 " A dandy shot I " cried Jack. 
 
 " And as quick as lightning I " added Ward. 
 " I wish I had a chance to kill a moose like 
 that." 
 
 " It's a dandy all right^" commented Andy, as 
 they all went closer to the beast. '' Look at 
 those horns! Say, Frank, this will be peachy 
 in our new room at Riverview Hall." 
 
 " And you can use the skin on your couch," 
 added Jack. " You fellows are in luck." 
 
 "Huh! I didn't think so when L stood there 
 with the coffee pot, and that big brute rearing 
 up over me," spoke Andy, with a laugh of relief. 
 "I'd have changed places with any of you fel- 
 lows then, and tossed in 'most anything I had to 
 boot. Frank, you did the trick all right." 
 
 " Well, I didn't have much time to think what 
 I was going to do," declared the elder Racer 
 lad. " I had to make a snap shot, and it went 
 home, luckily." 
 
8o RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " It went home because you sent it there," 
 complimented Jack. " Don't try to sneak out 
 of it that way. You made a good shot all right 
 — it wasn't all luck," 
 
 " That's right ! " chorused the others. 
 
 " Well, now that's over, let's eat," suggested 
 Frank. " I'm hungry after this excitement. 
 Think you feel able to make that coffee, Andy? " 
 
 " Oh, sure. I'm all right now. But say, how 
 are we going to get this moose back to camp? " 
 
 " I guess we'll have to have some of Uncle 
 Ben's men tote it in for us," suggested Frank. 
 " And I want that head saved. This Is the first 
 big game I've ever shot, and I want a souvenir 
 of it." 
 
 The fire was soon going, the coffee boiling, 
 and the food they had brought along was spread 
 out on a flat rock, swept clear of snow. Between 
 bites they talked of the killing of the moose^ and 
 occasionally strolled over to where the body lay, 
 to look at and admire it. 
 
 Naturally each of the other lads was anxious 
 to duplicate Frank's feat, and after the meal they 
 took up the trail again, eager eyes looking on all 
 sides for a glimpse of a bear or another moose. 
 
 " Or even a big wolf," suggested Ward. 
 " There must be some left up here, and If I can't 
 kill anything else I'd like one of them." 
 
 But they saw nothing, and, as the shadows 
 
MAKING A CAMP 8i 
 
 were beginning to lengthen, showing the ap- 
 proach of night, they decided to return to Salt 
 Spring camp. They passed the moose on their 
 way back, and it did not appear to have been dis- 
 turbed. 
 
 On their way in they passed Salt Spring, and 
 paused for a drink of the water. It tasted 
 slightly of salt and sulphur, and was not very 
 palatable, though it was held by the lumbermen 
 to be very healthful. 
 
 "What's that I Shot a bull moose!" cried 
 Mr. Armstrong, when the boys told him of their 
 adventure. " Well, say, you're going some, as 
 they say in the city. That's the first time, in a 
 good many years, that moose have come so near 
 one of my camps. I guess there must be lots of 
 snow farther up north, and they're working 
 down this way for food. There's a prospect of 
 good hunting all right, this winter." 
 
 "But can we get that moose in?" asked 
 Frank. " I want the head." 
 
 " Yes, I expect you do. I'll send some of the 
 tnen out to get it off, and also save the skin. 
 They can bring in the best of the meat, too." 
 
 There was rejoicing among the lumbermen of 
 Salt Spring camp when it was known that they 
 were to have an abundance of fresh meat, and 
 quite a party of them hurried out to attend to 
 the moose before it was too dark to see. The 
 
82 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 boys wanted to go back, but Mr. Armstrong 
 objected. 
 
 " Now you'd better take it a bit easy," he said. 
 " You did very well on your first day in camp, 
 but you don't want to get all tired out. You've 
 got several weeks to spend here, and, if you 
 use all your energies up the first day, you won't 
 be able to enjoy the rest. So go slow." 
 
 It was good advice and they followed it, and, 
 once they really gave themselves time to rest 
 they appreciated how tired they were. In due 
 time the men came back with the head of the 
 moose, the skin and meat. 
 
 Among the lumbermen were several Indians 
 and one of these knew how to preserve the head 
 and hide of the big animal. 
 
 He offered to prepare them for Frank, who 
 gladly accepted his offer. The other boys were 
 buoyed up with the hope that, before they left 
 camp, they too, might have some such trophy as 
 Frank had. 
 
 The weather continued to grow colder, and 
 there were several more snow flurries. The 
 boys were warned to be careful about going too 
 far from camp, but each day they sallied forth 
 looking for game. However, they saw nothing 
 larger than foxes, and as these were valueless 
 to them, they did not shoot the beasts. 
 
 " I guess that moose was a stray one, who was 
 
MAKING A CAMP 83 
 
 sort 'of traveling by himself," remarked Mr. 
 Armstrong. " And I guess he was probably as 
 much frightened as you boys were, when he ran 
 across you." 
 
 " We weren't frightened!" declared JacK. 
 
 "No? Well, then we'll say the moose was 
 frightened. He probably wouldn't have tried to 
 attack Andy if he could have gotten out of the 
 way. You came out of it very well, but you 
 want to be careful after this. A solitary bull 
 moose is a bad customer to tackle." 
 
 " Have you heard or seen anything of your 
 lumber thief?" asked Frank. 
 
 " Not a sign," replied his uncle, " except that 
 more logs have been taken away. This fellow, 
 whoever he is, has a good team of horses. He 
 comes at night to the place where we've been 
 sawing and cutting, picks out the best logs, and 
 snakes them off through the woods. What he 
 does with them I don't know, for they aren'ti 
 left near any of the streams that I can find." 
 
 "Can't you trace him through the snow?" 
 asked Andy. 
 
 " We've tried that, an3 we got part way on 
 his trail." 
 
 " What stopped you from going the rest of the; 
 way, and getting him? " Jack wanted to know. 
 
 " Well, a storm came up one time, and covered 
 |he imarks, and another time some other trail; 
 
84 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 probably that of my own men, crossed his, and 
 went along it part way, so that we lost track of 
 the thief. But I'll get him yet. No one's go- 
 ing to take my logs and escape. I work too 
 hard to permit that." 
 
 " I wonder when we'll Hear anytliing from 
 Tom Crawford, and his little brother ? " spoke 
 Andy after a pause. " I'd like to know how he 
 made out." 
 
 " It will probably be some time," suggeste'd 
 Mr. Armstrong. " We don't have much of a 
 mail service up here, and news travels slowly. 
 But I understand that you boys want to go off in 
 a camp by yourselves for a while." 
 
 " We sure do ! " exclaimed Frank. " It's nice 
 here, but I think it will do us good to rustle for 
 ourselves a bit, and not depend on a regular 
 cook." 
 
 " Yes, it'll do you good all right," agreed His 
 uncle. 
 
 " Then let's start our camp as soon as we 
 can," suggested Jack. " Have you a tent we can 
 take?" 
 
 "I have," replied Mr. Armstrong, "Hut I 
 was going to say that you'd better use a log 
 shack. A tent is all right when you can't get 
 anything else, but a shack is more comfortable 
 in winter and as long as you don't really have to 
 sleep under canvas, I'd recommend a shack." 
 
MAKING A CAMP 85 
 
 " But It will take too long to build one," ob- 
 jected Ward. 
 
 " No, I think I have the very thing for you," 
 said Mr. Armstrong, "There's an abandoned 
 lumber camp of, mine about fifteen miles from 
 here. There's a good shack there, and you can 
 use it." 
 
 "Any game there?" asked Ward eagerly. 
 
 " More than there is here. The shack is near 
 a big lake, and you can do some skating and ice 
 boating when the snow doesn't interfere. It's 
 in a good location, and I think you'll like it." 
 
 "Hurray! That's the cheese!" cried Andy, 
 capering about. " We'll go there to-morrow. 
 Ho ! for a camp in the woods where we will have 
 to depend on ourselves alone." 
 
 " You certainly will up at Crystal Lake camp," 
 said the lumber merchant. " I named it that on 
 account of the lake. You're fifteen miles from 
 us, and more than that from everything else. 
 You'll have to rustle for yourselves alright, but 
 it will do you good. I'll stock you up well with 
 grub, and you can depend on your guns for the 
 rest." 
 
 "When can we start?" asked Frank. 
 
 " Oh, in a day or so. I want to have another 
 try after my lumber thief. I just got word that 
 half a dozen fine logs went out last night." 
 
 The boys went with Mr. Armstrong when h^ 
 
86 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 sought for the thief, but they had no luclc, as a; 
 storm came up when they were on the trail, and 
 they had to turn back. The snow fell for three 
 days, and little work could be done in Salt Spring 
 camp. Then came clear, cold, crisp weather and 
 the boys packed up to go deeper into the woods 
 to establish their own camp. A big sled was 
 filled with things they would need, from bacon 
 to snowshoes, and, with a crack of the driver's 
 long whip, and a jingle of bells, they were off to 
 Crystal Lake. 
 
 They reached It In due season, and found It 
 wild enough to suit even the most enthusiastic 
 camper. The lake was a large one, and there 
 was a deep forest all around it, except in a small 
 area where Mr. Armstrong had cut some timber. 
 
 " This is great ! " cri^d Andy, as he leaped 
 from the sled, and ran toward the shack. 
 
 " It certainly is! " chorused the others, as they 
 followed. As they reached the shack, and Andy 
 opened the door with the key his uncle had given 
 him, there was a clatter and crash from within 
 the Kut, and something black and furry made a 
 leap from one of the windows, carrying part of 
 the sash and glass with it. 
 
 "Look! Look!" cried Frank. "Some ani- 
 mal was in the shack! " 
 
 " It's a bear ! " cried Andy. " Where's my 
 gun? Where are the rifles? It's a bear, fel- 
 lows! A bear!" 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 ANDY IS MISSING 
 
 Four excited lads fairly leaped toward the 
 sled which they had just left, and plunged over 
 the side of the big box-like body. Then they be- 
 gan rummaging among their effects for their 
 rifles. 
 
 " Here I That's my gun you've got ! " yelled 
 [Andy at his brother. 
 
 " And you've got mine, Jack I " added Ward. 
 "Hand it over I I'm going to get a shot at 
 that bear! " 
 
 Between passing the rifles about, looking for 
 ammunition, and getting out of the sled again, 
 the bear had a most excellent chance to escape, 
 and he took advantage of it. 
 
 Lumbering across the snow-covered clearing, 
 in the midst of which the shack stood, the brute, 
 with many surprised " woofs," put considerable 
 distance between himself and his enemies. 
 
 "Look out I He'll get away!" warned the 
 driver of the sled. " Why don't some of you 
 shoot? That's some powerful nice fresh meat 
 legging it for the woods I " 
 
 §7. 
 
88 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 *' I've got a bead on him ! " cried Andy, and, 
 kneeling down in the snow, he aimed his rifle at 
 the bear. It was but a slini chance at the beast, 
 for only the bear's hind-quarters were in view. 
 But Andy fired. 
 
 " Woof I " snorted the bear again, and Frank 
 cried : 
 
 " You shot away over him. Your gun kicks 
 up. Watch me ! " 
 
 He pulled the trigger, but a click was the only 
 answer. 
 
 " By heck ! Your gun ain't loaded I " ex- 
 claimed the driver. " Come on, you other two 
 fellers, have a try at the bear 1 " 
 
 Ward and Jack fired together, but by this time 
 bruin was in the underbrush, and they had even 
 less chance than Andy had had. They missed, 
 as was evident from the fact that the bear kept 
 on going. 
 
 " Come on ! " yelled Andy, springing to his 
 'feet. "We'll track him I" 
 
 " No, I wouldn't," advised the driver. 
 "You'd need a dog, ^and you haven't got one. 
 Besides that bear can go pretty nearly as fast as 
 you can. He may have a bunk around here, too, 
 but it would take all day to find it. Better stay 
 here, and fix up your camp." 
 
 " Yes, I guess we had," agreed' Frank. " Say, 
 we're great hunters, we are. Not a gun in readi- 
 
ANDY IS MISSING 89 
 
 ness, mine unloaded, and the rest of you Enaking 
 misses." 
 
 " Oh, well, we got too excited," said Andy as 
 an excuse. 
 
 " That's what you did," commented the driver 
 of the sled. " You want to keep cool, and have 
 your wits about you, when you're after big game. 
 Well, I'll help you unload, and then I must get 
 back." 
 
 " It's queer how the bear was in the cabin," 
 said Jack. " I wonder how he got in? " 
 
 " Well, we know how he got outi' spoke Andy, 
 with a laugh. " He must have made a jump for 
 the window when he heard us coming in." 
 
 They found a place in the rear of the shack 
 where a couple of loose logs had afforded a 
 place for the bear to get in. Then, as Andy had 
 said, the animal had jumped out through a win- 
 dow, one or two of the lights of glass of which 
 were already broken. 
 
 " That bear probably picked this out as a soft 
 place to spend the winter I guess," was the 
 driver's opinion. " Well, after you get settled 
 down, you can hunt him up and pay him a visit." 
 
 This the boys voted they would do, and then 
 they began to get their camp into shape. The 
 shack was a very comfortable one in which to 
 spend several weeks of winter. It was rudely, 
 but sufficiently furnished, and there was an open 
 
90 RACER BOYS TO JHE RESCUE 
 
 fireplace, as well as a small cooking stove in the 
 main room. There were bunks for half a dozen 
 sleepers in an adjoining apartment. Blankets 
 aplenty were in the bunks, and there was enough 
 food in the sled for a long stay in the wilderness. 
 Water could be had at the lake, or snow could be 
 melted. 
 
 The loose logs which had given the bear a 
 chance to get into the shack, were nailed fast, 
 and, from another small cabin, that had formed 
 part of the lumber camp, some glass panes were 
 taken to fit in the window through which bruin 
 had leaped. 
 
 " Well, I guess we'll be comfortable here, all 
 right 1 " exclaimed Frank, when, the sled having 
 been unloaded, a fire had been built In the big 
 chimney, to take the chill off the cabin. 
 
 " It's going to be great," they all declareH. 
 
 " I wouldn't have missed it for anything," 
 added Ward. " It was fun at Riverview, after 
 you Racer boys got things in running order, but 
 this beats that." 
 
 " Sure," added Jack. 
 
 " And when Tom Crawford comes we'll hav6 
 more sport than ever," declared Andy. " I 
 want him to help build an ice boat. He knowS 
 how, and he used to sail one." 
 
 " It's a good thing we have our skates," re- 
 marked Frank. " That lake is sure to be frozen 
 
ANDY IS MISSING 91 
 
 over before long, and then we can have some 
 hockey games, and some races." 
 
 "Well, I guess I'll be getting back," an- 
 nounced the driver, when a pot of coffee had been 
 made and some sandwiches had been passed 
 around. " It looks to me like there's another 
 storm coming up, and I don't want to be caught 
 in the woods after dark. Have you got every- 
 thing you want? " 
 
 " It looks so," replied Frank, gazing iaround 
 the well-filled cabin pantry. " There's enough 
 grub here for a month, even If we get snowed 
 m. 
 
 " Well, we won't have to stay snowed in, not 
 when we have snowshoes to use," spoke Jack, 
 for five pairs of those useful adjuncts to a winter 
 camp had been brought along. 
 
 The driver was soon on his way back to Salt 
 Spring, and then our heroes proceeded to get 
 their own place into some kind of order. 
 
 Andy wanted to start out after the bear again, 
 as soon as a little of the straigthening-up work 
 had been done, but Frank, who had been chosen 
 as a sort of leader, decided against it, 
 
 " But he may go so far off that I'll never get 
 a shot at him," complained Andy. " You've 
 killed a moose, and now it's my turn at some big 
 game." 
 
 "Yes, but there's plenty of time," declared 
 
92 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 Franlc. " That isn't the only bear in the woods. 
 [There are more moose, too. And besides, that 
 svas a little one — a regular cub." 
 
 " Hul You say that because your gun wasn't 
 loaded 1 " exclaimed Andy. " I think he was a 
 good-sized one." 
 
 "Well, you can't go to-day 1" and Frank's 
 ivoice was a trifle sharp. He realized that he 
 must act the part of an elder brother toward 
 Andy. *' Come on, now, let's get in a lot of 
 (wood, and put the grub in better shape," 
 
 The boys worked hard, though it could 
 Scarcely be said that Andy worked with a will. 
 He was still thinking of that bear. They went 
 Sdown to the lake, and even rowed about on it a 
 short distante from shore in a small punt that 
 they found under a shed. 
 
 The sky had been darkening up ever since the 
 sled-driver had started back, and now all that 
 could be seen was a slate-colored mass of clouds, 
 that seemed filled with snow. 
 
 " We'll have a storm before morning," de- 
 clared Jack, "and a hard one, too. Let's get 
 in an extra lot of wood." 
 
 The idea was voted a good one, and soon the 
 boys were busy at this. It was about four 
 o'clock, and would soon be dark, when Frank, 
 as he tossed an armful of sticks into the wood- 
 box, remarked: 
 
ANDY IS MISSING 93 
 
 " There, I guess that will do. Now let's see, 
 I think It's Andy's turn to get supper. 
 
 " Hey, Andy ! " sang out Ward. " Come on 
 and rustle the grub 1 " 
 
 iThere was no reply. 
 
 " Where Is he? " asked Frank, and there was 
 a note of anxiety In his voice. 
 
 "He was here a little while ago," spoke 
 Ward. " He and I went over to the far wood- 
 pile. I thought I saw him come in here with an 
 armful." 
 
 Frank said nothing, Hut steppe'd to the door, 
 and looked down toward the lake. Andy was 
 not In sight, and the boat was drawn up on shore. 
 Nor was the lad to be seen in the clearing about 
 the cabin. 
 
 " Andy 1 Where are you ? " yelled his brother. 
 
 [There was no reply. 
 
 " His gun's gone," remarked Jack In a low 
 voice, as he looked at the pegs on which the 
 weapons had been, hung. 
 
 " Then he's gone after that bear I " exclaimed 
 Frank. " He went off when we weren't looking. 
 (That's just like Andyl " 
 
 Pnce more he raised his voice In a call, but 
 an echo was his only answer. And then, as the 
 boys looked at each other with anxiety showing 
 on their faces, there came a puff of wind, and on 
 jthe wings of it white flakes began sifting down. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 IN THE BEAR TRAP 
 
 " Here comes the storm," remarked Jack, in 
 ja low voice. 
 
 " And it looks as if it would last for a while, 
 too," suggested Ward. 
 
 " Aridy ought to be punched for going off like 
 this!" exclaimed Frank sharply, but he only 
 spoke thus as a relief to his feelings. He was 
 really much worried about his brother. 
 
 For Andy was an impulsive chap, and very apt 
 to do things on the spur of the moment, and be 
 sorry for them afterward. It was the same way 
 with his jokes. Now it looked as though he had 
 watched his chance, and, when the others were 
 paying no attention to him had slipped into the 
 cabin, secured his rifle, and quietly made off into 
 the woods. 
 
 " Well, I guess there's only one thing to do," 
 said Frank after a pause, during which he looked 
 up at the rapidly increasing fall of flakes. 
 " We'll have to go after him. He may get lost 
 in the storm." 
 
 " That's right," agreed Ward. " We're with 
 you. We'll take our guns." 
 
 94 
 
IN THE BEAR TRAP 95 
 
 "And lanterns," added Jack. "We'll need 
 'em if we go far from camp, for it will soon 
 be dark. And don't forget the compass, either. 
 It will be like traveling around in a black paint 
 pot, once it does get night." 
 
 "We won't take any chances," spoke Frank. 
 " We'll take lanterns, matches and some sand- 
 wiches along, as well as a bottle of cold coffee. 
 Then we won't have to wait for supper, and can 
 start at once. We may meet Andy coming back, 
 with or without the bear, before we get very far 
 into the woods, but we can't take that chance." 
 
 " Of course not," agreed Ward. " Oh, we'll 
 find him all right. Don't worry." 
 
 But, in spite of this injunction, Frank did 
 worry, and his face showed it. Still he set about 
 the preparations for finding his brother with a 
 stout heart. A lunch was hurriedly put up, the 
 fire on the hearth was " banked " as well as was 
 possible, and the three set out. It was hardly 
 dark enough to light the lanterns yet, but, know- 
 ing how hard it would be to do this in the open, 
 with the wind blowing the white flakes about, 
 the wicks were set going in the cabin. Then the 
 door having been locked, they set out. 
 
 "Whew I It's going to be a bad night," re- 
 marked Frank, as he buttoned the collar of his 
 overcoat more closely about his neck. 
 
 "Andy won't go far in this storm," com- 
 
96 RACER BOYS TQ THE RESCUE 
 
 mented Ward. " He'll turn back ^^hen he finds 
 how bad it is, and that he can't get any bear." 
 
 " That's the worst of it," said Frank. " Andy 
 has too much spunk. He won't give up when he 
 ought to, and come back. He'll fight It out. 
 He'll imagine that the bear will be waiting for 
 him around every next stump, and so he'll go on 
 and on." 
 
 " Has he got a compass ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Yes, I made him fasten a small but good 
 one on his watch chain, and he has that," replied 
 Frank. " But a compass won't be much help to 
 him unless he has noticed his course, and knows 
 which way he wants to go. Still, he may have 
 sense enough to come back before — ^well, before 
 it gets too dark." 
 
 On they trudged through the snow, bending 
 their heads to the wintry blast, and stopping oc- 
 casionally to shout and call Andy's name, or to 
 fire a shot from their guns. But no answering 
 shout or report came to them. 
 
 Meanwhile Andy, rather chuckling to himself 
 over the manner in which he had eluded his 
 brother and chums, was trudging along through 
 the woods, with his rifle in readiness to bring to 
 his shoulder at the first sight of a brown, furry 
 object. 
 
 " T'hat bear won't get away from me this time, 
 if I get half a fair shot at him ! " he said. " I'll 
 
IN JHE BEAR TRAP, 97. 
 
 show those fellows that I know something about 
 hunting big game." 
 
 But, as Andy went on farther and farther, and 
 saw no signs of his quarry, he began to be a bit 
 discouraged. 
 
 " That chap certainly got a good start on me," 
 he reflected. " But I don't believe he'll keep on 
 traveling. If only he doesn't go into some cave, 
 or wherever he has his den, I may find him." 
 
 The young Racer lad looked about him. It 
 was certainly getting darker, and the qold was in- 
 creasing. He looked back over the trail he had 
 come, and mentally decided that he had not 
 traveled so far but that he could.get back to camp 
 before night. 
 
 " I'll go on just a bit farther," he said aloud, 
 " and then I'll go back if I don't see the bear, 
 or find his tracks. Let's see, I'll give myself ten 
 minutes more. I can make better time going 
 back, anyhow, as it's down hill. Yes, I'll take 
 fifteen minutes more of hunting." 
 
 That was Andy all over; not wanting to give 
 up, once he had started anything. More than 
 once his trait had gotten him into trouble, though 
 this ability to stick to an object is by no means to 
 be despised. Still, there is such a thing as dis- 
 cretion. Andy didn't have very much of it. 
 
 He had walked perhaps seven of the fifteen 
 minutes he was going to allow himself, when he 
 
98 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 'felt something colH on his cheelc. It was the 
 first snowflake of the new storm. 
 
 " More winter weather I " the lad exclaimed. 
 *' Well, this is the place to have it. Pshaw, 
 though! If it snows much it will cover up the 
 bear's tracks." 
 
 It never occurred to Andy to compromise with 
 himself now, and turn back. No; he had said 
 fifteen minutes, and fifteen minutes It would be, 
 up to the last second. So on he trudged, though 
 the snow came down thicker and faster, and the 
 darkness was getting more dense every second. 
 'At last it was so gloomy In the woods that the 
 lad had to light matches to see the face of his 
 watch. 
 
 " Three minutes more," he announced, after 
 la bit. " Well, I'm not sorry. I don't believe 
 I'll get that bear to-night, and I'm getting hun- 
 gry." 
 
 The three minutes were up, even to the last 
 sepond, and, with something like a sigh of relief, 
 Andy swung about on the homeward trail. He 
 had a fairly' good Idea of the direction, and he 
 lighted a match to glance at the compass and set 
 ja course. 
 
 " Off this way," He announced, peering down 
 |to make sure of his tracks in the snow. Already 
 J:hey were beginning to fill, and soon they would 
 be covered up. 
 
 Although it was full night now, the snow on 
 
IN THE BEAR TRAP 99 
 
 the ground made the going much more easy than 
 would have been the case otherwise. The white 
 mantle cast a sort of reflected light. 
 
 Andy had not gone fifty paces on his . bacl? 
 track, when, as he swung to one side to avoid a 
 big rock on the trail, he saw, just ahead of him, 
 a black opening in what seemed to be a big snow, 
 drift. 
 
 " There's a cave I " He extlaimed. " An open- 
 ing to a cave — the bear's den, I'll wager a molas- 
 ses cookie 1 Funny I didn't notice that when I 
 was walking the other way." 
 
 But the reason for this was soon evident. Ap- 
 proaching the pile of snow from the rear it 
 looked like a bank of the white crystals, and 
 nothing more — as though the flakes had drifted 
 over a rock, or pile of stumps. But, seen from 
 the other direction, the opening was visible. 
 
 " Yes, it's a cave as sure as I'm a foot high," 
 went on the lad, approaching it. " I wonder if 
 old bruin can be in there? I'm going to take a 
 look, anyhow. But I've got to be quick if he is 
 there." 
 
 This was Andy again — ^taking a big risk. 
 
 He knew that his rifle was loaded, and, cock- 
 ing it, he approached the mouth of the cave. It 
 was so dark now that he could barely make out 
 the dark shadow of the opening. 
 
 " I'll need a light to see if the bear's In there 
 fir jjotj" he reflected. Looking ssibputj in ths 
 
loo RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 glare of a match He strucK, he saw some loose, 
 light bark hanging from a tree. Stripping off 
 some of this he improvised a torch, and lighted 
 it. 
 
 The bark flared up brightly, and hurrying ttf 
 the mouth of the cave, Andy tossed the blazing 
 embers inside. iWhat he saw rather surprised 
 him. 
 
 " Why, it's a cabin, not a <:ave ! " hei cried, &§ 
 he noted tiers of heavy logs. " It's an old cabin,; 
 and the leaves and snow have drifted over It. 
 And I took It for a cave ! " 
 
 It was plain, at first view, that the bear waS 
 not in the cabin. But Andy, being naturally o£ 
 an investigating nature, stepped inside. Thei 
 torch was still burning fitfully. 
 
 As the boy passed the threshold he stepped oii 
 something that clicked. He stepped back in! 
 alarm as there came a sliding sound behind him'. 
 Then came a dull thud, and a jar of the eartK. 
 
 Wheeling about, Andy found himself shut in — ' 
 not a cabin, but a bear trap — one designed to 
 catcK the animal alive. He had stepped on the 
 trigger, and had released the rope that, held sus- 
 pended heavy logs that, sliding down in grooves, 
 filled the opening of what Andy had thought was 
 a cave entrance. 
 
 " Trapped! " gasped the lad. " Caught 1 I've 
 sprung a trap on myself I " 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 .WELCOME SHOTS 
 
 !Andy Racer was not the kind of a lad to give 
 up at the first appearance of trouble. In fact, 
 often the more trouble there was the better he 
 liked it, and, as he now thought of his position, 
 caught in what was practically a big square box, 
 made of heavy logs, he realized that he was go- 
 ing to have all the trouble he wanted. 
 
 " I certainly walked right into it I " He mur- 
 mured, as he lighted a match, and began to ex- 
 amine the interior of the trap. It looked strong 
 and heavy enough to withstand the battering of 
 cannon, for the logs had been set against a side 
 hill, that had been dug out, so that only the front 
 of the trap was exposed. 
 
 " And I'm going to have plenty of worE to cut 
 through that," spoke the lad to himself, as, by 
 the light of another match, he examined the slid- 
 ing door that had fallen into place when he 
 sprung the holding-trigger. iThert another 
 thought came to him. 
 
 " There aren't many matcHes left," He muse3. 
 " I'd better save them. I should have brougHC 
 
102 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 some bark in with me, to make more torches. 
 But maybe I can strip some from the logs." 
 
 He tried, and found that he could. Then he 
 rolled a number of torches, and, lighting one, 
 he stuck the end of it in a crack between two logs. 
 Though it smoked considerably it gave him a 
 good light by which to examine his prison. 
 
 It was evident that he would need other tools 
 than a hunting knife, which he carried, to cut his 
 way out. The logs were heavy, and were made 
 to withstand the assaults of a desperate bear, 
 who, finding himself trapped, would try to claw 
 his way to liberty. 
 
 " And there's no moving that door," decided 
 Andy, after another examination. The door 
 consisted of three heavy logs, bound together, 
 and standing upright in a sort of frame. This 
 frame was made of two logs on either side, with 
 the door sliding down between them. As the re- 
 taining logs were driven deep in the earth, and 
 nailed to the timbers forming the roof, it was 
 clear that they could not be forced. Nor could 
 the logs be raised from inside, as it was impossi- 
 ble to get a good hold on them. 
 
 " I'm here for an indefinite stay stay," thought 
 Andy, *' and I wish I had something to eat, as it 
 looks like an all-night visit. I can get a drink, 
 by holding snow in my mouth until it melts, but 
 I — ^well, I won't worry yet a while. The boysi 
 
WELCOME SHOTS 103 
 
 may find me. I was foolish to start out on this 
 bear hunt." 
 
 There was one good trait about Andy — that is 
 one good one of a number — he never was afraid 
 to admit when he had been in the wrong. 
 
 " I'm in bad this time," he reflected. " Who 
 would think there'd be an old-fashioned bear trap 
 like this up here? Uncle Ben doesn't know of 
 it, I guess, or he'd have mentioned it. Maybe 
 the man who is stealing his timber made it. It's 
 pretty old." 
 
 It was evident that the trap had been con- 
 structed some time before, though it was in good 
 order, and very strong. That it worked, Andy 
 realized to his chagrin. 
 
 The method of operation was very simple. 
 The door of upright logs had been raised, 
 iand held in place by a trigger of wood. To this 
 was fastened a light, but strong chain, in such a 
 way that when a person or animal entered a 
 piece of board would be struck against. This 
 board released the weight, fastened to the chain, 
 but which was held suspended until sprung. The 
 fall of the weight pulled out the retaining trigger, 
 Sand the door fell, like a portcullis in an old castle. 
 
 " But the trap Isn't baited," reflected Andy, as 
 he looked around for a sign of something entic- 
 ing that would attract a wild animal. " Either 
 the man who set it forgot to bait it, or else some 
 
104 RACER BOYS TO "THE RESCUE 
 
 bear, or wolf, got in without springing the trap, 
 and walked off with the food. I wish I had been 
 smart enough to get in, and out again," without 
 closing the door on myself." 
 
 The roof of the trap was made of logs laid 
 side by side, and no great care had been taken to 
 make them fit snugly, so that there were open 
 spaces between them. But even had they been 
 large enough for Andy to have slipped through, 
 he could not have reached up to them. In fact 
 the trap, as the boys learned later, had been 
 made from an old log cabin, which accounted for 
 its unusual size. 
 
 " No use trying to do anything up there," 
 commented Andy. " I guess my best plan is to 
 try and cut through the grooves at the side of 
 the door, and maybe I can force it out, or in, 
 far enough so that I can squeeze through. I'll 
 try it." 
 
 He made himself several other torches, so that 
 when one burned out he could light another, and 
 then he set to work. It was no easy task, even 
 with his keen hunting knife, for the logs were 
 hard. But the exercise kept him warm, and he 
 did not worry so much over his predicament as 
 he made the chips fly. The snow sifted down on 
 him through the cracks, telling him that the 
 storm was still raging. It was now about seven 
 o'clock at night, and he had been aWay from 
 camp three hours. 
 
Welcome shots 105 
 
 " They must have set out after me by this 
 time," thought Andy, pausing for a rest in his 
 cutting operations. " Well, I hope they find me, 
 though how they're going to trail me, in the dark, 
 and with my tracks covered up, I don't know. 
 Oh, what a chump I was to come after that bearl 
 ,Why didn't I wait until to-morrow? " 
 
 He could not answer his own question, and 
 once more he fell to work with his knife. As 
 he did so he heard a sound outside the trap, a 
 stealthy sound of padded feet on the snow-cov- 
 ered ground, followed by a noise as if some ani- 
 mal was sniffing around the lower edge of the 
 logs. 
 
 "Maybe that's the bear!" thought Andy in 
 a flash. " I'll fire a shot through the logs and 
 scare him, anyhow 1 " 
 
 He thrust the barrel of his weapon through a 
 crack, and pulled the trigger. The noise was 
 deafening in the closed trap, and Andy was aU 
 most sorry he had shot. The echoes of the re- 
 port died away, and they were followed by a 
 howl, whether of pain or fear the lad could not 
 tell. 
 
 "That was no bear!" cried Andy. "I be- 
 lieve it was a timber wolf I Jove I if there's one 
 wolf there may be morel And even if I get 
 out " 
 
 He did not like to think of what might happen* 
 Then a new idea came to him. 
 
io6 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 "The fellows! If they come upon the trap 
 unsuspectingly they may run into the wolves and 
 get hurt. Say, this is getting fierce I " 
 
 He paused for a moment to consider what he 
 had best do, and came to the conclusion that there 
 was nothing, except to warn his brother and 
 friends when they came near enough for him to 
 hail them. 
 
 Once more the howl of the wolf sounded, this 
 time farther away, and Andy felt a sense of re- 
 lief. 
 
 "It's moving off!" he exclaimed joyfully. 
 " Either I hit it, or I scared it. Anyhow it's 
 gone, and I don't hear any more of 'em. I guess 
 it was a lone traveler." 
 
 Again he fell to hacking the hard logs with his 
 knife. He cut off big splinters, and, once again 
 his very impetuosity was his undoing. He was 
 not content to cut a little at a time, but wanted 
 to make big slashes, and, in doing this, he 
 snapped his knife off close to the hilt. 
 
 " There it goes I " he cried ruefully. " No 
 more cutting with that." Still he tried to use the 
 blade, but gave it up after wounding his fingers 
 several times, though he wrapped pieces of bark, 
 and his handkerchief, about the keen steel. 
 
 " I've got a jackknife," he said, after a bit, 
 " but even the biggest blade isn't of much account 
 on logs." 
 
WELCOME SHOTS lo; 
 
 Still Andy was not the kind of a lad to give up 
 without trying everything available. So he got 
 out his knife and used that. This time he was 
 more careful, and cut smaller bits of wood. His 
 progress was slow, and he knew that it would 
 take at least a day to remove enough of the re- 
 taining log so that the door could be forced to 
 one side. 
 
 As he paused to rest he noted his rifle standing 
 in the corner where he had leaned it, after firing 
 to scare the wolf. 
 
 " That's the cheese ! " he suddenly exclaimed. 
 "Why didn't I think of that before? I must 
 fire shots so Frank and the others can hear them. 
 That will tell them where to come for me. I 
 ought to have done that long ago. Maybe 
 they've been firing and calling to me, and I 
 haven't heard them. It's hard to hear anything 
 inside this box. But if I stick the muzzle of my 
 rifle out through a crack, they can hear that all 
 right." 
 
 This plan he put into operation, desisting from 
 his cutting work. He managed to thrust the end 
 of the weapon through an opening in the roof, 
 and then he fired several shots at intervals of 
 about ten minutes. Fortunately he had consid- 
 erable ammunition. 
 
 Two more hours passed, and Andy was begin- 
 ning to get tired. Still he kept up the firing. 
 
io8 'RACER BOYS JO THE RESCUE 
 
 And then, following one of his reports, he heard 
 what he thought was an answering one. 
 
 " That is, unless it was the echo of my own 
 gun I " he exclaimed, half doubting. He fired 
 again. 
 
 Bang! Bang! came the welcoming answering 
 shots, and Andy yelled: 
 
 " Here I am, fellows I Here I am ! " 
 
 He heard a shout in reply, and then more 
 shots, which he promptly answered with his own 
 rifle. 
 
 A little later he heard, above the noise of the 
 storm, the sound of running feet, and, between 
 the cracks of the logs he could see the cheerful 
 gleam of lanterns. 
 
 "Are you there, Andy? " cried Frank's voice. 
 
 *' I sure am 1 Trapped 1 Say, fellows, get 
 me out. I'm as hungry as that bear I chased." 
 
 " Wait a minute 1 " cried Frank, and there was 
 relief in his voice, for, as the search went on 
 for hour after hour, and no trace of Andy had 
 been found, the elder Racer lad had become much 
 worried. ^ 
 
 " How in the world did you get in there ? " 
 asked Ward. 
 
 " Get me out and I'll tell you how I got in," 
 replied Andy. " I just walked in, like a chump. 
 Raise up the sliding door." 
 
 He could see, through the cracks in the logs, 
 
jyELCOME SHOTS 109 
 
 his brother and the others looking at the portal. 
 iThen Frank said: 
 
 " We can't raise that without crowbars or an 
 axe. Isn't there any other way, Andy?" 
 
 " You might try the roof. Maybe you can 
 pry off some of the logs — there are big cracks 
 between ,'em 1 " 
 
 "That's it I" cried Jack. "Here, give me 
 a hand up 1 " 
 
 They assisted him to the top of the snow-cov- 
 ered trap, and, kicking away the drift, he saw 
 that by using a tree branch for a lever, two logs 
 could be forced aside, making a space through 
 which Andy could be pulled. 
 
 " Pass up something to use as a lever," di- 
 rected Jack, and they handed him a small sapling. 
 In another moment he had a means of escape 
 ready for Andy. 
 
 " Pass up your gun," suggested Jack, and when 
 this was done, he reached the sapling down. 
 Clinging to it, Andy was raised up, Frank help- 
 ing Jack lift the imprisoned lad. 
 ( " Well, you've given us a lot of worry, Andy," 
 said Frank half-reproachfully, as the four stood 
 together in front of the trap. 
 
 " I know it, and I'm sorry. I won't do it 
 again." 
 
 " We were just going to give up, and wait 
 until morning," went on his brother, "when we 
 
no RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 heard one of your shots. That gave us the right 
 direction. Otherwise we'd never have found 
 you this night. Can you walk back to camp ? " 
 
 " Sure, I'm all right, only hungry." 
 
 " Here," offered Ward. " I saved a sand- 
 Bvich for you and some cold coffee." 
 
 " Pass it over 1 " exclaimed Andy with a sigh 
 of relief, and, after he had eaten, he told them 
 of his chase after the bear and how it had ended. 
 In turn, Frank and the others related the details 
 of the search that had grown more wearying hour 
 by hour. 
 
 " Well, ' all's well that ends Veil,' " remarked 
 Jack. " Now let's hike for the shack," 
 
 As they marched through the woods, the lan- 
 terns gleaming fitfully on the snow that was 
 still falling, there was a rustle in the underbrush 
 off to one side of the improvised trail. 
 
 "What's that?" cried Jack. 
 
 He was answered by a howl of some animal. 
 
 " Wolves ! " cried Andy. " I frightened one 
 away, but there are more than one there now." 
 
 As he spoke there came a chorus of menacing 
 howls. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 K RACE FOR LIFE 
 
 Silence for a moment reigned among the 
 boys, as they looked at each other in the flickering 
 light as it was reflected from the snow. 
 
 " Wolves I " gasped Jack. 
 
 A howl, as if from the leader of the pack, was 
 followed by a series of yelps from the other 
 brutes. 
 
 " Wolves, of course," spoke Andy calmly. 
 " We expected to find wolves up here, and we're 
 not mistaken. You're not worried; are you?" 
 
 Once more came that fierce howling, and a 
 movement off in the dark underbrush that told 
 of several forms lurking there. At the same 
 time could be seen the greenish glitter of hun- 
 gry eyes. 
 
 "Wolves; eh?" spoke Frank, and he could 
 not keep a note of fear from his voice. " Of 
 course we expected to see wolves, but not at 
 night, and a whole pack of 'em." 
 
 " Well, you can't pick the time nor place for 
 meeting wild animals," commented Andy, who 
 seemed cooler than any of the others. " But 
 
IIS RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUED 
 
 what's worrying you'? One of 'em came arounH 
 the trap when I was in it, and all I did was to 
 fire one shot, and away he went." 
 
 "That's it I Our gunsl" cried Ward. 
 "What are they for?" 
 
 " Of course," added Jack. " Let's see if we 
 can't bowl over a couple of the beasts." 
 
 He fired on the instant, point blank into the 
 bushes, from which the most of the howling 
 seemed to come. At once there was a yelp of 
 pain, and the cries of the pack broke out afresh. 
 
 "You* winged onel" "yelled Andy. "Come 
 ion, fellows, give 'em a volley." 
 
 The boys did this, with such good effect that 
 a rush of feet followed the fusillade of shots, and 
 yells and growls, of pain and rage, told that the 
 wolves were in full retreat. 
 
 " Now come on," urged Andy. " We've dis- 
 posed of 'em for a time, but they may go off and 
 get more, and then it won't be so much fun. 
 Let's get back to the cabin as soon as we can. 
 I'm dead tired and hungry. That sandwich was 
 only a sort of sample. I'll take a regular dish 
 of 'em now." 
 
 The boys laughed at his good humor, and felt 
 a sense of relief at the distant howling of the 
 wolf pack that told of the animals still in retreat. 
 Then the lads hastened back to camp. 
 
 They made good time, for the way was mostly 
 
A RACE FOR LIFE 113 
 
 down hill, and, though they had covered consid- 
 erable ground in search of Andy, they had found 
 him not more than two miles from the cabin, in 
 , a straight line. 
 
 Frank, with the compass, laid as nearly direct 
 a course as was possible, and on they plunged and 
 trudged through the snowdrifts, and the falling 
 flakes. 
 
 They heard the distant howling of the wolves, 
 but the animals seemed afraid to come to close 
 quarters after the reception of powder and lead 
 accorded them. 
 
 *' It's queer they are so bold, thus early in the 
 winter," remarked Jack. " I never heard Uncle 
 Ben say there were so many wolves this far south 
 in Maine." 
 
 " I guess that's a sign this is going to be an 
 unusually hard winter," spoke Andy, and, later, 
 this was borne out. Never, so the oldest in- 
 habitants said, had wolves been known to come 
 so dose to the settlements, in such numbers, as 
 they did that winter, and it was due to the fact 
 that their usual food supply, rabbits and other 
 small game, were exceedingly scarce. The 
 brutes, too, were unusually bold and savage. 
 
 But the boys reached their winter camp with- 
 out further incident, and soon the howling of 
 the wolves died out. 
 
 " Oh, but it's good to be back 1 " exclaimed 
 
114 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 Andy with a sigh of contentment. " When I 
 was in that trap I thought I'd have to spend 
 the night there." 
 
 "And we were beginning to think we'd never 
 find you," added Frank. " Don't you go off by 
 yourself again." 
 
 " I won't," his brother promised. 
 
 The fire was soon made into a roaring blaze, 
 where the cold lads warmed themselves, and then 
 a late supper was set out, for they were all hun- 
 gry. Then, after talking the whole affair over 
 and over, they were ready for bed. 
 
 " But I can't see who would set that trap," 
 spoke Andy, " unless it was that fellow who is 
 stealing Uncle Ben's logs." 
 
 " Maybe it was he," suggested Jack. " Would 
 it not be great if we could discover where he's 
 hidden them, and get him, too." 
 
 " I should say so I " exclaimed Frank. " We'll 
 be on the lookout for his trail when we're hunt- 
 ing." 
 
 "I wonder if Tom found his little brother?" 
 ventured Ward. But no one could answer that 
 question. 
 
 The boys expected to awaken in the midst of 
 a driving snowstorm In the morning, but, during 
 die night, it came off warm, and for the next few 
 days it thawed. 
 
 This put an end to hunting and to most of the 
 
A RACE FOR LIFE 115 
 
 camp activities, for it rained part of the time, 
 and soon nearly all the snow had melted from the 
 ground. The boys managed to shoot some small 
 game, which served to fill the larder, and give 
 them fresh meat in place of canned and salted 
 provisions. 
 
 " Pshaw I This isn't a winter camp at all," 
 complained Andy, after several days of the mild 
 weather. " I thought we were going to have 
 snow all the while." 
 
 " Oh, you'll get plenty of it," Frank assured 
 him. " This is a bit unusual, but we'll pay for 
 it pretty soon. It will come off colder than ever." 
 
 And so it did. The next day there was a chill- 
 ing wind which kept up, increasing in intensity 
 until, one morning, the boys awakened to find 
 the lake a sheet of glittering ice. 
 
 " Hurray I This is the stuff 1 " cried Ward. 
 " Now for some ice-boating! This is great! " 
 
 " Ice-boating ! " exclaimed Frank. "' First 
 you'll have to make the boat." 
 
 "We can do that easily enough," declared 
 Andy. " Uncle Ben said there was part of one 
 somewhere around the camp. One of the men 
 started it, and never finished it. We can do that 
 I guess, and rig up some kind of a sail from a 
 blanket." 
 
 " Good! " cried Ward. " We'll do it! " 
 
 " I , say, let's have a good skate first," sug- 
 
ii6 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 gested JacK. " We all have skates, and we don't 
 have to stop to make anything. Come out for !a) 
 long glide after breakfast." 
 
 It was agreed that this would be a good thing 
 to do, and as soon as the meal was finished, and 
 the dishes " done up," the lads ventured out on 
 the ice. It was hard and smooth, just right for 
 fast skating, and soon they were gliding all about 
 it. 
 
 They organized an impromptu hockey game, 
 though they did not have enough for regular sides. 
 Still it was great fun, and soon they were in a 
 warm glow, though the weather seemed to get 
 colder, instead of warmer, as the sun rose. 
 
 " This will make all wild game lively," re- 
 marked Jack. "The animals will be scurrying 
 around for stuff to eat." 
 
 " Including the wolves," remarked Frank, with 
 a little shudder. He had a strange fear of the 
 savage beasts. 
 
 Finally even the skating, fine as it was, seemed 
 to pall on the lads, and they built a fire on shore, 
 and stood about it, talking of the fun yet In pros- 
 pect. 
 
 " Oh, let's skate some more," proposed Ward, 
 after a half hour about the fire. 
 
 " Oh, I've had enough," retorted Andy. 
 " Let's look for the parts of that ice boat, and 
 see if we can finish It." 
 
 " I will, after we have one mbre good skate,'* 
 
A RACE FOR LIFE 117 
 
 agreed Ward. " Come on, a race to tK€ point 
 and back," and he pointed to a tongue of land 
 jutting out into tlie lake. 
 
 " Get out 1 " cried Jack. •" Why, it's two miles 
 or more to the point, and just as far back. A 
 five-mile race ? Not for mine 1 " 
 
 " Oh, come on 1 " urged Ward, who was a good 
 performer on the steel runners. " I'U give you 
 all a start." 
 
 But he could induce no one, and finally an- 
 nounced that he would go the distance alone, 
 against time. 
 
 " Some of you hold the watch on me," he urged 
 to his companions, " and see if I can't make a 
 record." 
 
 They agreed, and, noting the time when he 
 started off, the other three began to talk on vari- 
 ous topics. Finally Andy spoke. 
 
 " Say, it must be getting near dinner time. 
 Let's go in and start the stove," he said. " By 
 that time Ward will be back, and we'll have grub. 
 Then we'll look for that ice boat." 
 
 Looking down the lake, and seeing the figure 
 of their chum skating away toward the point, 
 the three boys went inside the cabin. Then each 
 one began doing something toward getting the 
 meal. The bacon and eggs were cooking on the 
 stove, filling the cabin with a savory odor when 
 Frank exclaimed : 
 
 " Ward ought to He in sight now. Take a 
 
ii8 RACER BOYS TO, THE RESCUE 
 
 look, Andy, and see what sort of time he's mak- 
 ing." 
 
 Andy started down toward the lake shore. 
 Hardly had he given a glance up the frozen sur- 
 face toward the point, than he cried out: 
 
 " Quick, fellows ! Your guns I Your guns ! 
 The wolves I They're after Ward I A whole 
 pack of them! He's skating for his life!" 
 
 With one accord Jack and Frank caught up 
 their rifles which were on the wall. Frank also 
 snatched his brother's weapon from the pegs. 
 They ran to join Andy on the shore. 
 
 "Look!" cried the lad who had discovered 
 Ward's danger. "It's a race for life! The 
 whole pack is after him 1 " 
 
 And it was so! Fully a score of the savage, 
 gaunt wolves were speeding over the ice after 
 Ward, who was skating as he had never skated 
 before. He was so far away that he looked to 
 be merely a black speck, while the wolves were 
 other black dots, shooting along after him. 
 
 " Come on! " yelled Andy, as if Ward could 
 hear. 
 
 " We must go to meet him ! " cried Frank. 
 " We ought to have our skates on, but it's too 
 late to stop now. Come on. If he falls it's all 
 up with him I " 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 MAKING AN ICE BOAT 
 
 Holding their rifles in readiness, the three 
 boys rushed forward as rapidly as they could over 
 the ice to the rescue of Ward. It was not easy 
 iWork, for the soles of their shoes did not get 
 a good grip on the frozen surface, and they slid 
 more or less. 
 
 " Run as fast as you can, and you won't slip 
 so much I" advised Frank. / 
 
 " How — how do you make that out?" panted 
 !Andy. 
 
 " Because the more cautiously you try to go on 
 ice, the worse you slide and stumble. Step out 
 just as if you had rubbers on, and you'll stand 
 up better." 
 
 The boys tried this, and found that tKey did 
 make faster progress, though it took a few sec- 
 onds to get up confidence enough to run at top 
 speed over the glaring surface. 
 
 " Is he holding his own? " asked Jack. " Are 
 they gaining on him? " 
 
 " I don't think so," answered Frank. " Ward 
 119 
 
120 RACER BOYS TO. JHE RESCUE 
 
 sure can skate I But who'd think wolves would 
 come out in broad daylight to make an attack? " 
 
 " They must be desperate and hungry," sug- 
 gested Andy. 
 
 " Or else the whole pack is there," added Jack. 
 
 On and on came Ward. His figure loomed 
 larger now, and so did the forms of the wolves. 
 
 "Shall we risk a shot? " asked Andy. 
 
 " No, it's too far off yet," decided Frank. 
 " And, when you do fire, pick off the brutes far- 
 thest away from Ward. Otherwise you might 
 hit him. Kill any of the scattered beasts, and 
 the rest may take fright and veer off." 
 
 " Look ! " suddenly cried Jack. " He's firing 
 at them himself. He must have a revolver." 
 
 Even as he spoke there came a faint report, 
 and a puff of smoke was seen to shoot out from 
 Ward's side. He had made a half turn, to aim 
 and fire at the nearest wolf, but, from the fact 
 that hone of the brutes fell, his chums concluded 
 that either he had missed, or that the small re- 
 volver bullet did not stop the animal. 
 
 Later they learned that Ward had a small 
 .22 caliber revolver with him. He had been 
 practicing target shooting just before the skat- 
 ing, and had put the weapon in his pocket. But 
 it was almost useless against a wolf, unless fired 
 at short range. 
 
 " Sayl He's all right 1 " cried Andy enthusi- 
 
MAKING AN ICE BOAlj i2t 
 
 iastically. " He can kill a few of tKe wolves 
 before we get near enough to fire I " 
 
 But the advantage of Ward having a weapon 
 of his own was not as great as it seemed at first. 
 For he had to make a half turn to fire, and, each 
 time he did this, he had to veer off to one side, 
 so that he lost distance. As often as he took a 
 shot the wolves gained on him a little. 
 
 " Why doesn't he veer toward the shore in- 
 stead of out to the middle of the lake?" de- 
 manded Jack, after one of these attempts on the 
 part of Ward. 
 
 " Because he doesn't want to be forced ashore," 
 replied Jack. " The wolves could beat him 
 running on the ground, especially as Ward 
 couldn't stop to take off his skates. His only 
 chance is on the ice, though the beasts are pretty 
 good runners there, too." 
 
 Crack! That seemed to be the last shot In 
 Ward's weapon, for he was seen to thrust it back 
 into his pocket, and skate on at his former fast 
 pace. But this last shot told, for one of the 
 brutes fell, and remained kicking on the ice. 
 
 "Good!'' yelled Jack. 
 
 " Come on I Come on ! " cried Frank. 
 
 " Let's fire now ! We're near enough ! " 
 shouted Andy, as he slackened pace. 
 
 The pack did not stop a moment to devour 
 their fallen comrade, as the boys had often regd 
 
MAKING AN ICE BOAT 123 
 
 compact mass. Ward was faltering now, for he 
 could scarcely skate another stroke. 
 
 " Fire right into the middle of 'em 1 " cried 
 Andy, and again the three lads shot. With their 
 howls of rage^ changed to yelps of fear, the wolves 
 turned tail and fled — that is, what were left of 
 them — for another was killed and two crippled. 
 The boys fired as the beasts were in retreat, but 
 did not seem to kill any. 
 
 V Then, in a few seconds the beasts were out of 
 effective range, and Frank said: 
 
 " Well, we've done enough. No use wasting 
 bullets. Are you all right. Ward? " 
 
 " I am — now," was the panting answer, as the 
 lad glided up to his chums. " But — I — I didn't 
 think I was a while ago. Thanks — awfully, fel- 
 lows!" 
 
 They helped him to get his skates off, and 
 walked on either side of him to the cabin, after 
 Andy had mercifully, with shots from his rifle, 
 put out of their misery the wounded wolves. 
 The depleted pack had run into the woods and 
 was out of sight. 
 
 *' When did they begin chasing you ? " asked 
 Frank, when Ward was seated in the shack, and 
 had recovered his breath. 
 
 " Soon after I got to the point," was the an- 
 swer. " Just as I turned to come back one of 
 my skates came off. I stooped over to fasten 
 
124 RACER BOYS JO JHE RESCUE 
 
 it on, and before I knew it, the wolves had run 
 out from shore after me. They never made a 
 sound until they were close to me. And then — 
 !well, you can believe T skated." 
 
 " You sure did," complimented Jack. 
 
 " After this we'll have to" take our rifles with 
 us everywhere we go," suggested Frank, and the 
 others agreed with him. 
 
 Ward suffered no ill effects from his race, ex- 
 cept that he was a trifle sore and stiff from the 
 unusual exertion. His experience formed a topic 
 of conversation for several days. 
 
 The weather continued clear and cold, with 
 no signs of snow, and, following Andy's sugges- 
 tion, the lads decided to make an ice boat. 
 
 " We can go wolf hunting on it," said the 
 younger Racer lad. 
 
 " If we can get it to go," added Jack. 
 
 In one of the sheds of what had been part 
 of the old lumber camp they found the parts of 
 the unfinished ice boat. The runners were in 
 good condition, but there was no sail. 
 
 "A blanket will do on a pinch," decided 
 Frank, and one from the bunks was rigged up 
 %o the mast. 
 
 It took three days of hard work to assemble 
 the parts of the ice boat, and make the sections 
 that were missing. Then, with fur robes, the 
 boys covered the platform at the rear, where 
 
Missing Page 
 
Missing Page 
 
ON THE WINGS OF THE WIND 127 
 
 foot in another minute, Andy, and It may go 
 off." 
 
 " Off the boat, yes, but it won't fire," replied 
 the young Racer lad. " It's got a safety pinion 
 in it. That's my best gun." 
 
 Still he moved it further toward the middle 
 of the platform on which they were all stretched 
 out — a platform corresponding to the cockpit of 
 a sailing or motor boat. They had brought one 
 rifle along, just as a matter of precaution, for 
 they did not fear the pursuit of wolves while on 
 the ice boat, though they thought they might get 
 a chance at the savage beasts, and they rather 
 hoped they might see a moose or a bear, though 
 the chances were against this. 
 > "I guess that's a man all right," remarked 
 Andy, as he peered at the figure on the ice on the 
 far side of the lake. " He seems to be in a 
 hurry, too." 
 
 " Oh, it's a man all right," declared Frank. 
 " I could see that from the start. But say — 
 that's queer ! " 
 
 "What is?" asked Ward. 
 
 " Why, that man was headed our way at first, 
 and how he's turned around and is running for 
 the woods." 
 
 " And he's legging it pretty fast, too 1 " a'dded 
 Andy. " It looks as if he was running away." 
 
 " That's it I He is I " declared Jack. 
 
128 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " See if you can catch him, Frank! " suggested 
 Andy. 
 
 " All right. Here goes I A race of a man 
 against the wind. Trim that sail a bit, Andy, so 
 she'll hold more wind." 
 
 His brother obeyed, and Frank, shifting the 
 helm a bit, headed the ice boat straight for the 
 man who, as they all could now see, was running 
 back toward shore as fast as he could go. 
 
 " What do you s'pose ails him? " asked Ward. 
 
 " I don't know, unless he's afraid of an ice- 
 boat. Maybe he never saw one before." 
 
 " Oh, he must have, if he's lived in this region 
 long," declared Andy. " But he acts scared half 
 to death." 
 
 " Maybe he's afraid of meeting us," suggested 
 Jack. 
 
 "Say I I just thought of something 1 " cried 
 Frank. " That may be the fellow Uncle Ben 
 was telling about — the one who's been stealing 
 logs." 
 
 " That's right ! " agreed Jack. " Get a move 
 on, and we'll capture him." 
 
 " How could he get logs without a team and 
 sled, or at least a team to haul them oflF with? " 
 Andy wanted to know. " A man can't carry a 
 whole tree off by himself." 
 
 " Well, maybe he's just prospecting," sug- 
 gested Ward. " Anyhow, let's see if we can get 
 to him before he reaches the woods." 
 
PN THE WINGS OF THE WIND 129 
 
 But it was more easily said than done. The 
 man had a good start, for he had turned back to 
 shore almost as soon as he had seen the ice boat 
 headed for him. And, though fairly speedy, the 
 improvised craft was not overly fast, especially 
 with a quartering wind. But Frank was doing 
 his best. 
 
 "There I He's on shore 1" cried Jack, as he 
 •looked at the fleeing man. " I guess it's all up 
 now." 
 
 *' Yes," agreed Frank. " No use chasing 
 after him. But we'll keep on, and see what sort 
 of tracks he made. Most of the lumbermen 
 have but one pair of boots, and often they are 
 marked on the bottom with peculiar patterns in 
 hob nails. If we can make out the pattern in 
 this man's boots, we can tell Uncle Ben, and see 
 if his lumber thief has the same one." 
 
 " That's the idea I " cried Andy, and the Ice 
 boat kept on until it had reached the opposite 
 side of the lake. The man who had so strangely 
 run, on seeing the ice boat headed for him, was 
 nowhere in sight. The sail was lowered, and 
 the boys piled off, Andy carrying his rifle in readi- 
 ness. 
 
 " Here are his tracks ! " suddenly exclaimed 
 Jack, pointing to some footprints In the snow near 
 shore. 
 
 "And looEl" added Ward. "There's the 
 mark of an arrow in hob nails." 
 
I30 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " That's right," assented Frank. " We must 
 make a note of that." On the back of an envel- 
 ope, with the stump of a pencil, he drew a rough 
 outline of the marks in hob nails. Then the 
 boys went a little way into the woods, but they 
 saw nothing of the man, though his tracks were 
 plainly visible. They did not think it would be 
 wise to follow him. 
 
 *' And now for a sail back I " cried Andy. 
 
 To test their boat they went part' way up the 
 lake before the wind. The speed then was 
 enough to satisfy any of the lads, and they had 
 fairly to cling to the fur-covered platform to 
 avoid being spilled when heavy puffs came. Then 
 came a slow beating back to the cabin. 
 
 " Well, it's a success all right," declared Frank. 
 
 " It sure is I " the others chorused. 
 
 For a week the weather continued clear and 
 cold. They did some more skating and had the 
 ice boat out nearly every day. They also went 
 hunting several times, but, though they heard 
 the distant howling of wolves, they did not see 
 any of the savage beasts. 
 
 " I guess we gave them a lesson they won't 
 soon forget," declared Andy. 
 
 " Well, I hope they don't chase me any more," 
 spoke Ward, and he could not repress a shudder 
 as he thought of his race for life. 
 
 In spite of the fact that they had seen one bear 
 
ON THE WINGS OF THE WIND 1131 
 
 since coming to the cabin, and had shot a moose, 
 the big game seemed to have deserted the vicinity 
 of Crystal Lake. Search as our heroes did, they 
 found nothing worthy of their guns. 
 
 The snow, which had been softened by the 
 rain, had frozen to a hard crust, and this made 
 excellent going for snowshoes, which the boys 
 used constantly. They got to be quite expert 
 on them, and, for want of something better to 
 do, they organized races on them, having no end 
 of fun, especially when someone tripped and fell, 
 going deep into a drift. 
 
 Then came another spell of mild weather, fol- 
 lowed by a day or two of lowering clouds which 
 seemed to promise snow. 
 
 "And I'll be glad to see a storm again," de- 
 clared Jack. "I say, who's for a skate? We 
 may not get another chance in a long time." 
 
 " Oh, I've had enough of skating," declared 
 Ward, and the others seemed to agree with him, 
 so Jack went off by himself. 
 
 It was about an hour after this that Andy, 
 going to the lake for a pail of water, which he 
 dipped up through a hole in the ice, heard a 
 shout. 
 
 "Helpl Help 1" came the hail. " I've fallen 
 in — through an air hole. Help I " 
 
 "Who are you?" cried Andy. 
 
 "Jackl Here I am!" 
 
132 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 About half way oyer the lake Andy saw a 
 hand raised for a minute and waved violently. 
 Then it seemed to disappear. 
 
 " Quick, fellows I " the younger Kacer lad 
 yelled. " Jack has gone through the ice I We've 
 got to rescue him I " 
 
 Ward and Frank rushed from the hut. Andy 
 had already started across the ice. 
 
 "Waitl Wait!" shouted Frank. "We'll 
 go in the ice boat! The wind is just right, and 
 we'll be there much guicker! In the ice boat, 
 Andy!" 
 
 They piled upon the frail craft. Andy hoisted 
 the blanket sail, and Frank was at the tiller. A 
 moment later, and on the wings of the wind, 
 they were off to save their chum, who was cling- 
 ing to the slippery edges of an icy air hole. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 AFTER A BIG MOOSE 
 
 " Sail, now I Saill " cried Andy, as he made 
 fast the sheet of the blanket, " Do your best, 
 you old tub I " 
 
 The other two lads did not speak. With 
 anxious eyes they were watching the hole through 
 which Jack had gone. They could just see his 
 head, held above the surface of the icy water, 
 and occasionally a movement on his part told 
 that one of his hands had broken the edges of 
 the ice, and he had to work hard to get a fresh 
 grip. 
 
 "Hold onl We're coming!" yelled Ward 
 encouragingly. 
 
 The ice boat scraped along, her runners throw- 
 ing up a shower of frozen particles. / 
 
 "Is she making any speed?" asked Andy of' 
 his brother in a low voice. 
 
 " Better than she ever sailed before," was the 
 reply. " It's a good thing she was ready to go. 
 It's three times as quick as if we tried to run it." 
 
 Nearer and nearer the hole, where Jack clung 
 133 
 
134 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 iso perilously, came the ice boat with its anxious 
 load. 
 
 " Can you hold on a few seconds more ? " 
 cried Frank, as he clung to the tiller. 
 
 " Ye — yes, but don't — don't be any longer 
 than you can hel — help. It's — it's c-c-cold here 1 " 
 
 Jack's teeth were chattering. 
 
 "Down with the sail!" ordered Frank, and 
 Andy let it come on the run. The ice boat came 
 to a gradual stop, not far from the ice hole. 
 
 " Come on, now I Pull him out 1 " shouted 
 Ward. 
 
 "No I Waitl Don't go too close," advised 
 Frank, " or we'll all be in. The ice is thin around 
 here. Quick, Andy, get a rope I Cut it loose 
 if you have to 1 " 
 
 The main sheet was extra long, and in a trice 
 Andy had cut the rope loose from the boom. 
 Passing it to his brother they all waited to see 
 what Frank was going to do. 
 
 The elder Racer lad quickly made a running 
 noose, and then, with skill he had acquired from 
 having practiced being a cowboy in his younger 
 days, he tossed the whirling coils of rope toward 
 the lad in the water. 
 
 "That's the way to do itl " cried Ward, as 
 the coils settled about Jack's head and shoulders. 
 
 "Be ready now I We're going to pull you 
 out 1 " cautioned Frank. " Help yourself all 
 you can, Jack," 
 
AFTER A BIG MOOSE 135 
 
 " All — right," came back the faint answer. 
 1 " Altogether now, fellows," ordered Frank. 
 " Get hold of the rope, and pull. Pull for all 
 you're worth 1 " 
 
 ' The rope was long enough so that the res- 
 cuers did not have to approach too closely to 
 the dangerous air hole. 
 
 "All ready?" asked Frank, looking back at 
 his chum and brother. 
 
 " All ready! " answered Andy. 
 
 "Then look out, Jack! Pull!" suddenly 
 ishouted Frank. 
 
 There was a crackling of the thin Ice and a 
 strain came on the rope. Jack seemed to rise 
 from the water, and, a moment later, he was out 
 of the hole, and sprawling on the hard ice at 
 full length — a dripping and miserable figure. 
 
 "Hurray!" cried Andy. "We got him! 
 Now for a quick sail home 1 " 
 
 " No I Run him ! Run him ! " advised 
 Frank. " He needs his blood circulation started. 
 It will be too chilling in the ice boat. Can you 
 run. Jack?" 
 
 " I can — if — if I have to — I — guess ! " he chat- 
 tered. 
 
 " Then off with his skates, fellows," ordered 
 the elder Racer lad, and soon the steel runners 
 had been removed. 
 
 " Now run home with him, one of you on each 
 side^" went on Frank to Andy and Ward. " I'll 
 
136 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 sail the boat back, and get some hot coffee made 
 for him." 
 
 At first poor Jack could hardly move his be- 
 numbed legs, but, with his chums on either side 
 to aid him, he did managed to get up a little 
 speed. They headed directly for the cabin. 
 Meanwhile Frank had again bent on the main 
 rope, hoisted the sail, and, leaping into the ice 
 boat, he started off to reach the shack first. 
 
 He passed his chums at racing speed, and a 
 look at Jack told Frank that the exercise was 
 doing the immersed lad good. It would have 
 been dangerous, however, to have exposed him 
 to the wind created when the Ice boat cut through 
 the air. 
 
 Frank reached the cabin well In advance of 
 the others, and, leaping up the slope, he soon had 
 a pot of coffee boiling. 
 
 "Get your clothes off!" he ordered to Jack, 
 as the latter, supported by his chums, came in. 
 " Warm blankets, fellows, and then hot drinks I 
 Hot lemonade Is great to prevent colds, but we 
 haven't any lemons, worse luck. Coffee and tea 
 will have to answer." 
 
 Soon Jack was in a chair before a blazing fire, 
 iwith warm blankets around him, drinking cup 
 after cup of coffee as hot as he could stand It. 
 
 Finally he could take no more, and then, as he 
 said he felt tired and sleepy, he Was piled Into 
 
AFTER A BIG MOOSE 137 
 
 one of the bunks, covered up well, and left to the 
 care of Nurse Nature. 
 
 She did her part well, too, for aside from a 
 slight cold the next morning, Jack was no worse 
 for his dip into the lake. He explained that he 
 had been skating along, unconscious of any dan- 
 ger, when he suddenly struck the air hole, covered 
 with skim ice, and had broken through. 
 
 Luckily Andy had heard his shouts, and the 
 ice boat had aided in the rescue. It was decided 
 that Jack had better stay in the cabin for a day 
 or so, and his chums stayed with him, or did not 
 go far away, so that he would not be lonesome. 
 
 " But say, I don't want to hold you fellows 
 back," Jack declared, after a few days. " Go 
 ahead out, and do some hunting." 
 
 " Maybe we will, to-morrow," returned Frank. 
 " I think you will be well enough to come along 
 then." 
 
 Morning proved the correctness of Frank's be- 
 lief, for Jack had no trace of cold, and prepara- 
 tions were made to go out and see what they could 
 find in the way of game. 
 
 The weather was clear and cold, though there 
 had been quite a heavy fall of snow in the night. 
 
 " We'll need snowshoes all right," announced 
 Andy, who went out before breakfast to get some 
 wood. '* Maybe we'll scare up a big moose or 
 a bear to-day." 
 
138 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " I hope so," added Ward. " I'm getting 
 tired of canned roast beef. A nice moose or 
 bear steak would be finel " 
 
 "Don't mention it!" begged Jaclc. "You 
 make me hungry." 
 
 They took a lunch with them, and also mate- 
 rials for making coffee, planning to melt snow for 
 the water. They could always get enough dry 
 wood by digging under the snow. 
 
 With their rifles, and a good supply of ammu- 
 nition, and having locked up the cabin against 
 chance intruders, they set off. Their hopes were 
 high, though as a matter of fact no traces of big 
 game had been seen since they had first come to 
 the woods. 
 
 " Let's see who'll find the first signs 1 " ex- 
 claimed Andy. " Say, we ought to have a piece 
 of birch bark, and make a moose horn. Then 
 we could call one." 
 
 " That's only good in the fall of the year," 
 declared Frank. " We've got to depend on our- 
 selves now." 
 
 " Look for moose tracks," suggested Ward, 
 and they walked along, their eyes eagerly search- 
 ing the snow-covered ground. 
 
 For two or three miles they went along, see- 
 ing nothing more than some rabbits and foxes, 
 which they scorned to shoot. Then Frank, who 
 was In advance, suddenly let out a yell. 
 
AFTER A BIG MOOSE , 139 
 
 " Hey, fellows 1 Here's something ! " he 
 tried. " If this isn't the biggest moose that 
 jEver " 
 
 His voice suddenly trailed off into nothing, and 
 seemed to be smothered in snow. Ward, Andy 
 land Jack, who were looking at him, saw him dis- 
 (appear from sight. 
 
 " Come on I " yelled Andy. " Something has 
 happened to my brother 1 " 
 
 Together the three rushed ahead, and, as they 
 got to the place where Frank had called from, 
 they saw what had happened. Unsuspectingly 
 he had approached a ledge, with an overhanging 
 drift of clinging snow. It looked as though there 
 was solid ground out for some distance yet, and, 
 relying on this, Frank had taken one step too 
 many. 
 
 The next instant he had plunged over the ledge, 
 Sown into a deep bank of snow at the foot. It 
 was like falling into a feather bed, however, and 
 he was not the least hurt. 
 
 "Look out!" he yelled from his position in 
 the drift, as he heard the others come racing 
 along over his head. " Don't fall down here." 
 
 " We'll try not to," laughed Andy, as he saw 
 that his brother was all right. " Did you do it 
 for a joke? " 
 
 " I did not." 
 
 "Can you get up?" asked Jack. 
 
140 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " Yes, I see a sort of path here. I'll be with 
 you in a minute." 
 
 Frank soon scrambled out of the 'drift, and 
 turning to the left, made his way up a little slope 
 to where the others stood on top of the treacher- 
 ous ledge. 
 
 " But what did you say about a big moose, 
 just before you fell?" asked Andy, when they 
 had brushed the snow from the luckless one. 
 
 " I said there were marks of a big moose here. 
 See 'em!" and* Frank pointed to the tracks in 
 the snow. 
 
 "I should say they were big!" cried Andy. 
 " A regular whopper ! Come on, fellows, let's 
 get on the trail of this moose I " And with eager 
 shouts they hurried off, following the marks in 
 the snow. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 TRAILING A BEAR 
 
 Though the Racer boys and their cHums 
 hoped that they would soon come up to the big 
 moose which they were trailing, their anticipa- 
 tions were doomed to disappointment. The 
 marks were fairly fresh, they could tell that, and 
 the animal, to judge by the imprints in the snow 
 of his hoofs, was an exceptionally large one. 
 But, though they hurried on for a mile or more, 
 they did not see a big, hairy beast, with an enor- 
 mous spread of antlers looming before them. 
 
 " Oh say ! " cried Jack, after a bit. " Let's 
 take it a little easier. I'm winded." 
 
 " We'll never catch a moose by going slow," 
 complained Frank. 
 
 " I know. But what's the use of killing our- 
 selves? We've got several weeks to spend up 
 here yet, and if we don't get this fellow to-day 
 we may to-morrow." 
 
 "No time like the present!" declared Frank, 
 who rather regarded the moose as already his 
 own on account of having first seen the tracks. 
 " Come on. We'll make all the speed we can in 
 
 the next hour, and then " 
 
 141 
 
142 RACiER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " Then we'll have grub 1 " broke in Andy. 
 " I'm getting a bit tired, too." 
 
 "All right," agreed Frank. "We'll eat if 
 we don't get sight of him inside of an hour," and 
 he looked at his watch. 
 
 Buoyed up by the prospect of a meal, at no 
 great distant time. Jack continued on with the 
 others. Several times they lost the trail, but 
 managed to pick it up again. Once or twice they 
 saw where the moose had stopped to nose away 
 the snow to get at some moss underneath, and 
 where he had freshly rubbed some bark off a 
 tree with his horns. 
 
 " Say, he's a big fellow, all right 1" exclaimed 
 Frank in admiration, as he looked at this tree. 
 
 " How can you tell, except by his hoof 
 marks? " asked Ward. 
 
 "Look how high up on this tree the marks 
 of his horns are," replied Frank. 
 
 " Maybe he stood up on his hind legs to make 
 'em reach that far," suggested Andy. "He 
 might have wanted to scare us from following 
 him." 
 
 " Oh, you get out I " exclaimed his brother. 
 " What you don't "know about big game hunting 
 would fill a geometry." 
 
 " The same to you ! " retorted Andy with a 
 laugh. " Isn't that hour nearly up? " 
 
 " No, ten minutes yet." 
 
THIS IS THE BEST MEAL I'VE HAD— SINCE BREAKFAST!" 
 EXCLAIMED JACK. 
 Racer Boys to the Rescue Pase 143 
 
TRAILING A BEAR 143 
 
 " Oh, get out I Your watch Is slow 1 " com- 
 plained Jack. " I'm getting hungry." 
 
 " So am 1 1 " chorused Ward and Andy. But 
 Frank would not give In, and insisted on drag- 
 ging them along until the time was fully up. But, 
 even then, they got no sight of the moose, and 
 it looked as though the tracks were growing 
 fainter. 
 
 " First thing we know he'll disappear alto- 
 gether! " said Ward. 
 
 "I don't believe it was a moose. I think it 
 was a rabbit with snowshoes on," laughed Andy. 
 " Here's a good place. Let's eat here." 
 
 Frank could offer no further objection, so a 
 place was cleared in the snow, some fairly dry 
 wood found, and a fire started, and the pot put 
 on In which to melt snow, so that coffee could be 
 made. The packets of food were gotten out, 
 and soon the aromatic odor of coffee was notice- 
 able. 
 
 " This is the best meal I've had — since break- 
 fast I " exclaimed Jack, munching on some canned- 
 chicken sandwiches, and passing his tin cup for 
 more coffee. 
 
 "Same here!" mumbled Ward. "I don'* 
 care whether we get a moose now or no't. I 
 won't be hungry until night." 
 
 " We'd better save some of our grub," coun- 
 seled Frank. " We're quite a distance from camp. 
 
144 RACER BOYS TO THE, RESCUE 
 
 and it may be late before we get that moose, and 
 start back. It'll be a late supper, and we'll be 
 glad of an afternoon snack." 
 
 They all agreed to this, and so curbed their 
 appetites, though they had plenty of food with 
 them for another improvised meal. .Once more 
 the trail was taken up. 
 
 For a mile or more the boys trudged on, and 
 Frank noted with some alarm that the tracks of 
 the big animal were leading farther and farther 
 away from camp. He had rather hoped that the 
 beast might swing about, and head for the lake 
 again. 
 
 " If he keeps on this way we'll not get him un- 
 til we're so far from the shack that we can't get 
 back to it to-night," Andy remarked, after a half 
 mile of trudging over the snow. 
 
 " That's right," agreed Jack and Ward. 
 Frank saw that the others did not have the same 
 enthusiasm as himself. He also saw the wisdom 
 of their objections. 
 
 " Well," he remarked, " I don't like to miss 
 that animal, but I don't want to stay out all night 
 without shelter, or even a blanket, though we've 
 got heavy clothing on. I'll go back when you 
 say the word." 
 
 " We'll give you another half hour," said 
 Andy, " and then if we don't see him, I think 
 we'd better turn back. How about that, 
 Frank? " 
 
TRAILING A BEAR 14S 
 
 That's fair. Come on, now, make better 
 
 time." 
 
 They made all the speed they could, and the 
 half hour was nearly up when, just as Frank was 
 about to give the word to turn back, there was 
 a great crashing in the bushes to his left. An 
 instant later a bull moose, the largest the boys 
 had ever seen, leaped full into view. 
 
 " There he is I There he is 1 " cried Frank 
 excitedly. "Fire, fellows! All together I" 
 
 He brought his rifle around, and so did the 
 others. Frank fired first, but, simultaneously 
 with the report, the animal leaped to one side, 
 and a moment later was lost to view in the under- 
 brush. 
 
 Andy, Ward and Jack fired, almost together, 
 but too late to make an effective shot. 
 
 " Missed I " yelled Jack in disgust, and there 
 was not doubt but that he and the other two had. 
 
 " Maybe Frank hit him ! " yelled Ward. 
 
 " No maybe about it. I missed, too, or else 
 the bullet did no damage," spoke the elder Racer 
 boy. " He's going through the woods like a 
 steam engine. Hark to him 1 " 
 
 They listened. There was a crash of bushes 
 Sand tree branches, momentarily growing fainter. 
 
 " Come on ! Let's chase after him I " yelled 
 Andy, forgetting all his fatigue. 
 
 " Sure I " agreed Ward and JacE. 
 
 " No use," advised Frank. " We had a chance 
 
146 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 of catching up to him when he didn't know we 
 were on his trail, but it's no use now. He'll run 
 for hours, and we never can catch him. We may 
 as well go back." 
 
 " And without a bit of game 1 " complained 
 'Andy. " This is tough." 
 
 " Well, it can't be helped," said Frank. " At 
 least we know there's plenty of game here. Some 
 other time we'll come out and get that moose. 
 Oh! but he was a dandy! Wouldn't that head 
 be fine in our room at Riverview ! " 
 
 " It sure would," agreed Ward and Jack. 
 
 There was nothing to do but to start back 
 toward the cabin, and Frank set their course 
 by the compass. They talked of what had hap- 
 pened, regretting their slowness in making shots. 
 
 " It wasn't slowness," declared Jack. " Frank 
 fired quick enough, and maybe he hit him." 
 
 " Not so as you could notice it," replied Andy's 
 brother. " I was a little nervous, I guess. He 
 came out so quickly." 
 
 " Just as if he was waiting there to scare us," 
 said Jack. "Well, better luck next time." 
 
 Rather sorrowfully they began their home- 
 ward journey. They had covered perhaps four 
 miles, and were beginning to think of eating their 
 remaining food, when Andy, who had darted on 
 ahead, caitie to a sudden pause at the foot of a 
 big tree. 
 
TRAILING A BEAR 147 
 
 " Hey, fellows I look here I " he shouted. 
 *' Here's another moose track! " 
 
 Frank ran up. 
 
 "Moose track 1" he cried. "Say, you want 
 jto go back to school, and study natural history." 
 
 "Isn't that a moose track?" asked Andy, 
 peering into the snow. 
 
 "It is not. It's a bear! Maybe the same 
 one that was in our cabin. Come on, boys I If 
 we can't get a moose we'll have a bear ! " 
 
 " And the tracks are headed right for our 
 cabin!" added Ward. "We'll make the kill 
 there, and have bear steak for supper." 
 
 " Nothing like being confident," spoke Frank 
 ,with a laugh, as they took up the trail. 
 
CHAPTER XVm 
 
 AT BAY 
 
 Eager, and full of hope that, at last, a bear 
 was going to fall victim to their rifles, the boys 
 hurried on. It would soon be dark, they real- 
 ized, and they not only wanted to get near their 
 pabin before night fell, but they also wanted to 
 get a chance at bruin. 
 
 " Where's the best place to hit a bear? " aslced 
 Ward, as he glided along over the snow beside 
 Jack. 
 
 " In the back, when he is looking die other 
 way," replied the fun-loving Andy. 
 
 " Oh, get out, I'm in earnest ! " exclaimed the 
 seeker after information. " I mean with a bul- 
 let." 
 
 " And I insist that the back is the safest place," 
 laughed Andy. " I'll leave It to Frank." 
 
 " I suppose the back Is a good place. If It 
 happens to be the back of the head, or the spine," 
 conceded the elder Racer lad, " But I'd rather 
 stand In front of a bear If I was going to kill 
 one, and pick out some spot that way." 
 
 "Oh, what's the use of speculating!" cx- 
 ff4§ 
 
AT BAY 149 
 
 claimed Jack. " First find the bear, and we'll 
 all shoot at once, back or front, and bowl him 
 over. Maybe we won't get a chance anyhow."- 
 
 " We will unless these tracks go for nothing," 
 spoke Frank, pointing to the marks in the snow. 
 They were still plainly to be seen, and, according 
 to Frank, were getting " fresher " all the while. 
 
 "What does that mean?" asked Ward curi- 
 ously. 
 
 " It means that the bear isn't a great way off," 
 replied the elder Racer youth. " I only hope 
 the trail keeps on this same way, and doesn't 
 branch off into the woods again, away from our 
 cabin." 
 
 " What'U you do if it does?" inquired JacK. 
 
 " Well, I'll take a little chance on following 
 it," replied Frank. " It's going to be dark pretty 
 soon, but I guess we can find the cabin. I wish 
 we had thought to bring a lantern. But I never 
 imagined we'd be out so late." 
 
 " We don't hunt moose and bear every Hay,** 
 declared Andy with a laugh. " Things are com- 
 ing too fast for us, I guess." 
 
 They hurried on, each looking eagerly aKeaS,) 
 and on all sides, for a possible sight of the bear. 
 They closely followed the track made by the big 
 creature. Fortunately for them it did not seem 
 to branch off, but continued straight toward thei 
 lumber sHacIc, 
 
ISO RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 It was now about dusk, though the snow on 
 the ground made it easier to see than if there had 
 been no covering of the white flakes. The tracks 
 were rather hard to make out, however, and 
 Frank, to whom the post of leader had gone, by 
 common consent, had to lean over as he walked 
 along, to see them. 
 
 " We're only about half a mile from the cabiri 
 now," announced Andy, as he saw a blasted tree 
 that served as a sort of landmark. " If that bear 
 doesn't show up pretty soon I'll begin to believe 
 that he's gone in the shack, and is waiting for us 
 there." 
 
 "That's right," agreed Ward. "Well, I 
 hope he doesn't eat up all the grub. I want at 
 least another square meal." 
 
 " I know one thing," commented Andy. " If 
 that bear is in my bunk, he can stay there all night 
 before I lift him out — at least until after he's 
 sound asleep. Bears are such peevish creatures 
 if you disturb them when they're trying to get a; 
 snooze. I'll not wake him up, even if he snores." 
 
 " I guess not," agreed Jack. 
 
 The cabin was almost in sight now. Another 
 turn in the trail and they would be able to get a; 
 glimpse of it in the clearing. 
 
 " And the funny part of it," said FranE, " is 
 that these tracks still keep up. Jove I it wouldl 
 be a queer thing if, after hunting all day, wp 
 shQuld cpme home to find a biear waiting for us." 
 
AT BAY 151 
 
 " Here a place where I can get a look at the 
 cabin anyhow!" suddenly exclaimed Andy, as 
 he slipped off his snowshoes, and made for a 
 slender sapling which he had climbed before, on 
 several occasions, to get a good view. 
 
 By " shinning " up the tree a short distance he 
 could look over a small rise of ground down into 
 the clearing. This was his intention now. It 
 was so dark that Frank had to stoop over, with 
 his eyes close to the snow, to see the trail of the 
 bear. 
 
 Andy had climbed three feet up the slender 
 tree, and his companions, coming to a halt, 
 watched him curiously. 
 
 " Well, I guess we'll have to give up the bear 
 for to-night, fellows," said Frank. " To-mor- 
 row we may be able to " 
 
 "Look out!" suddenly yelled Andy. "The 
 bear! The bear! Here he comes! I'm go- 
 ing " 
 
 Andy's words ended with a gasp of fear. 
 There was a snarl of rage, a snapping noise as 
 the tree, on which the lad was perched, bent 
 over and then the sound of a fall. A moment 
 later the three lads saw a big, lumbering shape 
 rear up, as it emerged from a clump of bushes, 
 and stand at bay over the form of Andy, who 
 lay an inert heap in the snow, at the foot of the 
 broken sapling. 
 
 For a moment neither Frank, Jack nor Ward 
 
IS2 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 spoke — they could not from very fear, it seemed. 
 lAndy was incapable of speech. Then Frank, 
 cautiously bringing his rifle around ready for a 
 quick shot, whispered: 
 
 " Andy I The bear I The beast has killed 
 Andy, fellows 1 " 
 
 " He struck him," added Jack, still in the same 
 Jense tone. 
 
 " Knocked him from the tree," gasped Ward. 
 " Let's all fire together! " 
 
 As he spoke he raised his rifle, and aimed at 
 the big creature that stood there, seeming to bid 
 defiance to his enemies. 
 
 "No, don't 1" exclaimed Frank. "Don't 
 fire now." 
 
 " Why not? " asked Ward. 
 
 " Because. Don't you see that the bear is 
 right over Andy? If we fire, the brute will fall 
 on him, and if Andy — if he isn't dead already, 
 the bear will surely kill him in his death strug- 
 gle. Don't fire now 1 " 
 
 "What can we do then?" asked Jack. 
 
 " We've got to get the bear away from where 
 !Andy lies," went on Frank. " Quick, Ward and 
 Jack, you two move off to one side, and see if 
 you can get behind him. That may draw him 
 &way. He may follow you. I hope he does." 
 
 " And what'U you do?" Jack wanted to know. 
 
 " I'll drop down here in the snow, and plug 
 
AT BAY 153 
 
 him from in front. It's so dark I don't believe 
 he'll notice me if I lie at full length. See if you 
 can draw him away. Poor Andy I " 
 
 It was just light enough under the trees to see 
 the bear still standing there, swaying from side 
 to side over the silent form of Andy. There was 
 no time to lose. In a few seconds more it would 
 be too dark to see to shoot in safety. 
 
 " Go on 1 " urged Frank to Ward and Jack. 
 
 As Frank silently dropped in the snow, with 
 his rifle in readiness for an instant shot. Ward 
 and Jack slipped to one side. For a moment the 
 bear stood irresolute, as if not understanding the 
 move. Would he do as they wanted him to, 
 and draw away from Andy; or would he remain 
 there until there was no chance to save the lad 
 from his anger? 
 
 Slowly, and doing all they could to attract the 
 bear's attention. Ward and Jack moved on. 
 
 " He's turning his head," whispered Jack. 
 
 " I see," replied Ward. " Go on ! " 
 
 They covered a few feet more, sheering off to 
 the left. Then Jack exclaimed: 
 
 " Here he comes 1 He's far enough off to fire 
 now ! " 
 
 Together they stopped, and threw their rifles 
 to their shoulders. But, before they could pull 
 the triggers, Frank's rifle rang out sharply. 
 
 The flame from the muzzle cut the darkness 
 
154 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 with a sliver of fire, and, mingled with the report, 
 there was a snarl of rage and pain from the beast. 
 Another moment, and the bear toppled over in 
 the snow, well removed from the body of Andy. 
 
 " Fire ! " yelled Ward, as he discharged his 
 rifle, an example followed by his chum. And 
 then Frank's rifle spoke again, but there was no 
 need. He had killed the bear with his first shot. 
 
 Flinging his firearm aside, Frank rushed to- 
 ward the body of his brother. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 [TOM CRAWFORD ARRIVES 
 
 " Andy 1 Andy ! " cried Frank. " Are you 
 badly hurt? Andy, can you speak? " 
 
 Jack and Ward, seeing that the bear was in- 
 capable of doing further harm, also rushed for- 
 ward, past the carcass of the dead brute, that lay 
 not far from Andy. 
 
 Bending over, Frank clasped his arms about his 
 brother, raising his head, and looking for some 
 sign of injury. But he could see none. 
 
 *' Andy 1 " he cried, and, taking up some snow, 
 he rubbed the lad's face, thinking thus to restore 
 him to consciousness. Whether it was that, or 
 whether Andy would have revived anyhow, did 
 not develop, but certainly the lad opened his 
 eyes. 
 
 "What — where — how did it happen?" he 
 stammered. " Is the bear " 
 
 iThen he saw Frank holding him, and the other 
 two boys standing near. Next his eyes wandered 
 to where the form of the bear could be made 
 put, huddled on the snow. 
 
IS6 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 "Are you badly hurt, Andy? Where did he 
 hit you ? Did he claw you ? " asked Frank. 
 " Tell us, quick. We'll ca^ry you to the cabin, 
 and maybe we can get you to Uncle Ben's, and 
 send for a doctor." 
 
 "Doctor? I don't want any doctor 1 " ex- 
 claimed Andy with something like his usual vigor 
 of speech. " I'm all right, except for a little 
 knock on the head. It stunned me for a min- 
 ute." 
 
 "What I" cried FranK. "Do you mean to 
 say the bear didn't touch you?" 
 
 " Nary a touch," replied Andy. " Here, give 
 me a hand up, and I'll tell you how it happened." 
 
 Wonderingly they assisted him to his feet. 
 He was a trifle dizzy, but otherwise not hurt, 
 save for a slight bruise on his head. 
 
 " I saw the bear in the bushes, as soon as I 
 started up the tree," explained Andy. " I yelled 
 to you fellows, and then he came rushing out. 
 He must have hit the tree, or clawed it, or some- 
 thing, for it broke, and down I tumbled. My 
 head hit a rock under the snow, and — ^well, that's 
 all I know. You can tell the rest." 
 
 " Frank killed the bearl " burst out Ward. 
 
 " It was a dandy shot I " added Jack. 
 
 " It was the only way to do," explained the 
 elder Racer lad. "You were right in front of 
 the bear, as he stood up, Andy." 
 
TOM CRAWFORD ARRIVES 157 
 
 Then they told Andy how they had drawn the 
 bear's attention away from him, so they could 
 shoot the brute in safety. 
 
 " Jove I It was a pretty close call, after all," 
 remarked the lad who had been so near death. 
 " He must have hit that tree an awful whack. 
 Let's take a look at it." 
 
 By the light of a match they found where the 
 beast had, with one blow of his paw, snapped 
 the sapling just below Andy's feet. 
 
 " Cracky 1 If that blow had landed on mel " 
 exclaimed Andy, as he looked at the splinters, 
 " there wouldn't have been enough left to take 
 home." 
 
 " Don't talk about it," begged Frank with a 
 shudder. " It's all right as it is, though it was 
 a narrow squeak." 
 
 " But we got the bear ! " cried his brother, who 
 could not remain depressed for long. " I'm go- 
 mg to have a rug made from the skin, and we'll 
 put it in our room, Frank. Now let's see, shall 
 we leave my bear here over night? " 
 
 "Your bear?" exclaimed Frank. "Since 
 when was it your bear? " 
 
 " Since the time when I saw him first," re- 
 torted his brother. " Besides, if a bear almost 
 kills you, I guess you've got a right to it, after 
 he's killed; haven't you?" 
 
 "Sure, let him have the bear," suggested 
 
1S8 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 Ward. " Then we can get to die cabin some 
 Itime to-night and get supper. Come on 1 " 
 
 " And I want something for my head," added 
 Andy. "It's beginning to ache like the mis- 
 chief." 
 
 With a final look at the bear they started for 
 the shack, glad indeed to be safely back, after 
 the strenuous adventures of the day. Lights 
 were set aglow, a quick but substantial meal was 
 eaten, and Andy's head was gently rubbed with 
 some liniment that Frank had put among the 
 few remedies brought to camp." 
 
 " And now for a good sleep 1 " exclaimed Jack. 
 " Don't set the alarm clock, either," he added 
 jokingly. " I'm going to snooze a long time in 
 the morning." 
 
 " I guess we all will," declared Frank. 
 
 The sun was well up when they crawled from 
 their bunks the next morning, and Andy's first 
 care was to pay a visit to where bruin lay* The 
 bear had not been disturbed, in spite of their 
 fears of wolves, and soon they had skinned it, 
 taking the best meat for their larder. 
 
 " And now what's the next thing on the pro- 
 gramme? " asked Jack that afternoon, as they 
 sat about talking over what had happened during 
 the last twenty-four hours. 
 
 " Let's have another try for that moose," sug- 
 gested Ward. " I believe he must be somewhere 
 
TOM CRAWFORD ARRIVES isgj 
 
 in the neighborhood, and it's a shame to let hinl 
 get away." 
 
 "Well, I'm willing," declared Frank; and so,] 
 the following day they again set forth, with lunch 
 enough to enable them to stay out until dark. 
 But luck was not with them, and, though they 
 traveled many miles, they saw no signs of die 
 moose, nor could they come upon his trail. A! 
 light snow had obliterated the former marks, andl 
 no fresh ones were made. 
 
 Disappointed, but not 3iscouraged, they 
 tramped back, resolved to go out another day. ; 
 They did, but the result was the same, though 
 Ward did get a shot at a small bear, crippling the' 
 animal, and Jack finished it. 
 
 A heavy storm kept them toi camp for two" 
 days, and, when the weather cleared, they went 
 out on their snowshoes, tramping for miles 
 through the forest. They were enjoying camp 
 life to the full, and each day brought some new 
 pleasure. 
 
 And one 3ay brought them ho little danger, 
 and with it came a realization that carelessness, 
 even in a rough lumber camp, may sometimes be 
 dearly paid for. 
 
 It happened that a shelf was needed in the 
 shack to hold some of their many possessions, 
 and, as all the nails and other brackets were: 
 filled, Andy undertook to make the necessary im- 
 
i6d KACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 provement. He found some tools, and was Soori 
 sawing out a board, and planing it smooth. 
 
 "A good job," complimented Frank, when the 
 shelf was In place. " Now clean up those shav- 
 ings and splinters, Andy. Put them in the wood 
 box, and they'll do to start a fire with." 
 
 " In a minute," agreed his brother. " I want 
 to clean my rifle, first, though." 
 
 He had been working near the pile of wood 
 In the shed that held the supply of fuel, and tak- 
 ing his gun out there Andy proceeded to clean 
 it. When he had finished he also cleaned his 
 shotgun, and fired several cartridges from it at 
 a mark. 
 
 Then something else attracted Andy's atten- 
 tion, and he went off, forgetting about cleaning 
 up the shavings. It was not long after this that 
 Frank, who was In the cabin, smelled the smoke 
 of burning wood. 
 
 " Are you fellows starting ia fire ? " he asked,' 
 turning to the door, and looking down toward 
 the river, where Andy, Jack and Ward were 
 standing. Then Frank saw something that star- 
 tled him. 
 
 For there was a brisk blaze licking the sidjeg 
 of the well-filled woodshed, which structure was 
 attached to the lumber shack. The flames had 
 a good start. 
 
 " Fire ! Fire ! " yelled Frank, dropping the; 
 
TOM CRAWFORD ARRIVES i6i 
 
 pan in which he had been about to cooE some 
 pudding. " Fire, fellows 1 Get pails 1 Form a 
 bucket brigade I " 
 
 !A wind was fanning the flames Into fiercer 
 heat, and driving them toward the cabin. Once 
 the fire got among the dry wood, and the whole 
 camp might go up in a blaze. 
 
 *' Come on I " yelled Ward, sprinting toward 
 (the place where some water pails were kept. 
 ", We've got to dip up from the river 1 " 
 
 In a short time the four boys, each with a pail 
 tor some sort of a dish that could hold water, 
 were running back and forth from the river td 
 the fire, dashing on the fluid that was dipped up 
 from a hole cut in the ice. 
 
 " That's the way to do it 1 " yelled Frank, as 
 jthe flames with an angry hiss partly died down. 
 " A few more pails full and we'll have it out." 
 
 " That's right ! " panted Andy, as he dashed 
 his pan full on, and rushed back for more. 
 
 In a few minutes the fire was but a mass of 
 ^shes and pieces of charred wood. Part of the 
 side of the shed had been burned, but the dam- 
 iage was comparatively small. 
 
 " There, that's out," said FranE with" a sigh 
 of relief, as he sat down to rest. " It was a 
 narrow squeak, though." 
 
 "That's right," agreed Ward. 
 
 " If it had started when we were away froni 
 
i62 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 camp, we'd have come back to find nothing here," 
 commented Jack. 
 
 " I wonder how It started? " asked Andy. 
 
 "You did it, I expect," replied his brother 
 quickly. 
 
 "I did it?" 
 
 " Sure." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " By not cleaning up those shavings as I told 
 you to, and then by firing your gun so close to 
 them. A bit of burning wadding fell into the 
 shavings, I'm pretty sure, and set them going. 
 Don't you do that again." 
 
 " I won't," answered Andy, a bit crestfallen. 
 " I shouldn't wonder but what it was my fault. 
 I never thought about the gun wadding falling 
 in the splinters." 
 
 It was agreed that this must have been how 
 the fire started, since no one with matches had 
 been near the woodshed. It taught them all a 
 good lesson, and that at no very great expense, 
 and in the future they were exceedingly careful 
 about fires, for they knew It would be no joke to 
 be without shelter in the woods that winter. 
 
 A few more pails of water were scattered about 
 to make sure that no smoldering sparks lingered 
 and then the work of camp was resumed. 
 
 There was hard work, plenty of it, for wood 
 had to be cut, and the stove and fireplace con- 
 
TOM CRAWFORD ARRIVES 163 
 
 sumed much. But they took turns at it, and at 
 " doing " the dishes and getting the meals. 
 
 " But even washing a mess of plates is more 
 fun than grinding away at geometry or Latin," 
 said Ward. 
 
 " Right you are 1 " agreed Jack. " I hate to 
 think of going back again." 
 
 " Oh, well, River-view Hall Isn't so bad! " cried 
 Andy. " I'll be rather glad to see the improve- 
 ments. And say, we're going to have the best 
 baseball nine that ever was, in the spring, and 
 clean up Waterside and Milton so they won't 
 know what struck 'em." 
 
 " This is a nice time to talk about baseball," 
 remarked Frank, with a glance out of the window 
 toward the snow-covered clearing, and at the 
 dark woods beyond. 
 
 " Speaking of baseball, I wonder how Tom 
 Crawford is making out?" remarked Jack. 
 "It's about time we heard from him; isn't it? 
 He was going to join us after he got his brother. 
 I'd like to see him. He's a good shot, too." 
 
 " Well, he may be along any day now," came 
 from Andy. "I think we'll " 
 
 He was interrupted by a sound outside. 
 
 "What's that?" asked Jack. 
 
 " Sleigh bells," answered Frank. 
 
 They hurried to the door, and saw, coming 
 lalong the old lumber trail, one of Mr. Arm- 
 
l64 jRACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 istrong's sleds. In it was tHe same man who had 
 driven the boys to their camp, and sitting beside 
 him was another figure. 
 
 " A visitor, I guess," spoKe JacK. 
 
 " It's Tom Crawford I " cried Andy. " Hello, 
 Tom. Glad you arrived. iWe were just talking 
 labout you." 
 
 They all rushed forward to greet their chum, 
 but were at once struck by the look on his face. 
 Fear was there — fear and worriment. 
 
 "Why, what's the matter?" asked Frank. 
 *' Has anything happened? " 
 
 " Yes ! " exclaimed Tom. " There has. My 
 little brother has been stolen gway from the lum- 
 ber camp!" 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 " TO THE RESCUE 1 " 
 
 "What's that?" cried Frank, as soon as he 
 understood what Tom had said. " Your brother 
 stolen?" 
 
 " That's it," answered Tom sadly. " It's 
 quite a story. I came all the way from Pinehurst 
 to get you boys to help me." 
 
 " And we will, tool " cried Andy. " Tell us 
 all about it." 
 
 " .Yes, come on inside," added Frank. " Say, 
 you must have had a trip, all right, to find us I " 
 
 " Oh, that part wasn't so bad. I went to your 
 uncle's place, and he kindly sent me out in this 
 sled. Otherwise I'd never have found you. 
 How have you been? " 
 
 " All right," answered J^cE. 
 
 " But don't worry about us," exclaimed Frank. 
 " We want to help you. Come on in and tell us 
 the story." 
 
 " And I'd better Be getting back," said tHg 
 I 165 
 
i66 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 driver. " It's a long trip, and the going isn't any 
 too good. Is there anything you boys want?" 
 
 " Nothing, unless it's some of Aunt Sallie's 
 cakes and pies," spoke Andy with a half-sigh. 
 
 "Humph I" exclaimed the driver. "She 
 rather calculated you'd want some, so I bning out 
 a box full." 
 
 " You didi" cried Ward. 
 
 " Hurray for Aunt Salliel " yelled Jack. 
 
 " I went there first," went on Tom. " Got 
 there just at dark last night. I didn't know just 
 where you fellows were and so I headed for the 
 place you spoke of last. Then Mrs. Armstrong 
 explained, and said she'd send me on In the morn- 
 ing. I stayed there all night. I guess your aunt 
 was up a long time baking those cakes and pies." 
 
 " That's just like Aunt Sallie," declared Frank. 
 " But this isn't doing you any good, Tom. Come 
 on inside and tell us all about it." 
 
 The box of pastry was lifted out, and then the 
 driver, having turned his team around, started 
 back, the boys calling out their good-byes. 
 
 " Now for the story! " exclaimed Andy, when 
 Tom had been made comfortable in the cabin. 
 
 " Well, there isn't an awful lot to tell," he re- 
 plied. " Len is gone, that's the substance of it." 
 
 "But how?" asked Frank. " Surely there 
 must be some details to tell. Did he wander off 
 again, or did someone come in and get him?" 
 
"TO THE RESCUE" 167 
 
 "A little of both," answered Tom. "You 
 know, when I left you, I was going on from the 
 sanitarium at Pinehurst to the lumtier camp at 
 Rockyford, where the men were that had picked 
 up Len." 
 
 *' Yes, go on," spoke Frank. 
 
 " Well, I went to the lumber camp," resumed 
 Tom, " and, as soon as I got there, and told the 
 head man who I was, and what I'd come for, I 
 could see right away that something was wrong. 
 He looked queerly at me, and when I asked for 
 my brother he tried- to put me off, saying that 
 Len was sleeping, and that I'd better not disturb 
 him. 
 
 " But I saw something was up, so I insisted on 
 him telling me the truth. Then he did. He said 
 they had had Len with them for some time, and 
 every man in the crowd had come to like the 
 little fellow. I don't blame them, for Len makes 
 friends everywhere. 
 
 " He was doing finely, as regards health, and I 
 think his experience, up to that time, in spite of 
 the fact that it was very hard, had done him good. 
 He could get around very well, and the men used 
 to take him out with them on a sort of sled they 
 built. 
 
 I " Then he got so he could go out for half a day 
 at a time by himself. Mind you this was only 
 after about a week in the camp. There was no 
 
i68 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 way of getting him to the sanitarium, and they 
 were waiting for someone to come for him, hav- 
 ing sent word back as I knew. Then one day, 
 the very day before I arrived, he had gone out 
 in the woods, and — well, he didn't come back." 
 
 Tom's voice faltered, and he was on the verge 
 df a breakdown. 
 
 " But what happened? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Well, all they knew was by the signs they 
 could read in the snow," answered Tom. " They 
 managed to track Len to where he had gone, a 
 place near where the men were working. Then 
 they found a spot where there'd been a struggle 
 in the snow." 
 
 "A bear — a moose?" asked Ward excitedly. 
 " Did some wild animal attack him?" 
 
 " That's what they thought at first," answered 
 Tom, "but they soon saw differently. They — 
 they couldn't find Len's body anywhere, and then 
 they knew he must have been carried off." 
 
 *' But a moose, or even a bear, couldn't carry 
 him off I " exclaimed Andy. 
 
 " No, but a man could I " cried Tom, " and it 
 was a man who carried Len off I Oh, if I could 
 find that man I " 
 
 He clenched his fists, and, youth that he was, 
 there was a look on his face that boded no good 
 to the captor of little Len. 
 
 " How did they know it was a man? " asked 
 Ward. 
 
"TO THE RESCUE" i6^ 
 
 "By tHe marks in the snow, by the tracKs of 
 big boots,— a lumberman's boots." 
 
 " Maybe it Was some of the lumbermen from' 
 the camp," suggested Andy. " They might have 
 done it for a joke." 
 
 " It wasn't a joke," declared Tom. i 
 
 " How do you know? " 
 
 " Because the marks in the snow showed that 
 the man wore a boot entirely different from any 
 in the camp." 
 
 " How different? " asked Frank, a strange 
 suspicion coming into his mind. 
 
 " Different in this way," replied Tom. " The 
 marks in the snow showed that the man who took 
 Len away wore boots with the mark of an arrow 
 in hob nails in the sole." 
 
 " An arrow 1 " cried Frank. " Are you sure 
 of this?" 
 
 "Yes. Why? "asked Tom. 
 
 " By Jove I It may be the same man 1 " ex- 
 claimed the elder Racer lad. 
 
 " What same man? " asked Tom wonderingly. 
 
 "The same one who may have been stealing 
 Uncle Ben's lumber," replied Frank, and he 
 briefly explained. "Fellows ! " he cried, " we 
 may be able to solve two mysteries at once ! Shall 
 we do it? " 
 
 " Of course I " Andy fairly yelled. " To thd 
 rescue I " and he sprang up and held out his hand 
 to Tom. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 ON THE WAY 
 
 Almost like some scene in a play was that 
 which was now taking place in the lumber cabin. 
 The four boys stood confronting the lad who had 
 come to them with such a strange story. 
 
 " Well? " cried Andy, as no one answered his 
 appeal. " Shall we go, or not? " 
 
 " Of course we will ! " exclaimed his brother. 
 " I was just thinking of the best thing to do. 
 Sure, we'll help Tom get his brother back. But 
 we want to go about it the right way." 
 
 " I knew you'd rise to it I " declared Andy, as 
 he shook hands with his former rival from 
 Waterside. The other boys did the same thing. 
 Not that there was any need of shaking hands at 
 that particular time, but it seemed the only thing 
 to do. 
 
 " Say, I don't want to spoil your fun, fellows," 
 said Tom, and there was a mist of tears In his 
 eyes. " I only came to you here — well, because, 
 there didn't seem anything else to do. You were 
 my nearest friends. The lumbermen couldn't 
 
 170 
 
ON THE WAY 171 
 
 seem to help me, I didn't want to go back to the 
 sanitarium, for the doctors and nurses there, 
 syhile they seemed to mean all right, didn't have 
 much chance to get out in the Maine woods in 
 the middle of winter. So I came here, and 
 I " 
 
 " You did just the right thing ! " cried Jack. 
 " That's what we're here for — to help you." 
 
 " Right 1 " chorused the others. 
 
 " Tell us more about it," suggested Andy. 
 
 *' Well, there isn't much to tell," spoke Tom. 
 " Just as I told you, Len, after making himself 
 iat home in the lumber camp, and being made a 
 sort of pet, when the men found they couldn't 
 get him back to civilization on account of the 
 storm, Len just wandered out in the woods. 
 
 " There are always a lot of rough characters 
 hanging around a lumber camp, and one of these 
 must have made off with him, though I can't see 
 why." 
 
 " Didn't the lumberjacks make any search for 
 him?" asked Ward. 
 
 " Sure they did, but that's all the good It did. 
 He wasn't to be found, and the only trace there 
 was of him was where they saw the marks in the 
 snow." 
 
 " But why didn't they follow the trail? " Andy 
 wanted to know. " We did, and got the bear." 
 
 " Well, this trail wasn't so easy to follow. 
 
1^2 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 The country Is a good deal rougher there, and, 
 after they got started, a snowstorm came up, and 
 they had to turn back. So all the information 
 they had for me when I got there, was the story 
 of how Len was missing." 
 
 " Did you make a try? " asked Jack. 
 
 " I sure did," was the prompt answer, " but 
 it wasn't any use. He'd gone — that was all. 
 Then I thought it all over, and I made up my 
 mind the only thing to do was to come to you 
 fellows. I took the first train I could get, and 
 came the rest of the way by sled. Now I'm 
 here." 
 
 " And we're going to help you 1 " cried Frank. 
 
 " You said something, a while ago," spoke 
 Tom, " of a man who had been taking your 
 uncle's lumber — a man with the same sort of 
 marks in his shoes as we saw in the snow near 
 the place where Len disappeared. What did 
 you mean? " 
 
 " Just this," replied Frank. " We saw a queer 
 character the other day when we were out in our 
 ice boat. He ran when he saw we were headed 
 toward him, and we saw, in the snow, the marks 
 of the arrow. 
 
 " Uncle Ben told us about missing valuable 
 lumber, and we jumped to the conclusion that this 
 man had been taking it, and hiding it near some 
 well-concealed stream, ready to float to some 
 
ON THE WAY 173 
 
 mill in the spring. We may be wrong about that 
 part of it, but there's no doubt but what he had 
 the arrow mark in his shoes. I just happened to 
 think that he might be the same man who enticed 
 your brother away." 
 
 " He might be," agreed Tom. 
 
 " But the Rockyford lumber camp and Crystal 
 Lake are a good distance apart," objected Ward. 
 
 "Not so far, in a direct line," said Frank. " A 
 man who knew the woods could make the trail 
 in a day or so, and this fellow must have been 
 desperate." 
 
 " But why did he take Len? " asked Jack. " I 
 can't see any object in a rough lumberjack want- 
 ing to kidnap a little fellow like Len." 
 
 No one spoke for a moment, and then Frank 
 said slowly: 
 
 " Fellows, it may sound sort of melodramatic, 
 and like a story in a book, but I'm going to tell 
 you something that I've been thinking of for the 
 last few minutes." 
 
 " Out with it ! " exclaimed Andy. 
 
 " Well, it offers the only possible explanation 
 I can think of why this unknown man, whoever 
 he is, should make off with Len," went on Frank. 
 
 " Do you remember? " he asked'Tom, " when 
 you were about to start off for Rockyford camp, 
 that you said you'd give a thousand dollars, or 
 something like that, to have Len safe? " 
 
1/4 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 "Yes, I remember," answered Tom wonder- 
 ingly. 
 
 "Well, just as you said that," went on Frank, 
 *' I saw a roughly-dressed man sneaking around 
 the corner of the sanitarium. He heard what you 
 said, I'm sure, and it made quite an impression 
 on him." 
 
 " Oh, what a chump I was I " cried Tom. 
 
 " No, not exactly," declared Frank. " In 
 fact, while your words may have furnished a 
 reason for the taking away of Len, they may also 
 furnish a clew for finding him." 
 
 "How's that?" asked the lost lad's brother. 
 
 " Well, I'll tell you. When you said what you 
 did, I happened to take particular notice of this 
 fellow, I even inquired who he was, for his face 
 seemed to me so full of malice that I wanted to 
 know him again, in case I had to. Some one told 
 me he was Ike Bruce, a worthless character about 
 town. Bruce had been a lumberman, it seems." 
 
 "Well?" asked Andy, as his brother paused. 
 
 "Well, don't you see my point? Bruce over- 
 heard Tom say he'd give a thousand dollars to 
 get his brother back. Of course Tom didn't mean 
 it exactly that way, but " 
 
 " I'd give twice a thousand dollars for him 
 now I " burst out the visitor. " I don't dare let 
 my mother know that Len is missing again. Two 
 thousand dollars 1 Yes, I'd give five 1 " 
 
ON THE WAY 175 
 
 " I know It," said Frank. " Just keep cool, oldi 
 man. And that Is exactly how Bruce took It. 
 You were only saying that off hand, as It were, 
 •but he took you literally. He knew where your 
 brother was, for It was common talk around 
 there. He saw a chance to get a thousand dol- 
 lars, and he took It. He got ahead of you, went 
 to the lumber camp, watched his chance, and 
 spirited Len away." 
 
 " By Jove! I believe he did!" cried Tom. 
 
 " But how could he? " asked Ward, who liked 
 to have things explained. " Tom had at least a 
 day's start of him. Bruce had no airship, to get 
 to the lumber camp In advance." 
 
 " That's so," agreed Frank. " I didn't think 
 of that. Maybe I'm wrong." 
 
 " Hold on! " cried Tom. " I was delayed! I 
 forgot to tell you about that. One of our horses 
 broke a leg getting through a big drift and we 
 had to lay over two days In a little village until 
 we could get another." 
 
 " Then that explains It," said Frank. " I see 
 how It was now. This tramp Bruce started off 
 at once, hoping to beat Tom to Rockyford, or. 
 If he couldn't do that, he counted on hanging 
 around after Tom got there and getting Len any- 
 how. But he didn't need to do that. 
 
 " He started off, and he must have passed Tom 
 after the accident. How he did It I don't pre- 
 
iJ-S RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 ten3 to Enow, but, anyhow, I Helieve he got fS 
 the camp, and took Len away. He may have; 
 traveled on horseback, or even on snowshoes — 'ti. 
 man on snowshoes could beat a horse where the 
 going was bad." 
 
 "That's what he didl" cried Tom'. " Fml 
 sure that man has my brother. Oh ! how can we ' 
 get Len back? " 
 
 "We'll help you!" exclaimed Frank. "Andy, 
 we've got to get on the job." 
 
 " Hit the trail right away ! " shouted the 
 younger Racer lad. " Let's get after Len 1 " 
 
 " We've got to make some preparations," 
 spoke Frank, "but that's my verdict. Get a 
 move on at once I " 
 
 " That's talking! " cried Jack. 
 
 " On the job ! " came from Ward. 
 
 And then began preparations to take the trail 
 after the stolen boy. None of them was willing 
 to wait to hear from Bruce, — provided he really 
 had poor Len and wanted the thousand dollars. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 A STORM BATTLE 
 
 "What's the first thing to be done?" asked 
 Jack, when they had talked over in detail the 
 strange story Tom Crawford had brought to 
 Crystal Lake camp. 
 
 " If you ask me, I confess that I'm all at sea," 
 admitted Tom hopelessly. " This has gotten on 
 my nerves, I guess. I don't know at which end 
 to start to unravel the mystery." 
 
 " Say, you just leave it to us 1 " cried Frank. 
 "We'll look out for Len all right. We'll plan 
 it. Now, the best thing for you to do is to take 
 a good sleep, and rest. .You look as if you needed 
 it." 
 
 " I do," confessed Tom". " I haven't Had much 
 isleep the last few days, and I'm played out. I 
 wish I could help you fellows plan the rescue, 
 though." 
 
 " Tou can, after a bit," spoke Frank. " We 
 will have to ask you some questions. But, first 
 of all, you go lie down in one of our bunks. Just 
 make yourself to home, and we'll talk this thing 
 pver among ourselves." 
 
 177 
 
178 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " Sure, that's the idea I " exclaimed Andy. 
 " Frank aiid I solved one mystery of a boy, and 
 I guess we can tackle another." 
 
 " I'm sure I don't know how to thank you," 
 said Tom gratefully, as he went into the bunk 
 room, Frank closed the door after his chum, so 
 their talking would not disturb him. 
 
 " Now, the first thing I want is a piece of 
 paper," began Frank. 
 
 "What for?" asked Andy, impulsively. "Are 
 you going to write out an advertisement offering 
 a reward for the recovery of Len? There aren't 
 ^ny papers up in these woods." 
 
 " Say, you just hold your horses, and don't go 
 so fast," advised Frank good-naturedly. " I 
 want to go at this thing right, and with some 
 Isystem. I'm going to make a sort of map of the 
 places that figure in this mystery." 
 
 Thereupon he drew a rough outline, showing 
 the approximate location of the sanitarium at 
 Pinehurst, the location of the Rockyford lumber 
 camp, his uncle's camp at Salt Spring, and their 
 own at Crystal Lake. 
 
 " There," remarked Frank, when he had fin- 
 ished, " that does the business, I think," and he 
 proceeded to mark down the distance as well as 
 he could estimate it, from place to place. 
 
 " Say, we've got a job cut out for us, if we are 
 to cover all those miles this kind of weather," re- 
 marked Ward. 
 
A STORM BATTLE 179 
 
 "Not so fast!" cried Frank. "If you'll 
 notice, you'll see that while it's quite a distance 
 from Pinehurst to our camp here, it isn't nearly 
 so far from the lumber place at Rockyford to 
 Crystal Lake. We could easily make that In a 
 three days' tramp." 
 
 "What's the use of going there? " asked Jack. 
 " Len has been taken away, and you don't sup- 
 pose this fellow, Ike Bruce, or whatever his name 
 is, will wait there for you; do you? " 
 
 " No, I don't suppose anything of the kind," 
 spoke Frank. " And, as a matter of fact I don't 
 propose to go to Rockyford. I believe this fel- 
 low — he may or may not be Bruce — ^has headed 
 this way with the boy." 
 
 "Headed this wayl What for?" demanded 
 Andy. 
 
 " So as to be near his seat of operations in 
 stealing Uncle Ben's logs. Of course I may be 
 wrong, but I believe this fellow does a regular 
 business in taking other people's logs. His cap- 
 ture of Len was only a side line, so to speak. Hei 
 heard Tom mention the thousand dollars, and he 
 concluded it was an easy way to make that sum. 
 
 " I believe he's now somewhere around here, 
 and it's up to us to find him. We may have to go 
 a good distance, and we may not, it all depends. 
 It may take quite a while, and we may be lucky 
 enough to stumble on his trail in short order." 
 
 " But what are we going to look for? " askedl 
 
i8o RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 JacK. " We can't go blindly out in the woods,; 
 and hunt for a man who is holding a little boy S 
 prisoner for a thousand-dollar ransom." 
 
 "Of course we can't," agreed Franlc. "TEd 
 thing to look for, in my opinion, is some sort of 
 a log cabin, or shack in the most lonely part of 
 these woods. And, when we find that we may 
 find Len there." 
 
 " What makes you think there'll be a lonely 
 cabin? " asked Ward. 
 
 " Because this Bruce, or whoever it Is who has 
 Len, must have some place to stay. He can't 
 live out in the open this kind of weather. He's 
 got to have a place to keep Len." 
 
 " That's right," agreed Andy. " Come on, 
 let's start." 
 
 "Not so fasti" advised Frank, with a smile 
 at his brother, who always wanted to do things 
 in a hurry. " It's almost night now, and, be- 
 sides, we've got to pack up our grub, arrange 
 about a tent and other things, and map out a' 
 regular plan of campaign, just as if this was war. 
 And It is war, in a way. We're going to fight t(? 
 get Len back." ' 
 
 "Well, I guess that's right," admitted the' 
 younger Racer lad. " Go ahead with your plati- 
 ning. 
 
 After some tallc they decided to make the; 
 cabin, where they then were, their base of sup- 
 
A STORM BATTLE i8i 
 
 plies and operations. They would talce three 
 days' rations with them, a tent that could be 
 taken apart, and laced together for setting up, 
 this being already at the camp. They would 
 carry a small, folding, sheet-Iron stove, on which 
 simple things, Including coffee, could be boiled, 
 and of course their guns would not be left be- 
 hind. 
 
 *' We'll start out in the morning," said Franlc, 
 " and travel until night. Then we'll make a 
 camp, and In the morning we'll go on for half a 
 day before turning back. We can camp the 
 second night, and on the third day we'll reach our 
 camp back here at dark, if everything goes right. 
 
 " Then we can repeat the operation the next 
 three days, and so on, until we find Len. Each 
 time we start out we'll go In a different direction, 
 and, after each night's camp, we'll shift our trail 
 a bit until, If we keep It up long enough, we'll 
 have covered a pretty wide circular area all about 
 here, with this camp as a centre. How does thai- 
 strike you fellows?" 
 
 " Fine I " cried Jack. 
 
 " I can't see any fault with it," declared Ward. 
 
 " It suits me," was Andy's opinion. 
 
 It was now supper time, and Tom, coming 
 from the Inner room, after the first bit of good 
 sleep he had had in some days, was made ac- 
 iquainted with the scheme. 
 
l82 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 "That's great!" he cried. " Great 1 Oh I I 
 hope someday I can make up to you fellows all 
 you've done for me." 
 
 " We haven't done much yet," spoKe Franlc 
 quietly, " but," he added determinedly, " we're 
 going to ! " 
 
 Early the next morning they began their prep- 
 arations for going out. The rations were packed, 
 and each lad had his share of weight to carry. 
 Ammunition was distributed, guns looked after — 
 Tom having brought one with him — and they 
 were ready. 
 
 " Forward march ! " cried Frank, as he locked 
 the cabin door. 
 
 " And we're in for a storm the first crack off 
 the bat," remarked Jack in a low voice. Indeed 
 the clouds were threatening, but it would have 
 taken more than the threat of a storm to have 
 kept the boys back. 
 
 They began on the first of the section of the 
 big circle that Frank had mapped out. It was 
 easy going on the snow, which had formed into 
 a hard crust, that made their snowshoes most 
 serviceable. 
 
 " Now every fellow keep his eye peeled for 
 three things," advised Frank, as he took the 
 lead. 
 
 " What are they? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Any place where it looks as if logs had been 
 
A STORM BATTLE 183 
 
 hidden, or shot down to some stream," replied 
 the elder Racer lad, " the sight of a lonely shack 
 or cabin, and, last, but not least, the marks in the 
 snow of the shoes with the arrow in hob nails. 
 Do you get me, boys ? " 
 
 " We sure do," replied Andy, with a laugh. In 
 which even Tom joined, for he was not so gloomy 
 and downcast now that he had his faithful chums 
 to aid him in the search for his brother. . 
 
 But they were not destined to success that day, 
 nor for several to come. They tramped until 
 noon, seeing nothing but snow and the forest, and 
 at twelve o'clock they halted for dinner. Again 
 they took the trail, and there was a little excite- 
 ment, about three o'clock, when Tom shot a lone, 
 prowling wolf that howled mournfully. 
 
 " He won't summon any of his brothers and 
 sisters to make trouble for us to-night," grimly 
 remarked the marksman. 
 
 " Here it comes," remarked Andy, about an 
 hour later, as he looked toward the sky. 
 
 "What?" asked Ward. 
 
 " The snow. We're in for a storm." 
 
 It broke with a sudden fury that made the boys 
 a bit apprehensive. The wind, which- had been 
 blowing all day, howling mournfully through the 
 pines, suddenly increased to a gale, driving the 
 white flakes into the faces of the lads. 
 
 " I sayl " cried Frank, after they had battled 
 
184 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 with the storm for an hour or more, " this is get- 
 ting fierce I" 
 
 "I should say sol" cried Andy. "Hadn't 
 we better camp?" 
 
 " No, we can make a little more distance be- 
 fore dark," decided his brother. 
 
 " But we can't see anything," objected Ward. 
 " This storm Is blinding." 
 
 " That's right," assented Frank. " Perhaps 
 we had better call a halt." 
 
 They battled on a little longer, however, and 
 finally had to give it up. 
 
 " I'm all in ! " exclaimed Andy, as he slipped 
 down in an inert lump. " I'm done for, fel- 
 lows 1 " and his pack rolled down a little decliv- 
 ity into a drift of snow. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 IN A BIG DRIFT 
 
 " What's the matter?" cried Frank in alarm. 
 " Are you hurt, Andy? Is it your head, where 
 you struck it that time? Andy, are you hurt? " 
 
 " No, not hurt a bit," was the slow answer, 
 " but I'm just dead tired. I can't go another 
 step.*^ 
 
 Indeed the younger Racer lad did look to be 
 pretty well exhausted. 
 
 "That's too bad I" cried Frank. "I ought 
 to have stopped some time ago. I didn't realize 
 that we'd come a good distance, and through a 
 hard storm. We ought to have taken it easier 
 on the first day, anyhow." 
 
 " Say, you fellows are doing too much for 
 me ! " cried Tom. " I can't let you do it. I'vei 
 been trouble enough." 
 
 " Now you look here 1 " broke out Andy with 
 sudden energy. " I'm all right. There's no 
 harm done at all. I'm just tired, and a good rest 
 and something to eat, will fix me up. I guess 
 I'm not as strong as I thought I was." 
 
 185 
 
i8fl RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 ' " We've been leading a pretty active life up 
 here," said Ward. " I don't blame you for get- 
 ting tuckered out. , I begin to feel a little wobbly 
 myself." 
 
 " Then let's get the tent up, and cooE grub," 
 proposed Jack, as he brought Andy's pack back 
 from the drift where it had toppled when the lad 
 slumped down in the snow. " .This is a good 
 place to camp." 
 
 " ' Any port in a storm,' " quoted Tom. " I 
 only hope poor little Len is fairly comfortable," 
 and his voiced choked as he thought of his help- 
 less brother. 
 
 "Oh, he's all right. Don't worry!" cried 
 Andy cheerfully. " I'd have a game of tag with 
 you fellows, only I'm afraid I'll spoil my com- 
 plexion," he added, as he made a snowball, and 
 threw it at Jack, catching him in the neck. 
 
 " Wowl Quit that I " yelled the afflicted one. 
 " Say, there's nothing the matter with you, Andy, 
 .when you're up to your old tricks." 
 
 " No, I'm feeling some better," admitted the 
 younger Racer lad. " I'll be a regular cut-up 
 after I get a square meal." 
 
 In spite of the storm that still raged with in- 
 creasing violence the boys managed to get up the 
 tent. They erected it beneath a big pine tree that 
 would afford a protection from the gale and 
 snow. 
 
IN A BIG DRIFT 187 
 
 Then a place was cleared in front of it, and 
 the stove set up. A fire was made with dry wood, 
 iwhich they managed to find by digging away the 
 snow. The flakes were so hard in that cold at- 
 mosphere, that no moisture had penetrated to the 
 fuel. With some green pine needles to start the 
 blaze, a fire was soon snapping away, and the 
 coffee was put on. 
 
 " Say, this is cozy enough for anybody," ex- 
 claimed Jack, as they sat in the tent, eating sup- 
 per. The flaps, which were opened away from 
 the direction in which the wind came, gave a view 
 of the crackling blaze in the portable stove, and 
 with cups of coffee in one hand and sandwiches 
 in the other, the boys alternately ate and talked. 
 
 Night came. A lantern they had brought along 
 was set aglow, and, with the tent tightly closed. 
 It really made the place quite comfortable. If 
 ever you go camping, and get cold in the tent, 
 light a couple of lanterns, and see how soon the 
 canvas house is made warm. 
 
 Then, as the storm raged without, our heroes 
 went to sleep, to dream of battles with fierce 
 bears, and fiercer men who stole little children 
 to hold for a ransom. Owing to the fact that the 
 tent was a low one, being raised on small poles, 
 easily cut anywhere, and because it was beneath 
 the shelter of the tree, the effects of the storm 
 iwere not so severely felt as otherwise would have 
 
i88 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 been the case. With heml6ck branches laid down 
 as a sort of mattress, and well wrapped in their 
 blankets and warm clothing, the boys passed a' 
 comfortable night. 
 
 In the morning the storm still rage3, but it 
 was not quite so severe, and they decided to push 
 on, at least for an hour or so, looking for signs 
 of the lad of whom they were in search. 
 
 " We won't stick to our original plan this 
 time," said Frank. " The going will be heavy, 
 and if we don't want to spend an extra night in 
 the open, we'll cut this part of our trip a little 
 short. We can make up for it some other time." 
 
 When the order was given to turn back they 
 had seen no signs of anything unusual. Indeed, 
 to look for the footprints of the suspected man 
 was out of the question in the storm, and the only 
 thing they hoped for was to sight some lonely 
 cabin, in a secluded part of the forest. But even 
 this was denied them. 
 
 The snow had stopped when they came to 
 camp the next night, and In the morning they 
 kept on once more, making a change in direction. 
 By compass they fetched a course that would en- 
 able them to cover considerable ground, and yet 
 get back to camp by night. And when they 
 reached Crystal Lake they were glad to see their 
 comfortable cabin again. 
 
 " Now for some real sleep I " cried Andy. 
 
IN A BIG DRIFT 189 
 
 " Last night I had a lot of hard branches for my 
 bed, and I'm as sore as a boil from lying on 
 them." 
 
 For a weeK the boys kept to their plan of tak- 
 ing a different course radiating from the cabin, 
 but in that time they saw no encouraging signs. 
 The forest seemed deserted save for wild beasts, 
 and Ward was lucky enough to kill a small deer, 
 the head of which was hoisted into a tall tree to 
 remain until the boys could pack it back to camp. 
 Tom shot a young lynx, which delighted him im- 
 mensely, and served, in a measure, to take his 
 mind off his troubles. 
 
 " Well, now for another trial at it I " exclaimed 
 Frank cheerfully one morning as they started out 
 again, with the tent, their guns and rations. 
 " Somehow I feel in my bones as If something was 
 going to happen, to-day." 
 
 " Knock wood I There is — now I " cried the 
 irrepressible Andy, as he slyly stepped on the 
 point of one of his brother's snowshoes, and up- 
 set the elder Racer lad into a drift. 
 
 " Say, I'U fix you for that 1 " cried Frank, as 
 he got up and set off after the guilty one. But 
 Andy proved to be too fleet of foot, and his 
 brother gave over the chase after It had lasted 
 a minute or so. 
 
 " Now quit," begged Frank. " Can't you let 
 up on yoyr monkey shines, Andy? " 
 
190 RACER BOYS TQ THE RESCUE 
 
 " Oh, I suppose I can if I have to," was the 
 laughing reply. 
 
 AH that day they tramped, but success did not 
 reward their efforts. Another storm came up 
 about noon, but it did not act as though it was 
 going to amount to much. At night they camped 
 near a ledge of rocks, in what looked to be a 
 sheltered place. 
 
 It was Andy, ever an early riser when any- 
 thing was afoot, who discovered their predica- 
 ment the next morning. As he crawled from be- 
 tween his blankets he peered out between the 
 tent flaps. 
 
 " Wow ! " he cried. " Say, fellows, something 
 has happened in the night, all right I " 
 
 " What is it? " Frank asked. " Is there a bear 
 out there, waiting for us?" 
 
 " A bear nothing 1 " replied his brother. " Say, 
 I can't see a thing. There's a drift in front of 
 our tent about ten feet high I We'll have to dig 
 our way put! We're snowed in I " 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 A STRANGE DISCOVERY 
 
 They crawled to the tent flaps — all the others 
 crowding around Andy to see what had caused 
 him to make the exclamation. And their wonder 
 matched his. 
 
 For there, in front of their tent, rising to a 
 great height over it, was an immense drift of 
 snow, a veritable small mountain of it, that com- 
 pletely hemmed them in with a barrier of white. 
 
 " Say, some class to that snow! " cried Frank. 
 
 " Yes, and the;re'll be some class to us if we 
 get through it in a hurry, too," added Ward. 
 
 " Why, it'll be easy enough to plunge through 
 that I " exclaimed Andy impetuously. " I'll take 
 a chance, and " 
 
 Frank caught his brother by the shoulder, and 
 hauled him back on the pile of blankets that 
 served as a bed, just as Andy was reaching for 
 his coat to make a try at the snowdrift. 
 
 "Here, what's the matter with you?" de- 
 manded the younger lad, as his brother held him 
 down and looked at him calmly. " Let me up ; 
 can't you? " 
 
 191 
 
192 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " Not if you're going to try to navigate in tKat 
 snow bank," was the answer. 
 
 " Why, what's the matter with trying it7 " 
 came defiantly from Andy. " I can tunnel 
 through in jig style. It'll be a heap of fun I " 
 
 " Yefe, that may be fun for you, but it won't 
 be so much fun for us to dig you out. Don't you 
 remember," went on Frank, " that, just beyond 
 the ledge where we set up our tent, there's an- 
 other one, and deep ? " 
 
 " Yes," replied Andy. 
 
 " Well, this big drift is between our tent and 
 the deep hole that goes straight down from the 
 top of this ledge. If you tried to burrow, or tun- 
 nel, through the snowdrift, you'd be on the edge 
 of the ledge before you knew it, and down you'd 
 go, into a bank of snow deeper than this. Then 
 we'd have a sweet time getting you out — pro- 
 vided there was anything left. Now do you 
 see?" 
 
 " Yes, I do," spoke Andy more solemnly than 
 he usually talked. " Thanks, Frank." 
 
 He got up, and, with the others, proceedeH td 
 dress. Not that there was much to do, for they 
 slept in nearly all their clothes. 
 
 "Well, what's to be done?" asked Tom, as 
 they were ready to emerge from the tent. 
 
 " Breakfast first," replied Frank. " There's 
 
A STRANGE DISCOVERY 193 
 
 isome 'dry wood that I put in the tent last night," 
 iand he pointed to a pile of sticks in a corner. 
 " Get some hot coffee and then we'll try to dig 
 our way out of this drift. It's a big one all 
 right." 
 
 Indeed it was. The wind in the night had 
 whipped the snow over the edge of the ledge, 
 against the face of which the tent had been 
 erected. Owing to the peculiar force of the wind 
 currents the snow had not touched the tent, but 
 stood up before it like some white mountain-sen- 
 tinal. The top of the drift was much higher than 
 the tent, and it overhung it like a cornice so that 
 the boys could not tell whether or not it was still 
 snowing. 
 
 " Hurray for breakfast ! " cried Andy as he 
 Kelped to start the fire in the little stove. Some 
 snow was put on to melt for the coffee, and a 
 isimple meal was soon ready. 
 
 *' Now how are you going to cut through the 
 Idrift, Frank, without falling over the second 
 ledge?" asked Andy, when the packs had been 
 made up, and they were ready to start again, pro- 
 ivided they could dig their way out. 
 
 "We haven't any shovels," added Tom. 
 
 " We don't need 'em," came from the elder 
 Racer lad. " Our snowshoes will do as well, in 
 ithis soft, light snow. Now come on, we'll make 
 
194 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 a cut to the left, instead of straight ahead, for 
 the ground slopes up in that direction, and we can 
 get out on top of the cliff." 
 
 "Oh, I seel" cried Andy. "Yes, that's a 
 good plan." 
 
 The others agreed with this view, and when 
 the tent had been taken down, and packed up in 
 the laced sections, they had more room to 
 work. 
 
 The snowshoes were not half bad shovels, and 
 with them the five lads vigorously attacked the 
 drift. They cut a sort of path through it, where 
 this was possible, and, where it was so high that 
 a channel-cut was out. of the question, they 
 tunneled. 
 
 " I only hope it doesn't cave in on us when 
 we're in the middle," said Frank, looking anx- 
 iously at the sides and roof of the white passage. 
 " But we'll have to chance it." 
 
 It took a hour of hard work before they had 
 emerged through the big pile of snow, and come 
 out on the top of the ledge at the foot of which 
 their tent had been pitched. 
 
 Then they went back for their packs, and it 
 looked as if all would get safely out of the tun- 
 nel. Tom was last, and, just as he was calling to 
 Ward, who preceded him, to hurry, as some big 
 chunks of snow were falling, the tunnel caved in, 
 burying Tom Crawford from sight. 
 
A STRANGE DISCOVERY 195 
 
 " Lively boys ! " cried Frank, casting aside his 
 pack. "Dig him out!" 
 
 " iTo the rescue I " yelled Andy, always on the 
 alert for excitement, as he grabbed up a snow- 
 shoe. 
 
 " Go easy now," observed Frank. " You don't 
 want to jab Tom with the edge of the wood.". 
 
 There was a flurry in the heap of white flakes,- 
 and, before the rescuing party could begin work, 
 Tom emerged, puffing and blowing from his ex- 
 ertion, covered with snow from head to foot, but 
 otherwise not injured. 
 
 " Good for you ! " cried JacK, as he helped 
 pull Tom through the edge of the drift. 
 
 " But I lost my pack in there," Len's brother 
 remarked. 
 
 " We'll get it," declared Frank, and soon they 
 had dug it out. 
 
 " It's going to be hard going to-day," said 
 Ward, when once more they stood together, 
 ready to take up the search again. 
 
 *' That's right," agreed Frank, and one look 
 through the snow-filled forest made everyone of 
 the same opinion. For the storm of the night 
 had been a severe one, and, though now the fall 
 of white flakes had ceased, there were enough of 
 them on the ground to make traveling difficult, 
 ,even with snowshoes. 
 
 But the boys bravely set off, buoyed up with th^ 
 
196 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 hope of finding little Leri. Though Tom said 
 little they could all see that he was beginning toi 
 lose heart. And they did all they could to cheer 
 him up. 
 
 " If that fellow, whoever he is, who has Len,' 
 would only send some word," spoke Tonl de- 
 spondently, " I'd know where he was, and 
 whether my brother was being half-decently taken 
 care of. Then I'd raise the money somehow, 
 and " 
 
 "You'll do nothing of the sort!" Interrupted 
 Frank. " We'll get your brother back, and we'll 
 not pay that scoundrel a ceot. We'll put him in 
 jail, though, where he belongs. Maybe he does 
 intend to send you some word, but it's hard to do 
 that in the Maine woods, in winter. But, word 
 or no word, we'll find Len yet. We haven't half 
 covered the ground." 
 
 " That's so, there's a good bit yet to look 
 over," agreed Tom, and this was so. They could 
 not make many miles up to noon, because of the 
 heavy going, and when they stopped for dinner 
 they were tired out. But they did not give up. 
 
 When they reached the cabin it was rather a' 
 discouraged company of lads. But a good meal . 
 and rest made them look on the brighter side of 
 life, and Frank proposed that they take a day or 
 two of rest before venturing forth again. 
 
 This was done, and they remained in camp a(i 
 
A STRANGE DISCOVERY 197 
 
 Crystal LaKe, amusing themselves as best they 
 could. They fished through the ice, and initiated 
 Tom into the mysteries of the ice boat. They 
 also did some hunting, and thus restocked their 
 cupboard. 
 
 Then, one cold, clear morning, after a heavy 
 fall of snow, Frank proposed that they set out 
 again as usual. 
 
 All that day they tramped, camping at night 
 many miles from their cabin, for they had made 
 good time. The start was made again, soon af- 
 ter breakfast, and every one was on the alert for 
 a sight of a lonely cabin, for a man sneaking 
 along as if trying to' -hide fi-om view or for — ai 
 little lad. And oh I how in their hearts they 
 longed to find Len ! 
 
 It was almost noon, and they Had seen noth- 
 ing. It was about time to turn back, and take a' 
 fresh trail, so that they could camp within a day's 
 journey of their cabin. 
 
 Andy, who as usual had rushed ahead of the 
 others, came to a sudden halt. 
 
 " Look here, fellows 1 " he called, as he peered 
 over and seemed to be looking at sonlething. 
 " Here's a toboggan slide down into the deepest 
 valley I've seen for a long time." 
 
 "A toboggan slide?" questioned Frank,'* 
 hurrying up. 
 
 " Yes, or else a shoot the chutes, or something 
 
198 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 like that. It goes frorii the top here, right down 
 into the valley, but say, it must have broken in 
 two, or else whoever slides down here likes to 
 come to a sudden jumping-off place." 
 
 Andy was standing beside a queer structure 
 made of rough boards on log uprights, as could 
 be seen where the snow had been brushed, or 
 blown, away. It was like some sluice, or a long 
 wooden box, with a bottom and two sides, but no 
 top. 
 
 " Who would build a toboggan slide out in 
 this wilderness I wonder?" spoke Ward. 
 
 " Unless it's for the bears and moose," ven- 
 tured Jack. 
 
 " Toboggan slide ! " cried Frank. " This is 
 no toboggan slide I " 
 
 " Then what is it?" challenged Andy. 
 
 " It's a log slide, that's what it is. Fellows, 
 we've made a great discovery, I believe. This 
 is the place where the man who has been stealing 
 Uncle Ben's logs shoots them down into the val- 
 ley to wait for the spring floods. Boys, we're on; 
 the right trail at last, I believe 1 " 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 BAFFLED 
 
 Eagerly the boys crowded up around the log 
 slide, for, now that Frank had so named it, every- 
 one was of his opinion. They brushed the snow 
 away and there, revealed on the bottom boards 
 of the long chute, were plainly to be seen marks 
 which showed that some heavy objects had been 
 sent swiftly down. 
 
 " A log slide 1 " murmured Andy. " Then this 
 man must be somewhere around here, fellows." 
 
 With one accord their eyes swept the forest 
 about them, but it was as bleak, bare and de- 
 serted as the woods through which they had so 
 {fruitlessly traveled the last week or two. 
 
 " You don't suppose his cabin is in plain sight; 
 do you?" asked Frank. 
 
 " I should think so, yes," replied Andy. " If 
 lie brings his logs here I don't see why he 
 wouldn't be around." 
 
 " Chiefly for the reason that It wouldn't be 
 healthy," replied the elder Racer lad. " This 
 
 X99 
 
J2oo RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 hian is, in plain language, a thief. That is if he's 
 the one we think he is. He's been taking Uncle 
 Ben's logs, and it wouldn't do to get caught at 
 that sort of game — ^not the way Uncle Ben feels 
 iabout it." 
 
 " But how did He work the game, and why 
 should he want to shoot logs down this flume? " 
 asked Tom, who had not had the opportunity 
 to be about a lumber camp, as had the Racer 
 boys. 
 
 " This is how I think he's been working it," 
 said Frank. " Of course it's^only guesswork, but 
 I think we'll soon be able to find out for certain, 
 las we're going to get this man if it's at all pos- 
 sible. 
 
 " I think he watched his chance, and, when the 
 lumber gang cut down a lot of choice trees, some 
 distance off in the woods, this man would sneak 
 up, hitch a log chain around the trunks, and haul 
 them to this chute. Then he'd put 'em in the 
 flume, send 'em down to the valley and go back 
 for more." 
 
 " But if the logs were put in that valley How in 
 the world did he ever expect to get 'em up?" 
 inquired Tom. 
 
 " They'll float down in the spring, when the 
 freshets come, and make this dry valley quite a 
 respectable river," answered Frank. " That's 
 the way most of the lumbermen do. Only this 
 
BAFFLED 201 
 
 fellow probably uses some little-Known sfream, 
 and he must float his logs down to some secret 
 point, where he can get them out unseen, and cart 
 them to a mill." 
 
 " But he must worE alone," objected Andy, 
 " and I don't see how one man could lift up a 
 heavy log and put it In the flume." 
 
 " He didn't have to lift it very high," com- 
 mented Frank. " The edge of the flume is only 
 about three feet above the ground, where it starts 
 off, and, by means of a tackle and fall, and a 
 team of horses, he could easily do that. Look 
 there," and Frank pointed to the big branch of a 
 tree that overhung the flume. " You can see 
 where a pulley has been rigged," he added, and 
 this was plain to the boys, the bark being rubbed 
 off where the tackle had been attached. 
 
 " He might have had help to build the flume," 
 went on Andy's brother, " or he may have used 
 one built by legitimate lumbermen some time ago. 
 I'm inclined to think the latter." 
 
 " By Jove! We have made a discovery! " ex- 
 claimed Jack. 
 
 " Yes, and if it only turns out that this man is 
 the one who has Len, and we can get him, we'll 
 kill two birds with the same hatchet ! " added 
 Ward. 
 
 " Oh, if we only could I " cried Tom, his eyeS 
 sparkling with hope. 
 
S02: ILACER BOYS TQ JHE RESCUE 
 
 *' I wonder if there are any logs down tKere Iri 
 the valley? " spoke Andy. " I'm going down and 
 take a look! " 
 
 Impetuously he started forward, But he was 
 caught just in time by his brother, who fairly 
 Idragged him back from the edge of the steep 
 {descent. 
 
 "Are you crazy?" demanded Frank, some- 
 what sternly. 
 
 "No. What's the matter?" asked Andy in- 
 nocently enough. So quick had been Frank's 
 backward pull that the smaller lad sat down 
 rather forcibly. 
 
 " Matter enough," was the answer. " If you'd 
 started down there you'd have probably rolled to 
 the bottom with a broken neck. And, if you got 
 safely down, you'd be a long time getting back. 
 That valley's bigger and deeper than it looks. 
 Besides, there may be no end of holes, and big 
 places filled with snow." 
 
 " Then I guess I'll stay here," said Andy. He 
 realized that Frank had spoken the truth. 
 
 " But it would be a good thing if we could get 
 down in that valley, and see if the logs are there," 
 remarked Ward. " Don't you suppose we could 
 manage it, somehow?" 
 
 " Oh, I guess so," replied FranE. " In fact I 
 was going to propose it. But we've got to look 
 for a good place to get down. And, here's an- 
 
BAFFLED 203 
 
 other thing: If we do go down we can hardly 
 get back to the cabin to-night." 
 
 "Then let's stay out," suggested Andy. 
 " We've got enough grub to last us, if we don't 
 eat too much, and it will be sheltered in the val- 
 ley." 
 
 They were all in favor of this, and after care- 
 fully looking over the lay of the land, Frank led 
 his little party down into the snow-filled chasm. 
 It was no easy work, as they slipped and stumbled 
 down the sides, and once Ward was in danger of 
 going over a steep' ledge, which fall might have 
 seriously hurt him, only Tom caught him in time. 
 
 At last they were at the bottom, though some 
 distance from the place where the logs dropped 
 from the end of the chute, and they had to walk 
 back to reach that point. 
 
 " Now let's dig, and see if we can't find some 
 of Uncle Ben's logs under the snow," proposed 
 Andy. 
 
 With their snowshoes for shovels they made 
 the white flakes fairly fly. At last Jack gave an 
 exultant cry. 
 
 " I've found 'em ! " he shouted, and, tossing 
 aside more snow, he revealed a confused pile of 
 black logs. 
 
 " There they are ! " cried Andy. 
 
 " I wonder if they're Uncle Ben's? " ventured 
 Frank. 
 
1204 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE ' 
 
 " His are all branded with his Initials, and a 
 circle mark, on a white blaze," spoke Andy. 
 *' We can soon tell." 
 
 They cleared one log until the blaze, or white- 
 chipped place, was visible. And there they saw a 
 strange sight. 
 
 For instead of the initials " B. A." for Benja- 
 min Armstrong there was revealed " I. B." in a 
 rudely drawn square. 
 
 " Well, what do you know about that?" cried 
 Andy in chagrin. " They're someone else's logs 
 ^fter all. We're' up the wrong tree, boys 1 " 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 THE PUFF OF SMOKE^ 
 
 Disappointment was visible on the faces of 
 all the lads. They had been so sure that they 
 would find the burned marks of Mr. Armstrong's 
 initials on the logs, that they did not know what 
 to say when they beheld another's. They were 
 Completely baffled. 
 
 " Well, I guess we've had our trouble for our 
 pains," suggested Frank. " The only thing to 
 do is to camp here for the night, and then go back 
 to the cabin, and make a fresh start in the morn- 
 ing." 
 
 " Maybe some of the logs are Uncle Ben's," 
 said Andy. 
 
 They scattered snow off more of the tree 
 trunks, but each one bore the brand " I. B." 
 
 " And who may ' I. B.' happen to be?" asked 
 Ward. 
 
 "That's Ike Bruce, I'm sure," replied Frank. 
 " These are his logs. He's that ne'er-do-well 
 lumberman I saw at the sanitarium," he ex- 
 plained. " The one I'm sure who has Len." 
 
 "But if he didn't take Uncle's logs," spoke 
 
 206 
 
•206 RACER BOYS TO THE' RESCUE 
 
 !Andy, "maybe he didn't Have anything to do 
 with the kidnapping." 
 
 " That's so," Frank admitted. " I may be all 
 wrong in my theory. But I'm not going to give 
 up until I find Bruce, and prove that he hasn't 
 'got Len ! " he added determinedly. 
 
 "But can you find him?" asked Tom anx- 
 iously. 
 
 " That I don't know. *But I'm sure he must be 
 in these woods somewhere. The logs here prove 
 that. Of course he may have finished his opera- 
 tions, and have gone away not to come back until 
 the spring freshets will float his lumber down. 
 But when he does come back we'll be here; eh, 
 boys?" 
 
 " That's what I " cried Jack and the others. 
 
 " The Racer boys to the rescue ! " yelled Andy. 
 " We're beaten now, but it's only a little set-back. 
 We'll start fresh in the morning. Now come on, 
 let's get supper and put up the tent. It will soon 
 be dark." 
 
 It was good advice to follow, and they did it, 
 making as hearty a meal as possible under the 
 circumstances. It was not cold in the tent, 
 though the leaden-colored clouds looked as i£ 
 they held more snow. 
 
 It was about nine o'clock, when everyone was 
 just about to drop off into a comfortable doze, 
 that Frank suddenly exclaimed : 
 
THE PUFF OF SMOKE 207 
 
 "I have it!" 
 
 *'iOh, what's the matter now?" asked Andy 
 sleepily. " You woke me up. JVhat have you,; 
 the nightmare? " 
 
 *' No, an idea 1 " cried Frank. " It's about 
 the marks on the logs. I believe Bruce took 
 part of Uncle Ben's marks off, and substi- 
 tuted his own. He could do that by cutting 
 away the ' A ' for Armstrong, leaving the ' B ' 
 for Benjamin, putting in^an 'I' and making a 
 square instead of a circle. I'm going out to 
 have a look! " 
 
 " And we're with you ! " cried Andy, now fully 
 iawake. " Come on, boys ! " 
 
 They quickly dressed, a short operation con- 
 sidering how they slept, and with a lantern went 
 to the pile of snow-covered logs. Then it was 
 plain to all of them, in the light of the theory ad- 
 vanced by Frank, that the brand on the logs had 
 been changed. It was well done, but a close ex- 
 amination showed where the circle had been 
 chipped away, and a square substituted, and 
 where the initials had been juggled. 
 
 "This makes it all right!" cried Frank, as 
 they went back to the tent. " I'm sure now that 
 Ike Bruce is the thief, and if he's the thief he may 
 be the kidnapper too. Boys, we're on the right 
 track after all I " 
 
 " It was a good thing you thought of that," 
 
2o8 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE' 
 
 spoke Tom, as they settled themselves to isleep 
 again. 
 
 " It just happened to come to me as I was doz- 
 ing off," replied Frank. " I had read some- 
 thing, in a story of western life, about cattle rust- 
 lers changing the brand on steers, and it occurred 
 to me that it could be done to logs as well." 
 
 "And it was," exclaimed Andy. "We'll be 
 busy from now on, I can see that." 
 
 " The only thing to do now," remarked Frank, 
 as they came from the tent in the morning, " is 
 to go back to our cabin-camp, and stock up for 
 another trip. We know, with reasonable cer- 
 tainty, that Ike Bruce is staying somewhere 
 around here. He may have a hut, or cabin, hid- 
 den in some secret spot, and I think he's got Len 
 with him. The thing for us to do is to continue 
 our search for him." 
 
 " Which we've been doing all along," came 
 from Ward. 
 
 " Yes, but we had to go It blind," said Andy. 
 " Now we are close after him. If he has been 
 shooting logs down into this valley he must be 
 somewhere in this neighborhood. The thing for 
 us to do is to find him." 
 
 " And we'll do it ! " cried Franlc determinedly. 
 " Come on, boys, pack up, and head for camp. 
 We'll be back here to-night and then we'll keep 
 on the search until we find what we want." 
 
THE PUFF OF SMOKE 209 
 
 Through the snow they trudged to their cabin. 
 It was not easy going, but they managed it, and 
 reached Crystal Lake some time after noon, 
 hungry and tired. 
 
 " Oh, for a good hot meal I " cried Andy, an3 
 one was soon in process of preparation. They 
 found little disturbed, though some choice meat, 
 which had been hung high in a tree to preserve 
 it, had been hauled down, presumably by some 
 lynx or other prowling animal. 
 
 " Well, as long as there isn't a bear in my bunk 
 I don't care," said Andy. 
 
 In the morning they made up their packs with 
 special care, for they would be out for several 
 nights, they thought, as, they did not anticipate 
 finding the cabin of Ike Bruce easily. 
 
 Andy proposed making a sort of sled on which 
 they could haul more provisions than they could 
 carry, and this was built with broad wooden run- 
 ners to go over light snow without sinking in. 
 
 Then they started out, prepared to stay nearly 
 a week if necessary. The weather was good, 
 and, though the promise of snow had been ful- 
 filled, the fall was not heavy. 
 
 They went directly to the valley where the log 
 chute was. As far as they could see there was 
 no evidence of anyone having been there since 
 they were last at the place. 
 
 Then began a wearying search. Taking the 
 
2IO RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 most likely leads, they radiated about the chute, 
 trying to find where Bruce had hidden himself 
 in his lonely cabin. But he had used all the cun- 
 ning of a woodman, it was evident, and concealed 
 himself so well that not the faintest indication of 
 his trail was evident. 
 
 " Anyhow, with all tlie snow that's fallen, we 
 couldn't pick up his trail very easily," said Frank. 
 " We've got to go it rather blind." 
 
 They shot some game, enough to give them 
 fresh meat, and lived in the open, with the shelter 
 of the tent at night. At times they had to fight 
 their way through blinding snowstorms, or along 
 difficult trails. But still they kept on, never giv- 
 ing up, though Tom many times declared that his 
 friends were doing too much for him. 
 
 " We're going to find Len ! " exclaimed Frank, 
 with deep conviction. 
 
 But, as the days passed, and they saw no en- 
 couraging signs, they all became discouraged. It 
 seemed a hopeless chase to rescue the little boy. 
 
 It was one evening, when they were looking 
 for a good place to camp, that Tom, who had 
 wandered on ahead, came to a halt on top of a 
 litde snow-covered knoll, that looked across a 
 small valley. 
 
 " See anything? " asked Frank, as he noticed a 
 queer expression on Tom's face. 
 
 " Yes, there seems to be something over 
 
JHE PUFF OF SMOKE 2IE 
 
 there," and the other pointed to an opposite hill. 
 " I just saw a puff of smoke come up from be- 
 hind that knoll." 
 
 "A puff of smoke?," 
 
 "lYes." 
 
 " Say 1 " cried Frank. " That may mean some- 
 thing. " It's the first sign of human beings we've 
 seen since we started out to find Ike Bruce. 
 Smoke! That means a fire — a cabin, maybe. 
 Let's hit the new trail 1 " 
 
CHAPTER XXVIl 
 
 A LONELY CABIN 
 
 Curiously enough It was the impetuous Andy 
 who called the halt this time. The others were 
 about to follow after Frank, with the thin spiral 
 smoke as a beacon, when the younger Sacef lad 
 said: 
 
 " Now, fellows, wait a minute." 
 
 "What for?" Frank demanded. 
 
 " Because that smoke is farther off than it 
 looks. Distances are deceiving, in this clear air, 
 and you'll never make that by night. Look, you've 
 got to go down into this valley, cross it, and climb 
 up the other side. You can't do it before dark." 
 
 " That's so," agreed Frank, wondering at 
 Andy's sudden caution. 
 
 " What ought we to do then? " asked Tom. 
 
 " Pick out a good camp near here until morn- 
 ing," went on Andy. " Then we can head for 
 the smoke. It may be only some lone Indian's 
 cabin, or a place where an old-time lumberman 
 or trapper is staying. But, anyhow, even if It's 
 where Bruce Is hidden, we can do better In day- 
 light than we can at night." 
 
 212 
 
A LONELY CABIN 213 
 
 " But LenI" cried Tom. 
 
 " If your brother is there he won't He taken 
 away before morning," was Andy's opinion. 
 " Bruce doesn't know we're after him unless he's 
 smarter than I give him credit for, and we can 
 handle him to much better advantage by day- 
 light." 
 
 *' But if he should tg.ke a notion to skip out in 
 the dark? " suggested Ward. "What could we 
 do?" 
 
 " Trail him ! " cried Frank, falling in with his 
 brother's idea. " He can't get very far away, 
 with a little boy to look after. And we can 
 follow his trail in the snow. It doesn't look as 
 though it would storm again soon, and he dan't 
 go two feet in this snow without lea;ving a' 
 mark." 
 
 " It's the only thing to do," declared Andy. 
 " I realize that Tom would like to start off at 
 once, but look — ^we could never get to that csibin, 
 if that's what it is, before night, and we might 
 be in a bad place to camp." 
 
 " That's so," admitted Tom. He stood gaz- 
 ing off at the thin spiral of smoke, that might 
 indicate someone getting an evening meal. " But 
 it's hard to think you're so close and yet not be 
 able to make a dash to the rescue," he finished. 
 
 The others realized this, and tried to comforti 
 him as best they could. A busy time followed,; 
 
i2i4 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 ifor the tent had to be set up, a fire built, and the 
 meal made ready. 
 
 Night soon settled down, and Tom, who had 
 maintained a position where he could see the 
 smoke until the very last, came away and joined 
 the others. 
 
 "Early in the morning we'll start off," de- 
 cided Frank, " and then. If Len is there,, we'll 
 have him for you, Tom I " 
 
 " If you do it'll be one of the best things you 
 [Racer boys ever did 1 " exclaimed Tom. " It 
 will even beat making a new school out of River- 
 view Hall, after it had nearly gone to the dogs. 
 Oh, if I can only get Len back I " 
 
 No one slept well that night. Probably the 
 excitement of the discovery of the tell-tale smoke 
 told on their nerves. And yet none realized bet- 
 ter than Frank that there might be disappoint- 
 ment awaiting them at the end pf their dasH 
 across the valley. 
 
 " It may not be Bruce at all," He said to him- 
 self. " Anyone is likely to make a fire up in 
 these woods, and, though that looked as though 
 it came from some cabin chimney, still it may 
 be where some lumberman, or guide lives. We 
 haven't come across many such places, but that's 
 not saying there aren't any." 
 
 A hasty breakfast was made, and then, instead 
 of taking down the tent, and packing their things 
 
A LONELY CABIN 215 
 
 for transportation on the sled, they left their 
 canvas shelter up. 
 
 " For- we want to travel as lightly as we can," 
 idecided Frank. " We can take our guns with 
 us, some cold grub, and if we have luck, we 
 can get back here at night, and camp out 
 ^gain." 
 
 "And bring Len with" usl" exclaimed Tom. 
 
 " Yes, if we can get him. Now, boys, are you 
 ready?" 
 
 "All ready 1 " cried Andy. And they started 
 
 !Off. 
 
 " This is like a dash for the north pole," re^-S 
 marked Jack, when they had covered about a 
 mile. " We're traveling light,; ^and making 
 ispeed." 
 
 " Yes, and we want to consider what we're 
 going to do after we sight the cabin," put in 
 (Tom. 
 
 " Make a final dash for that, and get Len, 
 if he's there ! " exclaimed Andy. 
 
 " No 1 " cried Frank. " We've got to go a' 
 bit slow about this. We can't do much dashing, 
 hampered by sno^shoes, and, if the cabin is in 
 ian open place, the people In It can see us before 
 ,we get to It. Then, if they have a horse or a 
 team, and any kind of a sled, they can hop Into 
 it, and be off before we can stop them." 
 
 " Then what do you advise ? " asked Jack, 
 
'2i6 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " That we go slow, after we get to the rise 
 that looks down on the cabin," replied Frank. 
 "That is, if there's a cabin there where the 
 smoke was seen. By the way, did any one notice 
 any smoke this morning? " 
 
 " No," replied Tom Crawford. " I was up 
 at daylight and I didn't see any." 
 
 " They may start their fire later, or they may 
 have had dry enough wood so that there wasn't 
 any smoke," suggested Ward. " But I think 
 Frank's plan of sneaking up is a good one." 
 
 " Sure, we don't want to spoil everything at 
 the last minute," declared Andy. " I'm for a 
 quiet approach." 
 
 They all agreed that this was the best plan 
 that could be adopted, and kept on the trail, 
 their goal the distant hill behind which they had 
 seen the smoke. 
 
 " This valley is wider than it looks," declared 
 Frank. " It is a good thing we didn't try to 
 cross it last night." 
 
 As they tramped on there was a stir in a clump 
 of trees and a gaunt wolf sprang out. Like a 
 flash Andy threw his rifle to his shoulder, and 
 would have fired, only Frank called out : 
 
 "Hold on! Don't shoot I" 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked the younger lad 
 jquickly. 
 , " Plenty 1 Do you want to give warning to 
 
A LONELY CABIN 217 
 
 those in the cabin that we're toming? Let the 
 wolf go." 
 
 Andy lowered his giin and then the wolf dis- 
 appeared. 
 
 Another hour brought them to the foot of the 
 hill, and after they had topped the rise they be- 
 lieved they could look down on the place from 
 which the smoke had come. 
 
 " Let's eatj" suggested Ward, and they made 
 a cold meal, for they realized that if there was 
 a struggle ahead of them they might get no, 
 other time. 
 
 Then they climbed the hill. As the summit 
 was neared Tom sprang to the lead eagerly. He 
 reached the top, and a moment later his chums 
 saw him beckon to them. 
 
 " Here it is ! " he hoarsely whispered. And, 
 as they reached his side, they looked down into 
 a little glen, where, almost hidden by the trees, 
 was a lonely cabin. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 THE BOY PRISONER 
 
 Silence followed Tom's announcement, and 
 in silence they all gazed at the lonely cabin. Did 
 it hold the lad of whom they were in search? 
 
 "Well, how about it?" asked Andy, quickly. 
 " Shall we jump down there and have it over 
 with, or " 
 
 "Quick I" suddenly exclaimed Franlc. "Get 
 out of sight the first thing you do, anyhow!" 
 and he pulled his brother to one side, at the same 
 time motioning to the others to conceal them- 
 selves by some underbrush that grew thickly near 
 where they were standing. 
 
 "What's the matter?" askVd Andy, when 
 they were in position. " Aren't you going to 
 make the rescue, Frank?" 
 
 " Of course I am," replied the elder Racer lad, 
 " but it's got to be done right. Take a look 
 down there and tell me what you see." 
 
 Andy, remembering his brother's anxiety that 
 they all remain well hidden, cautiously looked 
 through the bushes. As he did so he started and 
 exclaimed : 
 
 218 
 
THE BOY PRISONER 219 
 
 "3? man! A' lumberman, too, if I'm any 
 judge." 
 
 The others glanced through the fringe of 
 bushes, and Frank, speaking to Tom, said: 
 
 " Do you remember that man? " 
 
 He pointed to a fellow who had just come 
 around the corner of the lonely cabin, and who 
 had started toward a small shack in the rear, a 
 shack thatlooked to be used as a stable, as there 
 was a pile of straw on the white snow that sur- 
 rounded it. 
 
 " That man? No, I don't Know as I remember 
 him," replied the lad who was looking for his 
 lost brother. " Is it because of him that you 
 wanted us to hide, Frank? " 
 
 " Yes, but not because I'm afraid of him. I 
 just didn't want him to see us. As soon as Andy 
 spoke about making a jump down to that cabin, 
 I saw something moving at the corner of it. I 
 wasn't sure what it was, but I thought we'd better 
 take no chances and so I suggested that we hide. 
 I don't believe he saw us." 
 
 " Me either," added Jack. " He doesn't 
 seem to be looking this way at all. I wonder 
 what he's going to do? " 
 
 " Go into that shack, evidently," replied Ward. 
 " But what did you mean, Frank, when you asked 
 Tom if he'd ever seen that fellow before? " 
 
 " I meant that he had seen him, but I wanted 
 
220 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 to know if he remembered the circumstances," 
 was the reply. 
 
 " Do you, Tom? " asked Andy, as he watched 
 the man opening the door of the stable. 
 
 " I can't say that I do," spoke Tom. " I can't 
 see very well, and he has his back toward me. 
 But " 
 
 " Try this," advised Frank, handing his chum 
 5i small pocket telescope. " There, he's turning 
 ^around now. Take a good look." 
 
 As Frank spoke, the man faced about and 
 looked in the direction of the hidden lads. Evi- 
 dently he did not see them or he would have made 
 some demonstration. For there could be but one 
 reason for his living in that lonely spot,. and with 
 his cabin so well hidden that it took a long search 
 to find it. He wanted to keep away from ob- 
 servation. 
 
 Tom trained the glass on the fellow, and, as 
 he did so the lad^ uttered a cry. 
 
 "I know him now!" he exclaimed. "He's 
 that man I noticed when I was going off to the 
 QRockyford camp after Len, — the man you said 
 seemed so excited when I casually spoke of a 
 thousand dollars." 
 
 "That's the one!" cried Frank, "that's Ike 
 Bruce, the man I believe has been taking Uncle 
 Ben's lumber, and who " 
 
 " The man who has little Len 1 " finished Tom. 
 " Come on, boys, help me get my brother I " 
 
JHE BOY PRISONER 221 
 
 Tom leaped to his feet, and, but for tHe fact 
 that the man had gone in the stable, the lad might 
 have been discovered, for Frank was not quick 
 enough in pulling his chum back down out of 
 sight. 
 
 " Easy now, Tom, easy I " cautioned the elder 
 QRacer lad. 
 
 " But I want to get Len ! " 
 
 *' I know you do, and we're going to help you." 
 
 *' It's the Racer boys to the rescue all right," 
 iadded Ward. 
 
 " That's right," put in Jack. 
 
 "But now let's talk over a plan," suggested 
 'Andy. " It's getting along in the afternoon, and 
 if night comes on we won't know what to do. 
 Besides, it's cold crouching doWn here in the 
 snow and doing nothing." 
 
 " We're going to do something soon," de- 
 clared Frank. " Now this is my plan : There 
 is no use making a rush in this game, for several 
 reasons. One is that there may be several fel- 
 lows like Ike Bruce in that cabin. If they saw 
 us coming on the run they might make it unpleas- 
 ant for us. 
 
 " Another thing Is that Len may not be there 
 after all, though I think and I hope that he is. 
 If he is, and we come up in a hurry, they may 
 (Spirit him away before we can break in, or they 
 hiay do him some harm." 
 
 "Then what do you suggest 2" .asked Ward. 
 
222 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " This. We'll sneak up as best we can, and 
 come at the cabin from several sides. It is so 
 well hidden, and the woods come up so close to 
 it, that I think we can get to within a short dis- 
 tance before they suspect anything. Qf course 
 there may be only one man there — Ike Bruce— 
 ^nd in that case we won't have it so hard." 
 
 " No, I guess we'd be a match for a couple of 
 Ike Bruces," remarked Andy grimly. 
 
 "What do you think of my plan?" asked 
 Frank. 
 
 " It's all right," came from Tom emphatically, 
 Sand, as he had the best right to pass on it, the 
 others were satisfied. 
 
 " Then come on I " exclaimed Frank. 
 
 [They began crawling cautiously through the 
 isnow, to get into a position where they could 
 separate without being seen. 
 
 As they went oh they could see Ike Bruce come 
 from the stable, and hurjy into the cabin. 
 
 " Something's up," whispered Frank. " 'Lively 
 now, fellows, but be careful." 
 
 Hidden by the many trees, they laegan their ap- 
 proach, fairly surrounding the shack. They 
 crouched down, and took advantage of every 
 cover. Foot by foot they advanced. They were 
 separated now, and could not talk to each other. 
 All eyes were on that lonely cabin. Tom found 
 himself wondering if his brother could look out 
 and see him. 
 
' ' by jove ! ' ' whispered frank to himself, 
 "we've found him after all!" 
 
 Racer Boys to the Rescue 
 
 Page 223 
 
THE BOY PRISONER 223 
 
 It was Frank who reached the shacK first. He 
 was on a side where there was one window, and 
 a big tree grew close to It. In the shadow of 
 this the lad advanced, until he could look through 
 the casement. He could hardly keep from giv- 
 ing a cry of exultation as he looked in, and saw 
 a boy — a little cripple lad, — propped up in a 
 big chair near a fireplace. That it was Len Craw- 
 ford, Frank had no doubt, though he had only 
 seen the lost boy's picture. But there, was the 
 boy — held a prisoner, evidently, for there was a 
 rope tied about the chair, fastening him in. 
 
 " By Jove 1 " whispered Frank to himself. 
 " We've found him after all I We've found Len I 
 Now to get him away. I must signal the others, 
 and We'll make a rush for It I I don't see Bruce 
 In there." 
 
 Frank was about to give his signal, previously 
 agreed upon, when something happened that 
 made it unnecessary. 
 
CHAPTEK XXIX 
 
 PURSUIT 
 
 While the elder Racer lad was still looking iri 
 the window of the lonely cabin, his eyes fixed 
 on little Len, Ike Bruce came rushing into the 
 room. On his face was a look of fear, mingled 
 ,with one of rage. 
 
 " Come on ! " he cried, and, though the win- 
 dow was shut, Frank could hear what was said. 
 " Come on, we've got to get out of here I " Bruce 
 yelled, and the strange part of it, to Frank, was 
 that the man did not seem to be addressing Len, 
 though the boy shrank down in his chair, and 
 seemed terrified. 
 
 "Whom can he be speaking to?" thought 
 Frank, and his head was fairly in a whirl. He 
 hardly knew what to do now. Should he sum- 
 mon the others? 
 
 Frank cast a look about him. He could make 
 out where Tom was hiding, for that youth was so 
 eager to close in, now that he believed his brother 
 was within reach, that he did not keep concealed 
 as did the others. Tom was continually bobbing 
 up, and his head was in plain view. 
 
 224 
 
PURSUIT 225 
 
 " Bruce Has seen him I He's taken tHe alarm ! " 
 thought Frank. "We've got to rush now, 
 whether we want to or not, and It's now or 
 never ! " 
 
 He cast another glance through the window. 
 As he did so, the reason for the words Bruce had 
 used became apparent. Another man came from 
 an inner room, where he had evidently been sleep- 
 ing, to judge by the manner In which he yawned, 
 stretched, and rubbed his eyes. 
 
 " Come on ! " Bruce fairly yelled. " This is 
 no time to be taking napsl We've got to clear 
 iput of here, and take the boy with us ! " 
 
 "Clear out?" 
 
 " Yes. I've been suspicious for some time 
 that we were being tracked, and now I know It. 
 I saw someone sneaking up on the shack a while 
 (ago. We've got to clear out. I've got the 
 team all ready. You bundle up the kid. We 
 haven't any time to lose I " 
 
 " But I thought we were going to stay here the 
 rest of the winter, and wait for the ransom 
 hioney," objected the other. 
 
 "Ransom money," thought Frank. "Then 
 they have been holding Len for ransom, but they 
 haven't demanded It yet. I wonder what sort 
 pf a game we're up against; anyhow?" 
 
 Frank looked at the second man. He waS 
 smaller than Bruce, but pf the same general ap< 
 
226 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 pearance in roughness. The two were cruel 
 characters, to hold a crippled boy in captivity. 
 
 " Get a move onl " repeated Bruce. " We've 
 ho time for fooling. lYou bundle him up," and 
 he nodded towards the boy in the chair, " and 
 I'll fetch the team and sled around. We'll head 
 down the valley. I've got another bunk to hide 
 5n." 
 
 "Then we're not to wait for the ransom?" 
 jisked th.e other. 
 
 "Look here, Jake Pounder, I've told you I 
 Idon't believe that Sam Skull ever delivered that 
 letter we sent, asking for money. That's Sam 
 iall over. He'll agree to do a thing, and then 
 forget all about it. We've been waiting three 
 iweeks now for an answer and haven't had it. I 
 believe Sam lost that letter." 
 
 " But we can send another," spoke the man 
 iwhom Ike had addressed as Jake Pounder. " I'll 
 write another letter and you can get someone else 
 to deliver it if you don't trust Sam. I don't 
 want to start out now, with night coming on, and 
 maybe a storm. We're nice and comfortable 
 here. I believe you imagined you saw some- 
 tone." 
 
 " I did not I I haven't that kind of eyesight. 
 I tell you they're on our trail, and we've got to 
 imove." 
 
 "Who are they?" 
 
PURSUIT 22;^ 
 
 " I don't know, but they must be the boy's 
 folks, I suppose." 
 
 "Oh, have they come for me? Is Tom com- 
 ing for me ? " cried the lad in the chair. 
 
 " He may be, but he isn't going to get you," 
 brutally replied Ike Bruce. " Come on now, 
 Jake, wrap him up and we'll start. We may 
 make our place by night." 
 
 " You aren't going to take the boy out again, 
 are you ? " 
 
 " I told you I was 1 That settles it 1 " 
 
 " Oh, please don't take me away again ! " 
 pleaded Len. " Let me stay. I'm so tired. I 
 want to go home ! I want Tom ! " 
 
 " Well, you can't stay. I'm not going to hurt 
 you," spoke Bruce, and he seemed to soften as 
 he looked at the frail boy. *' But I've got to 
 save my hide, and I've got to take you away. 
 I'll be as good to you as I can. Land I If I'd 
 'have known what a lot of trouble this was to be,' 
 I'd never done it. I wish you were safe back 
 home, kid, but I can't get you there without ex- 
 posing myself, and I don't want td go to jail." 
 
 *' Give this boy up, after all the trouble we've 
 hadl " cried the other. " I guess notl I've gofi 
 something to say about that, Ike Bruce." 
 
 " Well, you've got to do something as well iaS 
 talk about it," said the lumberman sharply. 
 " Get a move on. I'll have the sled around here 
 
228 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 in a jiffy and we'll maEe a getaway wHile we can. 
 I only saw one fellow sneaking around, but therd 
 may be a dozen for all I know. Lively now ! " 
 
 Poor little Len looked helplessly from one ttf 
 the other, but he saw no help there. Then Ke 
 glanced toward the window, as if for a sight of 
 his brother Tom, but Frank, who had been cau- 
 tiously looking in and listening, ducked down. 
 He was not yet quite ready for the final move. 
 
 " It must have been Tom whom Ike saw," re- 
 flected Frank. " Tom was too anxious. But I 
 don't believe he's spoiled anything. Now, let's 
 see; what's best to be done? " 
 
 Once more he looked about him. He could 
 see Tom nearer now, and he also had a glimpse 
 of Andy. Frank waved his hand to signal them 
 to come closer, and in a hurry. Then he looked 
 in the window again. 
 
 He saw Ike Bruce hurrying out of the door, 
 and the other man was lifting Len from the chair, 
 and wrapping blankets around him. Len was 
 weeping, but he did not struggle. Indeed he was 
 too weak and discouraged to fight against the 
 two brutal men who held him in captivity in that 
 wilderness cabin. 
 
 " I'll wait until Bruce is In the stable, and that 
 will make only one man to tackle," thought 
 Frank. " I guess Tom, Andy and I can manage 
 Jake. Then, when we have him out of the way,; 
 
PURSUIT 229 
 
 we can attend to Bruce. I hope Ward and Jacls 
 are on hand. They had farther to go than we 
 did, but they ought to be ready now." 
 
 Frank could not get a glimpse of his other 
 thums, as they were on the far side of the cabin. 
 But he trusted that they were only awaiting his 
 signal. Now, for obvious reasons, he could not 
 fire off his rifle to warn them, as had been ar- 
 ranged. He must change his plans. 
 
 Looking in the cabin, Frank saw Pounder 
 hastily collecting various things. Blankets, and 
 evidently some provisions were put in a pile, 
 ready to be tossed into the sled when Bruce 
 should bring it around. Len, well wrapped up,; 
 had been placed back in the chair. 
 
 " Now's my time 1 " thought Frank, as he be- 
 gan working his way around toward the front 
 door. " I'll jump in, grab Len, and Tom and 
 Andy can attend to this fellow, if he makes any 
 fuss." 
 
 Turning once more, Frank signaled to his 
 brother and chum. They had evidently not un- 
 derstood his previous motionsffor they were still 
 approaching slowly. 
 
 "Why don't they rush?" thought FrankJ 
 " I'm going to chance it and fire the signal." 
 
 He raised his rifle in the air and fired one shot. 
 Then, casting the weapon to one side, he made H 
 dash for the door, giving a hasty backwardi 
 
230 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 glance to make sure that Andy and Tom were 
 coming. They were — on the run. 
 
 Up from the other direction Jack and Ward 
 were running for the cabin, having left their 
 places of concealment near it. 
 
 " It's now or never I " thought Frank des- 
 perately. 
 
 He was at the door, but no sooner had he 
 reached it, than he was met by Jake Pounder, 
 who had been alarmed by the shot, and had 
 come to see what it meant. As he caught sight 
 of Frank he uttered a yell : 
 
 " Ike 1 Ike I " he shouted. " Here they are I 
 Come on with that sled ! " 
 
 " I'm coming I " cried the other, and Frank 
 had a hasty glimpse of a box sled, drawn by two 
 powerful horses, coming from the direction of 
 the small stable, in the direction of the cabin, 
 along a small trail that led off down the valley. 
 
 " Get out of here! " yelled Frank, seeking to 
 pass Jake, and get into the cabin. " I'm going to 
 rescue that boyl " 
 
 "Oh, you are, eh?" sneered Jake. "Well, 
 we'll see about that. Get away from here I " 
 
 But Frank pressed on. 
 
 " Len I Len 1 " he cried. " We've come for 
 you ! Your brother Tom is here ! " 
 
 " Oh, Tom Tom! " cried the little fellow. 
 
 Pounder aimed a blow at Frank, but the latter 
 
PURSUIT 231 
 
 dodged. He might haye come out of It safely, 
 and have retaliated on the man, but his fodt 
 slipped on a bit of snow, and the elder Racer 
 lad fell heavily, striking his head on a corner 
 of a log. 
 
 Everything seemed to fade from Frank's eyes. 
 He saw night settling down, and, before he lost 
 consciousness, he had a glimpse of Tom and 
 Andy running toward the cabin. Then, as It 
 grew blacker still, he saw the two boys go down 
 in a heap. They had stepped into an unsus- 
 pected hole, and plunged into a drift. 
 
 " Come on, Ike I Come on ! " yelled Pounder, 
 " We can just do it now ! " 
 
 Pounder leaped back into the cabin and caught 
 up Len. Stepping over the prostrate form of 
 Frank he stood waiting for the sled, which was 
 dashing toward him. 
 
 Tom and Andy picked themselves up, some- 
 what stunned, but not otherwise hurt. 
 
 " Come on ( " yelled Len's brother. " We 
 must get them now, or it will be too late ! " 
 ' " Go ahead I " panted Andy. " I'm with you. 
 Have they hurt Frank?" 
 
 " I hope not, but he's lying pretty still. Len, 
 Lenl" Tom cried. "Were coming to save 
 you!" 
 
 The sled was now in front of the cabin, where 
 Pounder stood with Len in his arms. With all 
 
^32 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 his puny strength the crippled lad was trying to 
 get away. But he was as helpless as a baby in 
 the hands of the big lumberman. 
 
 Ike Bruce pulled the horses bacK on their 
 haunches, but before the sled came to a stop 
 Pounder fairly leaped into it with Len. 
 
 Lashing the steeds to top speed, Bruce guided 
 them down the narrow snow-covered trail of the 
 valley, carrying Len away again. 
 
 " After 'em ! after 'em ! " yelled Tom, firing 
 his rifle in the air to frighten the kidnappers. 
 But they were not the kind of men to be alarmed 
 by shots in the air. " After 'em I " fairly pleaded 
 ,Tom. " We must get Len 1 " 
 
 By this time Jack and Ward had come up on 
 the run, ready to take part in the pursuit. But 
 Andy thought of his brother. 
 
 " Frank I " he cried, running up to the pros- 
 trate body. " We can't leave Frank this way, 
 fellows!" 
 
 As he stooped over him, Frank rose on his el- 
 bow. He realized what was happening. 
 
 "I'm all right 1 " he cried. "I was only 
 stunned. I'll be with you in a minute. Take 
 after 'em!" 
 
 Tom, who had stood undecided, whether to 
 race after his brother's captors, or stay and help 
 his faithful friend, now dashed off after the men 
 in the sled. The pursuit had begun. 
 
CHAPTER XXX 
 
 CAPTURE — CONCLUSION 
 
 Tom Crawford led off in the chase after the 
 kidnappers. He was the nearest, and also the 
 most vitally interested, for it was his brother who 
 was being taken away, though, for that matter 
 the other boys felt almost as keenly the position 
 of little Len as did Tom. 
 
 " Are you sure you're all right, Frank? " 
 asked Andy, as he stooped to help raise his 
 brother to his feet. 
 
 " I am. We'll get right after those fellows. 
 Get my gun, somebody. I dropped it after I 
 fired the shot to call you fellows in. I slipped 
 when that fellow aimed a blow at me, and hit my 
 head. I'm all right now." 
 
 He walked about rather weakly, but gathered 
 strength every minute. Tom was racing after 
 the sled. 
 
 " Come on ! " cried Frank, when Ward handed 
 him his gun. " We may catch them before 
 dark." 
 
 " Is any one In the cabin? " asked Jack. 
 
 233 
 
234 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 " No. I heard nearly the whole story, and I 
 can guess at the rest," replied Frank. " I was 
 listening at the window. They have Len with 
 'em all right." 
 
 Down the trail raced the boys, following after 
 Tom. The sled had a good start, but Frank 
 knew that the heavy horses, though able to pull 
 big loads, such as logs, through the woods, did 
 not have much speed. Besides, the going was 
 heavy for a sled, though the trail was fairly well 
 packed, showing that it had been frequently trav- 
 eled of late. It was a mere lumber-road through 
 the forest. 
 
 " We'll never get 'em 1 " panted Andy when 
 the four of them had somewhat caught up to 
 Tom. 
 
 "Yes, we will!" declared Frank. "They're 
 going slower now than they were at first." 
 
 " You've got good eyesight, to see that," de- 
 clared Jack. 
 
 " Well, they are slowing up," insisted Frank. 
 " Those horses can't keep that speed up long. 
 They galloped too hard at first. Come on ! " 
 
 On they raced. The road wound in and out 
 of the woods. It was rapidly getting darker, 
 and, as the boys kept up the pursuit, they felt a 
 few flakes of snow on their faces. 
 
 " We're in for another storm," murmured 
 Frank, who, aside from a slightly aching head, 
 
CAPTURE 235 
 
 was all right. " I hope it holds ofE long enough 
 so that we can catch them." 
 
 The other boys had caught up to Tom now, 
 and were doggedly racing on. The sled was un- 
 doubtedly nearer. They could all see that. 
 
 " We'll catch 'em I " murmured Frank. " Oh, 
 if only something would happen to delay them I " 
 
 Something did happen a moment later. And 
 yet it was not so much of a " happening" as it 
 was a natural event. The trail led up a hill, and 
 the horses had to go quite slowly. But before 
 the boys, who pressed eagerly on, could reach the 
 vehicle, the hill ended and there was a downward 
 slope. 
 
 " Here's where they leave us behind I " 
 groaned Tom. " Oh, for another hour of day- 
 light! " 
 
 The horses under the lashing of Ike Bruce, 
 leaped down the hill. But it was only a spurt, 
 Frank thought, and he was right. The animals 
 slackened up at the foot of the slope. 
 I " Fellows 1 " suddenly cried Tom. " I'm get- 
 ting desperate. I'm going to shoot I " 
 
 " No 1 No I you might hit Len I " cried 
 Frank. *' We'll stop them some other way." 
 
 "You can't. I'm going to fire at the horses. 
 It may seem a cruel thing to do, but I've got to 
 tescue Len. If I cripple a horse they can't go 
 on." 
 
236 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 He raised his rifle, not stopping to think that 
 even a most skillful marksman would have trou- 
 ble hitting a horse, and not injuring those who 
 rode in the sled behind. 
 
 "Don't do thatl" cried Frank. "There 
 must be some other way. I'll try " 
 
 He did not finish his sentence, for at that mo- 
 ment something really did occur. Whether 
 Bruce did not drive the animals with his usual 
 skill, or whether they were maddened with the 
 pain of the whip, did not develop, but, as Frank 
 spoke, the steeds swerved to one side. There 
 was a snapping of the pole and the sled turned 
 over into a big drift. 
 
 " Look I " cried Tom. 
 
 " We've got 'em now ! " yelled Andy. 
 
 " If only Len isn't hurtl " murmured Frank. 
 
 They all pressed on. The pursuit was indeed 
 over, for there was no time to right the sled, even 
 had the men been capable of it, and Ike Bruce, 
 at least, was not. 
 
 " Tom 1 Tom 1 here I am I " cried Len, as his 
 brother and the Racer boys and their chums 
 rushed up. 
 
 " Are you hurt? " cried Tom, as He picked up 
 his brother from a snow bank, where the little 
 cripple had been pitched when the sled went 
 over. 
 
 " Not a bit, Tom," was the laughing answer. 
 
CAPTURE -in 
 
 Len could laugh now. He Had been so well 
 (wrapped in blankets that he could have fdlen 
 into something harder than a snow bank, and not 
 have been hurt. 
 
 Jake Pounder was sitting down in the snow, 
 staring stupidly about him. The horses were 
 standing quietly. The snapping of the pole left 
 them tangled only in the traces. 
 
 Tom caught his brother in his arms, and 
 hugged him tightly. 
 
 " Oh, Tom I Tom ! How glad I am to see 
 you I " the litde fellow exclaimed. " I thought 
 you would never find me I " 
 
 " And I never would have, only for the Racer 
 boys ! " cried Tom. " Len, you don't know what 
 you owe them. Shake hands with Frank and 
 Andy, and also Ward and Jack." 
 
 " We haven't much time for introductions," 
 remarked Jack. " We've got plenty to do. It 
 will soon be too dark to see, and we will need 
 shelter." 
 
 "Where's Bruce?" suddenly asked Andy. 
 
 " Under the sled I guess," answered Jake 
 Pounder. " It's all up with us, boys. You have 
 turned the trick." And he looked sourly at them 
 and their guns. 
 
 " And we're not Hone with you yet," added 
 Tom significantly. 
 
 " Maybe we'd better see to Bruce," suggested 
 
CAPTURE 235 
 
 not know how to go about it, and they entrusted 
 a letter to a shiftless character of their acquaint- 
 ance. It is needless to say that neither Tom nor 
 his family ever received the communication. 
 
 After being taken to several rude shacks, Lent 
 was finally held a prisoner in the wilderness cabin. 
 At times Bruce would be on guard, and again 
 Pounder. It developed later that they put in 
 their spare time getting Mr. Armstrong's logs. 
 
 And then came the trailing by the Racer boys 
 and their chums, and Len was told how his hid- 
 ing place had been accidentally discovered. The 
 rest of the story he knew. 
 
 " And now we have Len! " cried Tom. " OK, 
 won't mother be glad I I must send her a tele- 
 gram as soon as I can." 
 
 "Are we near any setdement?" asked Frank, 
 of the driver. 
 
 " About a mile farther," was the answer. 
 " It's going to storm, too. I — I'm just as glad 
 it happened this way. I — I'm sorry I helped 
 keep you from your folks," he said to Len. 
 
 " Well, you didn't treat me badly — only by 
 keeping me a prisoner," replied the crippled lad. 
 
 There is little more to tell. The party 
 reached a lumber camp shortly after dark, and 
 the surprise of the men can well be imagined 
 when they found a crowd of boys, who had, as 
 prisoners, two men, one unconscious. For 
 
54<S KACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 Pounder and Bruce were made prisoners af tHe 
 suggestion of Tom, and, after Bruce had re- 
 ceived what medical attention was possible iri 
 the camp, he and his crony were locked up in st 
 cabin. 
 
 Len and his friends were well talcen care of,- 
 and the crippled boy, in spite of the hard times 
 he had experienced, was even better physically 
 than when at home, so Tom said. 
 
 In the morning a team was secured to take our 
 friends back to their camp at Crystal Lake, while 
 Bruce and Pounder were turned over to the au- 
 thorities. It was their first and last attempt at 
 kidnapping, and I am glad to say that after they 
 came out of prison they both led better lives. 
 The logs they had taken from Mr. Armstrong 
 were all recovered. 
 
 As for our heroes, there were still glorious 
 times ahead of them. Mrs. Crawford was told, 
 by telegram, of her little son's safety, and gave 
 permission for him and Tom to remain In the 
 winter camp with the Racer boys. And such fun 
 as all had ! 
 
 " Not a thing to worry us," remarked Frank 
 one day, as they started out on a hunt, after a 
 two days' storm. " Len, I'm going to teach you 
 to be a good shot." 
 
 A little sled had been made, on which the crip- 
 ple could accompany his brother and friends. 
 
CAPTURE 241 
 
 when the distance was not too great. He 
 thoroughly enjoyed the life, and eventually his 
 winter in the woods brought him better health, 
 so that, in time, he was cured. 
 
 " Well, haven't you had enough of roughing 
 it, boys?" asked Uncle Ben Armstrong one day, 
 as he drove up to the camp at Crystal Lake. 
 " Your aunt and I, Frank, would like to have 
 you and your friends pay us a visit. My work 
 is pretty well cleaned up in the woods now, since 
 you discovered my lumber thief for me, and I'm 
 going back to civilization. What do you say; 
 want to come? " 
 
 " Shall we? " asked Frank. 
 
 " Sure ! " cried Andy. " Anything for a 
 change 1 " 
 
 " Oh, you're always wanting a change," de- 
 clared his brother with a laugh. They all went 
 back with Mr. Armstrong, and there, under the 
 motherly care of Aunt Sallie, they had more 
 good times. And such things to eatl 
 
 "I thought we fellows could cook," said JacK 
 with a sigh, after a particularly fine dinner, " but 
 it isn't in it with this." 
 
 " And to think that we'll soon have to go back 
 to Riverview Hall," remarked Ward. 
 
 " Oh, but we can have some good times there,?' 
 declared Andy. 
 
 "And maybe some adventures," added FranE. 
 
242 RACER BOYS TO THE RESCUE 
 
 What really did happen to our heroes will be told 
 in the next volume of this series to be called: 
 " The Racer Boys on the Prairies ; Or The 
 Treasure of Golden Peak," a tale of school life 
 and the Far West. 
 
 " Well, we don't get such mince pie as this even 
 if Mrs. Matron Stone is a good cook," spoke 
 Andy, as he passed his plate for another piece. 
 
 " That's right I " chorused Ward and Jack. 
 
 Tom sat near his little brother, his arm lov- 
 ingly around him, and all gazed at the small chap 
 .whom the (Racer boys had so energetically res- 
 cued. And there, for a time, we will take leave 
 of our friends. 
 
 THE END 
 
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 young man lost a pocketbook containing valuable 
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 The Dorothy Dale Series 
 
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 Author of "The Motor Girls Series' 
 Cloth. 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid 
 
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 Only A Farm Boy 
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 Bob The Castaway 
 
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 The Newsboy Partners 
 
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 Two Boy Gold Miners 
 
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 Tom The Telephone Boy 
 
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 The Boys of Bellwood School 
 
 or Frank Jordan's Triumph 
 
 Jack The Runaway The High School Rivals 
 
 or On the Road with a Circus or Fred Markham's Struggle! 
 
 Bob Chester's Grit Darry The Life Saver 
 
 ■\ or From Ranch to Riches or The Heroes of the Coast 
 
 /Virship Andy 
 
 or The Luck of a Brave Boy 
 
 Dick The Bank Boy 
 
 or A Missing Fortune 
 
 Ben Hardy's Flying Machine 
 
 or Making a Record for Himself 
 
 Harry Watson's High School Days 
 
 or The Rivals of Rivertown 
 
 Comrades of the Saddle The Boys of the Wireless 
 
 or The Young Rough Riders or a Stirring Rescue from the Deep 
 
 of the Plains 
 
 CUPPLES & LEON CO,, Publishers, NEW Yg^'