The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Frontier Boys in the Sierras, by Wyn Roosevelt, Illustrated by S. Schneider This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Frontier Boys in the Sierras Or, The Lost Mine Author: Wyn Roosevelt Release Date: May 4, 2010 [eBook #32253] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FRONTIER BOYS IN THE SIERRAS*** E-text prepared by D Alexander and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See http://www.archive.org/details/frontierboysinsi00roosrich THE FRONTIER BOYS IN THE SIERRAS OR THE LOST MINE BY CAPT. WYN ROOSEVELT Illustrated by S. SCHNEIDER NEW YORK A. L. CHATTERTON COMPANY PUBLISHERS By the same Author FRONTIER BOYS ON THE OVERLAND TRAIL FRONTIER BOYS IN COLORADO FRONTIER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES FRONTIER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON FRONTIER BOYS IN MEXICO FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST FRONTIER BOYS IN HAWAII FRONTIER BOYS IN THE SIERRAS FRONTIER BOYS IN THE SADDLE Copyright 1909 Chatterton-Peck Co. “the mexican had got almost within striking distance.”—P. 179. “the mexican had got almost within striking distance.”—P. 179. CONTENTS Chapter Page I. In the Channel 9 II. Farewell To Hawaii 17 III. Jeems’ Story 25 IV. The Lost Mine 33 V. Working the Ship 41 VI. Dangerous Work 49 VII. What They Saw 57 VIII. A Race 66 IX. The Engineer 75 X. The Russian 85 XI. A Conspiracy 94 XII. The Green Ghosts 103 XIII. Tom’s Bad Luck 112 XIV. The Trial 121 XV. “The Maria Crothers” 130 XVI. An Exciting Charge 140 XVII. A Chase 148 XVIII. The Diagram 157 XIX. The Camp in the Valley 167 XX. A Surprise 176 XXI. The Greaser 185 XXII. Hail 192 XXIII. A Holiday 202 XXIV. Big Gus and His Gang 209 XXV. A New Fort 215 XXVI. A Night Attack 222 XXVII. The Retreat 229 XXVIII. A New Start 237 XXIX. The Search 244 XXX. The Lost Mine Again 251 The Frontier Boys in the Sierras CHAPTER I IN THE CHANNEL “By Jove, Jim!” exclaimed Jo Darlington, “but this sea is something fierce! For one I will be mighty glad when we get clear of the Hawaiian channels and out into the open.” “It is lively going,” yelled Jim, above the roar of the wind, as he and his brother Jo were standing together on the bridge of their ship, “but I guess the Sea Eagle will weather it, if we don’t run into another vessel in the dark. How about it, Captain?” The captain, who was the rather bent figure of an old man, was clothed in a heavy woolen jacket, buttoned across his chest. He stopped and regarded Jim fixedly in the semi-light on the bridge. “What’s that, Skipper?” he roared hoarsely, “weather this? Why, this ain’t no sea, and the Sea Eagle is a staunch boat. Why, lad, you must be joking.” “I was,” replied Jim, laughing. “I just want to reassure brother Jo,—that was all.” “Somebody ought to go and cheer up Tom and Jeems Howell,” remarked Jo, in order to give himself some sea standing in the eyes of Captain Kerns. “They are as sick as puppies down in the cabin.” “Don’t blame ’em much,” cried Jim, “this motion would upset a shark’s liver.” If you have read “The Frontier Boys in Hawaii,” you will be well acquainted with these conversationalists on the good sea-going yacht, the Sea Eagle, but if not, you will have to be introduced, “Mr. Reader, this is Skipper James Darlington.” “Happy to make your acquaintance, hope you are a good sailor?” “Mr. Reader, allow me to present Captain Kerns.” Captain Kerns merely grunts, and, kind Mr. Reader, you must overlook his lack of formality, because the captain is an old salt and his manners are a little briny. In way of further explanation, I may say that the Frontier Boys are just returning from a trip to Hawaii in which they have explored the wonderful crater of Haleapala on the Island of Maui, and their ship the Sea Eagle, whose capture is another story, is pointing her prow eastward through the rough channel that separates Hawaii and Maui. They are en route to the coast of California, and as soon as they land they have planned to make an exploring expedition into the wilds of The Sierra Nevadas, in search of a lost mine, rumors of which have come to their ears. Besides the three Frontier Boys and their comrade Juarez, there is their friend Jeems Howell, a shepherd and philosopher, from a small island off the coast of California; Captain Kerns, a [Pg 9] [Pg 10] [Pg 11] retired ship’s master who was persuaded to come along merely to supervise; Jim, the oldest of the three brothers, being the acting commander, though generally referred to as skipper. And besides these, there is old Pete, an ancient mariner, the engineer, and a sturdy boy below who does a good deal of the stoking. Besides these dramatis personæ, there is a general chorus of Mermen and Mermaids, sharks, porpoises, sea serpents et al.; as Jo Darlington would say, it was the sharks that et all. But this is no reflection upon the appetites of the boys, which was invariably good, if we may except Tom Darlington and Jeems Howell just at the present moment. Now, on with the voyage: as the principals have been introduced and are ready, they can come to close grips with the ocean and all its dangers, so that the referee, being the writer, has made his exit through the ropes, allowing a free field and no favor. It is a tough beginning as far as sea way goes. The hour is close upon midnight in mid-channel, and that is no dream even on so staunch a little craft as the Sea Eagle. “That time she lapped the starboard boat into the water,” yelled Jim. “Hold steady now, lads.” Then up rose the ship on the other roll to larboard; over, over, over she went; would she never stop? Then with a straining of all her timbers, that had all the effort of severe muscular tension, she did stop, then back she rolled on the other tack which was equally as sharp, the brass balls on top of her masts pointing from star to star, describing, it seemed, almost a semi-circle. To make it more interesting the Sea Eagle would then dip under a huge wave and the water would swish and roll aft along the main deck. The wind whistled and hummed through the taut ropes, and altogether it was a lively night, even if the sturdy old captain did discount its terrors. Occasionally Jim and Jo would slide across the bridge and bring up against the side; but as a rule they kept their sea legs in good shape. “Hold on, Juarez,” cried Jim, as he saw a dark form emerge from the companionway, “here comes a big wave.” But with the roar of the sea and the wind Juarez did not hear the warning, and had just started across the deck when under went the Sea Eagle, and a tremendous wave swept aft, submerging the bulwarks. It caught Juarez off his feet and swirled him toward the side. He would not have lived a minute in those rearing, plunging seas. As he was swept over, he caught frantically at an iron stanchion and barely gripped it, and before he could make an effort to help himself he was submerged in the water, the sea tugging at him as though it were an hungry animal. Hardy as Juarez was, he could not help but feel a thrill of terror; it seemed as if the waves desperately clutched at him. Jim was filled with horror when he saw Juarez apparently carried overboard. He shook off the captain’s grip; the latter thought that Jim was going to spring over after his friend, which act he knew would result in two lives being thrown away. So he leaped to the main deck. Then he saw Juarez struggling to get aboard before the next wave came. He sprang to his help and with a powerful pull yanked him in. They braced themselves against the attack of a second wave that swept the deck and then they were “high and dry” on the bridge, drenched to the skin, but entirely safe, and none the worse for their impromptu bath. “That was a close call, Juarez,” said Jo sympathetically. “Another call like that and I won’t be tu hum,” replied Juarez with a grin. “Next time take a look for’ard, lad,” said the captain, who had joined the group in the shelter of the deck house; “we could never have picked you up on a dark night like this.” Then he went back to his station on the bridge. The hardy old sailor would never have dreamed of making much ado about any accident no matter how serious. If the party came through alive, that was sufficient to show that it was not very bad. The Frontier Boys, too, had absorbed a good deal of that philosophy in the course of many dangers which they had so fortunately outlived. When daylight came, the Sea Eagle had battered her way through the rough channel, its waters tortured by rapid currents and terrific cross seas, and was now pitching along the windward coast of the big Island of Hawaii, with its twin volcanic summits nearly fourteen thousand feet in height. It was not smooth going yet by any means, but better than during the night. “Get up, Tom, and look at the scenery.” It was Jim’s cheerful voice, addressed to Tom, who lay pale and rather wan in his bunk. “I’ve got no use for scenery,” growled Tom, “unless I can get close enough to it to put my foot on it. I want something solid.” “How would a beefsteak do, Tom?” It was Jo, who was looking over Jim’s shoulder. At the mention of food, Tom seemed endowed with sudden energy and reached down, and grabbing up a shoe, hurled it at the [Pg 12] [Pg 13] [Pg 14] [Pg 15] two in the doorway. They ducked and the missile barely grazed the beard of the old captain, who was coming aft, and then it went overboard. “By Thundas!” he exclaimed, opening his eyes wide with surprise, “who kicked that?” “Tom threw it, sir,” said Jim with a burst of laughter he could not control, at sight of the captain’s astonished visage, “but he meant it for us, because we were guying him.” “I’ll forgive him on account of his intentions,” grinned the captain. “I only wish he had swatted you.” Tom was much relieved to hear this expression of opinion on the part of the captain, of whom he stood in considerable awe. From fright to relief was such a revulsion of feeling that Tom forgot to be sea-sick, and he began to mend from that moment, so that he was able to be present for duty when breakfast was served. “I thought you were sick abed,” remarked Jim, opening his eyes with surprise. “I was,” replied Tom, “until I threw up that shoe, now I feel fine and fit to eat a square meal.” CHAPTER II FAREWELL TO HAWAII Jeems Howell was the only one of the hardy Frontier group who was unable to be present at breakfast that fine morning. “How are you feeling, Jeems,” inquired Jo, looking in upon the sufferer a little later. “Don’t you think that you could eat a little something if you were propped up with pillows?” “No, no, lad,” said Jeems sadly. “I feel that I ain’t long for this world.” “I don’t know what you call it then,” remarked the incorrigible Jo, “you are six feet four and that seems to me to be pretty long for this world or any other.” Jeems laughed so heartily at this that he too began forthwith to recuperate. Then he got out on the land side of the deck and, though the sun was of a sufficient warmth to satisfy the most exacting, he kept a heavy shawl wrapped around his shoulders. “Durned old woman,” growled the captain when he caught sight of the figure seated between the cabin and the rail. “He ought to be for’ard scrubbing deck.” However, Skipper Jim was more lenient, and only laughed at the captain’s severity, for he knew that the old fellow’s bark was much worse than his bite. In fact, no work was being done aboard ship that morning, for all hands were given a chance for a long last look at Hawaii. Never again were they to behold a more beautiful scene than the panorama that traveled steadily along with the Sea Eagle that morning. The soft radiance flooded the deeply azure sea, and the tropic island of vivid and varied green. The four boys stood leaning lazily on the ship’s rail, gazing in silence at the view that was passing before them. Their sombreros shaded their eyes, but the glare from the water shone upon their faces of healthy bronze, and they did not seem to mind it in the least. The old captain sat upon the bridge in his old armchair, with his old comrade, the tortoise-shell cat, dozing and blinking at his feet, a true picture of furry felicity. So the crew of the Sea Eagle passed in review this coast of Hawaii, with black precipices, that rose in a continuous line of palisades from out the sea, with no white beach shelving down. The great green surges, with the force of the Pacific behind them, rolled against the perpendicular walls, the dark surfaces of which were veined at frequent intervals by the silvery lines of the waterfalls, or graced by the vines which fell in straight lines, or were looped in varied shapes. Beyond these cliffs there rose the splendid slopes, with here and there groves of royal palms and slender cocoa trees, fit temples for the gods of ancient Hawaii who were supposed to dwell in streams and groves and mountains. Still higher up the mountain side grew the forests of creamy koa, inlaid among the dark- leaved kukui. At times the skirts of the clouds, heavy with moisture, dragged along the lower slopes, and a soft gloom would diffuse itself over the landscape. Then the sun would roll the mists aside for the moment, and the light would fall upon tropical vales, hills and mountain slopes, with all the vividness of the early spring and yet with the full, rich splendor of summer. No wonder the Frontier Boys were silent as they gazed upon this scene of varied and unusual beauty, so [Pg 16] [Pg 17] [Pg 18] [Pg 19] [Pg 20] different from the wild and barren grandeur of the mountain ranges in their own country, and the arid deserts they had traveled over. “I’d hate to fall overboard here,” exclaimed Tom, “it looks all-fired deep.” “The captain says that along these island coasts,” remarked Juarez, “is some of the deepest seas in the world.” “Say, Jeems,” cried Juarez to the invalid, “wade out here and see how deep it is.” “If you really want to know I’ll tell you,” responded Jeems, the philosopher. “Off this coast it’s between five and seven thousand feet.” “Whew!” whistled Jim, “over a mile, how is that for down?” “It makes me shiver to think of it,” exclaimed Tom. “Hello, boys!” cried Jeems, “there is a big fire over on the other side of the Island.” “I should say!” commented Jim earnestly. “Look at that smoke rolling up.” “It must be a forest fire,” put in Jo. “Reminds me of our Colorado experiences.” “I tell you what, boys, let’s make a landing and take a look at it,” cried Juarez. “There’s a fine harbor ahead of us!” Old Captain Kerns was taking a deep interest in the conversation, as was evident, as he looked down from the quarter deck at the boys. “What’s that you lads were saying, about a big fire somewheres?” he inquired. “I hope it hain’t aboard ship.” “No, no, Captain,” replied Jim reassuringly, “we meant that big smoke over on the other side of the island. Juarez wants to make a landing, so as we can see it to better advantage. We don’t want to miss any excitement.” “You lads are always so eager,” replied the captain. “Why don’t you wait until you get back here sometime?” “It will be burned out long before we get back,” said Jo. “Well,” said the captain slowly, “that smoke has been there for nigh onto a thousand years, and is liable to be there for some time yet. That’s the volcano of Kiluæa.” How the captain roared then; for an instant the boys were dumfounded, then they gave themselves up to hilarious mirth. “That’s certainly one on us boys,” cried Jim. “We can’t tell a volcano when we see it. We ought to have stayed on the old farm and dug potatoes.” After the ship had turned northward from the coast of Hawaii the boys set to work about their usual tasks aboard ship. Jim took the wheel; Juarez went below to work with the engineer, with whom he was quite chummy; Jeems and Jo scrubbed decks, while Tom was busy in the galley preparing the dinner. All the boys were pretty fair cooks, but Tom’s cooking probably had more style to it, though he was not quite a French chef. The old captain had turned into his cabin on the quarter deck to take a good nap in his bunk, while the cat, whom he named Ulysses, both on account of his wisdom and because he had been a great traveler, was curled up in the chair beside him. So the day went quickly and cheerfully by,—the first day at sea. In the late afternoon all hands were on deck to take their last look at Hawaii, that was fast becoming a mythical island on the enchanted border of the horizon. The bulk of the Island of Hawaii was encompassed with an atmosphere of wonderful blue, rising from out the dusk, which shrouded the distant sea, and its two great volcanic cones, that rose to the glow of the sunset, were touched with a delicate pink. “We have had a fine time down there in Hawaii, boys,” said Jim, “but I’m glad we are headed for home.” “I suppose you will try to locate that lost mine in the Sierras?” said Tom, “that Jeems spoke about the other day.” “If there is anything lost we are the ones to locate it,” said Jo. “There is no doubt about that.” “We must get Jeems to tell us more about it,” said Jim. “Perhaps we can get him to tune up this evening after supper.” [Pg 21] [Pg 22] [Pg 23] “Time to put up the lights, Captain?” inquired Juarez. “Yes, Juarez,” replied Jim. “You may attend to it.” “I don’t see what’s the use,” remarked Tom. “We won’t probably see a ship until we get near the coast of California.” “Don’t make any difference,” replied Jim. “That’s the law of the sea and you can’t ever tell what you will run against.” Juarez did not wait to hear the discussion, but went after the red and the green lanterns. He placed the red on the starboard side for’ard in a wooden bracket well up, and the green was placed on the port side, or the left, and they shone through the bronze dusk that obscured the rolling sea, like separate jewels, the emerald and the ruby. It was a happy group that gathered around the supper table in the cabin that evening, for the boys were homeward bound. The windows of the skylight were wide open, because it was a typical tropical night— warm and balmy—and the great lamp that swung over the table with its brass reflector served to make it warmer still. “Tell us something more about that lost mine you were telling about the other day, Jeems,” piped up Tom. “Don’t tell Tom first,” warned Jim, “because if you do, he will have all the shares sold before we arrive.” There was a general laugh at this because Tom was strictly business when it came to money. “Wait till we get on deck, then I’ll spout,” said Jeems. CHAPTER III JEEMS’ STORY So the clan shortly after supper gathered at the after hatch on the main deck to hear what Jeems had to tell them in regard to this stray, lost, or stolen mine in the depths of the Sierra Nevadas. The captain was seated in his old chair upon the quarter deck, and, in the gloaming, puffing thoughtfully at his weathered old pipe, meditating, like as not, on the days of long ago, when he was as full of life as that bunch now talking and laughing on the main deck. “This is a fine old night,” declared Jo, as he stretched himself comfortably out on the canvas cover of the hatch. “I never saw so many stars before,” declared Tom, “must be a million in sight.” “Not so, son,” remarked Jeems. “There is not more than three thousand visible to the naked eye.” “Go on with you,” said Tom, conclusively, “you needn’t tell me that. It’s as much of a yarn as your story of the lost mine.” “Don’t mind him, Jeems,” said Jim. “Let’s hear your tale of woe about this mine that somebody lost.” “Well,” remarked Jeems, “if you children will be quiet and don’t interrupt, I’ll begin. First make yourselves comfortable.” This the boys proceeded to do; Jim and Juarez stretched their long legs out on the deck, with their backs against the hatch, while Tom started to make himself content and at ease by using Jo’s stomach for a pillow. This, however, did not agree with Jo’s idea of comfort, or perhaps it was his stomach that it did not agree with. However that may be, there was a cat fight on the hatch, Jo and Tom grappling with each other and struggling over and over. Jim was about to jump in and separate them, when he saw that they were likely to roll off the hatch on to the deck, and then he would not have interfered for anything. The two combatants were so interested that they did not see or care. Then they poised on the edge and, as the ship gave a roll, over they went, just missing Jeems’ shepherd dog, who was peacefully lying, nose over paws, upon the deck. This unexpected avalanche sent him howling for’ard for safety. Then still clutching each other they rolled into the scuppers, Tom striving to get a strangle hold on brother Jo, and the latter chugging Tom in the side with his free fist. At this juncture Jim took a hand, not in the interest of peace, but because he wanted to hear the shepherd’s yarn. So he yanked them apart, none too gently. “Ain’t you ashamed of yourselves?” exclaimed Jim severely, “mussing up my clean deck and scaring [Pg 24] [Pg 25] [Pg 26] [Pg 27] Jeems’ dog into a fit.” “I’m no sofa pillow,” panted Jo. “Tom will find that out.” “I’ll put you children on either side of the hatch if you don’t behave,” advised Jim, “and make you sit there.” “Like to see you try it,” replied Tom belligerently. “Send ’em to bed without any supper,” put in Juarez jocosely. “I’d give ’em a taste of the rope’s end.” It was the old captain’s voice rumbling down from the quarter deck. He, too, had been aroused by the sound of the scuffle. Tom glanced up at him with an apprehensive eye, for he stood in considerable awe of the old sailor, and quieted right down. “They will be good boys now, Captain,” grinned Jim. “Their feelings were temporarily upset.” “It seemed to be an upset of some kind,” replied the captain with a grim smile, and went back to his chair. Peace being restored, Jeems began his narrative in the slow, drawling manner characteristic of his mode of speech. He was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, and his gray eyes—large and open— seemed to be looking dreamily over the dusky sea, that was rolling languidly through the warm darkness of the night. “It was a some different sort of night than this when I first heard tell of the mine, which maybe you boys think you will find some trace of, being young and hopeful and full of action.” “Now, Jeems, don’t get personal,” warned Jim. “We aren’t as young as we act.” “I know it, Skipper,” admitted Jeems; “but as I was going to tell you, this night I was speaking of, it had started in to snow something fierce. I was young then myself, and had been prospectin’ all day and had come home to my little cabin that was under the shelter of a huge ledge in the mid-Sierras. “I can tell you, lads, I was mighty glad to be out of the storm that night, and I pitied any poor prospector who might be caught out in it. My cabin was smaller than the one I had on the Island off the coast, where you first discovered me, but it was comfortable and warm, and well sheltered from the wind. “I had built a big stone fireplace in one corner of the cabin, and had big sticks of pine piled up to the roof and a lot just outside of the door. You know how pitch pine will burn.” “Needn’t tell us,” cried the audience in chorus. “Besides wood, I had enough grub to stand a siege, as I was always forehanded.” “Must have been durn lonesome,” commented Jo. “Grub and firewood ain’t everything.” “That sort of business would just suit me,” put in Juarez. “Well, I wasn’t entirely alone,” said the shepherd. “Wife with you?” cut in Tom, who could be over-smart at times. Jim noticed that the shepherd winced at the careless question, and he put a grip on Tom’s knee that meant that the said Tom had better keep his mouth shut. “A man don’t take his wife into such a wilderness as that,” said Jim. “Go on, Jeems, and there won’t be any more personal interruptions.” “Well, Skipper, as I was agoin’ to say, I had with me a big hound, one that had followed me on my trips ever since he was a puppy. A prospector had given him to me when I was sluicing for gold on Rainbow Creek. He was a smooth, black-skinned dog, with stubby ears, and a jaw on him like a prize fighter. He was equal to anything in a fight short of a grizzly, and I valued his company considerable, I can tell you.” “I should like to have seen a scrap between him and Captain Graves’ Santa Anna.” (This was on the back trail when the Frontier Boys were in Colorado), said Juarez. “Get Jo and Tom to mixing it,” laughed Jim, “and you’ll have some idea of what it would be like.” At this point the boys were surprised to see Jeems become angry at Juarez’s innocent interruption. It was the first time that the boys had ever seen Jeems Howell anything but good-natured, no matter what happened, or what prank was played on him. But, as Jo remarked later, “Human nature is a mighty uncertain business, and everybody has got a cranky spot in ’em if you just happen to strike it at the explosive time.” Which is a mighty true observation, which you can prove to your own satisfaction any [Pg 28] [Pg 29] [Pg 30] [Pg 31] day in the week. The writer being example No. 1, and you, indulgent reader, example No. 2. Jim and Juarez, by their combined and genial efforts, pulled Jeems out of the sulks and on to his own sunny level once more. Then he took up his narrative again. “Well, boys, it don’t seem that I have got any right to criticize that black hound’s temper, considering my own.” “Anybody is apt to get riled once in a lifetime, Jeems,” said Jim, “even Tom here has been known to act up occasionally.” Tom joined in the laugh because he had a notoriously quick temper, and complete serenity was restored. “That hound would never make friends with anyone except me,” continued Jeems, “and I could always depend on his watchfulness to warn me of the approach of any marauder. It was a wild country, and with bad Indians and worse white men you always had to be on your guard. Still on this night I tell ye of, the storm was so wild and fierce that I did not believe anyone would be abroad who had any sort of a place to stay in. “Before turning in, I stepped outside to see how things were going. The hound followed close on my heels. I closed the door tight and stood in the darkness with my old gray hat pulled down close around my head. I could scarcely see. The snow was swirling from the ledge above my cabin, and was blown out in great sheets into the night. “Then the hound began to growl kind of low, and his hair was bristling, but he did not show any sudden desire to take a jump down the mountain side, as he would under ordinary circumstances, and I didn’t urge him because I thought he showed mighty good sense.” CHAPTER IV THE LOST MINE “‘Anybody down thar?’ I yelled, but my voice was blown down my throat, and you couldn’t have heard it six feet away, as the wind was doing all the talking that night. So I stepped back into my cabin, followed by the dog, who kept growling to himself like a man with a grouch. “No sooner was I inside than I let the heavy bar down across the door, and, when it fell into place, I drew a full breath, for I felt nervous at the action of the dog, and it was terrible lonesome, just as bad as being adrift on a raft in this ocean.” “I’d take the land every time,” cut in Tom. “It’s what’s under you makes you so scarey on the ocean.” “I don’t know but that the constant motion of the sea makes it kind of company for a man,” remarked Jim. “Don’t tell me that,” said the shepherd with a quizzical look in his eyes, “from my recent experience that same motion will separate you from what is nearest to you. Anyhow, after I had put on a big log of pine on the coals in the fireplace, and the flame began to blaze up, I felt more cheerful, for it seemed to make my cabin alive with a hearty glow. “After I had toasted my blankets thoroughly, I wrapped them around me, and laid down near the fire, with my rifle near me. The big hound was just back a bit, between me and the door, and I felt quite secure and perfectly comfortable. I was tired, too, for I had been working hard all day, and I soon dropped off into a sound sleep. “I do not know how long I had slept, when I sat up suddenly throwing the blankets off from me and grabbing my rifle. The fire had died down and there was that chill in the air that cramps a man’s blood. The cabin was full of shadows, except the dying glow on the stone hearth. The dog had risen and was growling towards the door. Then I heard the blow of a stick, I suppose it was, against the door. “I tell you, it made me feel scared, coming in the dead of night, in such a lonesome, utterly desolate place. I was kind of superstitious in those days, too, and I was afraid of what was outside there, because it didn’t seem possible for anything human to have reached my isolated cabin on such a night. Again came the blow upon the door; then I crossed to the window and very cautiously looked out. “It had evidently heard me or divined that I was at the window, for I saw pressed against the pane and almost touching my face, it seemed, the dark visage of a man with wild, black eyes. The dog saw him too, but as he did not seem to be inspired with his usual ferocity, I decided to take a chance and let him in. I would not have kept the Old Boy himself out on a night like that. [Pg 32] [Pg 33] [Pg 34] [Pg 35] “So with my weapon ready, I unbarred the door, and the man stumbled in. I saw that he was not an American, but belonged to some dark race, probably a Spaniard. When I got a good look at his face, I saw that my unbidden guest was no other than Rodrigo Sandez, who was fabled all through that region to have found the entrance to the famous Lost Mine, whose wealth had been coupled with legends for many years. “It seems that this mine had been known to the earliest Spanish explorers, many of whom went back to Spain fabulously rich. Then, for many years, all trace had been lost of it, and numerous miners and prospectors laughed incredulously at any mention of it. Then came Rodrigo Sandez with his friend, who likewise was Spanish, or as I think Spanish-Mexican, and rediscovered the Lost Mine, probably through some information long hidden, that had come to them in Mexico, through some unknown sources. “The man was half frozen from exposure to the elements, and when he was thawed out physically, it did the same for his powers of speech. I eagerly hoped that he would have something to say that would give me a clue to the whereabouts of that mine, not that I expected he would make me his heir, but I was anxious to make a stake in those days, for one reason, if not for another, so I had hopes. “In the three weeks that he stayed in my cabin before the storm broke, not a hint could I get out of him, though he would talk volubly about other matters, telling me of his travels in Mexico and South America. All the time he was with me I kept wondering what had become of his partner, but when I had it on the tip of my tongue to ask him, something in his manner of looking at me held me back. “Physically he was not impressive, this man, being short and stocky. His complexion was very dark, and his hair was short and bristly. But there was a peculiar power in his eyes at times, and when he was disturbed about anything, instead of becoming sharp and brilliant they took on a kind of glaze, that gave you a creepy feeling when he looked at you. “I might say right here that though Sandez and his partner had been trailed many times in the effort to find where this mine was located, they were always lost track of. Either they dropped out of sight as though the earth had swallowed them, or something happened to the party that was following them. “When Sandez left my cabin to go on his way south, the weather having cleared, I decided to take up his back trail in hope of finding some trace of his partner, and thus getting a possible clue to the location of the mine. So I started out one clear, cold day, with my dog for guide and company. “I knew the general direction that the two partners traveled, for their trail was not lost until they had gone some twenty miles northwest of my cabin. I made fast time over the frozen snow on my skis, until by noon I had covered nigh onto fifteen miles. The dog was trotting along ahead of me when suddenly he disappeared into a deep gulch. “In a second or two he set up a howl long-drawn-out and I knew then that he had found the quarry. I discovered the body of the man under some thick bushes at the bottom of the gulch. He had not been frozen to death either, for there was a slit in his back, where the knife had been driven. “No wonder that I had found it hard to ask the Señor Sandez what had become of his partner. Here was the answer. It was evident that this deed of treachery had been the end of a bitter quarrel, perhaps over the division of the wealth or some other matter of dispute. I always felt that there was more back of it than appeared on the surface. I found nothing to establish the identity of the dead man, neither his name nor his place of residence. “I did find, however, in an inner pocket the picture of a rather pretty Spanish woman, and on the back of it was drawn a diagram showing a certain part of the mountain. I instantly jumped to the conclusion that it was the clue to the Lost Mine. I spent several months thereafter trying to locate the place. I got most of the way by the map and then I came to a mark that fooled me completely, and I lost the trail.” “What did you do with that diagram, Jeems?” asked Jim intently. “I kept it back of a rock in the chimney of my cabin, and it’s there yet for all I know.” “Unless the mountain rats have chewed it up,” remarked Tom gloomily. “I suppose you can find that cabin of yours, can’t you?” inquired Juarez. “It’s a good many years, but I reckon I could,” Jeems replied. “Well, I reckon you will have the chance,” said Jim, “just as soon as we land.” “That yarn of yours was not only interesting, Jeems, but it has some practical value,” remarked Jo. “Ahoy there, Skipper,” boomed out the old captain’s voice from the quarter deck. “It’s about time the man at the wheel was relieved.” Jim sprang to his feet, and gave his head a hard thump with his fist to wake himself up. “Right, Captain,” he replied, “I’ve been sitting here listening to a yarn and forgetting my work. Jo, to the [Pg 36] [Pg 37] [Pg 38] [Pg 39] wheel. I’ll stand watch.” Then he leaped up the steep steps leading to the quarter deck, closely followed by Jo, who took Pete’s place at the wheel, while that worthy went below; and the captain turned into his cabin on the quarter deck without more ado. If anyone besides Jim had been so forgetful, there would have been a vast amount of growling on his part, but Jim was a favorite. CHAPTER V WORKING THE SHIP It was now ten o’clock, and the ship steadily held her way over the plunging seas, and the wind came from out the vague spaces of the night, not chill, but bracing. How Jim loved it! Sometimes he felt when he was pacing the deck at night on watch, that he liked the ocean even better than the mountains. As he strode back and forth he thought and pondered over Jeems’ story. Suppose they should find this rich pocket mine of gold in the Sierras, what would they do with the money? Jim was not grasping and the mere idea of getting rich did not appeal to him. “A fool can make money,” he had sometimes said, “but it takes a wise man to spend it.” Then he brought his fist down hard upon the rail. “I’ve got it, Jo,” he cried, “if we find that mine, we will take a trip around the world and see if we can’t discover something new. We’ve got the ship already.” “What do we need of more money?” asked Jo. “Let’s head her around now and strike out for the Philippines. We have got some of that treasure left that we discovered in Mexico.” “I wonder what Pap would say,” replied Jim, lowering his voice, “if he found that he had been shanghied in any such fashion. I suspicion that there would be a mutiny aboard this craft.” “I forgot about him,” admitted Jo. “Another thing, you don’t realize how much money it takes to keep a yacht going, even if we are under sail part of the time. This boat has got to be overhauled when we get to port. Drydocked for one thing, liable to cost $500; then the engines will have to be overhauled. Next coal and provisions——” “I reckon we had better discover that mine,” agreed Jo. “That’s where you show your good sense,” concluded Jim. So as the schooner yacht went northward following her unseen path through the darkness, the boys’ minds were busy with their plans for the future. For one, I envy them their buoyant freedom, their hearty comradeship, and their chance for new and varying adventure. Yet they had earned much of the good fortune that had come to them by their pluck in danger and their cheerful endurance of hardship. At two o’clock Tom was called on deck to take the wheel, and Jeems Howell to stand watch. Not a very strong maritime team, to be sure, but with the calm mild weather it was safe enough, and the captain was near at hand if any trouble should arise suddenly from out the darkness of the sea. “Do you suppose you two land lubbers can manage, without running us aground?” inquired Jim. “Aye, aye, sir!” replied Jeems cheerfully. “I’m just as liable to run this thing in a circle,” replied Tom, “and we will butt into Hawaii before we know it.” As a matter of fact, the boys were all pretty fair sort of sailors by this time, in a kind of make-shift practical way. They had received good instruction from old Pete, and capable supervision from the old captain, and it gave them confidence to have him back of them in case anything unusual should come up. Juarez, who was really a mechanical genius, went below in the engine-room to relieve the engineer. He spent his happiest hours in a pair of greasy jumpers working over the engine, feeding it with oil, polishing it until it shone, and giving it constant attention. The taciturn engineer had taken quite a fancy to Juarez, who was himself as silent as an Indian. He had taught Juarez a great deal about his intricate trade, and the pupil had been quick to profit, always watching and observing, and saying little. It seemed to Juarez that he was at the center of things when he was watching over the throbbing, steady, ceaseless movement of the engine; and shut off from the outside world, his thoughts seemed to time with the steady, powerful harmony of the mechanism, with its living spirit of steam within the polished [Pg 40] [Pg 41] [Pg 42] [Pg 43] [Pg 44] framework. Many a boy who reads these lines will envy Juarez Hoskins, assistant engineer of the Sea Eagle, and will understand his feelings perhaps even better than the writer. Nor did Juarez mind the heat, as with the jumper fastened over his brown naked shoulders, and bare head, he went busily about the engine-room whistling softly to himself. Old Pete passed near on his way into the hold, and in a short time up came the boy stoker, black as a gnome and cheerful as a darkey, for he was Irish, which I take to be a Hibernian remark. Thus with the exception of Pete the Frontier Boys were in charge of their ship and running it all right too. There was no question that this practise cruise to Hawaii was a fine thing for them, and after it was over they would be well qualified to take the Sea Eagle wherever their fancy might dictate, or where necessity might require. The next morning broke bright and balmy and the boys settled down to regular sea routine: scrubbing decks, steering, polishing the brasswork, and last, but not least, cooking. Some things were now present on the bill of fare which were absent when they sailed from the coast. For instance, there were bananas, some yellow and ripe, others a bright green which would ripen on the voyage. There was also half a bushel of mangoes, a most delicious fruit of juicy yellow meat, and a tart flavor hidden among its sweetness. There was also a small barrel of poi, the staple Hawaiian article of diet, of which the boys had grown very fond during their short sojourn in Hawaii. It was a thick bluish paste, and most nutritious. Poi was made from a native root called taro, of mottled bluish-white meat. This was pounded up with water to a thick consistency and according to the native custom eaten from bowls into which the two forefingers were dipped, whirled around and then transferred quickly and gracefully to the mouth. It was an interesting spectacle to see Tom, for instance, seated on a hatch, his bare legs crossed before him, and a bowl of poi between them. Then Tom would throw his head back and pop his two fingers into his mouth with much and evident enjoyment. Now poi is very fattening and the boys used to tease Jeems Howell about his getting a corporation, as he was naturally as thin as a slab. “You would look funny waddling around the deck, Jeems,” said Jim, “and the fat shaking on your tummy when you laughed.” “Could use me for ballast then, Skipper,” he would remark, “but I ain’t worrying any. When I see myself fat I’ll believe it and not before.” One day the dead calm of sea monotony was broken by a breeze of excitement. It was morning and Tom was at the wheel, while on the bridge was Juarez keeping a sharp lookout, as was his custom, although there was not much to expect in the way of interest. As far as sighting a sail, that was most unlikely, for this part of the ocean through which they were traveling was nothing but a blue desert, as far as other ships were concerned. “What’s that coming now?” cried Juarez. “I can’t make it out.” “Where?” asked Tom eagerly. “Low down on the northeast quarter,” said Juarez. “I see what you mean,” remarked Tom, but he too was puzzled. “I’ll get the glass,” suggested Juarez. This done, he took a good long pull at it, his legs well braced against the roll of the ship, and making a very nautical figure indeed. Then he made out the enemy clearly; three big black hulls they were, and then from the bow of one a column of steam—or was it water?—went slanting into the air. Juarez’s frame stiffened with interest and excitement. “Whales!” he cried. “What’s that, lad?” It was the captain, who was supposedly asleep in his cabin, which was the deck house, but he responded quickly to the magic word, “Whales.” “Gimme the glass,” he ordered, his hand outstretched. The boys watched him with interested attention. “Three of ’em,” he cried. “Gosh! I wish I was younger.” By this time the whole Frontier gang was present on the quarter deck looking at the dark spots on the blue ocean that now had become visible to the naked eye. To say that they were interested was to put it very mildly. There was a strange interest to these marine monsters. “Let’s get one of those fellows,” cried Juarez. “We have a couple of harpoons.” “Get ready, boys,” cried Jim. “It’s a go.” [Pg 45] [Pg 46] [Pg 47] [Pg 48] “What!” roared the captain. “You boys can’t spear a whale even if you did get nigh him. He would spank you to kingdom come with his tail. You stay right here where I can keep an eye on you. The idea of you tackling a whale. Why, it’s plumb ridiculous. Just a passel of kittens when it comes to whaling.” Then he stopped to blow, entirely exhausted. CHAPTER VI DANGEROUS WORK However foolhardy the proposition, the boys were determined, and then they were in the majority, so they overruled the captain. A chance like that was not to be permitted to slip. They had hunted bears, mountain lions, Indians, outlaws, ducks and much other game, but never had whales come within range before, and at least they were going to try to make their preliminary acquaintance. “Well, boys, as I ain’t responsible to your parents, yer might jest as well end yer lives by the flap of a whale’s tail as go on to be hung, because that, in my opinion, will come to you sooner or later, being so reckless.” But down in his heart the old fellow was pleased with their enterprise and pluck. “Better come along and take care of us, Captain,” urged Jim, “so these fellows won’t bite us.” “All the fishing I’ll ever do now will be for minnows over the rail,” replied the captain. “My whaling days are over.” “The only whaling I know about,” remarked Jo, “was what I used to get in school.” “You would get some more of the same kind now,” remarked Jim briefly, “if I could spare the time.” “Now, you have to spare the rod,” replied the irrepressible and irresponsible Jo. He ducked quickly as Jim hit at him, but there was no time for further discipline or discussion, so Jo escaped the merited punishment that was due him. The boat was lowered, and the harpoon with its apparently endless coil of rope, was made ready. All this was done under the careful instruction of Captain Kerns, who knew the business of whaling thoroughly, and was determined that the venturesome boys should not be entirely helpless through ignorance. As for the harpoon, that was the property originally of the former owner of the Sea Eagle, Captain Bill Broom, of interesting memory. What pleasure he would have felt to see the Frontier Boys start out on their perilous expedition, sure that the whales would wreak vengeance upon the daring boys who had finally given him such a bitter defeat! Everything was now ready, and the selected crew was prepared to pull away from the ship. They were delaying only for a few last words and instructions. Nor was the crew of the boat made up exactly as the reader might imagine, for Tom was left aboard and Jeems Howell was taken in his place. There were two reasons for this. In the first place, Jeems, though lanky and thin, was really very strong and could do better work at the oars than Tom; the other reason had to do with an incident that happened in the attack the boys had made on a sand cone in the crater of Haleakala, the said cone being defended by a number of savages. Tom had at that time failed to protect Jim when he was attacking the savages, due to nervousness, and Jeems had to come to the rescue. I do not know whether he appreciated the distinction of being chosen on this particular occasion or not, but he had to accept the honor thus thrust upon him. “Good-bye, Tom,” cried Jim; “I’ll leave you my blessing, if the whale takes a chaw out of us.” “I’d rather you would leave me something valuable like your gold watch,” replied the mercenary Tom. “I’ll make you my sole heir, Tommy,” cried Jo. “I’ve got some debts back home that you can have.” Then the boat pulled away from the ship. “Don’t forget, lads,” roared the captain in farewell, “that whales ain’t fools because they are big. Look out for ’em.” “Aye, aye, sir,” came back the answer clear and strong. “Good luck,” yelled the captain, and the boys waved their hands in reply. But no sooner had they pulled away than he got the other boat ready to launch in case it should be needed and a couple of life preservers were gotten ready, with a line attached, for no one knew better than the old [Pg 49] [Pg 50] [Pg 51] [Pg 52] sailor the dangerous undertaking on which the boys had launched. Meanwhile they were making good time over the slow, lazy swell towards the whales that could be seen floating easily along two miles distant. Jo was pulling the stroke oars, and Jeems was pulling the other pair directly behind him. Jo was a fair oarsman and Jeems was capable of keeping up with him. They discovered that there was an excitement and interest in rowing on the ocean that was not present in the same form of exercise on a lake or river, for there was a vitality, breadth and power about the sea that was lacking in the others. I tell you, they felt rather small and puny as they pulled the boat steadily over the swells that played gently with their craft, as though the old ocean was in a lazy playful mood, just like a tiger when it rolls sinuously upon its back fondling some object. Jim was in the bow of the boat, ready to use the harpoon when the time should come. Once or twice he stood up in the bow and plunged it down into the blue bosom of a rounded wave with all his force, the water slashing white from the track of the tearing weapon. “Better save your strength,” warned Juarez, who was at the steering oar. “Just getting warmed up, lad,” said Jim. “Think you can fetch him, Jim?” inquired Jo anxiously. “Sure,” replied his older brother confidently. “I reckon a whale is no tougher than a grizzly, and we’ve got them.” “Not with a harpoon,” remarked Jeems Howell. “You won’t be more than able to tickle the leviathan with that weapon.” But Jim scoffed at his prophecy, for there was this about James that helped him in a crisis like the present, that he had perfect confidence in himself which had been fortified by several narrow escapes. But here was an occasion where his good luck in danger was apt to be thoroughly tried out. “Whales are something like elephants, it seems to me,” said Jeems Howell. “They are big, dangerous and very intelligent.” “The elephant beats the whale when it comes to ears,” remarked Juarez. “But makes it up with his tail,” laughed Jeems. “Now, boys,” warned Jim, “be careful; no more...