When this elaborate meal was concluded, an hour and a half later, the warm afternoon had cooled and the train was well into the fertile farm land that distinguishes the great agricultural regions south of Edmonton. Somewhat after ten o’clock, the long daylight not yet at an end, the journey came to a close in the city of Strathcona. They had reached the Saskatchewan River. Loading their baggage into two taxicabs, they made a quick trip across the river to Edmonton and the King Edward Hotel.
It was with a feeling of happiness that Norman and Roy found themselves on what is now almost the frontier of civilization. Their joy did not lie in the fact that hereabouts might be found traces of the old life, but that they were at last well on their way toward their great adventure.
Rooms were at once secured and Mr. Zept and Paul immediately retired. Norman and Roy lingered a while to learn from Colonel Howell the next step.
“The crates will come across the river early to-morrow morning,” he explained, “and we’ll catch the Tuesday train at eight thirty for Athabasca Landing. We’ll be there to-morrow evening. Turn in and get a good night’s sleep.”
It was no trouble for the boys to do this, and at seven o’clock the next morning they were waiting for their friend and patron in the office. When he appeared he was in company with Mr. Zept and Paul, having apparently just aroused them.
“Well, boys,” he began, using his perpetual smile, “we’ve struck a little snag. But remember the philosophy of the country—what you can’t do to-day, do when you can. It’s the train!”
“What’s the matter?” exclaimed Norman.
“Well,” explained Colonel Howell, “you know they’re just finishing the railroad and I was told that the trains are running to Athabasca Landing. They were running a passenger train about twenty-five miles out, but beyond that there hasn’t been anything but a construction train. There’s a new Provincial Railway Commission and it decided only the other day that no more passengers could be carried. The road hasn’t been turned over yet by the contractor and they’re afraid to let anyone ride on the construction train. We could get as far as the passenger train goes and there we’d be stalled. Looks like I’d have to do some hustling.”
“You can go in an automobile,” suggested young Zept, who apparently had secured some information about the country.
But Colonel Howell shook his head. “There are only two automobiles in that service and they’re both stuck somewhere in the mud between here and the Landing. Besides, that wouldn’t do us much good. I find that my two carloads of oil machinery are yet in Edmonton and then there’s the airship crates.”