Thunder River, although not the boys’ final objective, was yet not very far away from the location, presumed or real, of the lost mine. The map was not very clear on this point. The small “X,” indicating the position of the mine, had been placed the fractional part of an inch on the west side of Thunder River. Whether the distance between the river and the mine was one mile or ten, there was no way of ascertaining.
The boys conversed animatedly as they proceeded slowly along the trail. The weather was mild. Here and there, were a few discolored patches of snow. The ground was moist and cold, dotted with pools of water or streaked with tiny rivulets that trickled audibly away to join other streams in the steaming forest spaces beyond.
At exactly twelve o’clock by Dick’s watch, the party came to a halt for its midday meal. After consulting the two packers, Dick had chosen a small bluff, thickly covered with dry grass and almost devoid of trees, as the best spot for the picketing out of the ponies. They could feed and rest here for an hour.
“I’ve an appetite myself,” Sandy declared. He stood, watching the two Indian boys, Pierre and Lee, remove the packs from the hungry little steeds and stake them out near the top of the bluff.
Dick and Toma had already started a fire. The latter was carrying an armful of brush, considerably larger than himself, and Dick, squatting on his haunches, hunting knife in hand, was carving thick slices of steak from a hind-quarter of moose he had fetched from the unloaded packs. He looked up at Sandy’s approach.
“Here you, old lazybones, get a stir on if you expect to eat with the rest of us. Just now I require two frying-pans, salt, kettle and a liberal supply of water from that creek over yonder. You’ll find bannock in the large canvas bag, tied with the yellow string.”
“I was just planning to put myself to work when you mentioned it,” Sandy retorted. “Gee, but I’m hungry. I know blamed well from the way I feel that our four-months’ supplies won’t last us more than a week.”
He trotted away without waiting to hear what Dick’s answer might be, and in considerably less than half an hour the boys were seated around the camp fire, eating their savory meal. At its conclusion, Dick stretched himself out at full length, basking in the warm noonday sun.
“Well, Sandy,” he exulted, “we’re away to a start at last. Aren’t you glad?”
“You bet I am,” came the hearty answer as the youngest member of the expedition sprawled down beside his friend. “The only thing I’m sorry about is that Uncle Walter couldn’t come along with us. He’s taking inventory at the store, and it’ll be several weeks before he’ll be ready to start.”