Part 8 (1/2)

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 finis.h.i.+ng the railroad and I was told that the trains are running to Athabasca Landing.

They were running a pa.s.senger 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 pa.s.sengers 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 pa.s.senger 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 airs.h.i.+p crates.”

”Can't we carry it all by wagon?” asked Norman.

”Hardly,” responded the colonel. ”It'd make a caravan. We might get through in good weather but the trail is impa.s.sable now. We've got to go by train.”

”And can't!” commented Roy.

”Not to-day,” laughed Colonel Howell, ”but the season's young yet.

There'll be another train starting out day after to-morrow. We'll have to turn up something. Meanwhile, let's have breakfast.”

This meal over, Norman and Roy accompanied Colonel Howell out into the city. As they well know, Edmonton was the town from which all were forced to take their start into the northern country and, as the colonel had already discovered, they soon confirmed the fact that transportation facilities were in a chaotic condition. A stage was to leave that day, but its pa.s.senger facilities were wholly inadequate, and what there were had been engaged for many days.

The first visit of the investigators was to the offices of the Hudson's Bay Company, that great trading inst.i.tution which is at once the banker and the courier for all travelers in the great Northwest. Although altogether obliging, at the present time the Company was helpless. The agent thought he might arrange for teams, but it would require several days. Then Colonel Howell visited the offices of the railroad contractors, where he ascertained definitely that pa.s.sage on the construction train was out of the question.

”Maybe we'll have to stay here until the mud dries,” laughed Colonel Howell.

The two boys almost groaned.

”But something may turn up,” continued Colonel Howell, ”and I'll be enough to look after things. You boys had better take a run over town. If I don't see you at noon, I'll see you at dinner this evening.”

The boys returned to the hotel, found that Mr. Zept and his son had finally gone out with friends, and they put in the rest of the day inspecting the lively young city.

Colonel Howell's acquaintances were not confined to the Northwest--he also had friends in Winnipeg. After leaving the contractors' offices, he went to the Dominion Telegraph Building and sent this message to a business friend in Winnipeg: ”Please see the Canada Northern officials and tell them that I am stranded in Edmonton with a party of friends and would like to get to Athabasca Landing.”

In two hours, he was called up at the hotel by the general superintendent of that road, located in Edmonton, who said he had just been ordered by the Winnipeg officials to extend every facility to Colonel Howell and his friends in their advance to Athabasca Landing.

”We're running a mixed train to a little village twenty-five miles out from Edmonton,” explained the superintendent, ”and when it goes again, Wednesday morning, I'll put an extra car on this train. Meet me that morning at eight thirty, at the depot, and I will escort you personally as far as this train goes. Then I'll arrange to have your car attached to the construction train. There has never been a pa.s.senger car in Athabasca Landing. You can have the distinction of finis.h.i.+ng your journey in the first pa.s.senger car to touch the great rivers of the Mackenzie Basin.”

Colonel Howell proceeded at once to the superintendent's office, expressed his grat.i.tude at the courtesy shown, and arranged that the other cars containing his outfit and the airs.h.i.+p should be carried through at the same time.

When the members of the party returned to the hotel late in the afternoon, and received the news of the happy solution of their difficulty, congratulations rained on Colonel Howell. The boys had a new respect for the influence of the man with whom they were casting their fortunes and who had so little to say about himself.

The effect was a little bit different on the Count, who had rather persisted all day in a theory of his own that automobiles were the things to be used. He had canva.s.sed liveries and accosted chauffeurs, but he had made no practical advance in securing help of this kind.