Part 42 (1/2)

After that several days went by slowly. At times Tom seemed to improve and then he would sink back, sometimes becoming quite wild, so the others had to watch him closely. But he grew stronger physically, which was something to be thankful for.

On the third day it started to snow again, and this kept up for twenty-four hours. It was as cold as ever, and the sheet iron stove was kept almost red hot, so that the party, and especially Tom, might not take cold.

On the next morning, much to the surprise of everybody, Tom got up and insisted on walking around the cabin.

”I feel almost well,” he told his brothers. ”But I'd give a good deal to be home.”

That afternoon came a great shouting, and the cracking of whips outside the cabin. At once Tony Bings's face lit up.

”It's the men from the Supply Depot!” he cried. ”I reckon it's Schmidt.”

”h.e.l.lo, in dare!” was the cry. ”Vos you alife alretty, Tony? Vy can't you oben der door und let a feller in, ain't it?”

”h.e.l.lo, Gus!” answered the owner of the cabin, and threw open the door, and in bustled a big, fat German, heavily clad, and wearing thick gloves and ear-warmers. The newcomer stared in astonishment at the Rovers and Jack Wumble.

”Sure und I tidn't know you vos have combany, Tony,” said Gus Schmidt.

”My friends,” said the old miner, and introduced them. ”Tell yer men to come in, and welcome,” he went on, and Schmidt went to the door, and called to three men who were with him. They drove up with several dog teams, which they were taking to Dawson for supplies that had come up to that city by way of the Yukon River.

Gus Schmidt, despite his rather uncouth manner, was a whole-souled man, and d.i.c.k and the others took to him at once. He listened gravely to the story they had to tell, and readily agreed to take the Rovers and Jack Wumble with him. Wumble was invited by Tony Bings to remain at the cabin for the winter, but said he would first see the Rovers as far as Dawson, and visit his own claim, and then would return with Schmidt's party.

Of the newcomers one was a German like Schmidt and the other two were Canadians. The latter knew all about the dogs and dog sleds, managing the rather savage animals with scarcely an effort. The dogs had originally belonged to some Alaskan Indians and had cost the owners of the Supply Depot considerable money.

The start for Dawson, so many miles away, was made on the following morning. The boys and Jack Wumble shook hands with Tony Bings, who refused point blank to accept any money for what he had done for them.

Tom was placed on one of the best of the big sleds and made as comfortable as circ.u.mstances permitted.

”All apoardt!” cried Gus Schmidt, gaily, and cracked the long whip he carried. The Canadians understood and cracked their own whips, and away went the whole party, over the fields of ice and snow, in the direction of Dawson.

CHAPTER XXIX

TOM'S WILD RIDE

”Talk about fields of ice, d.i.c.k! Just look around us!”

It was Sam who spoke. The party had come to a halt for the midday meal. They had stopped in the shelter of some big rocks, now thickly covered with snow and ice.

Snow and ice were on all sides--the latter glistening brightly in the suns.h.i.+ne. It was a wonderful transformation from the green and brown that had decked the landscape before winter had set in so suddenly.

”I'd hate to be out in this alone,” remarked the big brother. ”A fellow could get lost without half trying.”

”d.i.c.k, what do you think of Tom?” went on Sam, in a lower tone.

”He's in a bad way again, Sam,” was the reply. ”Poor fellow! If only we had him where we could place him under the care of some good doctor, some specialist. That is what he needs.”

Tom was indeed in a bad way. All morning he had talked in a rambling fas.h.i.+on, to himself and to the others around him. The Canadians were getting afraid of him and the Germans shrugged their shoulders.

”I d.i.n.k he besser peen in an asylum, ain't it,” said Gus Schmidt. ”A feller can't vos dell vot such a feller vos going to do next alretty!”

”We'll have to watch him,” had been d.i.c.k's answer.