Part 30 (2/2)

Even the gold seemed too great a burden to carry, and they found they had more of it than at first they supposed. On the third day they were ready to give up, but Abe bravely urged them on. Toward the close of the fourth day, even the old miner was in despair, for the food they could carry was not such as to give strength and warmth, and they saw no game to shoot.

They were just getting ready to go into a cheerless camp for the night, when Tom, who was a little in advance, looked ahead.

”Ned, do I see something or is it only a vision?” he asked.

”What does it look like?” asked his chum.

”Like Eskimos on sleds.”

”That's what it is,” agreed Ned, after an observation. ”Maybe it's the Fogers, or some of the savage Indians.”

They halted in alarm, and got out their guns. The little party of natives kept coming on toward them.

Suddenly Abe uttered a cry, but it was one of joy and not fear.

”Hurrah!” he yelled, ”It's all right--they're friendly natives!

They're of the same tribe that helped me an' my partner! It's all right, boys, we're rescued now!”

And so it proved. A few minutes later the gold-seekers were on the sleds of the friendly Eskimos, some of whom remembered Abe, and the weary and hungry adventures were being rushed toward the native village as fast as the dogs could run. It was a hunting party that had come upon our friends just in time.

Little more remains to be told. Well cared for by the kind Eskimos, Tom and his friends soon recovered their spirits and strength. They arranged for dog teams to take them to Sitka, and paid their friends well for the service, not only in gold, but by presenting what was of more value, the guns they no longer needed. Tom, however, retained his electric rifle.

Three weeks after that they were on a steamer bound for civilization, having bidden their friends the Eskimos good-by.

”Homeward bound,” remarked Tom, some time later, as they were in a train speeding across the continent. ”It was a great trip, and the gold we got will more than repay us, even to building a new airs.h.i.+p.

Still, I can't help feeling sorry about the RED CLOUD.”

”I don't blame you,” returned Ned. ”Are you going to build another airs.h.i.+p, Tom?”

”Not one like the RED CLOUD, I think. But I have in mind plans for a sort of racing craft. I think I'll start it when I get back home.”

How Tom's plans developed, and what sort of a craft he built will be related in the next volume of this series, to be called ”Tom Swift and His Sky Racer; or, the Quickest Flight on Record.” In that will be told how the young inventor foiled his enemies, and how he saved his father's life. Our friends arrived safely at Shopton in due season. They learned that the two Fogers had reached there shortly before them. Tom and his party decided not to prosecute them, and they did not learn the ident.i.ty of the men who tried to rob Tom of the map.

”But I guess Andy won't go about boasting of his airs.h.i.+p any more,”

said Ned, ”nor of how he got our gold mine away from us. He'll sing mighty small for a while.”

The store of gold brought from the North, proved quite valuable, though but for the unforeseen accidents our friends could have secured much more. Yet they were well satisfied. With his share Abe Abercrombie settled down out West, Mr. Damon gave most of his gold to his wife, Mr. Parker bought scientific instruments with his, Ned invested his in bank stock, and Tom Swift, after buying a beautiful gift for a certain pretty young lady, used part of the remainder to build his Sky Racer.

And now, for a time, we will take leave of Tom and his friends, and say good-by.

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