and in the plans, which we believed to be
very valuable!"

Thus urged, the boys turned back and constructed a second stretcher for
Fenton. The journey to the cabin was a long one, but the shelter was
reached about daylight. Then Tommy at once began the preparation of
breakfast.

"We'll have to get out pretty soon," Will laughed, "because the
population of this county seems to be increasing with amazing rapidity.
At the present time we have four Beavers, two Foxes, and two Bulldogs
besides a very eminent surgeon. In other words," the boy went on, "we
have this collection of wild animals in addition to a very eminent
surgeon and two men with busted legs. If some one doesn't bring in
provisions pretty soon, we'll have to exist on mosquito soup!"

"The mosquitos have been living off us long enough!" Tommy answered.
"They ought not to find fault if we begin living off them!"

"I heard you boys talking about thumb prints on a set of plans," Doctor
Pelton said, addressing Will. "I'd like to know what it all means."

"The story is soon told," Will answered. "On a night in Chicago not long
ago, three men, Spaulding, Hurley and Babcock, worked until nearly
daylight on the plans which we came to Alaska to find. They are experts
in their line and were examining the plans of an invention which the
inventor claimed would revolutionize mining.

"The three men rejected the plans as impractical, and Spaulding and
Hurley left for home, leaving Babcock at the office. After the departure
of the two men, the company's safe was broken open and robbed of a large
sum of money. Naturally the men who had worked in the office during the
night were questioned concerning the disappearance of the cash.
Spaulding and Hurley replied, truthfully, that they had left Babcock in
the office and that the safe was intact at the time of their departure.

"Babcock's reply to this statement was that he had not been at the
office that night at all, and that he could furnish a perfect alibi
which he proceeded to do. Spaulding and Hurley were arrested and thrown
into prison, while Babcock, secure in his fraudulent alibi, was not even
suspected until Mr. Horton, a noted criminal lawyer, was retained by the
two respondents.

"In discussing the case, Spaulding and Hurley explained how Babcock had
participated in the discussion of the plans, and added that if the plans
could be found, his thumb marks would be noted on the paper. They said
he handled the atta