e frozen up as hard as a rock.

"I'd give a good deal to be back in Dawson," remarked Dick, while
munching a scant breakfast. He and Sam had decided to make the food on
hand last as long as possible.

"So would I. But I don't see ourselves getting there in this fall of
snow--and with more snow in the air."

"I don't see what we're going to do with Tom, if he can't walk. We
can't carry him."

"We can make a drag--a sort of sled, Sam--and haul him on that."

"So we can! How queer I didn't think of it! Why, it will be just the
thing!" And the face of the youngest Rover brightened up considerably.

Just what move to make next would depend in a great measure on how Tom
felt when he roused up. His brothers watched him anxiously, but made
no move to wake him.

It was about ten o'clock in the forenoon when a shout was heard, and,
looking through the bushes, the boys beheld Jack Wumble and Ike Furner.
Each had a pack on his back.

"Hello!" cried Dick, and ran out to meet them.

"Oh, so there ye are!" exclaimed Jack Wumble. "Thought ye must be
somewhere around here. How are ye, all right?" he went on, anxiously.

"Yes. A little scratched up, that's all."

"An' Sam, an' Tom?"

"Sam is a bit scratched up, too. We found Tom and he doesn't seem to
have any bones broken. But he is very weak, and we are letting him
sleep," and Dick gave some particulars.

"We had some job getting off the mountain," said the old miner, and
then he added, in a somewhat lower tone. "I've told Furner all about
Tom and it's all right."

"I reckoned as how he wasn't just O.K.," said Ike Furner. "But then
some folks say I ain't jest all right, when I know I am," and he tossed
back his head. He was by no means crazy, only peculiar and headstrong.

"Do you think we can get back to Dawson?" asked Sam, who had come
forward after Dick.

"Maybe, lad; but it will be a tough journey in this snow," answered
Wumble.

"I'm going to stay here an' look fer gold!" cried Ike Furner,
stubbornly. "I've got your brother's part of our outfit here." He
passed it over. "There's Lion Head, and over yonder is the Split
Rocks. I think I'm about due to find a fortune," and he drew himself
up to his full height.

"Well, we are not going to stop you," answered Dick. "All we came
after was our brother. But it's a pity to leave you here all alone."

"Oh, I won't mind that. I've often been alone in the mountains. Fact
is, I rather like it.