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 circumstances 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, Dick! 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
sunshine. 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."

"Dick, 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
fashion, to himself and to the others around him. The Canadians were
getting afraid of him and the Germans shrugged their shoulders.

"I dink 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 Dick's answer.

One of the Canadians was preparing dinner, aided by one of the Germans.
To show that they did not wish to shirk any camp duties, Sam and Dick
did what they could to assist. The dogs and the sleds were off to one
side. Tom sat on one sled, wrapped in heavy blankets, for it was still
very cold.

Suddenly there came a wild shout from the Canadian who was doing the
cooking. With a saucepan he pointed to the dogs and sleds. All of the
others gazed in that direction and Sam and Dick set up a cry of alarm.

And well they might, for the sight that met their eye