is just as good."

"And permission to hunt for the treasure?"

"Yes, dad."

"Oh, Fred! Are you going off to that terrible cold country?" asked his
mother, who came into the room just then, and heard the closing part of
the conversation.

"Well, mother, don't you think it's worth trying for? Think of getting
thousands of dollars in gold!"

"Yes, but it wouldn't make up for being frozen to death."

"No, mother--but I don't expect to freeze to death. We will take
fur-lined clothes along."

"Where are you going to get them? I used to have a fur-lined cloak once,
but the moths ate it up."

"I'm afraid it would hardly have answered, if you had it now, mother.
But of course that's a part I've got to talk over with father--about
fitting out the expedition."

"And I'm afraid you'll have trouble," remarked Mr. Stanley. "Oh, if I
was only well and strong I'd ask nothing better than to go along!"

His words caused a little feeling of sadness, but it soon passed away,
and Fred's father and mother listened with interest to his account of
the trip to Denville.

"Now, father, what would you advise me to do?" asked Fred, when he had
concluded. "We need to get some man, who has money, interested in this
venture, for it will cost something to fit out the expedition. Do you
know of any one among your acquaintances, who would take the risk?"

Mr. Stanley was silent for several seconds. He was in deep thought. Then
he suddenly exclaimed:

"Fred! I believe I know the very man."

"Who, dad?"

"Simon Baxter. He is an old gold hunter, as well as a miner. He has gone
on several expeditions of this kind, and he has traveled in the far
north. He would be the very man."

"Is he well off?"

"Yes, he is quite rich."

"Do you think he would go; and provide the money?"

"Ah, that is another question. But it would do no harm to see him, and
find out. He lives about five miles from here, with his son Jerry, who
is about your age, Fred."

"Perhaps Jerry would go along. Then he and I could have a good time
together."

"He might. He is a strong, hearty lad, about your build. I will write a
letter to Mr. Baxter, and you can take it to him. You were so
successful with the widow Stults, where I did not think you would be,
that, perhaps, you can prevail on this old gold hunter to finance the
expedition. He and I are old friends, though I have not seen him in some
time."

"Write the letter at once, dad, and I'll take it to him."