m willing
to take that chance. I have hunted for buried treasure before. Sometimes
I have been successful, and more often I have failed. I am getting
along in years, but I don't want to retire just yet. So we will go to
Alaska for the gold."

"Hurrah!" cried Fred, unable to restrain his feelings.

"Hello, dad! What's up? Fourth of July celebration?" asked a lad, coming
around the corner of the porch. Fred looked at the newcomer. The youth
was about his own age, perhaps a bit bigger and stronger.

"No, Jerry, it isn't Fourth of July," replied Mr. Baxter. "This is Fred
Stanley, son of an old friend of mine. I have just made a contract with
him to go treasure hunting up in Alaska."

"Treasure hunting! In Alaska! Oh, dad! Can I go?"

"I expected that," said Mr. Baxter dryly. "Do you think you can stand
the pace, Jerry?"

"Of course, dad. Wasn't I with you in Hudson Bay last year?"

"That's so; you were. Well, I reckon you can go. Now let's get down to
business."

Mr. Baxter introduced his son to Fred, and the three were soon deeply
interested in arranging for the prospective expedition. As an old miner
and hunter, Mr. Baxter knew just how to set about fitting out the party
and about what it would cost.

"Are we three the only ones going?" asked Jerry.

"No, I think we'll need another man," said his father. "We'll have hard
work, and those Alaskan Indians are not the most pleasant customers in
the world. With another man I'll feel safer. But leave that to me.

"Now, Fred, I think the best thing for you to do would be to go home and
get your outfit ready. I'll tell you what you'll need in the way of
clothing. That is, the ordinary garments. Of course, those for use in
the cold--the fur garments--I'll supply with the rest of the things.
I'll get the guns, ammunition, picks, shovels and all that. We'll have
to take a warm tent along, for I think we'll have to do some camping
out."

"When can we start?" asked Fred.

"It will take about two weeks to get everything in shape. In the
meanwhile don't talk too much about the trip. The fewer that know about
it the better it will be."

"I'll be careful."

"Now I'll write a list of what you can take from home and then you can
go. I'd ask you to stay and spend a few days with us, only I'm going to
be so busy that you wouldn't enjoy yourself. Give my regards to your
father."

Fred promised to do this, and then, with a list of the things he would
need (none of which wo