uld have to be bought, he was glad to note, for he
had them all at home) he took his departure.

"Take good care of that map," cautioned Mr. Baxter. "If that's lost the
whole expedition will be up the flume, as we miners used to say."

"I'll be careful of it," replied Fred.

Mr. Stanley was delighted with the success of Fred's visit to the old
gold hunter. Then, for the first time, he really began to look on the
trip to Alaska as a settled thing. Mrs. Stanley, also, who had been
hoping that nothing would come of it, began to be alarmed. She spoke
seriously to her husband when Fred was out of the house.

"Do you really think, Norman," she said, "that it will be safe to let
Fred make this trip?"

"Well, my dear, why not?"

"Oh, there are so many dangers. Think of the icebergs, the polar bears,
the great sea lions, the terrible cold, and all that."

"There are no icebergs to be met with on land, and I don't believe
they'll meet with any wild animals worse than wolves or wild dogs.
They're not to be feared as long as one has a gun. Of course it's bound
to be cold, but Fred is hardy, and, with plenty of fur garments, he can
be almost as comfortable as here at home. Then, my dear, you must think
of the chance for making a large sum of money, and we need it very
badly. It grieves me very much to see you sewing so often."

"I shouldn't mind that in the least, Norman, if only we could keep Fred
home."

"Aside from the chance of finding the treasure, I am not sure but what
it will be a good thing for the boy to go. It will teach him to rely on
himself, and he will gain many new and valuable experiences. I know I
can trust Mr. Baxter, who will take as good care of Fred as if he was
his own son."

"Are you sure of that?"

"Positive. Besides, Fred and Jerry will be together, and they can help
each other."

"Well, I suppose he'll have to go then, but I wish he was safe back."

"So do I, and with the treasure in gold. But don't worry."

"I'll try not to, but I can't help it."

Fred got his clothes together, and was waiting word from Mr. Baxter. The
latter, as he informed Mr. Stanley in a letter, had not been idle. He
had arranged for the passage of himself, his son, Fred, and a big
colored man, named George Johnson, on a steamer sailing from San
Francisco to an Alaskan port, and they were to start soon. Such supplies
as they would have to take on the steamer were purchased, the remainder
it was planned to buy in Ala