ska.

Fred had told none of his acquaintances about the trip, merely stating
that he was going on a journey. Mr. Baxter, on his part, was equally
reticent, so, aside from the immediate families, and Mrs. Stults and
her lawyer, no one was aware of the gold-hunting expedition.

On the appointed day Mr. Baxter and his son Jerry called for Fred at the
latter's home. George Johnson had gone on ahead to San Francisco in
charge of the baggage.

"Well, are you all ready?" asked the old gold hunter of Fred after
greeting Mr. Stanley.

"All ready, sir."

"So are we. Our passage is booked in the steamer _Sea Lion_, a good
name, I think. So, if you have everything packed, we'll start for San
Francisco."

Good-bys were said, Mrs. Stanley clasped her son in her arms and shed a
few tears, though she tried to bear up, and then, with a waving of
hands, the little party of adventurers was off for Alaska.

CHAPTER VIII

AMID FROST AND ICE

The railroad journey to San Francisco did not occupy a great while, and
that same day Fred and his friends went aboard the _Sea Lion_ as she lay
at her dock, waiting the stowing of the cargo before putting off for the
frozen north.

There was a big crowd aboard, for the stories of gold being found in
that wonderful northern land were wilder than ever, and many thought
they had but to take a trip there, walk along the coast, stuff their
pockets with yellow nuggets and return wealthy forever. How different it
was from this they soon found to their sorrow.

But our young treasure hunter and his friends had no such delusions. Mr.
Baxter was an old hand at the game, and, though he had been in Alaska
but once before, he knew that any gold that was to be obtained by miners
would be found only after hard work and much suffering. Hunting a
treasure was different, and probably more hazardous and uncertain.

George Johnson proved to be a big jolly colored man, used to hardships
of all sorts, though he had never been very far north. He was of immense
strength, which was the principal reason why Mr. Baxter had selected
him.

The ship was almost overcrowded, so great was the rush to the gold
fields. On all sides was heard only talk of great "strikes," of finds of
fabulous wealth, and of how men who barely had enough to buy an outfit
and pay their way to Alaska had become millionaires in a night.

"Don't believe all you hear," cautioned Mr. Baxter to his son and Fred.
"If you do you'll go ha