along the beach to prevent any chance
of low conversation being overheard; though Ned kept on the alert all
the while, lest by some mischance there might others come along, who
would take them by surprise.

"We must follow them up," said Ned, without hesitation.

"Not out on the open beach, of course, when the woods are handy?"
observed Jack.

"Move back into shelter, and we'll get busy," the leader told them.

Stooping so as to run less risk of being seen, in case one of the men
happened to turn his head from any reason, the little party of seven
hardy souls again entered among the trees.

They did not linger, because the men were making up the shore at a fair
rate of speed, and they did not wish to lose track of them.

While no one had taken the trouble to ask Ned what his plan of campaign
might be, they saw indications all around to give them a pretty good
idea as to what he hoped to gain by thus following in the wake of the
three strangers.

The men looked like hard cases, of that all the scouts were determined.
One had the appearance of a miner; a second wore moccasins and was
dressed after the manner of a woodsman, possibly a trapper, Indian
trader, or something in the line of a hunter; while the big man struck
Jack as a logger, or a timber cruiser, one of those spies who roam far
and wide seeking new investments for some lumber company, or else a
chance to steal valuable Government timber that is unwatched.

In talking matters over the comrades had made up their minds that these
types represented the class of men they might expect to find gathered in
this region, paid by the money of the mine syndicate, and ready to carry
out the will of the swindlers, if such the operators proved to be.

As before, the guides led the way. Both men had taken a great fancy to
Ned and his lively chums, and in case any trouble developed, as the
result of their venture into this unknown country, Francois and Tamasjo
might be counted on as ready and willing to back the boys up to the
limit.

They pushed resolutely on, across fallen trees, through tangled
thickets, and even climbing over rocks that lay in the way. The men
ahead knew what they were about in choosing the beach to make their
advance.

Often partly out of breath, with the effort to keep a certain distance
behind those they were pursuing, the scouts pressed on. Jimmy seemed to
have a harder time than any of the others, but then that was nearly
always the way;