in and out in this way, the party bore deeper into the woods.
The trail led among the rocks that were now piled up on every hand. Ned,
on hastily examining some of these he passed, was forced to admit that
at least they bore all the "ear-marks" of containing copper. If the
syndicate had engineered a big swindle, at least, they must be given
credit for picking out a likely site for a mine.

But there was Tamasjo pointing ahead, and giving his young employer to
understand that they had arrived at the end of the broad trail leading
from the shore of Hudson Bay into this wild stretch of rocky territory.

CHAPTER IX.

"SALTING" THE MINE.

The Cree Indian showed by his manner that there was need of great care
in advancing any further. When the boys came creeping up to where he
crouched, they understood the meaning of his gestures of warning.

Smoke was rising, and they could see a number of dingy tents grouped in
a depression among the rocks. Evidently it was a camp of some sort,
though just then besides the three men they had tracked there hardly
seemed to be anybody around.

It was plain enough to Ned why this should be so, for he remembered
about the dozen men who had spent the preceding night at the river camp,
waiting for the coming of the canoes with the explorers. Those parties
undoubtedly belonged here, and were even now in hiding further down the
river, intending to play some prearranged scheme, with the idea of
either frightening the scouts off, or else hoodwinking the investigators
in some fashion.

"Ginger! but that was a good move of yours, Ned, to think of quitting
the boats and coming across lots to find the old mine," said Frank, in
a voice that could not be heard ten feet away.

The miners' camp was located on a brawling stream that came noisily down
the rough face of the rocks. This created more or less racket, so that
there was small danger of any hostile ears discovering the intruders
through any sound they were likely to make.

"I second the motion," added Jack. "Think how neat we left the crowd in
the lurch, and now we've found where the opening of this wonderful mine
is, we can take a look in, while the bunch is waiting for us to drop
down the river."

"That's what I meant to do when I started on this flank movement," Ned
assured them. "And I only hope we'll be able to learn all we want,
before the main lot make a change of base. It wouldn't be nice to have
them come tumbling in on